Style Showdown: Apartments vs. Houses in New York City Neighborhoods

Moving to New York City is a big undertaking, especially if you're weighing not just where to live but what to live in. Many newcomers don’t realize that New York isn't just comprised of apartments. You can absolutely rent a house here: a brownstone in Brooklyn, a row house in Queens, a townhome in Manhattan. The real question is what makes sense for your lifestyle.  

The honest answer depends on three things: your budget, how much space you actually need, and which neighborhood you want to land in. Below, we break down the real tradeoffs between apartments and houses, then walk through five apartment-heavy and five house-heavy NYC neighborhoods so you can picture where each fits. 

Apartment vs. Houses in New York City: The Real Tradeoffs

Before you fall for a photo of a garden stoop, it helps to know what actually changes when you rent a house instead of an apartment in NYC. 

  The short version: apartments win on price and convenience, houses win on space and privacy. In NYC, house rentals are the harder unicorn to catch. Now let's look at where each rental type actually clusters. 

Apartment-Heavy NYC Neighborhoods 

These neighborhoods are dominated by apartment living, from converted warehouses to glass towers to classic walk-ups. 

Downtown Brooklyn | Brooklyn

Downtown Brooklyn mixes colleges, government buildings, and a fast-growing skyline of residential high-rises. Renters get state-of-the-art amenities, a lively arts scene, and trendy restaurants within walking distance. It's one of the borough's most apartment-dense pockets. 

• Average one-bedroom apartment:  $1,603/month 

• Average one-bedroom size: 960 square feet 

Tribeca | Manhattan

Tribeca blends renovated loft-style spaces with sleek mid-rises. Renters gravitate to this waterfront neighborhood for its generous apartment layouts, easy access to Hudson River Park, and reputation for quiet elegance and strong schools. It's one of Manhattan's priciest addresses, and it looks the part. 

• Average one-bedroom apartment: $6,555/month 

• Average one-bedroom size: 587 square feet 

Financial District | Manhattan

Even in a skyline as dramatic as New York's, the Financial District stands out for its mix of geometric towers and renovated walk-ups, many with waterfront views. A wave of office-to-residential conversions has added thousands of modern apartments, plus the restaurants and gyms that follow new residents. Weekdays hum with energy; nights are quieter, aside from the buzz on Stone Street. 

• Average one-bedroom apartment rent: $5,239/month 

• Average one-bedroom size: 594 square feet 

Belmont | Bronx 

Belmont radiates old-world charm, anchored by the Arthur Avenue food scene and bordered by the Bronx Zoo. You'll find walk-ups and low-rise buildings with Art Deco and Tudor touches, and a roughly half-hour commute to Midtown. It's especially popular with Fordham University students. Best of all, it's the most affordable neighborhood on this list. 

• Average one-bedroom apartment: roughly $1,413/month 

• Average one-bedroom size: 425 square feet 

Stapleton | Staten Island 

In Stapleton, modern apartments with scenic bay views are rising fast along the waterfront, and old warehouses keep getting converted into live-work studios that draw artists. Residents love how walkable it is, and it's a short train ride to the St. George Ferry Terminal for an easy trip into Manhattan. 

• Average one-apartment rent: $2,295/month

• Average one-bedroom size: 587 square feet 

House-Heavy NYC Neighborhoods 

There are houses in New York available for rent! You just have to know where to look and be ready to pay for the space. These neighborhoods have the highest concentration of brownstones, row houses, and townhomes for rent. Keep in mind that whole-house rentals are scarce and priced largely by size and condition. 

Park Slope | Brooklyn 

Park Slope's laid-back vibe, top-rated schools, farmers markets, and Prospect Park access make it one of the city's most sought-after neighborhoods. Its tree-lined side streets are famous for historic townhomes and brownstones — think wrought-iron gates, stoops, and ornate interior woodwork. 

Murray Hill | Manhattan 

Row house after row house defines Murray Hill, a neighborhood of quiet days and busy nights. Homes here have character, defined by walk-out balconies and below-street-level entrances. Don't miss Sniffen Court, a tucked-away set of former 1860s carriage houses. Apartments in Murray Hill go for a steep price, and homes are no different.  

Brooklyn Heights | Brooklyn 

From low-rise buildings to pre–Civil War homes, Brooklyn Heights is beloved for its stunning streetscapes near the Promenade. Pre-war homes rise three to four stories, many with private gardens out back; you'll find historic mansions on Pierrepont Street, early-1800s wood homes on Middagh Street, and brick Federal-style houses along Willow Street. It's also one of the clearest places to see the apartment-versus-house premium in action. 

Ditmars-Steinway | Queens 

Ditmars-Steinway was originally built in the 1870s for employees of the Steinway & Sons piano company. Today it's a favorite corner of Astoria, known for row houses, short city commutes, and excellent schools. The row houses are typically one- or two-family homes in red-brick masonry, often with a small backyard or garage — a rare combo at a relatively gentle price. 

Midtown East | Manhattan 

Whether it's Turtle Bay or Sutton Square, townhomes abound in Midtown East. Turtle Bay's townhomes are characteristically three levels with entrances below street level, while Sutton Square homes climb up to five stories, in a range of colors and stonework, some crowned with rooftop gardens overlooking the East River. 

How to Decide Apartments vs. Houses in New York City: A Quick Gut Check 

Still torn between an apartment and a house? Run through these four questions: 

1. What's your hard budget ceiling? Houses almost always cost more per month, so if price is the priority, apartments give you more neighborhoods to choose from. 

2. Do you need private outdoor space? A yard, garden, or stoop is the single biggest reason to hold out for a house. If you can live without it, an apartment opens up far more options. 

3. How much maintenance are you willing to own? House rentals often shift snow removal, trash, and small repairs onto you. Apartments usually hand that to building staff. 

4. How big is your household? Solo renters and couples are often best served by apartments; families and roommate groups tend to get more value from a house. 

Whichever way you lean, the smartest move is to compare real listings side by side in the neighborhoods you're eyeing — apartment and house alike. 

Discover Your New Home 

Ready to see what's out there? Start your New York City search on Apartments.com and filter by neighborhood, rental type, and budget to find the place that fits your life. and filter by neighborhood, rental type, and budget to find the place that fits your life. 

Rent figures are current as of July 2026 and drawn from Apartments.com rental data. 

This article was originally published on August 2, 2018, and has been updated.