Best big-city neighborhoods
What's the best place to live in NYC? L.A.? Based on NeighborhoodScout.com data, city visits, and talks with locals, we named these top areas, listed by overall city population.
Park Slope, New York City
Pros: Historic brownstones and proximity to 585-acre Prospect Park make this area a favorite of New Yorkers looking to escape Manhattan shoeboxes. The new Barclays Center arena is a close walk but still removed from the heart of the neighborhood.
Crime rates are akin to those in the suburbs, and transport options include a 40-minute subway ride to Midtown Manhattan. Locals love the award-winning restaurants, food co-op, farmers' markets, and homegrown bakeries and shops.
"I could go weeks without leaving," says Nancy Liao, founder of a pet-food business.
Cons: Newbies may struggle to adjust to the lack of big-box retail or supermarkets. And the real estate market is brutal (this is New York City): Homes are the priciest on our list, though still lower than in many areas in Manhattan. --Pieter Van Noordenne<strong>n
What's your favorite NYC neighborhood and why? Send a photo of the area and tell us why you love it to<a href="mailto:bestplaces@cnnmoney.com" title=""> bestplaces@cnnmoney.com or #mybestplaces and your top pick may be featured in an upcoming CNNMoney gallery.