Thinking of moving to the Bronx? As one of the oldest boroughs of New York and the birthplace of hip-hop music, the Bronx features a melting pot of culture, established arts scene, ample green space, and easy access to Manhattan. Check out these 16 things you need to know about living in the Bronx!
An Affordable Place to Live in NYC
The Bronx is known as the most affordable borough in NYC, thanks to median home prices roughly $150,000 below New York City‘s average—helping to bring the cost of living down by 20% compared to NYC’s average. There are plenty of safe and affordable neighborhoods in the Bronx, including great neighborhoods for retirees like Woodlawn, the student and single-populated University Heights, and family-friendly Riverdale. If you’re interested in affordable, cooperative living, surrounded by nature, the Bronx is home to Co-op City, the largest housing cooperative in the world. Plus, healthcare initiatives including community health programs like Health Bucks and organizations like BronxWorks help make a healthy lifestyle more affordable and accessible to residents!
Find Excellent Jobs in the Bronx
Job-seekers will find plenty of great jobs in the Bronx and its surrounding areas, with major industries including food service, retail, and healthcare. Make a difference and explore careers at a variety of small, local businesses in the Bronx. Work in actuarial sciences, marketing, communications, or technology at New York Life Insurance. Join the largest industry in the Bronx and further your career in the healthcare field with top employers like Cardinal Health, Montefiore Medical Center, and CenterLight Health System. Or check out open positions with NYC Fortune 500 companies in the area like the financial powerhouse, Goldman Sachs, which has careers in data information, financial planning, and business development!
Travel BX with Public Transportation
While New York is one of the most walkable cities in America, public transportation is an iconic staple of the metro. Now, residents can confidently get around NYC with more Bronx public transportation options than ever. Grab the B or D train to easily access Manhattan, or take one of the many MTA subway lines (2, 4, 5, or 6) to reach the rest of the city. Ride the NYC Ferry on the Soundview route to commute to Lower Manhattan. For residents who want to travel within the borough, buses and bike routes are available, and sustainable transportation like Citi Bike‘s bike shares can be found throughout the Bronx. And with movable bridges like the Hutchinson River Parkway Bridge and Pelham Bridge, Bronxites with vehicles still have plenty of mobility to New York City. Plus, if you’re looking to travel further, you’re in luck—LaGuardia Airport is just a 30-minute drive away!
Explore Colleges in the Bronx
With a variety of colleges in the area, the Bronx is a great place for higher learning. Start your education with associate degree programs like criminal justice, accounting, and marketing at Bronx Community College. Take courses in chemistry, religious studies, and journalism through Fordham University at the Rose Hill campus. Enjoy small class sizes and dive into subjects like mathematics, business administration, and economics at the University of Mount Saint Vincent. Pursue a degree in biology, computer information systems, or criminology at Manhattan College. Select from over 50 fields, spanning from nursing to art and philosophy to earn your degree from Lehman College. Apply for the M.D. program or get a master’s degree in bioethics or clinical research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine—which is now tuition-free, thanks to a generous $1 billion donation! Or check out the “future of sea learning” through marine transportation, electrical engineering, or humanities studies at SUNY Maritime College.
Bronx Residents Are Proud of Their Borough
If you’re looking to live in a diverse area that celebrates its culture, the Bronx community is perfect for you. Head to Fordham Plaza to enjoy shopping at more than 50 local vendors with delicious food and drinks at the Bronx Night Market. Have fun at a variety of events like the Silent Disco, Bronx Ball, and Bronx Week Parade during the well-loved annual celebration known as Bronx Week. Celebrate Italian heritage and play games at the carnival when you attend the Bronx Columbus Day Parade. Challenge yourself to a 25 or 40-mile cycling course during the Tour de Bronx. Support the Bronx’s LGBTQ community by attending live performances from local and celebrity LGBTQ icons, eating delicious food, and playing games at the Da Bronx Pride Festival. Or get to know members of your borough, learn about active living, and celebrate the arts during the annual Boogie on the Boulevard.
Home to the Largest Seafood Market in the Country
Originally established in 1822 at the South Street Seaport (near the Brooklyn Bridge), the Fulton Fish Market remains a Bronx staple and has been operating at Hunt’s Point since 2005. Even before the bridge’s construction, this area was filled to the brim with fishmongers. Today, the Fulton Fish Market is the largest market of its kind in the U.S., and one of the largest in the world. It covers 400,000 square feet, houses over 20 seafood wholesalers, and imports up to two million pounds of seafood every day. The Fulton Fish Market is open Monday-Friday throughout the year and also ships fresh seafood directly to consumers’ doors through online orders. If you’re not sure which of the many options to choose, take the seafood quiz to figure out your next meal!
Head Down to the Bronx Riviera
Thoughts of a sandy paradise probably don’t come to mind when thinking of The Concrete Jungle. But in the Bronx, one beach provides the perfect escape! Orchard Beach, sometimes known as the Bronx Riviera, is the borough’s only public beach. Relax in the sun while laying out on the beach or while enjoying a picnic. Swim or play games with the family in the water. Shop for snacks and souvenirs at the sidewalk carts. Roller skate, jog, or bike the hexagonal promenade. Or grab some friends and play a fun game of volleyball, basketball, or handball at any of the 26 provided courts. While you’re in the area, don’t forget to stop by City Island—a 1.5-mile-long island neighborhood nearby offering a peaceful, seaside getaway where you can lounge on the beaches, enjoy delicious local cuisine, and more!
Unwind in Bronx Parks
Big-city living in New York can be exciting, but sometimes you might want to spend a few hours among beautiful trees in the open air. Fortunately for locals, Bronx is the best borough in NYC for green spaces since it has three of the largest parks in New York City. Make a wish when you visit Rockefeller Fountain, appreciate the diverse flora, and shoot some hoops at Bronx Park. Start a soccer match with the family, plan a barbecue, or practice your swing at the country’s first public golf course—Van Cortlandt Golf Course—at Van Cortlandt Park. Challenge a friend to a tennis match, go fishing, or walk your dog at Crotona Park. Let the kids run wild on the playground, take your canoe out around the river, or spike the volleyball at Barretto Point Park. Cool off in the pool, relax with a picnic, or host a birthday party under the gazebo at Claremont Park. Or take a hike or play a round of golf at Pelham Bay Park, which is the largest park in NYC at three times the size of Manhattan’s famous Central Park!
Visit One of the Best Zoos in the World
It will come as no surprise to those familiar with the Bronx Zoo that it’s considered one of the best zoos in the world! Stretching a whopping 265 acres, Bronx Zoo is home to over 10,000 animals from over 700 species. Plus, with expert architecture and the Animal Chronicles walking trail, Bronx Zoo offers plenty to see and do for the whole family. Immerse yourself in a world of delicate beauty in the Butterfly Garden. Check out the lions, zebras, and giraffes in the African Plains exhibit. Watch the aquatic sea lions play and get fed in the Sea Lion Pool. Listen to a symphony of birdsong when you visit the World of Birds. Or get a behind-the-scenes look at how the zoo cares for the animals by booking a Wild Encounter.
Stroll Through the New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx offers a 250-acre nature escape for residents to explore right in the city. The Garden is a major education resource in New York—as teachers often pick this as a destination for field trips—but it’s also a hot spot for anyone wanting to escape into nature. Attend year-round events and rotating displays, including orchid shows, herbarium expeditions, luncheons, and more. Sign your kids up for one of the out-of-school programs or gardening camps. Enroll in adult classes that teach landscape design, botanical art, gardening, and botany. Or watch model trains weave through the beautiful landscapes of over 175 famous landmarks in The Big Apple during the Holiday Train Show.
Visit Unique Bronx Museums
Whether you’re interested in art, history, or literature, one of the best things to do in the Bronx is pay a visit to one of its many unique museums! Take advantage of free admission and explore rotating exhibits like Bronx Calling: The Sixth AIM Biennial, attend fun community events like First Friday, and more at the Bronx Museum of the Arts. Step back in time with The Bronx County Historical Society and visit the Museum of Bronx History—built in 1758—or stroll along the Bronx Grand Concourse to explore the iconic Edgar Allan Poe Cottage. Bring the kids to view replicas of local neighborhoods in The Block, make a splash in the water table, or check out immersive programs at one of the best museums in the Bronx, the Bronx Children’s Museum. Learn about boat-building, read about maritime history in The Walsh Library, and view memorabilia from Bronx’s nautical past at the City Island Nautical Museum. Appreciate student work with exhibits like Through Our Eyes: Youth Photography at the Bronx Documentary Center, 2013-2023, and consider enrolling in educational workshops on photography and filmmaking at the Bronx Documentary Center. Or embark on an architectural tour, enroll the kiddos in an after-school program like Lenape Life, and more at the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum.
Immerse Yourself in Bronx’s Thriving Art Scene
Considering it’s the birthplace of hip-hop, it’s no surprise the Bronx has a great art scene with plenty of opportunities for community members to get involved! Marvel at ecology-inspired artwork in rotating exhibits like This Place We Once Remembered or join the Winter Workspace program to work on your art at Wave Hill. Purchase tickets to unique shows by singers like Andy Montanez, Eddy Herrera, and more at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts. Enroll in the artist residency program or browse works from local and emerging artists at the non-profit gallery, BronxArtSpace. Walk around the borough to enjoy stunning Bronx murals showcasing diverse cultures—or embark on the Bronx architecture tour to see local Art Deco architecture and other hidden gems like Joyce Kilmer Park and the Andrew Freedman Home. Prepare your kids for life on the stage with classes in acting, dance, and vocals at Dream Makers Performing Arts. Or celebrate diverse voices with events like Free Queer Movie Night or spectate the Queer Movie Movers Dance Compilation at The Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance (BAAD!).
Catch a Bronx Sports Game
Baseball in the Bronx is always something to talk about because the New York Yankees (MLB) have called this NYC borough home since 1923! The old Yankee Stadium served the team and its fans for many decades, but the new stadium was constructed in 2009 for $2.3 billion to carry on the legacy. Alongside the New York Mets (MLB) playing at Citi Field less than 30 minutes away, the Yankees represent New York on baseball’s highest level—and they’ve taken the World Series title a staggering 27 times! Of course, baseball isn’t the only sport for Bronx residents to support. Catch the occasional New York City FC (MLS) game at Yankee Stadium. Support the Fordham University Rams (D-I) as they compete in sports like football, basketball, and softball. Cheer on the Manhattan College Jaspers (D-I) during soccer matches, cross-country meets, and more. Bronx is also home to the New York Emperors Stickball League, which was started by children using wooden sticks and rubber balls as a makeshift form of baseball. The game has since become such a popular cherished Bronx tradition that there’s even a street named after it—Stickball Boulevard!
Check Out New York’s “Real” Little Italy
Do you love Italian cuisine and traditions? You don’t need to fly across the Atlantic to immerse yourself in authentic Italian culture. If you’re living in the Bronx, New York, Italian dishes are as close as Arthur Avenue. Almost nowhere else in New York will you find such a high concentration of Italian restaurants and culture than in the Bronx’s Little Italy. Choose from a selection of signature cocktails like The Mario Test, New York City Sour, or Arthur Avenue Wise Guy from Ann & Tony’s. Feast on classic, dried Italian meat like Dry Sausage, Soppressata, and Prosciutto from the Calabria Pork Store. Enjoy freshly made pasta from the family-owned store that has been operating since 1935, Borgatti’s Ravioli & Egg Noodles. Feast on some of the best Italian food in the Bronx like Gnocchi Bolognese, Fettuccine Alfredo, and Vitello Sorrentina when at Pasquale’s Rigoletto. Get your fill of Bronx pizza and order pizza by the slice or treat yourself to the Buffalo and Capricciosa specialty pies at Full Moon Pizza. Discover your next favorite spot for lunch in the Bronx with plates like Eggplant Parmigiana, Pastrami, and Philly Cheese Steak at Tino’s Delicatessen. Or treat yourself to dessert items like a Pignoli, Raspberry Star, or Sliced Amaretti cookie from Delillo Pastry Shop.
Dine at Top Bronx Restaurants
There’s more to the Bronx restaurant scene than just Italian food—in fact, there’s cuisine from around the world! Try out handmade dishes filled with fresh ingredients like the Vegetarian Nachos, Hamburger Platter, and Barbecue Pulled Pork Sandwich at The Barbecue Pit. Munch on the Seaweed Salad, Rock Shrimp Tempura, and the California Roll at Ceetay. Feast on Pork Tostadas, Crispy Fish Tacos, and Enchiladas at Cocina Chente, one of the best Mexican restaurants in the Bronx. Fill up on dishes with flavors inspired by the Middle East like the Chicken Shawarma Wrap or Steak Sub with a Protein Smoothie to drink at Tasty Choice. Order Latin fusion plates like the Garlic Shrimp, Jerk Chicken, and Roast Pork at Salsa Con Fuego. Or experience some of the best seafood in the Bronx with Jake’s Crab Cake, Blue Point Oysters, or Fried Calamari from Jake’s Steakhouse.
Enjoy Bronx Nightlife
Nightlife in the Bronx is anything but boring. Besides the common community events, there are plenty of nightclubs in the Bronx and other establishments that are perfect for meeting friends and enjoying a few drinks. Sip the Irish Coffee, Chocolate Espresso Martini, or order a pitcher of Sangria to share at The Bronx Public. Choose from a wide selection of brews like Ommegang Three Philosophers, Duvel, and Victory Golden Monkey at the Bronx Alehouse. Enjoy artisanal pizzas with a freshly-brewed beer from the taproom in “the Backyard” at Bronx Brewery. Enjoy live music or participate in fun events like Judgement Free Karaoke with a lager or stout to drink at The Bronx Beer Hall. Enjoy pub grub, outdoor seating, trivia nights, and more with classic cocktails like an Old Fashioned, Manhattan, or a Negroni at Bar 47. Host a private party for friends and enjoy signature drinks like Code Blue, Money Honey, and What A Peach at Lounge 43. Sip locally-crafted beer like the Barrel Aged Spirit 76, Gun Hill IPA, and Void of Light in the taproom at Gun Hill Brewing Company. Or grab a drink and dance to live Latin music and DJs to dance the night away at the popular nightclub, Patron New York.
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