Top 7 Best Neighborhoods In NYC to Live For Actors

New York City is arguably the biggest theatre hub in the world. Home to Broadway, actors and creatives flock to New York from all over the country looking to make it big in the theatre industry.

Ready to move to New York City?  Here are the best neighborhoods for actors to consider.

Harlem, NYC

Washington Heights

Upper Manhattan is an excellent choice for actors who want more bang for their buck. Compared to other neighborhoods like the Upper West Side and Hell’s Kitchen, Washington Heights is a much cheaper option for actors (while staying on the island of Manhattan.)

Washington Heights has also become increasingly safer over the years. By 2011, the neighborhood had one the lowest reported crime rates in Manhattan.

Most of the neighborhood businesses are locally owned - meaning you’ll find restaurants, bars, and shops rich in culture.

In terms of transportation, Washington Heights is served by two lines of the New York City Subway system. On the Eighth Avenue Line (A and C trains), service is available at 155th Street, 163rd Street–Amsterdam Avenue, and 168th Street. The C line ends at 168th Street. The A train continues and stops at 175th, 181st, 190th, and Dyckman Street. Along the Broadway-Seventh Avenue Line, the 1 train has stations at 157th, 168th, 181st, and 191st Street. A Subway ride from Washington Heights to Midtown takes roughly 30 minutes.

As for rentals, the average for studios is $1,700; for a 1-bedroom it’s $1,825; and for a 2-bedroom it’s $2,325.

Famous creatives who live or lived in Washington Heights include Stan Lee, Duke Ellington, and Paul Robeson.

Inwood

Located on the northern edge of Manhattan, Inwood is quickly gaining popularity. If you want to live on the island but still have some privacy, Inwood is the neighborhood for you. There is plenty of green space, new restaurants, and quiet retreats to escape to after a long day of auditioning.

Transportation by subway to Inwood is limited, with only the A train and 1 train running to and from the neighborhood. The A train stops at the Inwood–207th Street and Dyckman Street station along Broadway, at the 1 train stops at the Dyckman Street, 207th Street, or 215th Street stations along Tenth Avenue. A subway ride from Inwood to Midtown takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes.

As for rentals, the average for a 1-bedroom it’s $1,750; and for a 2-bedroom it’s $2,300.

Hamilton Heights

Hamilton Heights is a northwestern subsection of Harlem just below Washington Heights. Home to City College, the neighborhood runs from West 135th Street to West 155th Street. Hamilton Heights offers relatively affordable housing for actors on a budget. Many small shops, restaurants and coffee shops (notably the Harlem Public, The Grange, and the Chipped Cup ), and locally owned boutiques thrive in this neighborhood.

Hamilton Heights is served by numerous convenient subway and bus lines. By subway, you can take the A and D lines (express), B and C lines (local), and the 1 train. A subway ride from Times Square to Hamilton Heights takes roughly 20 minutes.

As for rentals, the average for studios is $1,800; for a 1-bedroom it’s $1,995; and for a 2-bedroom it’s $2,625.

West Harlem

Harlem is not the same neighborhood it was 20 years ago. Renovations to old buildings, new apartment complexes, tree-lined streets, and safer security have upped the desire for actors to live here. Harlem’s main artery, 125th Street, is home to the iconic Apollo Theater, as well as chain stores and restaurants. Not to mention, it’s rich in culture.

Best part about living in Harlem as an actor? It’s more accessible to Midtown than most outer-borough neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens. If you live close to the express trains, it should take only 15-20 minutes to get to your auditions!

By subway, you can take the A and D lines (express), B and C lines (local, and the 1 train. An express subway ride from West Harlem to 34th street takes roughly 15 minutes.

As for rentals, the average for a studio is $1,793; for a 1-bedroom it’s $2,323; and for a 2-bedroom it’s $2,981.

Famous creatives who live or lived in Harlem include Sammy Davis Jr., Maya Angelou, Neil Patrick Harris, Mandy Patinkin, Terrance Mann and Charlotte D’Amboise.

Upper West Side

The Upper West Side of Manhattan is the most expensive area of NYC to live in. When it comes to price, you’re mostly paying for location.

The pros? The neighborhood is just outside of Midtown to escape the noise, but close enough to auditions. For dancers, the UWS is the home to the dance studio, Steps on Broadway. With excellent mom-and-pop restaurants and shops, close proximity to Central Park, and Lincoln Center’s performing arts library at your fingertips, the UWS is a great place for actors to live.

As for rentals, the average for a studio is $2,517; for a 1-bedroom it’s $3,500; and for a 2-bedroom it’s $4,900.

Famous creatives who live in the Upper West Side include Tina Fey, Steven Spielberg, Denzel Washington, Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, Matt Damon, Antonio Banderas and Cyndi Lauper.

Hell’s Kitchen

Hell’s Kitchen is in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. If you’re an actor living in Hell’s Kitchen, your commute to auditions and rehearsals is less than a ten-minute walk. See a Broadway show, head to the gym, and grab some coffee all within a few steps from your apartment. Home to Restaurant Row, Hell’s Kitchen has also some of the best places in NYC to dine.

When Manhattan Plaza, two high-rises at West 43rd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues, was built in 1977, 70% of its 1,689 apartments were set aside as subsidized housing for those working in the performing arts. 

The only downside? The neighborhood can be super noisy and busy with tourists.

As for rentals, the average for a studio is $2,625; for a 1-bedroom it’s $3,275; and for a 2-bedroom it’s $3,495.

Famous creatives who live or lived in Hell’s Kitchen/Midtown West include Larry David, Timotheé Chalamet, Alicia Keys, Katherine McPhee, Mekhi Pfifer and P Diddy.

Astoria

Astoria is a large and diverse neighborhood located in Queens. T Compared to Manhattan, Astoria has relative affordable housing options with much more space. Astoria offers an escape for actors looking to get out of Manhattan when possible.

Known for its Greek restaurants, Astoria is chock-full of restaurants and bars. Evocative sculptures and murals are also scattered throughout the neighborhood.

This neighbordhood is just a 15 to 20-minute trip from Midtown Manhattan via the N and W subway lines.

As for rentals, the average for a 1-bedroom is $2,658; and for a 2-bedroom it’s $3,456.

Famous creatives who live or lived in Astoria include Christopher Walker, David Schwimmer, Ethel Merman, and Tony Bennett.

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