Brooklyn vs. Queens: Which borough is right for you?

For many decades, people from all over the world have been gravitating toward New York City. New York was, and still is, one of the most desirable locations to live on planet earth. As a result, some of its boroughs, which were perhaps considered even dangerous only a few decades ago, are now its main attractions. Brooklyn and Queens are most certainly some of them. The fact that people are constantly moving in those boroughs naturally enhances the quality of the moving services. The profile of the entire NYC moving industry has become one of the highest in the world. It’s fair to say that some of the esteemed moving companies NYC that we work with are some of the world’s finest moving companies. As for the dilemma of Brooklyn vs. Queens: which borough is right for you, the answer lies within you. It’s a matter of your circumstances, affinities, and possibilities.

Brooklyn vs. Queens: What are some of the key differences?

Both of these boroughs have become incredibly trendy over the last couple of years, thanks to the unbearable costs of living in Manhattan. Simply, people are looking for more reasonable alternatives. Even the young professionals who can afford the Manhattan lifestyle refuse to engage in competing with its ever-rising prices and are looking for a way out. It’s precisely because of them that Brooklyn is now known as the “New Manhattan”. These perpetual social migrations made movers Brooklyn boasts have their hands full over the last ten or so years.

Manhattan street
Brooklyn vs. Queens: which borough is right for you?
Still, choosing between Brooklyn and Queens is not only a matter of money. Despite becoming more and more trendy as years go by, Queens manages to retain its sub-urban, culturally diverse vibe. It’s a borough that is still slightly rough around the edges, one might say. On the other hand, Brooklyn is a proper hip place, almost completely devoid of anything truly unpredictable. Those who stayed in Manhattan tend to refer to it as a poor man’s Manhattan, which is sure derogatory, but also mostly true. Consequently, Brooklyn is mostly getting populated by the Manhattan crowd. Likewise, Brooklynites squeezed out by the coming Manhattanites go to Queens, together with an occasional less demanding Manhattanite. Which provides plenty of work for all of residential movers NYC offers.

How to determine which borough is right for you?

Before you get in touch with movers Queens or those based in Brooklyn, you need to determine which of those two boroughs is your cup of tea. The answer to that question basically boils down to your personal affinities and social habits. If you like diversity and sub-urban vibes, a less sterile everyday life, then Queens is a place to go. The fact that Queens has one of the largest populations of foreign-born residents in the world certainly has something to do with it.

The image of Brooklyn Bridge is good when comparing Brooklyn vs. Queens
Brooklyn is a proper hip place, almost completely devoid of anything truly unpredictable
Brooklyn, on the other hand, is much more refined and classy. It has a touch of elitism to it, but not like Manhattan where that irritating vibe of entitlement literally screams at you. Some of the most significant things about Brooklyn, that may give it a certain advantage over Queens are:
  • It’s an ever-growing and incredibly diverse dining scene. Food trucks are slowly but surely becoming one of Brooklyn’s main trademarks, together with the open-air market and Smorgasburg.
  • A solid nightlife – less costly and less overcrowded than in Manhattan, but pretty much the same quality-wise, if not even better in some aspects. One of the things that make nightclubs in Brooklyn more enjoyable is certainly the lack of tourists, who are still afraid to cross the Brooklyn Bridge for some reason.
  • Daytime attractions for your entertainment. For those looking to have some fun, heading on over to Coney Island is the thing to do. Then again, if you’re looking for some zen amidst the hectic madness of the city, you can always pay a visit to Brooklyn Botanic Garden. All these combined will make you gravitate towards Brooklyn if you’re asking yourself the question Brooklyn vs. Queens: which borough is right for you?

Comparing the views and scenery

Both places have amazing views of the famous Manhattan skyline, you just need to know where to look. Other than the skyline view, both Brooklyn and Queens offer lovely movie-like views that can be seen only in these boroughs. Even though you may think that you need to spend a fortune to enjoy these views, it’s really not that hard to do. A good tip for getting a good view of the city is finding a neighborhood that borders the East River. Neighborhoods with the best views in Brookly would probably be Williamsburg and Greenpoint, while the nicest view in Queens would be Astoria.

The view of the Manhattan skyline can help you decide between Brooklyn vs. Queens: which borough is right for you
Both Brooklyn and Queens offer a view of the famous skyline, you just need to know where to be

All the neighborhoods mentioned (as well as many others in these two boroughs) have amazing culture and street atmosphere. All filled with people coming from different cultures, they have merged and created specific neighborhood cultures and vibes. For example, Williamsburg is known for its hip style, street fashion, and people creating new art forms. Astoria is one of the places with the best restaurants and some nice parks to enjoy the sun at. If you love street food and food trucks, you’ll find some of the best ones in Brooklyn. A number of commercial movers Brooklyn offers have assisted businesses in moving to this borough because of its unique feel.

Commuting in Brooklyn vs. Queens

Approximately 4.3 million New Yorkers use the subway each day. Being one of the largest and oldest transit systems in the world, the NYC subway is pretty convenient. Depending on which neighborhood in these two boroughs you chose to move to, you will have a smooth commute to the city, in most cases. When deciding about Brooklyn vs. Queens: which borough is right for you can depend on where your work is located. For example, if you are working in Midtown, it’s better to consider Queens. If your job is located in lower Manhattan, then Brooklyn would be a better option.

When comparing commuting times, you can expect about a 50-minute ride from Central Brooklyn on the F train and a 47-minute ride from Central Queens on the E  train. Brooklyn might be the better option for local commuters because of the number of trains and stations. There are 157 stations in this borough and they cover every corner of it. There are 78 stations and 8 lines that serve Queens. If there is no convenient train, you can always catch a bus to your destination. Both boroughs are quite convenient, it’s just that Brooklyn makes it a bit easier to get around.

Coworkers waiting for a train in NYC
Brooklyn vs. Queens: which borough is right for you can depend on where your work is located

Brooklyn vs. Queens: The monetary aspect

Money is, of course, one of the most important factors when it comes to making a decision on where to relocate. The costs are to be carefully considered even with local movers NYC, let alone interstate. In that regard, it is important to know that Brooklyn is naturally more costly overall, but that the gap between Brooklyn and Queens in that regard is getting smaller with every passing year. Right now, an apartment of the same quality and size that’s in Queens costs around 500 dollars less than in Brooklyn. That said, the average renting costs have been getting slightly lower in Brooklyn and slightly bigger in Queens over the last few years. Should that trend continue, the difference in average costs may get much less significant at some point down the road.

Subway in Queens
Queens manages to retain its sub-urban, culturally diverse vibe

However, as more affordable as Queens may seem, the truth of the matter is that Queens is much further away from Manhattan. So, if you work in Manhattan and need to commute there every day, that will manifest in much lesser living costs discrepancy compared to Brooklyn. What you save on the rent in Queens, you may quickly end up paying transportation costs. Let’s explain this in some more detail.

Housing costs, Brooklyn vs. Queens

When trying to find an answer for Brooklyn vs. Queens: which borough is right for you, comparing housing hosts is crucial. This can be the deciding factor for many people. Brooklyn might be a bit more pricey if you are looking to rent an apartment. The average rent in this borough is about $3,010 and in Queens, it is $2,561. Many residential movers Queens offers say that people choose this borough because of the lower rent. However, they both have their pros and cons, of course.

When it comes to homeowners, Brooklyn also comes in first as more expensive. The average home value in this borough is $875, while the average in Queens is $733. So, for those who are trying to keep their housing cost low, Queens is probably a better choice.

The trends of growth may influence the decision of which borough is right for you

Brooklyn has the largest population out of all five of NYC’s boroughs. With all the advantages that living there implies, people who prefer somewhat quieter communities may see that as a major inconvenience. Then again, Brooklyn has reached its ultimate potential population-wise, and there’s no more room left.

On the other hand, Queens is less populated at the moment, but there is a lot of room for further growth. Queens is, in fact, the largest borough in NYC, from a geographical standpoint. Chances are that the trend of people keep moving to NYC from all over the world as frequently as they did over the last few decades won’t stop anytime soon. As a result, it is very probable that Queens will eventually face even bigger expansion and become the trendiest NYC borough at some point.

Comparing the attractions in both boroughs

Besides all the “serious” factors, we are like looking for fun every now and then. No matter which borough you chose between these two, you will find fun. When it comes to Brooklyn, this borough is home to plenty of attractions. When the weather is nice, you can take a trip to Coney Island and walk the famous boardwalk. If you are not into beaches, you can enjoy Brooklyn’s 586 acres of Prospect Park where you can also find the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and the Prospect Park Zoo. At the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, you can enjoy the Cherry Blossom Festival every year in March/April. If you are more into sports, you will find the Barclays Center, the home of the Brooklyn Nets. You can attend games, concerts, boxing, and other interesting events at this venue.

People walking on boardwalk in Coney Island
Coney Island is one of Brooklyn’s famous spots

If you are looking for something more relaxed, you will find it in Queens. Even though there are plenty of museums, parks, and sporting events in this borough, it’s not as touristy as Brooklyn. Less visitors from “the outside” come to Queens, which makes it more chill, if you prefer your neighborhood to be that way. If you are a fan of tennis, you will find the US Open right next door. If you’re more into baseball, the New York Mets are located here as well, in their home of Citi Field. Other than sports, you will find the Flushing Meadow Corona Park here, the park was previously home to the World Fair. The iconic Museum of the Moving Image is also located in Queens. Visiting all these places no matter which borough you choose is a recommendation from Queens local movers and their customers.

Brooklyn vs. Queens: A few final words

As said in the opening paragraph, choosing the right borough is a matter of your circumstances, affinities, and possibilities. Asking yourself – Brooklyn vs. Queens: which borough is right for you – is a question that has many different angles and isn’t easy to answer. Hopefully, reading this gave you a deeper insight the into pros and cons of each option. After you make up your mind and choose the right borough, don’t forget to get in touch with some of the best movers in NYC to get you there. Moving to places like Brooklyn or Queens is a chance that not many people get, so be excited regardless of the outcome and make sure you make the best out of it.

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