The 5 Boroughs of NYC: A Comprehensive Guide

When people picture New York City, they tend to think of Midtown Manhattan, with its towering skyscrapers, crowded streets and robust dining and shopping scene. However, New York City is actually made up of five distinct governmental districts called "boroughs," and Manhattan is only one of them.

New York City's five boroughs are Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.

The Freedom Tower stretches toward the sky in lower Manhattan, while the iconic Chrysler and Empire State buildings glitter in the sun in Midtown. When most people think of New York City, its towering skyline is often the first thing they picture. The skyscraper-laden scene is immediately recognizable due to mainstays that have become synonymous with the city. Still, the skyline isn't the only thing of recognition in Manhattan. The list of landmarks in the Big Apple is endless, but a few standout places include:

• The Statue of Liberty (Which is technically on its own island, but Manhattan claims it.)
• Time Square
• Radio City Music Hall
• Central Park
• Madison Square Garden
• Rockefeller Center
• St. Patrick's Cathedral

A typical picture of  Manhattan includes streets packed with taxis, fast-walking pedestrians, and shoe box apartments with rent as high as the buildings are tall. While this represents some neighborhoods in the city, it doesn't reflect all of them. "The misconception about Manhattan is that it's all really expensive and it's all really, really busy and loud and full of businesses," says Matthew Bank, partner and associate broker at Bank Neary, Inc. "But Manhattan is quite large and has many different neighborhoods, some are extremely busy, some are extremely quiet, some are very, very expensive … but some of them are also quite affordable."

• Harlem has a rich history, serving as the backdrop to the Harlem Renaissance, an arts and intellectual movement celebrating African-American culture. The community has been dubbed the "birthplace of Jazz."
• The Upper East Side is an affluent community that is among Manhattan's most iconic because of its prominence in pop culture, serving as the backdrop to popular TV shows like "Gossip Girl" and "The Jeffersons." It brushes up against Central Park and is known for its luxury shopping corridor, white-glove housing options, and as home to major cultural institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• The Upper West Side is known as an intellectual and cultural hub because it's home to mainstay institutions like Columbia University, Barnard College and the American Museum of Natural History. Like the UES, it offers immaculate views of Central Park, which it borders.
• Greenwich Village is lauded for its inclusive and artsy atmosphere. Located in lower Manhattan, this neighborhood is also known for its trendy boutiques and experimental eateries.
• Chinatown is located in lower Manhattan and is home to the largest population of Chinese people in the Western Hemisphere. It’s often lauded as the "second home" of Chinese Immigrants, evidenced by the shops, restaurants, and cultural events here.
• The Financial District, or FiDi, is home to many financial institutions, including the New York Stock Exchange. Notable monuments in the neighborhood include the "Charging Bull" and "Fearless Girl" statues, which symbolize economic prosperity and gender equality in the workplace, respectively.
• SoHo, which stands for "South of Houston Street," is a trendy community that has long been inhabited by many artists and gallerists.
• Tribeca, which stands for "Triangle Below Canal Street," is perhaps most famously known for its independent film expo, the Tribeca Film Festival. It's a trendy community largely filled with former industrial spaces turned residential lofts.
• The East Village is often associated with a vibrant nightlife. This lower Manhattan neighborhood is home to the famous CBGB club, deemed the birthplace of Punk music.

According to the Council for Community and Economic Research's 2023 Quarter 1 Cost of Living Index, Manhattan is the most expensive place to live in the U.S. The Fund for the City of New York, a New York-based nonprofit founded by the Ford Foundation in 1968, corroborated these findings in a 2023 report, noting that the cost of living in south Manhattan eclipsed $151,000 a year, while the cost in north Manhattan was just under $124,000.

In recent years, Brooklyn has been deemed the trendiest of the New York City boroughs. In a round of word association, "Brooklyn" and "hipster" are not unlikely to be matched, thanks to the ever-growing number of quirky cafes, specialty flower shops and retro record stores filling in storefronts. A quick Google search for popular Brooklyn restaurants will populate hundreds of guides and best-of lists. Each detailing eateries that offer unique cuisines like brioche buns stuffed with coffee chai ice cream. However, Brooklyn is also rooted in history, as evidenced by the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, built between 1869 and 1883, the Prospect Park Grand Army Plaza, erected in 1916, and the Coney Island Amusement Park, assembled in 1895.

Brooklyn is home to more than 2.68 million people, making it the second-most populated borough, just behind Queens. Life here can vary depending on what part of the community you are in, but in the most popular parts of town, residents easily walk along the cobblestone streets past local shops, historic landmarks and massive green spaces.

• Williamsburg has seen many iterations over the years. Most recently, it's become known for its contemporary art scene, vintage shops and vibrant nightlife, which have earned it the nickname "Little Berlin."
• Brooklyn Heights was established in the 1830s, becoming New York's first suburb. This historic community is known for its low-rise Brownstones and Montague Street shopping corridor.
• Park Slope is a quintessential Brooklyn neighborhood with wide tree-lined streets filled with historic brownstones. It's also known for its proximity to Prospect Park, one of Brooklyn's largest green spaces.
• Bushwick is one of Brooklyn's trendier neighborhoods, characterized by its vibrant street art and converted industrial warehouses.
• Dumbo, or “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass,” is where many of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge photos plastering social media were taken. Alongside its stunning bridge and East River views, the neighborhood is known for its winsome cobblestone streets and striking historic architecture.

According to The Fund for the City of New York report, the true cost of living in Brooklyn (excluding northwest Brooklyn) is nearly $114,000, annually.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Bronx became a hub of multiculturalism, welcoming migrants from the U.S. South and immigrants from the Caribbean and parts of Europe. The diversity of this community is often credited as a part of why the Bronx became known as the birthplace of hip-hop. According to local historians, one August day in 1973, a young artist called Kool DJ Herc mastered the art of "merry-go-round" deejaying, a style that introduced scratches and pauses in the music to make way for dance breaks. This style would mark the beginning of hip-hop history, an integral part of the Bronx's story. A few popular contemporary hip-hop artists out of the Bronx include Fat Joe, Swizz Beatz and Ice Spice.

To live in the Bronx is to live somewhere where there's "a bit of everything." There are historic apartments in walkable communities, quiet subdivisions that feel distinctly suburban, and beachy neighborhoods along the Hudson River. The area often gets a bad rep, but that perception is based on the challenging times the area saw in the mid-20th century. Over the last 25 years, the area has seen a lot of growth; and it is still growing. Some notable attractions include the Bronx Zoo, the New York Botanical Gardens and Yankee Stadium.

• Riverdale is perhaps one of the Bronx's best-known communities because of its picturesque setting overlooking the Hudson River and its striking 19th- and 20th-century villas.
• Throgs Neck is along the East River. It’s a primarily residential community offering stunning views of the Throgs Neck Bridge, connecting the Bronx to Queens.
• Woodlawn Heights is a historically Irish-American community. It's largely residential and features spacious single-family homes along quiet, narrow streets.
• Grand Concourse Historic District is full of art deco apartment buildings constructed during the 1920s and '30s. It is home to the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage and next to the New York Yankees' stadium.
• Belmont is a close-knit, primarily residential community sometimes called the "Little Italy of the Bronx" because of its historic popularity among Italian immigrants. The neighborhood is also just 1 mile from the Bronx Zoo.
• Pelham Bay is a cozy residential community named for the 3,000-acre Pelham Bay Park, the largest park in New York City. The neighborhood is about 2 miles from the massive waterfront green space.

The Bronx has the lowest cost of living among the five boroughs. The Fund for the City of New York report found that the true cost of living in the Bronx is around $107,000, annually. 

Queens has been dubbed the most ethnically diverse community in New York. Of its nearly 2.4 million residents, roughly equal numbers are Black, Hispanic, Asian and white, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It's one of the borough's most celebrated qualities, so much so that it was the topic of the award-winning 2023 book "Global Queens: An Urban Mosaic," which explores the many cultures present in the community through photographs and neighborhood vignettes. This is backed up by the number of cultural enclaves found here, like the "Chinatown of Queens" and "Little Egypt." Queens is also home to Flushing Meadows Corona Park, which served as the location of two World’s Fairs and is one of the city's best-known parks. 

As the most multifaceted borough, Queens offers snugly situated rowhouses, spacious subdivisions with sprawling homes, and small waterfront village-like communities. Parts of Queens are exceptionally walkable, like Jamaica, while others rely on cars or public transit.

• Jamaica is the birthplace of hip-hop stars like 50 Cent and Niki Minaj and one of Queens's largest and busiest communities. Jamaica Avenue is the central vein of the neighborhood, serving as the home to dozens of local shops and restaurants.
• Flushing is an area you’ve probably heard of if you're a fan of "The Nanny." It's home to NYC's fourth-largest central business district and a community called the "Chinatown of Queens."
• Astoria is a bustling community and a hub for international cuisine. It's home to a robust Greek community and Little Egypt.
• Jackson Heights lands us in another section of the world as the home of Little India. The New York Times dubbed it the "most culturally diverse neighborhood in New York, if not the planet," pointing to the fact that since the 2000s, at least half its residents have been foreign-born.
• Long Island City is a former industrial center turned bustling mixed-use community known for its vibrant nightlife and waterfront parks overlooking the Manhattan skyline.
• Forest Hills is a historic and affluent community that New York's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man calls home. It's known for its striking Tudor homes and quiet tree-lined streets.

The Fund for the City of New York reports that the true cost of living in Queens is about $115,000, annually. 

Staten Island takes its nickname, the "Borough of Parks," seriously, offering access to nearly a dozen major outdoor spaces. Sink your toes into the sand and admire the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge at South Beach. Stroll through the 10 distinct gardens featuring globally inspired architecture and landscaping at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens. And play a round of golf or hike around Silver Lake at Silver Lake Park. For outdoor enthusiasts, Staten Island has plenty to offer.

Staten Island is quite a bit different from the other boroughs, offering a more suburban setting with single-family homes, most of which have driveways. The borough has 62 neighborhoods, and nearly 70% of them are within walking distance of at least one park.

• Todt Hill is an exclusive community that was built atop New York City's highest natural point. It's one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Staten Island, featuring large custom homes on neatly manicured lots.
• Lighthouse Hill was named for the Richmond Lighthouse. This landlocked neighborhood is known for its striking homes, similar to those in Todt Hill.
• Great Kills is home to no less than four parks. It’s a predominantly residential community along the banks of the Lower Bay.
• St. George is known for its boundless amenities, including a popular small outlet, waterfront parks and easy access to the Staten Island Ferry.

According to a report by The Fund for the City of New York, the true cost of living in Staten Island is around $110,000, annually.

With over 350 neighborhoods across New York City's five boroughs, there are many options to consider. Two questions that should be top of mind are: How much do you want to spend, and is space or location more important to you?

Evaluating the cost of living in each of the boroughs is a good starting point. The boroughs, in order of most to least expensive, are Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and The Bronx. Another useful data point is the median home price in each borough.

You can get more house for your money in the Bronx and Queens and bigger yards in Staten Island. Location is a bit subjective, but if you're looking to be in the midst of everything Manhattan and Brooklyn are the places to be. Keep in mind that New York has a sophisticated transportation system that makes commuting into Manhattan easy. Subway lines and free commuter ferries are easily accessible from the Bronx. In Staten Island, a ferry to Manhattan (near the Financial District) runs all day.

How many boroughs are there in NYC? New York City has five boroughs: Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island.

What is a borough in New York? A borough in New York is defined as a major governmental district. Each of New York City's boroughs is associated with a state county, i.e., Manhattan is in New York County, Queens is in Queens County, Staten Island is in Richmond County, the Bronx is in Bronx County, and Brooklyn is in Kings County.

Is Long Island part of the five boroughs? Long Island is not one of the boroughs, but technically, Queens and Brooklyn are on Long Island. That said, you wouldn't say either of these boroughs are "on Long Island." References to Long Island generally include communities in Suffolk and Nassau counties.

Which borough is Harlem in? Harlem is in the borough of Manhattan. More specifically, it is located in upper Manhattan and is bounded by Central Park North and W 155th Street.