Ditmas Park in New York City

Finding a good apartment in one of New York City's five boroughs can feel like an unsolvable riddle. Sure, there are spacious, centrally-located, well-maintained rentals with tons of natural light out there — but they often come with towering price tags.

That's where tree-lined Ditmas Park, often described as a suburb within the city, comes in. A historic section of Brooklyn's larger Flatbush neighborhood, the area is a little tough to get to — the average Ditmas Park resident has a 51-minute commute — but the trade-off might be worth it for cost-conscious renters. Ornate Victorian homes with large front porches and yards give Ditmas Park a suburban feel and unique character, yet the area maintains a traditional New York vibe — think supermarkets, convenience stores, and restaurants — near its two closest train stations. And one of Brooklyn's biggest draws, the 526-acre Prospect Park, is just a five-minute subway ride away.

The average Ditmas Park apartment listed on rental website StreetEasy rented for $2,250 a month in June 2019 — about $400 less than the Brooklyn average and $1,250 less than Manhattan. While Ditmas Park might not have the bohemian glamour of Williamsburg or the buzzing energy of Manhattan, the quiet neighborhood offers a combination of affordability and convenience that is hard to beat in New York. — Shaina Mishkin