2025 Guide to NYC Neighborhoods: The Bronx
The Bronx is sometimes overlooked as a family-friendly borough, but its rich culture, history, and affordability make it an appealing option for families seeking proximity to Manhattan. Home to the Bronx Zoo, Yankee Stadium, the New York Botanical Garden, and Van Cortlandt Park, it offers vast green spaces, diverse neighborhoods, strong community pride, and easy access to public transit. Long-established and up-and-coming areas alike provide a dynamic mix of kid-friendly amenities, educational opportunities, and vibrant local life.
Psst… Check Out Our 2025 Guide to NYC Neighborhoods: Manhattan
City Island
If you enjoy the vibe of a seaside resort town, you will love City Island. It is a walkable island with waterfront dining options, including the City Island Lobster House, the Original Crab Shanty, and Scavello’s. Its nautical charm and small-town feel make the chaos of the big city seem much further away.
The quiet, walkable streets of this quaint seaside town are lined with Victorian cottages, beach bungalows, casual seafood shacks,
Italian restaurants and adorable boutiques give the island a warm, idyllic, village-like feel. Families are drawn to its welcoming, close-knit community and relaxed pace.
The island boasts plentiful green space, including Hawkins Park, a scenic waterfront path in City Island Park, and Ambrosini Field ballfields and playground. If traveling by car, residents and visitors pass through NYC’s largest public green space, Pelham Bay Park, which boasts nearly 3,000 acres of natural beauty and recreation. Three times the size of Central Park, Pelham Park offers a wide variety of family-friendly activities like Orchard Beach, hiking trails, bike paths, and numerous playgrounds.
Something to consider when visiting City Island is that transportation can be challenging, with the nearest subway a 30-minute walk away, but there are commuter buses to speed residents into Manhattan. Local advocates have also made efforts to bring a ferry stop to nearby Orchard Beach.
Hot Spots: The Black Whale, Clipper Coffee, City Island Lobster House, City Island Nautical Museum, Lickety Split, The Original Crab Shanty
Commute: The nearest subway station is Pelham Bay Park (6), a 30-minute walk away, or bus transfer, car, and a potential ferry.
Housing Options: Single- and multi-family detached, Victorian- and Colonial-style homes, charming cottages, co-ops, condos, and townhomes
Median Home Sale Value: $630,000
Starting Rent for 2-Bedroom Apartment: $2,500 per month
Schools: P.S. 175 (pre-K–8) is the only school on City Island. High school students attend schools on the mainland Bronx, including zoned public schools in District 11 and specialized high schools like Bronx Science, In-Tech Academy, Bronxdale High School, and Pelham Prep. Some families also consider traveling to top independent schools in Riverdale.
Kingsbridge
In the northwest Bronx, this lively and diverse neighborhood perfectly blends city conveniences with a serene, almost suburban
residential feel. Once home to the National Guard, the enormous Kingsbridge Armory still stands today and now serves as an event venue. The area’s hilly terrain gave rise to the neighborhood’s iconic step streets—long stairways that connect blocks and communities.
The urban development initiated by the arrival of the railroad in the late 19th century transformed Kingsbridge into the vibrant,
diverse residential community it is today. The development of housing along its unique step streets in the 20th century created a
walkable, village-like feel that still defines the area. Bustling shops, restaurants, and other businesses can be found close to Broadway and the 1 train, whereas it’s noticeably quieter and more residential closer to the Riverdale border.
Kingsbridge is close to Van Cortlandt Park, the third-largest park in the city. With miles of trails, playgrounds, athletic fields, a public golf course, and expansive green space, Kingsbridge offers families myriad opportunities for outdoor activities.
Today, Kingsbridge is known for its cultural diversity, lively atmosphere, and mix of residential and commercial spaces. The neighborhood offers residents affordability, many dining options, local shops, charming historic homes, community-focused co-ops, ample green space, multiple schools, and access to public transportation.
Hot Spots: Broadway Plaza, Van Courtland Park, Step Streets, Kingsbridge Armory, the Punch Bowl, Kingsbridge Heights Community Center
Commute: 1, 4, B, D trains, and numerous bus lines
Housing Options: Historic single-family houses, townhomes, pre-war apartments, co-ops, condos, and Mitchell-Lama developments
Median Home Sale Value: $725,000
Starting Rent for 2-Bedroom Apartment: $2,300 per month
Schools: Several local public K-8 schools within the neighborhood, including P.S. 7, P.S. 86, P.S. 344, and P.S. 207. Several middle and high schools, including Kingsbridge International High School and In-Tech Academy, and access to various charter and prestigious private schools in the nearby Riverdale and Westchester areas.
Morris Park
Located in the East Bronx, the Morris Park neighborhood was a predominantly Italian-American community for much of the 20th Century, and the neighborhood still honors that heritage with a variety of Italian-American restaurants and an annual Columbus Day parade. Many multi-generational families live in the neighborhood, contributing to a strong sense of community. Its main commercial street, Morris Park Avenue, is bustling with local shops, bakeries, and renowned restaurants.
Families enjoy the easy access to this neighborhood’s star attractions: the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden, Morris Park is home to a major medical hub, with major medical institutions like Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Jacobi Medical Center, which draw many healthcare professionals to the area and provide accessible, top-tier healthcare to residents.
A number of single- and multi-family homes have with yards and driveways— making Morris Park an excellent choice for families
who want to spread out without leaving the conveniences of the city. A strong community, access to quality schools and medical care, low crime rates, and lively shopping and dining options make this charming neighborhood stand out as a desirable and family-friendly neighborhood.
Hot Spots: Bronx Zoo, New York Botanical Garden, Addeo’s of the Bronx, Ann Clair’s Salumeria, Conti’s Pastry Shoppe, Patricia’s of Morris Park, River Park, Bronx River
Housing Options: Single- and multi-family homes, co-ops
Commute: Subway lines (2, 5, 6) and several bus routes. A new Metro-North station, planned for 2027
Median Home Sale Value: $805,000
Starting Rent for 2-Bedroom Apartment: $2,400 per month
Schools: District No. 11 provides access to a variety of public elementary and middle schools within or close to the neighborhood. Charter schools and Villa Maria Academy (Catholic)
Riverdale
Families who want the convenience of city life with the feel of the suburbs are often drawn to Riverdale. This enclave offers a rare mix of charming residential streets, prestigious schools, and lush green space. Originally developed in the 19th century as a summer retreat for Manhattan’s wealthy elite, Riverdale has retained its refined, residential character. Grand estates from that era still line some of its quiet streets, now joined by co-ops, condos, and modern townhomes.
The neighborhood includes several sub-sections—like Fieldston, North Riverdale, and Spuyten Duyvil—each with its own personality. Riverdale is known for its strong sense of community and excellent educational options, including three of the city’s top independent schools: Horace Mann, Fieldston, and Riverdale Country School.
Riverdale’s main retail corridor, along Riverdale and Johnson Avenues, features coffee shops, family-owned restaurants, bookstores, and grocery stores. Its walkable pockets, reliable public transit, and peaceful setting appeal to families used to the slower pace and green spaces of the suburbs. Keep in mind that subway access is limited (the 1 train serves only part of the area), though Metro-North’s Spuyten Duyvil and Riverdale stations offer a quick ride into Manhattan.
Hot Spots: Wave Hill, Lloyd’s Carrot Cake, Bronx Burger House, Salvatore’s
of Soho, Moss Café, Bellini
Commute: Metro-North (Spuyten Duyvil and Riverdale stations), express buses, limited 1 train access, easy access to Henry Hudson Parkway
Housing Options: Detached single-family homes, pre-war co-ops, luxury condos, townhomes, and mid-rise apartments
Median Home Sale Value: $720K
Starting Rent for 2-Bedroom Apartment: $2,800 per month
Schools: Highly regarded public and charter schools, top private schools like Horace Mann, Fieldston, and Riverdale Country School. Nearby options include specialized high schools such as Bronx Science and Bard Early College.
Psst… Check Out 2025 Guide to NYC Neighborhoods: Brooklyn
