Greenpoint Is Among Best NYC Spots For College Grads, Study Finds

GREENPOINT, BROOKLYN — College graduates looking for a cheaper, but equally hip alternative to Williamsburg and Long Island City should consider moving to Greenpoint, a new study from Localize.city found.

The borough's northernmost neighborhood landed number four on a list of the 10 Best New York City Neighborhoods for College Grads, which the real estate experts scored based on their affordability, commute, nightlife, bikeability, safety and the number of fellow millennials that live there.

In Greenpoint, nightlife and neighborhood charm were among the top reasons young people should choose to make the spot their home.

“A bit off-the-beaten-path since transit access isn’t amazing, Greenpoint has retained a quiet charm with long-standing mom-and-pops mixed with newer boutiques and bars," Localize urban planner Liat Halpern said. “And although its waterfront is losing some of its charming grittiness as glass highrises transform the waterfront, these changes are also bringing new waterfront parks and new coffee shops and other retail.”

The neighborhood was one of a few on the list to get five stars for its nightlife.

Greenpoint has some top restaurants and bars and a good mix of historic row-houses, apartment buildings, former factory space and vinyl-sided homes, the study found.

Some of the downsides to living in Greenpoint is that it is only serviced by the G train, which doesn't run into Manhattan, the study found. But, getting into Midtown is still not all that difficult, with a commute of 20 minutes if riders don't mind transferring.

The neighborhood is also one of the city's most bike-friendly areas, meaning Citi Bike access and bike lanes will make it easy to get around.

Another possible caveat would be the industrial history in Greenpoint. Although this makes for some interesting character, there are some environmental risks "from decades of chemical dumping from dry cleaning and metal-working businesses," the planners warned.

Greenpoint was one of three Brooklyn neighborhoods that made it onto the list, with Bed-stuy coming in at number two and Flatbush rounding out the list at number 10.

Here's the full top 10:

1. Washington Heights
2. Bed-Stuy
3. Jackson Heights
4. Greenpoint
5. Astoria
6. UES (walk-ups are more affordable than elevator buildings here)
7. Ridgewood
8. Fordham
9. Central Harlem
10. Flatbush