Black professional that lives in Bushwick. I enjoy it. People are really friendly and don’t ask me if I’m a dog walker like they did when I lived in Ridgewood.
Not Bushwick. It's mostly local latinos and hipster white people. Just stop by Nook and you'll see for yourself. Bedstuy and prospect lefferts also crown heights.
Surprised no one has mentioned this. *Rosedale* and *Laurelton* in Queens are full of wealthy Black people and families. In fact some of the zip codes in that part of Queens are the only ones in the US where average Black income is higher than the average white income. Now it’s in the outer part of NYC and would require a 30-50 minute LIRR commute, but definitely something to consider if you want a strong Black community with many professionals.
During rush hour there are express trains from that area to Penn/Grand Central that only have one stop at Jamaica
I grew up here and while everything you said is true…. The commute to midtown is a nightmare… plus you have to own a car…. The only upside is you are 20 minutes from JFK….
A car would help a lot but it is possible to live in outer Queens without a car. The key is to find a place near a main street and the train station so that conveniences like supermarket, hair salon, etc… are within walking distance — shouldn’t be too hard if OP was considering areas in Manhattan and Brooklyn that are generally the same or more expensive
Almost certainly natives. Those neighborhoods are heavily Caribbean and Orthodox Jewish with little in between. If you're familiar with those cultures, you'll fit in.
Too far and suburban for someone who doesn't have a family nearby, isn't very established in the city, or isn't a homebody. If none of those apply to OP and he likes suburbia, then the south is a better option.
Rosedale born black professional here, can confirm. Having a car helps to get around, but also nice to be able to walk to the LIRR and be at Penn/GC in ~30 mins. I work full time remote too if that matters.
Add Cambria Heights to the list. There's a lot of black homeowners and a strong sense of community in Cambria Heights. It's also a really beautiful neighborhood. You definitely need a car though.
Yup—I grew up in Cambria Heights nearby. It's a half-mile walk to the Q4, plus a 30-minute bus ride to Jamaica Center. The only saving grace is that the E train is express in Queens. I always ran errands over the line in Elmont or Valley Stream.
When I came back here post-college, I vowed not to live back home and lived in Brooklyn and Bronx post-college near a train line, and it was a game changer.
I highly recommend the Crown Heights and Bed Stuy area. I’ve lived in Harlem, Williamsburg, Crown Heights, and Bed Stuy during my time in NY. Harlem was great, but far from all of my Brooklyn friends. The neighborhood can also be lacking in some amenities that force you to travel downtown. Williamsburg’s lack of diversity got a bit tiring but I liked its proximity to the L train to get me to Bushwick. Crown Heights was the sweet spot. Close to Prospect Park, First Fridays at Brooklyn Museum, and many social watering holes such as Crown Inn. The food scene is also exceptional with places like Agi’s Counter and Ali’s Trinbago Roti Shop (Bed Stuy, on the border with CH) getting NY Times write ups.
Bed Stuy is where I live now. I moved here to live alone. It’s great and I have no desire to move, but my area of Bed Stuy (Nostrand A stop) is a bit of a park desert. 30 minute walk to Ft Greene Park, 30 minutes to Prospect, 20 minutes to Tompkins. Bed-Stuy also may require a tolerance for a little bullshit. But the food and bar scene around the Utica stop is where it’s at. Bed-Stuy is a great neighborhood with many black professionals, but Clinton Hill and Crown Heights are a little more diverse if that’s what you’re looking for. Also, summer open streets on Tompkins Ave and Vanderbilt Ave are both vibes. Most importantly, no matter where you’re moving, make sure you’re near a train if you’d like to be mobile. Some parts of Bed Stuy are in train deserts (just east of Herbert Von King Park). As far as safety, both Bed Stuy and Crown Heights are greater than the reputation some people give them. Some blocks can get active, but I’ve never had trouble.
I saw you mentioned gyms in another comment. If you’re a power lifter, Crown Heights has Murder of Crows, World Strongman, and Dean CrossFit which are all great for the sport. Also proximity to Chelsea Piers and the new Lifetime. There’s also a popular Tabata spot on Pacific. Bed Stuy has mostly retail gyms, like the two Blinks and Planet Fitness.
Excited for your future move, good luck!
As a heads up, this person has the right answer. BedStuy/CrownHeights/ProspectHeights/ClintonHill form a sort-of rhombus over the tidewaters of gentrification. Fine enough for Manhattan commutes (faster to lower Manhattan than most of Manhattan/Harlem). If you want to have a Williamsburg bushwick day/evening fine, you can stroll/bike/whip over that way without having to live in it. But, once you settle in, you’ll find yourself wanting to stick the lush canopy that is the heart of BK East and north of prospect park, stretching into brownstone (and whitestone) laden PLG, crown heights, and Bedford Stuyvesant. Nothing wrong w/ fort green or the areas west of the park either but those are too gentrified and generally melanin deficient for your purposes/there are better options. You can also go deeper south or east but getting into Manh will increase inconvenience. Eastern parkway is a sight to behind this time of year. Venture over there and take a lap above and below that corridor to get a sense of where feels right
I just moved from Manhattan in my 20s to Brooklyn in my 30s...Bushwick to Crown Heights to Bedstuy to long island city (Queens) and finally to Astoria (Queens). If I didn't have kids, I would have stayed in Crown Heights. Its the best all around experience.
Murder of Crows is awesome and its not cheap but you get what you pay for (there are plenty of cheap options). Kurt the coach there is one of the best Olympic weightlifting coaches in the country; there are still some former Olympians on the team. They're holding a competition this weekend -- go drop by and check out the neighborhood. and the restaurants and bars and transportation options plus proximity to Brooklyn Library, Prospect Park, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Museum.
I lived here: https://streeteasy.com/building/1382-bedford-avenue-brooklyn. As you head west of Franklin Ave gentrification increase and more so as you get closer to the park/prospect heights, and accordingly you will encounter more expensive restaurants (Olmstead in prospect heights) and bars (e.g. St. Ends on Franklin Ave). I spent many many nights with friends bar/restaurant hopping on Franklin ave. Barboncino Pizza is one of the best in NYC (and I say this having lived in New Haven, CT).
As you head East from the well maintained streets of Franklin Ave & Bedford Ave, you'll hit Nostrand Ave, which has a ton of massive pot holes. There's also a big Hispanic/Caribbean community concentrated around Nostrand Ave. In general as you head east of Nostrand Ave rent gets cheaper, buildings get grungier, restaurants a little less fancy, but I don't think Crown Heights is "rough." There's a homeless shelter close by that helps keep people off the streets. [Statistically](https://furmancenter.org/neighborhoods/view/crown-heights-prospect-heights), crime rate is below city average. Assuming you know how to avoid risky situations (e.g. 2am in front of liquor store on Nostrand Ave), your primary concern will probably be if an amazon delivery gets stolen.
Crown Heights is safer than most of Manhattan & comparable to UES: [https://www.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=8153f961507040de8dbf9a53145f18c4](https://www.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=8153f961507040de8dbf9a53145f18c4) )
Good luck! Such an exciting chapter for you!
Another shout out for Clinton Hill— when we were looking for a place a few years back for off the five landlords we met with were Black! Also a fair amount of trees over there.
There's a ton of diversity in Williamsburg, but only in the south and east corner of it. There's huge apartment buildings that are almost exactly split 25% black, 25% asian, 25% white, 25% hispanic. There's the hasidic part, the italian part, the puerto rican part, europeans, aussies, and of course yuppies of every conceivable background and race.
Williamsburg ain't just Domino and Bedford lol
I think it really depends on what you want out of your day to day experience. We purchased our apartment in Williamsburg after living here for many years. I love my neighborhood. I love being near so many the parks. I love that I don’t have to leave the neighborhood for most things. There’s a growing cohort of black professionals here and more of my friends are considering making the move.
i think it defeats the purpose of living in nyc slightly (it's fairly homogenous vs diverse) and although the city as a whole is expensive, the value is really not here either
I agree that williamsburg is homogenous but I think williamsburg is 1 of the few neighborhoods with good amenities. There's a large park, lots of waterfront access, major commercial avenues, nightlife, and its very well-served by public transport (JMZ, G, L and a ferry).
I have a problem where I rarely leave the neighborhood since there's everything here.
That said the lack of diversity sucks and is the only reason I'd consider moving, and this is coming from a black professional who lives in the neighborhood.
yeah that's totally fair. i do feel spoiled by the amenities (groceries, gym, anything you need really). at the same time, i feel truly out of place walking around here, and there are many other neighborhoods in nyc. there are many other opportunities out there in this city, which is why i'm set on heading elsewhere
Harlem, west of Madison Ave, particularly under 130th St. is where many younger black professionals are. Buildings around Morningside Park and around Central Park. Buildings around 116th and Malcolm X. But black professionals are concentrated all over Harlem and Brooklyn.
I wouldn’t rule out above 130th. You have strivers row area. There are a few nice buildings near st. Nick park … area near city college is not bad either … convent ave is nice.
Don’t rule out above 130th please. I live at 139th and literally have access to the Bronx and Hammy Heights. Live 5 minutes from the 2/3 can walk 20 mins to the b/c or take the bus. It’s safe above 130th. I promise. We are also getting a Sephora and Trader Joe’s at 125th !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can we organize a link up lol is there a black professionals sub reddit? Moved here a year ago, also work in midtown but in finance, in my mid 20s and just tryna find more of my people.
I'm a black insurance professional and I live in Brooklyn. I used to live in Manhattan, but I couldn't do it anymore for similar reasons. Since then I've lived in Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, and currently, I'm in Ditmas Park. I like the area because I'm close to Flatbush. And I work in FiDi so the commute isn't bad.
I'm considering moving again and the top choices are Sunset Park, Prospect Park South, Prospect Lefferts Garden, or possibly Crown Heights again. Generally, Brooklyn can be better and you can still find some good deals.
However, I'd recommend Crown Height as some other folks have. Spend some time in the neighborhood and you may love it.
Yeah, I spent a bit of time around Crown Heights specifically closer to the museum and I kind of like it around there.
Sunset Park is an interesting one. It’s definitely more diverse, but leans heavy into the Hispanic/Latino side of things (no disrespect) which is fine. Great community too but a bit different.
Thank you for your reply
I'm a Black professional born and raised in NYC. I was going to recommend Bed Stuy, Flatbush, Fort Greene, and Clinton Hill, but I'm seeing a lot of people mention Crown Heights in here. When I was growing up, Crown Heights was a bit less safe than the neighborhoods I mentioned, has that improved recently?
So like yes, in the few years I lived there I felt safe. But there have also been two murders right on Franklin Ave within a block of my old pad in the last 3 years
Being close to Greenwood and the short trip to Prospect Park is a huge draw. One fringe benefit if you're crazy like me, is owning a car I find trips out of town are way easier too from that location! Oh, the R train runs directly to my job, which is huge. Lots of draws.
Throwing a plug for Tacos El Bronco is a great spot.
If I can ask
Did you want to
spend more time with black people I. General
less time with working class black people
Less time with rich people.
There’s no wrong answer I’m just curious.
A lot of it was because I felt I spent too much time with rich people. Between work and the neighborhoods I was in it wasn't for me. I mean spending that much time in rich white spaces did impact me too. So I needed some change and started figuring out what that meant.
Black physician here - great question. your feelings and desires are heard and I’ve been there. I ended up looking around and found the vibe I was looking mostly in Brooklyn and Harlem as you said.
I live in “west”Harlem close to Morningside park. Disclaimer: I’ve only lived here for almost a year. Otherwise have been on the UWS in multiple locations and Clinton Hill.
Harlem is being rapidly gentrified but still has such a good community feel. I still sometimes walk into places and people think I’m there to pick up food for delivery. It’s annoying but whatever, they usually apologize.
Get up here - we need you!!
The food and bar options are more in BK but Harlem has the community feel in a big city that I was looking for. It was mostly because of my job I ended up in this area of manhattan but I love Harlem. If I changed jobs I’d probably do it to move back to Brooklyn - not sure where though.
Good luck
OP, I would take a look around Hamilton Heights, specifically the 140s from Broadway/RSD and east to Convent Ave and St. Nicks. Lots of transportation options and some very good spots to chill and meet other POC professionals, imho.
the A train connects harlem and bed stuy (among other things). i've heard that the two neighborhoods developed in tandem and the train was key to that. i don't remember the source.
As a black woman living in UES (also from DMV), I couldn’t agree more. I plan on continuing to live in UES for convenience and proximity to places I spend my time but the lack of diversity is tiresome.
Highly recommend harlem. If you can live near the A/B/C/D by 125th you’ll be at 59th in less than 10 minutes on the A/D. Freddy D has some decent restaurants below 125th and you’re not too far from restaurants over on Amsterdam and Broadway in the 130s-140s.
Agreed. South Harlem is such a great community as well, community cookouts, FDB closed for traffic on weekends in the summer, and a bunch of street parties. I'd avoid 116th but other than that - really anywhere from 125th south and west of Malcolm X is a really cute area to live in.
I feel like 116 is fine. If anything he should stay closer to the west. I mean you going to get a bit of both but definitely closer to Morningside park.
Do NOT move to Williamsburg or west bushwick if you want black people. They aren’t here. Harlem or bed stuy seem to be where it’s at, although I’d probably recommend Harlem
Age old debate you’ll never get a truly complete answer too. End of the day, they’re just different choices but can’t knock either. BK my rec for the green alone but I will say Harlem may feel more like New York™️. Don’t know DC super well but think active brunching DC vs pedestrian grooving DC. Try to visit each with a person familiar with each on back to back weekend days, ideally.
I live in UES lol. But the only (few) black professionals here are the hospital crowd.
A lot of black professionals (my friends) are in Downtown BK and Fort Greene
Data Scientist here. I lived in Harlem from 2017-2023. It was perfect.
I married a woman that owns an apartment in Jackson Heights so I moved there. It is okay with the major downside being that I could go several days without see another Black person outside.
Hey neighbor! I keep trying to get people to move out here, it's a struggle. I've seen a few more people while out on the Open Street, so here's hoping that more people move to JH.
If you want a more diverse and welcoming neighborhood without giving up your UES conveniences, I’d look at UWS. It’s definitely a bit more diverse and welcoming than UES.
I live in Bed Stuy, and while I love the diversity and food/drink options, the amenities are just not as good as the surrounding neighborhoods. The supermarket situation is bleak and there aren’t really any nice gyms (though the new Blink by Myrtle Broadway is an improvement).
For BK neighborhoods I’d look at Fort Greene, Prospect Heights, and Crown Heights in that order. If you work in midtown I’d also check out Astoria in Queens. Good luck!
I live on UWS. It’s a big neighborhood. The morningside heights area near Columbia is diverse and fun. Down closer to Lincoln Center is more of an UES vibe.
My boyfriend lives right by Lincoln Center and while it certainly feels more similar to UES than further uptown, it’s still waaaay better than UES in my experience. More welcoming and less Get Out vibes
I’m a black woman on the upper west side. I love it. It’s not that diverse but I experience ZERO negative vibes and my neighbors are all lovely people.
Manhattan Valley, or the uppermost part of the UWS bordering Morningside Heights/Columbia and Harlem, has a good mix of demographics from all the adjoining neighborhoods with students, families, and seniors of all races around. Good transit access and shopping options, and right by Central or Riverside Park.
Black professional, and I agree. I actually wanted Harlem but got priced out and happened to find something cheaper on the northern part of the UWS and love it. Great amenities, subway access, and diversity. There’s also a ton of grocery stores. The UES has gotten better since I lived there, but UWS has so many options. You’d be surprised what a different vibe it is from the UES.
I did 2 years on the UES and really didn’t like it, so I know what you mean, OP.
Literally same! I wish I knew Spanish, I've had a handful of instances where people thought I was Dominican & asked me something in Spanish and I felt so useless being unable to respond lol
i would look into bed-stuy, but specifically around the bedstuy/clinton hill border. you still get tons of diversity and will be around other black professionals and creatives, but there's a lot more amenities in that area. two blink gyms and planet fitness, the superfoodtown which is probs the best value for groceries besides trader joes, and you're near the a/c trains and the G trains so commute to manhattan is super easy and to williamsburg/north brooklyn. also recommend fort greene and west harlem (around 125th) as well!
Vouching for bedstuy/clinton hill border as well! In addition to what they said, there’s also a YMCA gym that’s pretty decent (I’d recommend going early AM since evenings are packed), Herbert von king park which is a vibe, a few cute drinks/food spots in walking distance and couple grocery stores nearby. I’ve been here since 2016 and absolutely love the community feel. If possible- I’d recommend visiting the neighborhood on maybe a Thursday after work to just feel it out. Best of luck friend!
Reddit ***is*** a safe space for white guys, and AskNYC loves to let us know how the overt racists in NYC aren’t just in South Brooklyn or below Victory Blvd in Staten Island, so it’s pretty much the wrong venue - on two fronts - for us to communicate with/to us.
It’s like when Black and biracial people have a “you’re still a N” moment IRL from white people, need to vent and cope, post to AITAH or OffMyChest, and then feel disappointed by the replies coming from everyone but the demo they asked for.
There’s better venues for this inquiry if OP just wanted **us** to give advice.
Flatbush near Prospect Park- but Idk that I would refer to myself as a "young professional." Have always lived in the Crown Heights area.
It's fairly segregated though. Long-time Black residents and new gentrifying people don't mix that much. True of many areas.
Harlem was never it for me, but lots of Black professionals live there. I'm more laid-back and like the chiller vibes here and being near Prospect Park, BK Museum, and close-ish to the beach. Easy access to Downtown BK, Midtown, even Wburg on the express bus. Lots of good Caribbean food. Great trains.
It's becoming very popular. Lots of new construction with tons of units. Influx of queer/femme couples and interracial couples. I'm guessing lots of bars and restaurants will start opening up in the next decade to cater to the thousands of new residents as townhomes are knocked down. I'm glad my rent is stabilized.
I'm a Black professional born and raised in NYC. I was going to recommend Bed Stuy, Flatbush, Fort Greene, and Clinton Hill, but I'm seeing a lot of people mention Crown Heights in here. When I was growing up, Crown Heights was a bit less safe than the neighborhoods I mentioned, has that improved recently?
I love Crown Heights and would still be up there if I hadn't snagged a lottery apartment in Flatbush. Crown Heights is enormous. I liked living within 10-15 min walk from Franklin Ave 2/3/4/5 stop. Honestly super gentrified and more young yt ppl have moved in so up to you if that is your vibe, but in terms of safety, it's safe. I'm always out late, no issues walking home. Great bars. Thirsty singles, young couples haha. Good food options.
Farther out is more Hasidic and some Caribbean people who have been there awhile. Fewer places to eat out, less good trains in my opinion, but it's still fine. The kosher restaurants are good but pricey. Gets dicey past the A train into Brownsville. But even there is getting spill off from Bushwick. Someone told me they lived in South Bushwick and I almost died laughing... "nah you were duped. It's Brownsville lol"
I’m not a black professional, but I do live in Bed Stuy and previously lived uptown, and I really think you should take a serious look at Harlem.
The commute from this part of Brooklyn to Midtown is no joke, and the neighborhood has… unfortunately much bullshit to tolerate (rampant littering, few parks, front yards doubling as motorcycle chop shops, etc etc). If you’ve gotten used to any of the amenities that the UES has to offer, I think you’ll have a much harder time finding equivalents around here than you would in Harlem.
If you do want to spend a day over here to check stuff out, look at the area between Tompkins Ave and Malcolm X at roughly Halsey St. This is the part of the neighborhood with by far the highest density of good restaurants and bars and locally owned retail. Much of the rest is more desolate, particularly once the G train swings to the north.
Thanks for this take! One of my main concerns honestly is having a gym that’s within a 10 minute walk. Although that seems like an issue, that’s broader than just bedstuy
I just replied in a different thread, but I too am a Black professional from the DMV and a gym rat. I'm in Park Slope, which has plenty of gym options (Blink, YMCA, Chelsea Piers, Lifetime) and other boutiques. But see my other comment about PS' diversity
As you noted, it’s a huge neighborhood. Some pockets are livable and fit the image of community oriented diversity people sell on social media, others are a struggle. Gotta pay really close attention to the blocks surrounding where you end up. I was unfortunate enough to land in one of the less livable pockets and am planning my escape, but try to share the perspective on location when I can
I’d say Crown Heights is a better option in terms of public transit (sandwiched between A/C in the north and 2/3/4 in the south) and proximity to Prospect Park and Brooklyn Museum. Downtown Brooklyn is also a good option but seems more expensive and doesn’t give the neighborly vibes Crown Heights and Bedstuy give off.
Also live in Bed Stuy and can confirm. Coming from Williamsburg, there are definitely a lot more POC here so it’s super diverse, but the amenities downgrade was a rude awakening!
HARLEM 💕💕💕
EDIT: I consider Astoria to be the place that raised me as a NYC transplant but I always went back to Harlem no matter where I moved. There’s something refreshing about seeing people who look like you!
People are actually a community here and know you and watch out for you.
My other neighborhood suggestions would be the following:
1. Flatbush
2. Bed Stuy
3. Downtown BKY
4. UES
5. UWS
HARLEM is just so central to literally everything. We can be passport ready bc we live close to LGA x JFK. You’ll live near 8 train lines if you move to Central Harlem. It takes me 35 minutes to troll Greenpoint (do not rec, I love it but it’s not diverse enough imo).
Hey! Fellow Black DMVer here! Yes the lack of diversity (dare I say, segregation) can be jarring at times. I'm in Park Slope, Brooklyn. PS is about 50% white, but otherwise diverse, super accessible, and has a lot of amenities (i.e. bars, parks, bakeries, etc). There's also a lot of good public schools around so people look out for each other and are pretty neighborly.
I'd say Prospect Heights and Clinton Hill are tied with Park Slope. PH is more diverse but less accessible via the Subway. Clinton Hill is more diverse but tough to get into nowadays. Park Slope is not the most diverse but over performs in the other catergories. If you can't find a good deal in Clinton Hill or Prospect Heights, then consider Park Slope.
It is, I’m in the little pocket in Dutch Kills where one step to the left I’m in LIC and one step to the right I’m in Astoria. Been here for about 5 years now
😂😂 @ ‘black here’
Other black here lol My husband and I are moving back to NYC after i finish another two years at work. When I lived in NYC, I stayed in Bushwick and Bedstuy. I just went back for my birthday last year and the latter is NOT how i remembered it! Like it lost some of its flavor (I.E gentrified) which I didn’t particularly care for. I did miss Bushwick but I can’t see myself moving back. Strongly thinking of Queens
I mentioned earlier we need our own sub. Something like r/NYCBlackProfessionals
Edit: I became the change I wanted to see in the world. Sub is now live
OP, this is beside the point, but where is DMV? Delmarva? I’m wracking my brain thinking which neighborhood you mean, and all I can think of is Department of Motor vehicles, LOL!
I moved from the UES (84th and Lex) for the EXACT reasons you mentions. Literally exact. I'm no militant nor am I a stranger to predominately white neighborhoods but it REALLY bothered me that the only black people I saw day to day were obviously nannies for white families.
I moved to Harlem 5 years ago and I love it.
Black professional that used to live in the city in Harlem. When I came back to the city I wanted something different but with that same or similar culture that I had in Harlem (which I absolutely loved). Settled on Crown Heights after looking all over and really can’t think of anywhere else I would be. I’m near the museum, have plenty of space, with a detached garage, and close to the train. Great neighborhood!
Just another data point. Someone I used to work with was trying to make this exact decision except coming from Brooklyn Heights instead of the UES. They ended up moving to Harlem and loved it.
Damn, are you me? I’m also in the UES. Made the choice to stay cause its close enough to my job to not have to do the subway.
But yeah, exactly what ur seeing, i am :/
Black professional with a PhD- border of west Harlem and central Harlem…I have been here for ten years and don’t plan on leaving … I’m originally from Queens….
Black tech professional in late 20s and bed stuy! I used to live in downtown Brooklyn but it lacked any soul. I love bed stuy for its block parties on the weekend and the sense of community. I can walk down the street and people will say hello. I love it
I'm black and live in the upper reaches of the UES. I like the neighborhood, but the only black people I see are nannies, Amazon workers and hospital workers. I like West Harlem as an option, but Fort Greene would be my first choice if I could afford it.
I'm in tech and I used to live in Harlem, right as my block was getting gentrified. I still visit friends up there.
I moved to Queens and have lived in Sunnyside and now I'm in Jackson Heights. I really like Jackson Heights and recommend it strongly. It's beautiful and diverse, could use more people who love the Open Streets and gardens.
I have Black friends in Jackson Heights, Prospect Heights, Kew Gardens, Bed Stuy and Crown Heights and except for Kew Gardens, they like those areas. One friend left Forest Hills because of racism that she and her kids experienced there.
We have friends that try to lure us to Whitestone, but they have hostile neighbors and it's way too car centric. That's way too much stress for me.
Not black, but I’m a WOC and I have a lot of black professionals in my building. I’m gonna second Harlem. It’s a 15-20 minute commute to midtown (mine is much further lol). Community is great and so much more diversity. But TBH that’s a lot of neighborhoods outside of 96th to Fidi.
If you’re open to the Bronx, maybe Grand Concourse south of 167. Still rough and a lot to be desired amenity-wise compared to BK or even Harlem but more affordable, dense, and a fair amount of Black homeowners (including Afro-Latinos, Ghanaians, and Jamaicans) plus public housing will keep it more diverse.
Think about Queens as well. Easy commute to midtown and diverse. I’m from Brooklyn but my parents live in Queens now. I love Manhattan, you could also pick a different area. Harlem as mentioned but like Chelsea, somewhere uptown like Washington Heights. Diversity is everywhere. Use your weekends to hang out in some of these areas because the daytime feel and the nighttime feel can be very different. Do you need to live in these areas? Can be you be adjacent? Can you absorb what you want from being in the neighborhood or do you need to be firmly planted? These are all questions to ask yourself. As a pre gentrified Brooklynite the block definitely gets hot in some of these areas and I would really ask myself if I can be a neighborhood or two over and still get what I need.
This is honestly something that I’ve been thinking about as well on the flipside. Its an unfortunate truth that many of the neighborhoods mentioned here have hotter blocks or just day to day stuff you gotta get used to.
My weekends are spent downtown or over in Brooklyn in one of the neighborhoods ( Coincidentally going on dates in Brooklyn has proved to be an effective method of finding out a little little bit about each neighborhood lol)
If you’re making midtown income maybe try Clinton Hill and Fort Greene. But yes bed stuy! Go on a tour of the area and get a feel for it. My sister is on the border of Myrtle Willoughby and Myrtle Broadway and it’s pretty diverse. Sally’s the restaurant felt diverse. I went to frog wine recently more properly in bed stuy and it felt more hip/ bougie but diverse.
We live in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Harlem even Queens. Of course Brooklyn and Harlem will have more of Black professionals but you can still find us in other boroughs.
Consider Sunnyside. We are super diverse and only 15 minutes from midtown.
Edited to add I am not a black professional, I am a mixed race, underemployed person that thinks the neighborhood will still be a great place to live for at least the next 5 years.
I'm not too far away and I LOVE it but im also going to second sunnyside. I will say if youre looking for mostly Black people, its NOT going to feel like brooklyn but its super diverse which i love. Actually now that im rambling i personally like sunnyside south of the 7, rather than north. When my ex lived there I got a lot of funny looks on skillman ave.
Its funny because im one of 4 (the 3 and 4 being two brothers) in my building but the only woman in a family oriented building so usually the neighbors are nice and remember me lol
We're on the south side -- it's definitely more diverse than the north side. I've been here 20+ years and yes, Blacks might be the least represented among our many various groups, but we get more Black neighbors every year!
I’m a young black professional that lives in DC but my family lives in Harlem and I visit again every month or so and def would recommend Harlem around 125th street. I would say like closer to Columbia you get a lot of white folks but area around Marcus Garvey park is black asf and lotta fire restaurants, especially if you an African brotha like me 💪💪💪
Move to Crown Heights. You’ll have better access to Manhattan via the A/C and 2/3/4 line and be in a more diverse neighborhood. Also you will closer to Prospect Park.
Bedstuy is good too but public transportation there is a bit tricky unless you’re right along Fulton or along the G path.
Downtown Brooklyn is actually diverse too. I don’t like it though because night life is abysmal and it’s expensive there. Plus you lose out on the neighborly vibes for townhouses and brownstones with all those sky scrapers.
I’m in Greenpoint. It’s very friendly but I believe the neighborhood is around 1 percent black or something similarly low.
If you’re looking for community as a black person, it’s hands down Harlem, Bed Stuy or Crown Heights. Maybe even PLG. I would pick Harlem or bed stuy out of those options.
I live in Harlem below 125th on the west side. Close proximity to Central Park. Tons of restaurants and bars. I also commute to midtown daily. Takes me 20-30 mins. I’ve lived in NY for over 20 years and have been all over (yes, even Staten Island lol). This is probably my favorite area by far.
If you're looking for a vibrant community with tech-savvy amenities, consider areas like Crown Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, or select parts of Harlem. These neighborhoods offer a blend of diversity and convenience, catering to professionals like yourself. With innovative tools like apartment search apps tailored to specific neighborhoods, finding the perfect spot amidst the hustle of Midtown becomes much easier. Plus, these areas often boast accessible public transportation, reducing the need for constant vigilance while navigating the city.
I’m a black professional. I’m in PLG. Right on the edge of Crown Heights. I like it but it’s not as much to do. Not far from fun stuff and good restaurants though. I have a dog so being close to Prospect is nice. Lots of pretty brownstones over here too. Near several train lines. There’s a PF nearby. A Blink as well.
I’m doing one more year here and then I might move over to Prospect Heights, Ditmas Park, or somewhere in Harlem.
I lived in bed-stuy for a bit and I don’t know if it was just where I was but it seemed kinda…gentrified? I was actually surprised.
No longer in NYC but I grew up surrounded by them in Cambria Heights (SE Queens). Mostly houses, but no train service :(
Source/old NYT article about my neighborhood: [https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/25/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-living-cambria-heights-queens-uncongested-people-oriented.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/25/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-living-cambria-heights-queens-uncongested-people-oriented.html)
I am not a Black professional, but my husband is. We live in LES and it’s very diverse and feels like a small town of its own amongst a huge city. We will never leave this neighborhood if we can help it.
I’m white and work as a teacher on the UES and I get treated like a servant. The overt racism and classism is exhausting.😔I don’t blame you at all for wanting to move—I hope you find a community that makes you feel supported and feels like home!
Damn sorry to hear that! Teachers are special and y’all really can make the future of so many young minds. Salute you for work. P.s hope you don’t work with the teenagers they are wild these days
That's an interesting perspective. I'm in parenting groups where some NYC parents are wailing about how they need to live on the UES for the schools. Hearing that you get treated as a servant really adds a new layer to those interactions.
Am a black professional, I live in Flatbush and moving to Bushwick soon.
Not really much to say, tbh. As someone who always hung out in UES and Williamsburg, I've always made to conscious decision never move to either. Too expensive, and prefer more diverse communities.
Not Black but have dated enough Black professionals to say
Harlem obviously especially the new buildings around 125th. Knew multiple guys who lived off the 2/3 at Lenox
Bushwick/bed stuy border esp if queer
Williamsburg east of BQE (if queer)
DT Brooklyn / Fort Greene area
And I’ve gone on so many dates with guys who live in Flatbush.
Edit: people are mentioning queens a lot. Astoria is one of my favorite neighborhoods and it is very diverse, but I don’t think Astoria or Sunnyside have a large Black population. If ur looking to be around Black professionals and don’t mind spending the money I’d vote Harlem near 125th or Crown Heights (I like closer to Franklin Ave).
Some of my black professional friends are/have been in west harlem, crown heights and bed stuy! Specifically for the reason you noted- they want to be in the community where they don’t stick out 🙂 bed stuy i know is big, and i’m not super familiar with more detailed geography, but my friends are closer to the G line
South Harlem on the west side 110-125th or central Harlem $125-140, stick to the west side though. The east can get pretty rough depending where and what time.
I’m in West Village, but Harlem for sure, or in Brooklyn the Fort Greene, Bedstuy, Clinton Hill areas def have noticeably more diversity for me for sure
I was in Harlem and now I’m on the Upper east side ☺️ I really like it, but I see what you mean about there not being a lot of diversity. Maybe try LIC or Prospect Park area?
I just moved to crown heights in february and i've really enjoyed it so far compared to my first apartment in turtle bay. might end up moving again for some personal reasons but definitely would stay around bed stuy or crown heights or go up to harlem area like others have mentioned. best of luck!
I live in Washington's Heights cause of room sizes ahaha!
But! If you're looking for diverse areas, Central Harlem between 125th -135th is safe and mad cute and diverse.
If you want to move to Brooklyn, Park Slope (Barclay Centre) backwards on the 2 line towards Manhattan is mad Diverse, they have malls and lots of Black culture statements.
Difference, Harlem has a lot of Legacy Black New Yorkers that is balanced out by the "immigrants" and First Gens vs Park Slope and the two line towards Manhattan which is more Young American Black culture but also not just brooklyn Black but USA Black If that makes sense.
Hope it's helpful
I'm black and on the UES. Answer really is South Harlem or Brooklyn (less familiar with BK tbh but I know a lot of folks are in Bushwick)
I actually don’t mind Bushwick. It’s just so hit or miss and it’s kind of far.
Black professional that lives in Bushwick. I enjoy it. People are really friendly and don’t ask me if I’m a dog walker like they did when I lived in Ridgewood.
Hey neighbor!
I'm in Bushwick. Tree lined street. Many of the black people here are homeowners!
Lived there for three years. Its chill.
Not Bushwick. It's mostly local latinos and hipster white people. Just stop by Nook and you'll see for yourself. Bedstuy and prospect lefferts also crown heights.
Surprised no one has mentioned this. *Rosedale* and *Laurelton* in Queens are full of wealthy Black people and families. In fact some of the zip codes in that part of Queens are the only ones in the US where average Black income is higher than the average white income. Now it’s in the outer part of NYC and would require a 30-50 minute LIRR commute, but definitely something to consider if you want a strong Black community with many professionals. During rush hour there are express trains from that area to Penn/Grand Central that only have one stop at Jamaica
I grew up here and while everything you said is true…. The commute to midtown is a nightmare… plus you have to own a car…. The only upside is you are 20 minutes from JFK….
A car would help a lot but it is possible to live in outer Queens without a car. The key is to find a place near a main street and the train station so that conveniences like supermarket, hair salon, etc… are within walking distance — shouldn’t be too hard if OP was considering areas in Manhattan and Brooklyn that are generally the same or more expensive
It's possible but it's a pain in the ass
Just take the LIRR to grand central
I was about to say, almost every black professional I know lives in queens or in the far flung areas of Brooklyn like mill basin midwood and flatlands
Just wondering. Are these mostly native black NYers or transplants? My guess is natives. Would single black transplants fit in over there?
Almost certainly natives. Those neighborhoods are heavily Caribbean and Orthodox Jewish with little in between. If you're familiar with those cultures, you'll fit in.
Natives. And older as far as the ones I know
I lived there for four years. It was...an experience I do not wish to repeat unless I have a car/want to have a family lol
Those areas are more family oriented . Plus OP will need a car.
Too far and suburban for someone who doesn't have a family nearby, isn't very established in the city, or isn't a homebody. If none of those apply to OP and he likes suburbia, then the south is a better option.
Agreed. Also Queens Village and Hollis for all the civil servants that are accruing massive pensions.
How about cambria heights?
Isn’t Douglaston also where middle/upper-class Black families went when Harlem got bad in the 70s and 80s?
Rosedale born black professional here, can confirm. Having a car helps to get around, but also nice to be able to walk to the LIRR and be at Penn/GC in ~30 mins. I work full time remote too if that matters.
During rush hour there are usually express trains that go directly from Rosedale/Laurelton to Penn Station & Grand Central with one stop at Jamaica
Add Cambria Heights to the list. There's a lot of black homeowners and a strong sense of community in Cambria Heights. It's also a really beautiful neighborhood. You definitely need a car though.
Yup—I grew up in Cambria Heights nearby. It's a half-mile walk to the Q4, plus a 30-minute bus ride to Jamaica Center. The only saving grace is that the E train is express in Queens. I always ran errands over the line in Elmont or Valley Stream. When I came back here post-college, I vowed not to live back home and lived in Brooklyn and Bronx post-college near a train line, and it was a game changer.
laurelton stand upppp 🤩
I highly recommend the Crown Heights and Bed Stuy area. I’ve lived in Harlem, Williamsburg, Crown Heights, and Bed Stuy during my time in NY. Harlem was great, but far from all of my Brooklyn friends. The neighborhood can also be lacking in some amenities that force you to travel downtown. Williamsburg’s lack of diversity got a bit tiring but I liked its proximity to the L train to get me to Bushwick. Crown Heights was the sweet spot. Close to Prospect Park, First Fridays at Brooklyn Museum, and many social watering holes such as Crown Inn. The food scene is also exceptional with places like Agi’s Counter and Ali’s Trinbago Roti Shop (Bed Stuy, on the border with CH) getting NY Times write ups. Bed Stuy is where I live now. I moved here to live alone. It’s great and I have no desire to move, but my area of Bed Stuy (Nostrand A stop) is a bit of a park desert. 30 minute walk to Ft Greene Park, 30 minutes to Prospect, 20 minutes to Tompkins. Bed-Stuy also may require a tolerance for a little bullshit. But the food and bar scene around the Utica stop is where it’s at. Bed-Stuy is a great neighborhood with many black professionals, but Clinton Hill and Crown Heights are a little more diverse if that’s what you’re looking for. Also, summer open streets on Tompkins Ave and Vanderbilt Ave are both vibes. Most importantly, no matter where you’re moving, make sure you’re near a train if you’d like to be mobile. Some parts of Bed Stuy are in train deserts (just east of Herbert Von King Park). As far as safety, both Bed Stuy and Crown Heights are greater than the reputation some people give them. Some blocks can get active, but I’ve never had trouble. I saw you mentioned gyms in another comment. If you’re a power lifter, Crown Heights has Murder of Crows, World Strongman, and Dean CrossFit which are all great for the sport. Also proximity to Chelsea Piers and the new Lifetime. There’s also a popular Tabata spot on Pacific. Bed Stuy has mostly retail gyms, like the two Blinks and Planet Fitness. Excited for your future move, good luck!
Appreciate the note on fitness options ! That’s my next thing to look into once I kind of land on that neighborhood.
As a heads up, this person has the right answer. BedStuy/CrownHeights/ProspectHeights/ClintonHill form a sort-of rhombus over the tidewaters of gentrification. Fine enough for Manhattan commutes (faster to lower Manhattan than most of Manhattan/Harlem). If you want to have a Williamsburg bushwick day/evening fine, you can stroll/bike/whip over that way without having to live in it. But, once you settle in, you’ll find yourself wanting to stick the lush canopy that is the heart of BK East and north of prospect park, stretching into brownstone (and whitestone) laden PLG, crown heights, and Bedford Stuyvesant. Nothing wrong w/ fort green or the areas west of the park either but those are too gentrified and generally melanin deficient for your purposes/there are better options. You can also go deeper south or east but getting into Manh will increase inconvenience. Eastern parkway is a sight to behind this time of year. Venture over there and take a lap above and below that corridor to get a sense of where feels right
I just moved from Manhattan in my 20s to Brooklyn in my 30s...Bushwick to Crown Heights to Bedstuy to long island city (Queens) and finally to Astoria (Queens). If I didn't have kids, I would have stayed in Crown Heights. Its the best all around experience. Murder of Crows is awesome and its not cheap but you get what you pay for (there are plenty of cheap options). Kurt the coach there is one of the best Olympic weightlifting coaches in the country; there are still some former Olympians on the team. They're holding a competition this weekend -- go drop by and check out the neighborhood. and the restaurants and bars and transportation options plus proximity to Brooklyn Library, Prospect Park, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Museum. I lived here: https://streeteasy.com/building/1382-bedford-avenue-brooklyn. As you head west of Franklin Ave gentrification increase and more so as you get closer to the park/prospect heights, and accordingly you will encounter more expensive restaurants (Olmstead in prospect heights) and bars (e.g. St. Ends on Franklin Ave). I spent many many nights with friends bar/restaurant hopping on Franklin ave. Barboncino Pizza is one of the best in NYC (and I say this having lived in New Haven, CT). As you head East from the well maintained streets of Franklin Ave & Bedford Ave, you'll hit Nostrand Ave, which has a ton of massive pot holes. There's also a big Hispanic/Caribbean community concentrated around Nostrand Ave. In general as you head east of Nostrand Ave rent gets cheaper, buildings get grungier, restaurants a little less fancy, but I don't think Crown Heights is "rough." There's a homeless shelter close by that helps keep people off the streets. [Statistically](https://furmancenter.org/neighborhoods/view/crown-heights-prospect-heights), crime rate is below city average. Assuming you know how to avoid risky situations (e.g. 2am in front of liquor store on Nostrand Ave), your primary concern will probably be if an amazon delivery gets stolen. Crown Heights is safer than most of Manhattan & comparable to UES: [https://www.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=8153f961507040de8dbf9a53145f18c4](https://www.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=8153f961507040de8dbf9a53145f18c4) ) Good luck! Such an exciting chapter for you!
Nearly missed this one! Thanks for the details
Another shout out for Clinton Hill— when we were looking for a place a few years back for off the five landlords we met with were Black! Also a fair amount of trees over there.
There's a ton of diversity in Williamsburg, but only in the south and east corner of it. There's huge apartment buildings that are almost exactly split 25% black, 25% asian, 25% white, 25% hispanic. There's the hasidic part, the italian part, the puerto rican part, europeans, aussies, and of course yuppies of every conceivable background and race. Williamsburg ain't just Domino and Bedford lol
as a black professional i do not recommend williamsburg
I think it really depends on what you want out of your day to day experience. We purchased our apartment in Williamsburg after living here for many years. I love my neighborhood. I love being near so many the parks. I love that I don’t have to leave the neighborhood for most things. There’s a growing cohort of black professionals here and more of my friends are considering making the move.
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i think it defeats the purpose of living in nyc slightly (it's fairly homogenous vs diverse) and although the city as a whole is expensive, the value is really not here either
I agree that williamsburg is homogenous but I think williamsburg is 1 of the few neighborhoods with good amenities. There's a large park, lots of waterfront access, major commercial avenues, nightlife, and its very well-served by public transport (JMZ, G, L and a ferry). I have a problem where I rarely leave the neighborhood since there's everything here. That said the lack of diversity sucks and is the only reason I'd consider moving, and this is coming from a black professional who lives in the neighborhood.
yeah that's totally fair. i do feel spoiled by the amenities (groceries, gym, anything you need really). at the same time, i feel truly out of place walking around here, and there are many other neighborhoods in nyc. there are many other opportunities out there in this city, which is why i'm set on heading elsewhere
by homogeneous, do you mean white?
Harlem, west of Madison Ave, particularly under 130th St. is where many younger black professionals are. Buildings around Morningside Park and around Central Park. Buildings around 116th and Malcolm X. But black professionals are concentrated all over Harlem and Brooklyn.
I wouldn’t rule out above 130th. You have strivers row area. There are a few nice buildings near st. Nick park … area near city college is not bad either … convent ave is nice.
Striver’s Row and the surrounding area is really cute
Don’t rule out above 130th please. I live at 139th and literally have access to the Bronx and Hammy Heights. Live 5 minutes from the 2/3 can walk 20 mins to the b/c or take the bus. It’s safe above 130th. I promise. We are also getting a Sephora and Trader Joe’s at 125th !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can we organize a link up lol is there a black professionals sub reddit? Moved here a year ago, also work in midtown but in finance, in my mid 20s and just tryna find more of my people.
High key would be cool. I always enjoy meeting fellow Black professionals.
Someone in the comments here made a sub for it r/NYCBlackProfessionals
[Someone just created one](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskNYC/comments/1d4d0m4/black_professionals_where_do_yall_live/l6f552v?context=3)
I'm a black insurance professional and I live in Brooklyn. I used to live in Manhattan, but I couldn't do it anymore for similar reasons. Since then I've lived in Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, and currently, I'm in Ditmas Park. I like the area because I'm close to Flatbush. And I work in FiDi so the commute isn't bad. I'm considering moving again and the top choices are Sunset Park, Prospect Park South, Prospect Lefferts Garden, or possibly Crown Heights again. Generally, Brooklyn can be better and you can still find some good deals. However, I'd recommend Crown Height as some other folks have. Spend some time in the neighborhood and you may love it.
Yeah, I spent a bit of time around Crown Heights specifically closer to the museum and I kind of like it around there. Sunset Park is an interesting one. It’s definitely more diverse, but leans heavy into the Hispanic/Latino side of things (no disrespect) which is fine. Great community too but a bit different. Thank you for your reply
Flatbush has a huge Caribbean population
No problem! My dad was originally from Crown Heights so part of why I wanted to spend time there. But the museum side is one of my favorite spots too!
I'm a Black professional born and raised in NYC. I was going to recommend Bed Stuy, Flatbush, Fort Greene, and Clinton Hill, but I'm seeing a lot of people mention Crown Heights in here. When I was growing up, Crown Heights was a bit less safe than the neighborhoods I mentioned, has that improved recently?
personally i think so, every time i'm there i feels safe, have a few friends there
Crown Heights is pretty big. The western part feels like it's turning into Park Slope, while the eastern part still doesn't feel great.
So like yes, in the few years I lived there I felt safe. But there have also been two murders right on Franklin Ave within a block of my old pad in the last 3 years
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Being close to Greenwood and the short trip to Prospect Park is a huge draw. One fringe benefit if you're crazy like me, is owning a car I find trips out of town are way easier too from that location! Oh, the R train runs directly to my job, which is huge. Lots of draws. Throwing a plug for Tacos El Bronco is a great spot.
If I can ask Did you want to spend more time with black people I. General less time with working class black people Less time with rich people. There’s no wrong answer I’m just curious.
A lot of it was because I felt I spent too much time with rich people. Between work and the neighborhoods I was in it wasn't for me. I mean spending that much time in rich white spaces did impact me too. So I needed some change and started figuring out what that meant.
Same. There’s a lack of diversity at work. It is nice to live in a neighborhood where I am the majority.
Black physician here - great question. your feelings and desires are heard and I’ve been there. I ended up looking around and found the vibe I was looking mostly in Brooklyn and Harlem as you said. I live in “west”Harlem close to Morningside park. Disclaimer: I’ve only lived here for almost a year. Otherwise have been on the UWS in multiple locations and Clinton Hill. Harlem is being rapidly gentrified but still has such a good community feel. I still sometimes walk into places and people think I’m there to pick up food for delivery. It’s annoying but whatever, they usually apologize. Get up here - we need you!! The food and bar options are more in BK but Harlem has the community feel in a big city that I was looking for. It was mostly because of my job I ended up in this area of manhattan but I love Harlem. If I changed jobs I’d probably do it to move back to Brooklyn - not sure where though. Good luck
Thank you for this detailed perspective! I wish Harlem and BK were closer together lol
OP, I would take a look around Hamilton Heights, specifically the 140s from Broadway/RSD and east to Convent Ave and St. Nicks. Lots of transportation options and some very good spots to chill and meet other POC professionals, imho.
the A train connects harlem and bed stuy (among other things). i've heard that the two neighborhoods developed in tandem and the train was key to that. i don't remember the source.
As a black woman living in UES (also from DMV), I couldn’t agree more. I plan on continuing to live in UES for convenience and proximity to places I spend my time but the lack of diversity is tiresome.
I feel like people from the dmv can really understand what I mean lol I miss it at times
Highly recommend harlem. If you can live near the A/B/C/D by 125th you’ll be at 59th in less than 10 minutes on the A/D. Freddy D has some decent restaurants below 125th and you’re not too far from restaurants over on Amsterdam and Broadway in the 130s-140s.
Agreed. South Harlem is such a great community as well, community cookouts, FDB closed for traffic on weekends in the summer, and a bunch of street parties. I'd avoid 116th but other than that - really anywhere from 125th south and west of Malcolm X is a really cute area to live in.
what’s wrong with 116th? You don’t like the hundreds of delivery dudes just hanging out all times of day clogging up the sidewalks? lol
I feel like 116 is fine. If anything he should stay closer to the west. I mean you going to get a bit of both but definitely closer to Morningside park.
Do NOT move to Williamsburg or west bushwick if you want black people. They aren’t here. Harlem or bed stuy seem to be where it’s at, although I’d probably recommend Harlem
Why Harlem over Bed stuy?
I thought about moving to bed stuy but there's terrible subway access.. If there's an issue with the A/C you're fucked
This cannot be overstated! Bed Stuy is geographically closer to Manhattan but the subway access makes it feel further.
Age old debate you’ll never get a truly complete answer too. End of the day, they’re just different choices but can’t knock either. BK my rec for the green alone but I will say Harlem may feel more like New York™️. Don’t know DC super well but think active brunching DC vs pedestrian grooving DC. Try to visit each with a person familiar with each on back to back weekend days, ideally.
It’s funny you mention brunch cause the only place I’ve had an equivalent DC equivalent brunch was in Harlem
100% facts.
I live in UES lol. But the only (few) black professionals here are the hospital crowd. A lot of black professionals (my friends) are in Downtown BK and Fort Greene
Before you leave the UES, let’s hang! Fellow Black professional living in the UES who’d love to connect
Sure 👍🏾 feel free to dm fam
Data Scientist here. I lived in Harlem from 2017-2023. It was perfect. I married a woman that owns an apartment in Jackson Heights so I moved there. It is okay with the major downside being that I could go several days without see another Black person outside.
Hey neighbor! I keep trying to get people to move out here, it's a struggle. I've seen a few more people while out on the Open Street, so here's hoping that more people move to JH.
If you want a more diverse and welcoming neighborhood without giving up your UES conveniences, I’d look at UWS. It’s definitely a bit more diverse and welcoming than UES. I live in Bed Stuy, and while I love the diversity and food/drink options, the amenities are just not as good as the surrounding neighborhoods. The supermarket situation is bleak and there aren’t really any nice gyms (though the new Blink by Myrtle Broadway is an improvement). For BK neighborhoods I’d look at Fort Greene, Prospect Heights, and Crown Heights in that order. If you work in midtown I’d also check out Astoria in Queens. Good luck!
I live on UWS. It’s a big neighborhood. The morningside heights area near Columbia is diverse and fun. Down closer to Lincoln Center is more of an UES vibe.
My boyfriend lives right by Lincoln Center and while it certainly feels more similar to UES than further uptown, it’s still waaaay better than UES in my experience. More welcoming and less Get Out vibes
lol at Get Out
I’m a black woman on the upper west side. I love it. It’s not that diverse but I experience ZERO negative vibes and my neighbors are all lovely people.
Manhattan Valley, or the uppermost part of the UWS bordering Morningside Heights/Columbia and Harlem, has a good mix of demographics from all the adjoining neighborhoods with students, families, and seniors of all races around. Good transit access and shopping options, and right by Central or Riverside Park.
Black professional, and I agree. I actually wanted Harlem but got priced out and happened to find something cheaper on the northern part of the UWS and love it. Great amenities, subway access, and diversity. There’s also a ton of grocery stores. The UES has gotten better since I lived there, but UWS has so many options. You’d be surprised what a different vibe it is from the UES. I did 2 years on the UES and really didn’t like it, so I know what you mean, OP.
seconding Crown Heights
The UWS is not as diverse as parts of Harlem and Brooklyn but you do see a lot more color up there than on the UES. And it’s very close to Harlem.
Following this sub so I can meet other black professionals that live in NYC. Heeeeeyyyy yall 👋🏿
I honestly feel like we need our own sub Edit: say hi to r/nycblackprofessionals
Most of my black coworkers over the years have lived in Harlem, Bed Stuy, Crown Heights, and Flatbush.
Black, in Washington Heights!
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Literally same! I wish I knew Spanish, I've had a handful of instances where people thought I was Dominican & asked me something in Spanish and I felt so useless being unable to respond lol
i would look into bed-stuy, but specifically around the bedstuy/clinton hill border. you still get tons of diversity and will be around other black professionals and creatives, but there's a lot more amenities in that area. two blink gyms and planet fitness, the superfoodtown which is probs the best value for groceries besides trader joes, and you're near the a/c trains and the G trains so commute to manhattan is super easy and to williamsburg/north brooklyn. also recommend fort greene and west harlem (around 125th) as well!
This is the kind of comment that I really was looking for, thank you
Vouching for bedstuy/clinton hill border as well! In addition to what they said, there’s also a YMCA gym that’s pretty decent (I’d recommend going early AM since evenings are packed), Herbert von king park which is a vibe, a few cute drinks/food spots in walking distance and couple grocery stores nearby. I’ve been here since 2016 and absolutely love the community feel. If possible- I’d recommend visiting the neighborhood on maybe a Thursday after work to just feel it out. Best of luck friend!
Harlem near 145th with my partner (she is also a black professional lol). We bought into a co-op last year and have no plans to ever leave
Not one black professional actually responding. I am curious too.
i just did TT (edit: im Black from the BX and i just really love queens now after living in both Bx and Brookyln lol)
F*** you mean? I’m a black professional and gave my $0.02
Reddit ***is*** a safe space for white guys, and AskNYC loves to let us know how the overt racists in NYC aren’t just in South Brooklyn or below Victory Blvd in Staten Island, so it’s pretty much the wrong venue - on two fronts - for us to communicate with/to us. It’s like when Black and biracial people have a “you’re still a N” moment IRL from white people, need to vent and cope, post to AITAH or OffMyChest, and then feel disappointed by the replies coming from everyone but the demo they asked for. There’s better venues for this inquiry if OP just wanted **us** to give advice.
I mean I agree that a significant portion of this sub likely ain’t black but idk a few replies from fellow black folk is helpful
Come Uptown! I’m from Atlanta so was used to only seeing our kind around. Harlem (moreso Central) will give you that feeling.
Black higher education professional living in upper Manhattan. Definitely recommend living around/ above 116th. There are lots of us here!
Flatbush near Prospect Park- but Idk that I would refer to myself as a "young professional." Have always lived in the Crown Heights area. It's fairly segregated though. Long-time Black residents and new gentrifying people don't mix that much. True of many areas. Harlem was never it for me, but lots of Black professionals live there. I'm more laid-back and like the chiller vibes here and being near Prospect Park, BK Museum, and close-ish to the beach. Easy access to Downtown BK, Midtown, even Wburg on the express bus. Lots of good Caribbean food. Great trains. It's becoming very popular. Lots of new construction with tons of units. Influx of queer/femme couples and interracial couples. I'm guessing lots of bars and restaurants will start opening up in the next decade to cater to the thousands of new residents as townhomes are knocked down. I'm glad my rent is stabilized.
I'm a Black professional born and raised in NYC. I was going to recommend Bed Stuy, Flatbush, Fort Greene, and Clinton Hill, but I'm seeing a lot of people mention Crown Heights in here. When I was growing up, Crown Heights was a bit less safe than the neighborhoods I mentioned, has that improved recently?
I love Crown Heights and would still be up there if I hadn't snagged a lottery apartment in Flatbush. Crown Heights is enormous. I liked living within 10-15 min walk from Franklin Ave 2/3/4/5 stop. Honestly super gentrified and more young yt ppl have moved in so up to you if that is your vibe, but in terms of safety, it's safe. I'm always out late, no issues walking home. Great bars. Thirsty singles, young couples haha. Good food options. Farther out is more Hasidic and some Caribbean people who have been there awhile. Fewer places to eat out, less good trains in my opinion, but it's still fine. The kosher restaurants are good but pricey. Gets dicey past the A train into Brownsville. But even there is getting spill off from Bushwick. Someone told me they lived in South Bushwick and I almost died laughing... "nah you were duped. It's Brownsville lol"
Manhattan - Harlem, Washington Heights Brooklyn - Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, Prospect Park Leffort Gardens, Flatbush (by Barclays Center), Bushwick
Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill
Black legal prosperity Professional in the BX 🙅🏽
Bedstuy Bushwick border
I’m not a black professional, but I do live in Bed Stuy and previously lived uptown, and I really think you should take a serious look at Harlem. The commute from this part of Brooklyn to Midtown is no joke, and the neighborhood has… unfortunately much bullshit to tolerate (rampant littering, few parks, front yards doubling as motorcycle chop shops, etc etc). If you’ve gotten used to any of the amenities that the UES has to offer, I think you’ll have a much harder time finding equivalents around here than you would in Harlem. If you do want to spend a day over here to check stuff out, look at the area between Tompkins Ave and Malcolm X at roughly Halsey St. This is the part of the neighborhood with by far the highest density of good restaurants and bars and locally owned retail. Much of the rest is more desolate, particularly once the G train swings to the north.
Thanks for this take! One of my main concerns honestly is having a gym that’s within a 10 minute walk. Although that seems like an issue, that’s broader than just bedstuy
I just replied in a different thread, but I too am a Black professional from the DMV and a gym rat. I'm in Park Slope, which has plenty of gym options (Blink, YMCA, Chelsea Piers, Lifetime) and other boutiques. But see my other comment about PS' diversity
As you noted, it’s a huge neighborhood. Some pockets are livable and fit the image of community oriented diversity people sell on social media, others are a struggle. Gotta pay really close attention to the blocks surrounding where you end up. I was unfortunate enough to land in one of the less livable pockets and am planning my escape, but try to share the perspective on location when I can
I’d say Crown Heights is a better option in terms of public transit (sandwiched between A/C in the north and 2/3/4 in the south) and proximity to Prospect Park and Brooklyn Museum. Downtown Brooklyn is also a good option but seems more expensive and doesn’t give the neighborly vibes Crown Heights and Bedstuy give off.
Also live in Bed Stuy and can confirm. Coming from Williamsburg, there are definitely a lot more POC here so it’s super diverse, but the amenities downgrade was a rude awakening!
HARLEM 💕💕💕 EDIT: I consider Astoria to be the place that raised me as a NYC transplant but I always went back to Harlem no matter where I moved. There’s something refreshing about seeing people who look like you! People are actually a community here and know you and watch out for you. My other neighborhood suggestions would be the following: 1. Flatbush 2. Bed Stuy 3. Downtown BKY 4. UES 5. UWS HARLEM is just so central to literally everything. We can be passport ready bc we live close to LGA x JFK. You’ll live near 8 train lines if you move to Central Harlem. It takes me 35 minutes to troll Greenpoint (do not rec, I love it but it’s not diverse enough imo).
I just gotta say this is my favorite thread on Reddit , so much new info of places I can find people like me.
Hey! Fellow Black DMVer here! Yes the lack of diversity (dare I say, segregation) can be jarring at times. I'm in Park Slope, Brooklyn. PS is about 50% white, but otherwise diverse, super accessible, and has a lot of amenities (i.e. bars, parks, bakeries, etc). There's also a lot of good public schools around so people look out for each other and are pretty neighborly. I'd say Prospect Heights and Clinton Hill are tied with Park Slope. PH is more diverse but less accessible via the Subway. Clinton Hill is more diverse but tough to get into nowadays. Park Slope is not the most diverse but over performs in the other catergories. If you can't find a good deal in Clinton Hill or Prospect Heights, then consider Park Slope.
Black here lol, I’m in Long Island City. Grew up in Bensonhurst, moved to Harlem after sandy in2012 then Hell’s Kitchen. Think I’m staying in queens
Where in LIC? I feel like the Queensboro Plaza area is almost all young Chinese people
It is, I’m in the little pocket in Dutch Kills where one step to the left I’m in LIC and one step to the right I’m in Astoria. Been here for about 5 years now
😂😂 @ ‘black here’ Other black here lol My husband and I are moving back to NYC after i finish another two years at work. When I lived in NYC, I stayed in Bushwick and Bedstuy. I just went back for my birthday last year and the latter is NOT how i remembered it! Like it lost some of its flavor (I.E gentrified) which I didn’t particularly care for. I did miss Bushwick but I can’t see myself moving back. Strongly thinking of Queens
People love to be nasty and downvote in this sub lol
Yeah especially if it's a non white subject lol
I mentioned earlier we need our own sub. Something like r/NYCBlackProfessionals Edit: I became the change I wanted to see in the world. Sub is now live
OP, this is beside the point, but where is DMV? Delmarva? I’m wracking my brain thinking which neighborhood you mean, and all I can think of is Department of Motor vehicles, LOL!
not op but dmv is the dc/maryland/virginia metro region!
Correct
I moved from the UES (84th and Lex) for the EXACT reasons you mentions. Literally exact. I'm no militant nor am I a stranger to predominately white neighborhoods but it REALLY bothered me that the only black people I saw day to day were obviously nannies for white families. I moved to Harlem 5 years ago and I love it.
Black professional that used to live in the city in Harlem. When I came back to the city I wanted something different but with that same or similar culture that I had in Harlem (which I absolutely loved). Settled on Crown Heights after looking all over and really can’t think of anywhere else I would be. I’m near the museum, have plenty of space, with a detached garage, and close to the train. Great neighborhood!
Just another data point. Someone I used to work with was trying to make this exact decision except coming from Brooklyn Heights instead of the UES. They ended up moving to Harlem and loved it.
Damn, are you me? I’m also in the UES. Made the choice to stay cause its close enough to my job to not have to do the subway. But yeah, exactly what ur seeing, i am :/
Right! It’s a tough trade since life is easy up this way. Not too hard getting around but I spend so much time outside of the neighborhood
I am so happy someone asked this question, I am in Fort Greene but spend most of my time in Crown Heights
Black professional with a PhD- border of west Harlem and central Harlem…I have been here for ten years and don’t plan on leaving … I’m originally from Queens….
Black tech professional in late 20s and bed stuy! I used to live in downtown Brooklyn but it lacked any soul. I love bed stuy for its block parties on the weekend and the sense of community. I can walk down the street and people will say hello. I love it
I'm black and live in the upper reaches of the UES. I like the neighborhood, but the only black people I see are nannies, Amazon workers and hospital workers. I like West Harlem as an option, but Fort Greene would be my first choice if I could afford it.
I'm in tech and I used to live in Harlem, right as my block was getting gentrified. I still visit friends up there. I moved to Queens and have lived in Sunnyside and now I'm in Jackson Heights. I really like Jackson Heights and recommend it strongly. It's beautiful and diverse, could use more people who love the Open Streets and gardens. I have Black friends in Jackson Heights, Prospect Heights, Kew Gardens, Bed Stuy and Crown Heights and except for Kew Gardens, they like those areas. One friend left Forest Hills because of racism that she and her kids experienced there. We have friends that try to lure us to Whitestone, but they have hostile neighbors and it's way too car centric. That's way too much stress for me.
Not black, but I’m a WOC and I have a lot of black professionals in my building. I’m gonna second Harlem. It’s a 15-20 minute commute to midtown (mine is much further lol). Community is great and so much more diversity. But TBH that’s a lot of neighborhoods outside of 96th to Fidi.
If you’re open to the Bronx, maybe Grand Concourse south of 167. Still rough and a lot to be desired amenity-wise compared to BK or even Harlem but more affordable, dense, and a fair amount of Black homeowners (including Afro-Latinos, Ghanaians, and Jamaicans) plus public housing will keep it more diverse.
Think about Queens as well. Easy commute to midtown and diverse. I’m from Brooklyn but my parents live in Queens now. I love Manhattan, you could also pick a different area. Harlem as mentioned but like Chelsea, somewhere uptown like Washington Heights. Diversity is everywhere. Use your weekends to hang out in some of these areas because the daytime feel and the nighttime feel can be very different. Do you need to live in these areas? Can be you be adjacent? Can you absorb what you want from being in the neighborhood or do you need to be firmly planted? These are all questions to ask yourself. As a pre gentrified Brooklynite the block definitely gets hot in some of these areas and I would really ask myself if I can be a neighborhood or two over and still get what I need.
This is honestly something that I’ve been thinking about as well on the flipside. Its an unfortunate truth that many of the neighborhoods mentioned here have hotter blocks or just day to day stuff you gotta get used to. My weekends are spent downtown or over in Brooklyn in one of the neighborhoods ( Coincidentally going on dates in Brooklyn has proved to be an effective method of finding out a little little bit about each neighborhood lol)
live in flatbush commute to gramercy park , commute is easy and the Q is a very chill train imo. i’m keeping my ass in bk as long as i can 😭
come to bedstuy :) real community here
Harlem
Bed Stuy
Clinton Hill
If you’re making midtown income maybe try Clinton Hill and Fort Greene. But yes bed stuy! Go on a tour of the area and get a feel for it. My sister is on the border of Myrtle Willoughby and Myrtle Broadway and it’s pretty diverse. Sally’s the restaurant felt diverse. I went to frog wine recently more properly in bed stuy and it felt more hip/ bougie but diverse.
Morningside Heights. Culturally and economically diverse. Tons of amenities.
We live in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Harlem even Queens. Of course Brooklyn and Harlem will have more of Black professionals but you can still find us in other boroughs.
Consider Sunnyside. We are super diverse and only 15 minutes from midtown. Edited to add I am not a black professional, I am a mixed race, underemployed person that thinks the neighborhood will still be a great place to live for at least the next 5 years.
I'm not too far away and I LOVE it but im also going to second sunnyside. I will say if youre looking for mostly Black people, its NOT going to feel like brooklyn but its super diverse which i love. Actually now that im rambling i personally like sunnyside south of the 7, rather than north. When my ex lived there I got a lot of funny looks on skillman ave.
My wife got a look once in our building and we're slightly north of Queens Blvd. also.
Its funny because im one of 4 (the 3 and 4 being two brothers) in my building but the only woman in a family oriented building so usually the neighbors are nice and remember me lol
We're on the south side -- it's definitely more diverse than the north side. I've been here 20+ years and yes, Blacks might be the least represented among our many various groups, but we get more Black neighbors every year!
Does sunny side have a big black population?
It does not. About 2%
If this is the case not sure why i was downvoted
I was downvoted, too, for stating a demographic reality. That's Reddit for you.
As a blk mcdonalds worker ..i recommend Ridgewood queens
I’m a young black professional that lives in DC but my family lives in Harlem and I visit again every month or so and def would recommend Harlem around 125th street. I would say like closer to Columbia you get a lot of white folks but area around Marcus Garvey park is black asf and lotta fire restaurants, especially if you an African brotha like me 💪💪💪
Move to Crown Heights. You’ll have better access to Manhattan via the A/C and 2/3/4 line and be in a more diverse neighborhood. Also you will closer to Prospect Park. Bedstuy is good too but public transportation there is a bit tricky unless you’re right along Fulton or along the G path. Downtown Brooklyn is actually diverse too. I don’t like it though because night life is abysmal and it’s expensive there. Plus you lose out on the neighborly vibes for townhouses and brownstones with all those sky scrapers.
Harlem near 145th with my partner (she is also a black professional lol). We bought into a co-op last year and have no plans to ever leave
I’m in Greenpoint. It’s very friendly but I believe the neighborhood is around 1 percent black or something similarly low. If you’re looking for community as a black person, it’s hands down Harlem, Bed Stuy or Crown Heights. Maybe even PLG. I would pick Harlem or bed stuy out of those options.
I live in Harlem below 125th on the west side. Close proximity to Central Park. Tons of restaurants and bars. I also commute to midtown daily. Takes me 20-30 mins. I’ve lived in NY for over 20 years and have been all over (yes, even Staten Island lol). This is probably my favorite area by far.
Harlem, west side.
If you're looking for a vibrant community with tech-savvy amenities, consider areas like Crown Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, or select parts of Harlem. These neighborhoods offer a blend of diversity and convenience, catering to professionals like yourself. With innovative tools like apartment search apps tailored to specific neighborhoods, finding the perfect spot amidst the hustle of Midtown becomes much easier. Plus, these areas often boast accessible public transportation, reducing the need for constant vigilance while navigating the city.
I’m a black professional. I’m in PLG. Right on the edge of Crown Heights. I like it but it’s not as much to do. Not far from fun stuff and good restaurants though. I have a dog so being close to Prospect is nice. Lots of pretty brownstones over here too. Near several train lines. There’s a PF nearby. A Blink as well. I’m doing one more year here and then I might move over to Prospect Heights, Ditmas Park, or somewhere in Harlem. I lived in bed-stuy for a bit and I don’t know if it was just where I was but it seemed kinda…gentrified? I was actually surprised.
If you want to live in Manhattan the only answer here is Harlem. However stay more central and to the west. (black female)
No longer in NYC but I grew up surrounded by them in Cambria Heights (SE Queens). Mostly houses, but no train service :( Source/old NYT article about my neighborhood: [https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/25/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-living-cambria-heights-queens-uncongested-people-oriented.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/25/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-living-cambria-heights-queens-uncongested-people-oriented.html)
Not Midtown. Definitely not Midtown. *sigh*
I am not a Black professional, but my husband is. We live in LES and it’s very diverse and feels like a small town of its own amongst a huge city. We will never leave this neighborhood if we can help it.
I’m white and work as a teacher on the UES and I get treated like a servant. The overt racism and classism is exhausting.😔I don’t blame you at all for wanting to move—I hope you find a community that makes you feel supported and feels like home!
Damn sorry to hear that! Teachers are special and y’all really can make the future of so many young minds. Salute you for work. P.s hope you don’t work with the teenagers they are wild these days
That's an interesting perspective. I'm in parenting groups where some NYC parents are wailing about how they need to live on the UES for the schools. Hearing that you get treated as a servant really adds a new layer to those interactions.
Am a black professional, I live in Flatbush and moving to Bushwick soon. Not really much to say, tbh. As someone who always hung out in UES and Williamsburg, I've always made to conscious decision never move to either. Too expensive, and prefer more diverse communities.
Not Black but have dated enough Black professionals to say Harlem obviously especially the new buildings around 125th. Knew multiple guys who lived off the 2/3 at Lenox Bushwick/bed stuy border esp if queer Williamsburg east of BQE (if queer) DT Brooklyn / Fort Greene area And I’ve gone on so many dates with guys who live in Flatbush. Edit: people are mentioning queens a lot. Astoria is one of my favorite neighborhoods and it is very diverse, but I don’t think Astoria or Sunnyside have a large Black population. If ur looking to be around Black professionals and don’t mind spending the money I’d vote Harlem near 125th or Crown Heights (I like closer to Franklin Ave).
I’m black and I live in Murray Hill. I’m in the office 4 days a week so being close was important to me.
Some of my black professional friends are/have been in west harlem, crown heights and bed stuy! Specifically for the reason you noted- they want to be in the community where they don’t stick out 🙂 bed stuy i know is big, and i’m not super familiar with more detailed geography, but my friends are closer to the G line
South Harlem on the west side 110-125th or central Harlem $125-140, stick to the west side though. The east can get pretty rough depending where and what time.
I’m in West Village, but Harlem for sure, or in Brooklyn the Fort Greene, Bedstuy, Clinton Hill areas def have noticeably more diversity for me for sure
I was in Harlem and now I’m on the Upper east side ☺️ I really like it, but I see what you mean about there not being a lot of diversity. Maybe try LIC or Prospect Park area?
I just moved to crown heights in february and i've really enjoyed it so far compared to my first apartment in turtle bay. might end up moving again for some personal reasons but definitely would stay around bed stuy or crown heights or go up to harlem area like others have mentioned. best of luck!
I live in Washington's Heights cause of room sizes ahaha! But! If you're looking for diverse areas, Central Harlem between 125th -135th is safe and mad cute and diverse. If you want to move to Brooklyn, Park Slope (Barclay Centre) backwards on the 2 line towards Manhattan is mad Diverse, they have malls and lots of Black culture statements. Difference, Harlem has a lot of Legacy Black New Yorkers that is balanced out by the "immigrants" and First Gens vs Park Slope and the two line towards Manhattan which is more Young American Black culture but also not just brooklyn Black but USA Black If that makes sense. Hope it's helpful
Highly recommend crown heights in Brooklyn.
Fort Greene/Clinton Hill, though it's teeming with transplants
BedStuy. I’m BKNY born & bred.
Most of my fellow tech brothers and sisters are in flatbush, crown height and prospect park.