New York City is one of the most expensive costs of living in the country, making it the ultimate challenge to find a place to live.

 

Many factors depend on where you want to live and where you can afford to live. Neighborhoods vary from their peak cost and downfalls when it comes to price, commute distance, transportation access, nightlife, and other lifestyle amenities.

 

A company that compiles information on cities called Niche, recently released its annual ranking of the best neighborhoods in New York City.

 

These neighborhoods range from historic to hip and pose their own identities and can offer residents a sense of home in a city of over 8 million people.

 

Below are the best New York City neighborhoods to live in:

 

Hell’s Kitchen

 

Hell’s Kitchen is also known as Midtown West, was once a poor and working-class neighborhood that has steadily gentrified over a couple of decades. This neighborhood is within close proximity to many Broadway theaters and the famed Actors Studio. The neighborhood then became a popular area for aspiring actors. Hell’s Kitchen has a shorter commute time and offers a lively nightlife scene for its residents.

 

Flatiron District  

 

This is home of the Flatiron Building, one of the older skyscrapers in the city, at the intersection of Broadway and Fifth Avenue. The Flatiron District features a great restaurant scene, upscale real estate, and an impressive stretch of shopping. It is also becoming known as a huge area for fitness clubs.

 

Greenwich Village

 

Greenwich Village possesses its own sense of character and charm within the city. The neighborhood has served as a home to the creative community, the LGBT movement, and New York University. The area is now a melting pot of its own, filled with bustling restaurants and venues while keeping its small community feel.

 

Brooklyn Heights

 

Brooklyn Heights is located just off the Brooklyn Bridge along the East River and has a historic feel within close proximity of Manhattan. The neighborhood contains more than 600 pre-Civil War houses and has become a popular neighborhood for families. The area has been called New York’s First Suburb.