Manhattan's most recent neighborhood built partly on land excavated for foundations of the World Trade Center Towers. Battery Park is a collection of luxury doorman buildings separated by narrow streets and quiet green areas. Battery Park has a boat marina, beautiful views of Hudson and New York harbor.

Borders: Hudson River to West St, Liberty Park to Chambers St.

Pros: Quiet (especially on weekdays), short walk to Downtown offices, high income neighborhood. Stuyvesant high school.

Cons: Quiet, limited restaurant and entertainment options, long walk to subway. Apartments can be cookie-cutter.

Apartments: Battery Park consists of high rise, luxury doorman buildings. Apartments share excellent size and light, big closets, kitchens with dish washers and microwaves as well as air conditioning are standard. Average prices: Studio $2300, 1 bedroom $2800, 2 bedroom $4200.

Transportation: Subway coverage: 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, R, W. Buses: M9, M20, M22.

Commercial areas that turned into mixed residential and commercial neighborhoods in the last 30 years. These neighborhoods are known for New York's best lofts and narrow streets lined with high end stores and restaurants. Includes a small residential section between 6th Ave and West Broadway - from Canal to Houston. SoHo stands for 'South of Houston Street'; TriBeCa means 'Triangle Below Canal Street'.

Borders for SoHo: Hudson River to Broadway, Canal Street to Houston Street.

Borders for TriBeCa: Hudson River to Broadway, Chambers Street to Canal Street.

Pros: Both areas feature many quiet blocks with urban feel. High end shopping, food and entertainment, good access to subways and Hudson River Park.

Cons: Both areas are losing their old, bohemian feel due to commercialization. SoHo streets are packed with crowds of shoppers on weekends.

Apartments: Mostly pre war, many cast iron commercial buildings with large open layouts, high ceilings and walls of windows. Residential properties are mostly pre-war walk ups with small apartment layouts. Both areas have a very low vacancy level.

Transportation: Subway: 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, N, R, W. Buses: M1, M6, M20, M21, M22.

Long seen as an ethnic area with quiet streets and tenement buildings, the Lower East Side is following the East Village as the next 'cool' place to be. Lounges, bars and restaurants along Orchard and Ludlow Streets attract visitors from all parts of the City.
Borders: Roughly East of Pike-Allan-Delancey-Bowery and South of Houston Street.

Pros: Cool, friendly, laid back atmosphere. Good food, easy access to East Village, Little Italy, SoHo. Many parks, biggest is the East River Park.

Cons: Small apartments, limited subway access, can be crowded.

Apartments: Mostly pre war walk up buildings from late 1800s and first two decades of 1900s. High ceilings and hardwood floors are common, kitchens are usually small or lined along the living room wall. Average prices: Studio $1700, 1 bedroom $2100, 2 bedroom $2700.

Transportation: Subway: B, D, F, J, M, V, Z. Buses: M9, M14A, M14D, M15, M21, M22.

New York's 'coolest' neighborhood. Quiet residential streets, affordable restaurants, lounges, great entertainment. This area is the first choice of students, artists and the young at heart. Includes Alphabet City - area east of Ave A.

Borders: (Roughly) Broadway to East River, Houston to 14th Street.

Pros: Great 'feel', best variety of restaurants and entertainment spots, laid back lifestyle.

Cons: Many unkempt buildings, non-renovated and small apartments. Downtown prices.

Apartments: Most East Village buildings are multi-unit pre war walk up buildings known as Tenements. Most were build at the end of 19th and beginning of 20th century with aim of housing as many families as possible. Very few doorman properties. East Village apartments are usually small. Average prices: Studio $1900, 1 bedroom $2300, 2 bedroom $2800.

Transportation: Subway: 4, 5, 6, B, D, F, L, V, Buses: M8, M9, M14A, M14D, M15, M21.

Financial District is a commercial area that became commercial/residential over the last 20 years. Most residential properties were originally build as office towers but there is also a good number of Loft and pre-war walk-up buildings. This area used to be very quiet at night but this is changing as more restaurants and shops stay open late.

Borders: West Street to East River, bottom of Manhattan to Chambers Street.

Pros: Quiet (especially on weekends), short walk to offices, high income neighborhood with almost exclusively doorman buildings.

Cons: Quiet, limited restaurant and entertainment options. Urban feel with no sense of neighborhood. Apartments can be cookie-cutter.

Apartments: Most Financial District buildings are converted office tower buildings. They feature doorman security, gyms on premises, bicycle and storage rooms and roof decks. Apartments are usually spacious, have extra high ceilings, big closets, kitchens with dishwashers and microwaves. Unlike most of New York, air conditioning is standard in most apartments. Average prices: Studio $2300, 1 bedroom $2800, 2 bedroom $4200.

Transportation: Excellent Subway coverage: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, A, C, E, J, M, R, W, Z. Buses: M1, M6, M9, M15, M20, M22.

Little Italy and Chinatown offer many quiet, store lined streets in hart of Manhattan's downtown area. Both feature great ethnic restaurants, good markets and a sense of history. They are also within walking distance to SoHo, Greenwich Village, East Village and the Lower East Side.

Borders: (roughly) Broadway on West to the line following East River-Pike-Allen-Delancey-Bowery on East. From City Hall and Brooklyn Bridge to Houston Street.

Pros: Central location, 'small town feel', excellent Italian and Chinese food, super safe area.

Cons: Small expensive apartments, very low vacancy, very crowded streets.

Apartments: Just like East Village and the Lower East Side, buildings in this area were build to house as tenements. Most of the apartments have been renovated in last 10 to 20 years but sizes were determined in late 1800s and early 1900s. Rooms are usually small, floors hardwood, closets minimal. Average prices: Studio $1800, 1 bedroom $2100, 2 bedroom $3000.

Transportation: 6, B, D, F, J, M, N, R, Q, V, W, Z. Buses: M1, M6, M15, M21, M22, M103, B51.

One of New York's best residential areas. Quiet streets, access to excellent shopping and entertainment, many top restaurants. Along with the Upper West Side, Manhattan's most expensive residential area. Includes Greenwich Village (east of 7th Ave) and West Village (west of 7th Ave).

Borders: Hudson River to (roughly) Broadway, Houston to W 14th St

Pros: Beautiful tree lined streets, top quality of life, easy commute to both downtown and midtown.

Cons: Expensive, small apartments, mostly walk up buildings. Area gets crowded on weekend evenings.

Apartments: Typical Village building is a pre (Second World) war walk up, up to 6 floors high. In addition, town houses and some brownstones are common. Elevator and doorman buildings are hard to find. Luxury high rises are few. Apartments can be old, usually have hardwood floors, high ceilings and small closets. Average prices: Studio $2200, 1 bedroom $2600, 2 bedroom $3200

Transportation: Excellent subway coverage: 1, 2, 3, A, B, C, D, E, F, N, R, V, W, Buses: M1, M2, M3, M5, M6, M7, M8, M14A, M14B, M20, M21.

Located inside the general 'Village' area, NoHo (stands for 'North of Houston Street) sets itself apart by having a more urban, commercial feel. Along Crosby and mainly Lafayette Streets, NoHo features many Loft buildings that have mostly been converted into Coops and Condos.
Borders: Broadway to Bowery, Houston to Astor Place (8th Street).

Pros: If looking for a loft, do not miss this area - quieter and cleaner than SoHo, NoHo also features much better location and access to subways.

Cons: Getting commercial like SoHo did. Very low vacancy, expensive.

Apartments: Mostly renovated lofts, some with phenomenal finishes. NoHo apartments feature high ceilings, hardwood floors, large windows and spacious rooms. Prices start at about $4000 per month.

Transportation: Good subway coverage: 6, B, D, F, N, Q, R, V, W. Buses: M1, M2, M3, M5, M6, M8, M103.

New York's arts and architecture neighborhood. A great mix of many quiet, residential, tree lined blocks a short walking distance from City's best art galleries, ultra modern luxury buildings west of 10th Avenue and Manhattan's biggest recreational center at Chelsea Piers.

Borders: Hudson River to 5th Ave, West 14th Street to low West 30s.

Pros: Quiet, central location, great art scene. Chelsea Piers is possibly Manhattan's best gym. Chelsea is famous for its night clubs and is home to New York's largest Gay community.

Cons: Lack of Parks, a mix of residential and commercial buildings, limited access to subway from the west half of the neighborhood.

Apartments: A wide mix of commercial properties turned residential (lofts), brownstones, pre-war walk up buildings and great luxury pre and post war doorman properties. Apartments vary greatly in quality, size and price. Average prices: Studio $2100 (luxury building $2700), 1 bedroom $2600 (luxury building $3500), 2 bedroom $3000 (luxury building $5000).

Transportation: Subway: 1, 2, 3, A, B, C, D, E, F, L, N, R, V, Q, W, Buses: M2, M3, M5, M6, M7, M10, M11, M14A, M14D, M20.

Midtown West (includes Hell's Kitchen or Clinton) is one of the best examples of the recent gentrification of Manhattan. This nowadays safe and vibrant community used to be considered 80 years ago as the most dangerous place in United States. This area is the home of Time's Square, Broadway theaters and most of Midtown's skyscrapers. It also contains a lovely residential area west of 9th Avenue where some of best apartment deals in Manhattan can be found.

Borders: Hudson River to 5th Ave (Hell's Kitchen ends at 8th), mid 30s to 59th Street.

Pros: Lower rents, excellent access to Midtown and subway, great variety of food and entertainment, ethnically mixed area.

Cons: Blocks close to Time's Square can be noisy, lots of tourists, lack of high end shopping.

Apartments: Mostly pre-war walk up buildings with affordable studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom layouts. Some with great renovations. Good number of doorman properties, mostly recent construction. Average prices: Studio $1700, 1 bedroom $2100, 2 bedroom 2900.

Transportation: Some of the best Subway coverage: 1, 2, 3, 7, A, B, C, D, E, F, N, Q, R, V, W. Buses: M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7, M10, M11, M16, M20, M31, M34, M42, M50, M57.

Residential neighborhood centered around a private park of the same name. Good mix of pre-war walkups, some brownstones, elevator and doorman properties. Great quality of life, easy access to Union Square, Park Avenue South and a number of parks make this area a great choice.

Borders: 5th Avenue to East River, E 14th Street to mid East 20s

Pros: Location, location, location - with Union Square, Irving Place, Park Avenue South and restaurants lining 2nd and 3rd Avenues, you may never have to leave this central location. Excellent shopping and entertainment too. Four parks: Gramercy, Union Square, Madison Square, Stuyvesant Square.

Cons: Low vacancy, can be expensive.

Apartments: Great variety of residential buildings - 1st and 2nd Avenue walk ups, spacious Stuyvesant Town elevator apartments, large pre war townhouses lining the Gramercy Park. Average prices: Studio $2000, 1 bedroom $2600, 2 bedroom $3300.

Transportation: Subway: 4, 5, 6, L, N, R, W, Q. Buses: M1, M2, M3, M9, M14A, M14D, M15, M21, M101, M102, M103.

Murray Hill could be the future of Manhattan. It is safe, clean and packed with fun places to eat and shop but diversity ends with neighborhood restaurants and only traffic noise keeps area rents from skyrocketing. Murray Hill and the rest of Midtown East are home to United Nations, the Chrysler Building, Grand Central Terminal, St. Patrick's Cathedral and other City landmarks. The area offers a great variety of NY architecture and the biggest mix of residential and commercial real estate.

Borders: 5th Avenue to East River, mid 20s to mid 40s, Midtown East ends at 59th Street.

Pros: Super safe, good shopping and food choices, excellent access to Midtown offices and transportation.

Cons: Expensive for what it offers, can be bland and noisy.

Apartments: Great variety of doorman, elevator and walk up buildings, including some townhouses and brownstones. Prices vary according to size, proximity to subway and quality of space. Average prices: Studios $2000, 1 bedrooms $2500, 2 bedrooms $3600.

Transportation: Subways: 4, 5, 6, 7, S. Buses: M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M15, M16, M21, M27, M34, M42, M50. Easy access to Long Island, Upstate NY and Connecticut via Grand Central Terminal, East River ferries to Wall Street, Queens and La Guardia airport.

Along with West Village, the Upper West Side is Manhattan's most expensive residential area and the best example of New York's rapid transformation. The last wave of change took place in the 90s when area became the favorite of young middle and upper class professionals looking for a safe area to rise a family. Nowadays, Upper West Side offers little to singles and everything to families - excellent grocery shopping, Riverside and Central parks, good schools and one of the lowest crime rates in the City.

Borders: Hudson to Central Park, 59th Street to (roughly) 106th Street. The area seems to be expanding with the gentrification of Morningside Heights and Harlem as many blocks north of 106th retain the same feel and quality of life, all the way to 125th Street.

Pros: Great quality of life, safe, clean, family friendly, good access to subway and Midtown.

Cons: Expensive. Limited entertainment options.

Apartemnts: Some of New York's best apartments are found in pre war doorman buildings along Central Park West, West End Avenue and Riverside Drive. Upper West Side streets are usually lined with brownstones, most in excellent condition. Prices vary but expect to pay more than elsewhere. Studios $2000 ($2500 in doorman buildings), 1 bedrooms $2500 ($3200 in doorman properties), 2 bedrooms $3600 ($5200 in doorman buildings).

Transportation: Good Subway coverage: 1, 2, 3, A, B, C, D. Buses: M5, M7, M10, M11, M57, M60, M66, M72, M79, M86, M96, M104, M116.

Located between Manhattan and Queens, Roosevelt Island became a residential area in the 1970s. It is only 2 miles long, features mostly doorman buildings separated by open green spaces, spectacular views of Manhattan skyline and extremely low crime rate. In 2005, a major developer of luxury doorman properties committed to building 7 high rise buildings on the Island and send already low vacancy rates to a new low.

Borders: Surrounded by the East River.

Pros: Large apartments with below market average rents. Quiet and safe, running track along the parameters of Island. Easy access to Midtown.
Cons: Limited shopping on Island. Small town feel.

Apartments: Mostly doorman buildings, some with long waiting lists. Large layouts with separate kitchens, dishwashers and microwaves are standard. Studios $2000, 1 bedrooms $2200, 2 bedrooms $3000.

Transportation: Subway: F. Areal Tram to E 60th Street on Manhattan. Busses to Queens.

Washington Heights is known as a center of Dominican community in the US. It also features a large Jewish population on the west side of Broadway. The neighborhood offers low rents, ethnic flavor and is surrounded by parks.

Borders: Hudson to Harlem River, 155th Street to (roughly) Fairview Ave - equivalent of 194th Street.

Pros: Good rents, large layouts, easy access to New Jersey (via George Washington Bridge), the Bronx, Westchester and Connecticut.

Cons: Parts are loud, still some pockets of crime (East of Broadway).

Apartments: Mostly walkup and elevator, pre and post war buildings. Good sized apartments and alot of good values. Many new renovations. Studios $1200, 1 bedrooms $1500, 2 bedrooms $1900.

Transportation: Subway: 1, A, C. Buses: M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7, M18, M 98, M100, M101, Bx3, Bx7, Bx11, Bx13, Bx35, Bx36.

America's richest neighborhood, the Upper East Side also offers excellent apartment deals east of 3rd Avenue. The neighborhood is very comfortable to live in and offers many entertainment and food opportunities. While famous for the Madison Avenue shopping strip, Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park, the Upper East Side also has a vibrant singles scene, beautiful and quiet tree-lined blocks and avenues lined with restaurants, bars and lounges.

Borders: Central Park to East River, 59th Street to mid 90s.

Pros: Most apartment size for your money (south of Harlem). Very safe and clean.

Cons: Can be predictable. Limited access to subway east of 2nd Avenue.

Apartments: A good mix of New York residential architecture. Apartments are usually clean and well maintained. Best values are in mid to high 80s, east of the express subway stop on 86th Street. Studios $1600, 1 bedrooms $2000, 2 bedrooms $3000.

Transportation: Subway: 4, 5, 6. Buses: M1, M2, M3, M4, M15, M30, M31, M66, M72, M79, M86, M96, M98, M101, M102, M103, M016.

Long considered the coolest black neighborhood in the World, Harlem is seeing record real estate sales and property renovations. The area is welcoming many downtown residents looking for more space, excellent rents and easy access to Columbia University, Central Park, Upper East and the Upper Westside.
Borders: Hudson RIver to East River, West 106th St (96th Street on the East Side) to 155th Street.

Pros: Very affordable, large apartments, many with new renovations.

Cons: While safer than ever in the past 40 years, those areas still see more than a fair share of crime. Safety is not so much an issue along and west of Broadway as well as in Morningside Heights.

Apartments: Like the Upper West Side, Harlem streets are lined up with brownstones while Broadway and Avenues offer large apartment buildings with elevators and laundry facilities. Apartments are always 'oversized' when compared with downtown and many are being renovated. Expect high ceilings, hardwood floors and separate kitchens. Average prices: Studio $1250, 1 bedroom $1450, 2 bedroom $1800.

Transportation: Subway: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, A, B, C, D. Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M7, M10, M11, M15, M18, M60, M100, M101, M102, M104, M116.

Inwood is the north most neighborhood on the Island of Manhattan. Dissected by Broadway into east (mostly Dominican) and west (very mixed population) parts, Inwood offers two large parks, tree lined blocks of 5 to 6 story residential buildings, decent shopping and almost a suburban feel.

Borders: Hudson to Harlem River, (approximately) Fairview Avenue to tip of Manhattan.

Pros: Good value, and large layouts - specially west of Broadway.
Cons: 40 minute to an hour commute to Downtown. A train can take longer.

Apartments: Mostly pre and post war, walkup and elevator buildings. High ceilings, separate kitchens, low rents. Studios $1200, 1 bedrooms $1500, 2 bedrooms $1900.

Transportation: Subways: 1, A. Buses: M4, M100, Bx7, Bx12, Bx20.