Best borough of NYC?

[empirestate]

I could pick any borough as the best - except Staten Island. Staten Island is all of the taxes of the city and high prices of the bridges, minus the convenience.

Fair point, but I'm already down on convenience where I live, and yet not getting all the benefits that should accompany it, so I'd be willing to concede a bit more on that point if it gets me a little (lot) more breathing space.

If you're considering Staten Island, you're not doing yourself any favors if you don't consider the rest of the inner suburbs as well (suburb meaning areas with suburban characteristics, which category includes Staten Island).

Not only are there other places with space, but most of them aren't limited to by four notoriously congested choke points to get in or out.

Yes, I am, including other areas of the Bronx as well. I didn't fully go into my personal plans with everyone because we were only discussing boroughs of the city, so I just mentioned the part that's relevant to that.

[mrsman]

In my mind, the best borough overall is Queens.  It really has something for everyone.  There are parts that are very urban and close to the city like Long Island City, and there are also parts that are semi-suburban detached houses with your own driveway.  Nearly every part of Queens is close to a parkway or expressway, so it's fairly accessible.

[M3019C LPS20]

Staten Island. My hometown.


Yes, it is not the same as it was over 30 years ago, but there are still some beautiful areas there to admire, such as Clove Lakes Park.

[1995hoo]

The problem with answering the OP is that the word "best" can mean so many different things to different people.

If you like dense urbanization, you'll love Manhattan
If you want a grittier urban environment, you'll love The Bronx
If you want a gritty but yet hipster environment, you'll love Brooklyn
If you want New Jersey, you'll love Staten Island

I don't know enough about Queens to make a comparison but I'm sure they have something nice too.

So in other words, it'd be hard to say. They're each outstanding in their own way.

[slorydn1]

Only 1 borough with its own cheer. 

[Pete from Boston]

New Jersey.

I saw this before I posted "Paramus," which at least is actually a borough.

It's my opinion that this is not a useful question.  As everyone who has spent a long time around New York knows, all boroughs except Staten Island have volumes to offer in their own way.