Why Are New Yorkers So Loyal To Their Neighborhoods?

For me personally, one of the most differentiating things about New York is the uniqueness of the ever changing neighborhoods in each of the boroughs. Now, where exactly one neighborhood begins and another ends is a source of constant debate between the inhabitants of that neighborhood and what real estate agents are trying to call it– or for that matter, rename it. There is no official designation of geographical boundaries by city so there is always an ever-changing landscape of borders based on a general consensus, and even then, it is still not really clear what is where.

What you will find though is that the New Yorkers that live in each neighborhood will be fiercely loyal to it. Ask anyone where they live and you will mostly likely get the name of their neighborhood as opposed to a cross street. We love our bodegas, dog parks, museums, and most of all our local bars, which are in most cases an unofficial meeting hub for the residents that live close by. When you think of it that way, it starts to make a lot of sense why Fraunces Tavern played such a pivotal role in the early part of our American history. 

An afternoon stroll through the city and you’ll start to see how one location and it’s inhabitants change from street to street. That diversity and sense of community are what has drawn people here year after year. Even when you are away from New York and you run into a fellow city dweller, a quick check on which neighborhood you call home is our little shorthand of common ground. 

While the argument for what is the best neighborhood in New York will never be settled, (I think it’s the Upper West Side by the way) home is truly where the heart is. So get out there and find the one that speaks to you!

When you do decide to search for your new home check us out at TrueDwell.com.