When folks are scouring New York neighborhoods for the perfect apartments to call home, commuting time to work is nearly as important a consideration as the apartments themselves. New York is probably the only city in the country where someone would think about taking a junior one-bedroom with a tight galley kitchen and a small shower-only bathroom that’s close to transportation over a two-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath pad with a terrace, eat-in kitchen, and hardwood floors that’s 90 minutes from work.

People choose the city specifically because they want to live close to where they work and where they play. If your top priority is to live in a neighborhood that doesn’t require you to take a plane, train, and automobile to get to the office, read on to learn more about some of the most commute-friendly New York neighborhoods.

Financial District, Downtown NYC

Once upon a time, if you’d told someone you lived in NYC’s Financial District, they’d have looked at you like you’d grown three heads. Located around the city’s southernmost tip, no one lived there save for a few brave souls who didn’t mind not having access to things like toilet paper at 3 in the morning. Merchants didn’t open stores there — why bother? For a while, it seemed like the area would forever be a residential ghost town. But shortly after the 9/11 attacks, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation was formed to help with the redevelopment and reconstruction of lower Manhattan. A combination of tax and price cuts for potential residents and businesses alike helped give the area new life. Businesses and residences have sprouted up everywhere, transforming the Financial District from “No” town to “Go” town. You’ll find transportation options galore. Just take a look at the MTA subway map, and you’ll see that the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, R, A, C, E, and J trains are practically at your doorstep to take you anywhere you want to go. Most bus routes in the city end up here and start off here, so if it’s a leisurely bus ride you’re after, you’re in luck.

Union Square/Flatiron District

Union Square can be considered the nerve center of downtown. The area stretches from 14th Street to 17th Street north to south. The Flatiron District sits right on top of Union Square, so the two areas are virtually interchangeable. What makes it easy for people living in this area is that the Union Square subway station is a majorly important transportation artery for the city. The 4, 5, 6, N, and R trains are located right at the station, and the L train connects you to the west side A, C, E, 2, and 3 trains while providing easy access to Brooklyn.

Columbus Circle/Time Warner Center

Before the Time Warner Center burst onto the scene a few years back, the Columbus Circle area was well known, but it didn’t have the definitive identity that it enjoys today. The soaring, beautiful buildings that make up the area in and around the Time Warner Center include high-end retailers, Whole Foods, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and uber-luxe residences like One Central Park and 15 Central Park West. The subway station servicing the area is the 59th Street–Columbus Circle station, where you can find the 1, 2, A, B, C, and D. Many of the city’s bus lines pass in and around the area, and taxis are a cinch to catch.

Image Source: Flickr/Dirk Knight

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