11. Harlem
Cost of Living Index: 149
Average Home Prices: $905,800
Crime Rate (Estimated value per 100k people): 1,975
Harlem made it to this list because of its great cost of living range. Living in NYC would most often mean you have to spend a good deal more on your basic needs, but Harlem makes it more affordable. A historically black area that has undergone a good deal of gentrification in the past 15 years–Harlem is still vibrant, if far less homogenous than it once was. Public transportation is easy, the A/C, D, 2/3, 4/5/6 subways all run there, as well as a MetroNorth station on 125th street. There are several regarded charter schools in the area and it is a quick commute to others. As renting becomes increasingly more expensive, this is still a neighborhood in which one can take advantage of the lower home prices and buy.
Copyright: kolinkotanya / 123RF Stock Photo
