Naturally, at any point in your life – moving to a new place is a pretty important decision to make. It’s not something you want to take lightly; as it will change basically every single aspect of your life. And that’s true even when you’re moving on your own. But once you’ve got a family to look after as well – the choice of your new neighborhood becomes even more crucial. With that in mind – we’ll explore all the things you need to know about the best residential areas in NYC for big families!
Should You Move?
As we’ve mentioned above, relocating to an entirely new area is something of a stress even if you’re doing it alone. But if you want to move your entire family stress-free; you’re definitely going to have your work cut out for you. After all, finding the best residential areas in NYC isn’t easy when you’ve got a large family. Sure, having as many kids as you want is quite joyful; but when you’ve got to relocate a lot of people to a new home at once, it also means you’ll have some difficulties.
So, with that in mind – we recommend thoroughly thinking this through, in terms of whether you want to relocate to the new area in the first place. And we’re not just talking about a simple pros and cons list; you need to have a serious, thoughtful discussion with every member of your family. In such a format, everyone will be able to voice their ideas and concerns; so there will be no resentment about the relocation, regardless of whether you end up doing it or not.
How To Pick The Best Residential Areas in NYC
Okay, so you’ve decided that moving is the best thing you can do – and that’s great! But if you’re after the best residential areas in NYC for big families; know that you’ll have quite a few factors to keep in mind. For example:
- Affordability – When you’ve got a large family, that means a big household to maintain. With that in mind, regardless of how much you and your spouse earn; you should make a moving budget early on, and think about how much of an affordable neighborhood you need.
- Safety – On the other hand, while saving money is important – the last thing you want to do is to achieve that by moving to a sketchy neighborhood. After all, not all the areas that you can afford are safe and secure enough for your family.
- Schooling – Speaking of the family; if you’re not setting aside money for private schooling, your children’s school district will have a major impact on their personal development; so choose your new home in an adequate area.
- Commute – Lastly; think about your job. No matter how good the residential area is in other prospects, you don’t want to have a painful commute to work while living in the city. Losing too many hours each day will just make you miserable in the long run!
Astoria, Queens
Now that we’ve taken a look at all of the makings of the best residential areas in NYC, let’s have a look at what our first recommendation is. And that would be Astoria in Queens; this predominantly Greek area is truly one of the best neighborhoods for children in the entire Big Apple. Plus, it’s great connectivity to public transportation means that you won’t be looking at a long commute; not losing your mind because of the drive to work obviously matters.
Also, the culture of this area is very well-suited for family life. You’ll find quite a few events that are tailored for families here, as well as many cool venues. And if you get bored with the Greek-themed restaurants and cafes here; you’ll be only a quick ride away from Manhattan! Around here, you have basically everything you need, including the combination of affordability and safety.
Battery Park
Found between the West Side Highway and the Hudson – Battery Park has always been known as an area that’s simultaneously bustling with activity, but also incredibly well-suited for family life as well. If you’re looking to save money while also being an area that’s good for raising kids; in most cases, you’d have to sacrifice proximity to interesting venues and amenities.
But that’s not the case in Battery Park City! Here, all you need to have a good time with your family or on your own is found here; from cool nightlife spots for when you want a break from the mundane, to spacious supermarkets and handily-placed local pharmacies. At the end of the day – you can simply have some quiet time to yourself by looking at ships moving near the waterfront. Importantly enough – the local schools are quite well rated on the national level as well.
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
One of the best things about Bay Ridge is the fact that it’s got all the family amenities you can ask for – but also a variety of eateries that are interesting for adults too. All of these are family-friendly, so any busy parent will have a field day here. There are also quite a few great schools, adding to the omnipresent family ambiance.