Live Here

Choosing a neighborhood

• Start with the commute. Check how far you'd walk to the train, how many lines stop there, and whether it's an express stop.
• Visit twice, once on a weeknight and once on a weekend, to get a feel for noise, light and the walk home.
• Weigh the trade-offs: space versus location, a walk-up versus an elevator, and laundry in the building versus a laundromat down the block.
• Look past the famous names. Every borough has quieter neighborhoods with easy commutes.

Apartment hunting basics

• Landlords usually check income and credit. Many renters use a guarantor.
• Some apartments are rent-stabilized, which limits yearly increases. You can ask the landlord, or request the apartment's rent history from the state.
• Never send money for an apartment you haven't seen, and be wary of deals that look too good to be true.
• Check the city's official tenant resources for your rights on fees, repairs and heat.

Commuting

• Subway and bus: pay with OMNY. Weekly fare capping means frequent riders stop paying after a set number of rides.
• Regional rail: the LIRR and Metro-North also stop inside the city, and CityTicket fares make those trips cheaper on weekends.
• New Jersey: PATH trains, NJ Transit and ferries cross the Hudson.
• Bike and ferry: Citi Bike memberships, a growing network of bike lanes, and NYC Ferry routes along the waterfront.

City services

• 311 by phone, text, app or online for noise complaints, potholes, heat, parking rules and most city questions.
• IDNYC is a free city ID card for residents, and it comes with cultural memberships and discounts.
• Libraries: the city has three systems: the New York Public Library (Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island), Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library. A card gets you Culture Pass museum visits.
• Parks and pools: NYC Parks runs free outdoor pools in summer, plus beaches, courts and recreation centers.
• Trash and recycling: separate your recycling, and use curbside composting. Collection days are on the city's website.
• Notify NYC sends official alerts about weather, transit and emergencies.

Local news, explained

We explain what's changing in the city, like transit service, new rules and big projects, and what it means for your commute, your block and your wallet. Each story links to official sources.