Does Staten Island have a subway?

No. Staten Island is the only New York City borough with no subway. You get the free Staten Island Ferry to Lower Manhattan, the Staten Island Railway along the East Shore, express buses into Manhattan, and local buses. Most households own at least one car.

Is it cheaper to live on Staten Island than Brooklyn?

Generally yes for buying a house. Your housing dollar goes further on Staten Island, often getting you an actual house with a yard for what a small condo costs in Brooklyn. You do have to add the cost of a car, since there is no subway.

What are the schools like on Staten Island?

Staten Island has some of the strongest public schools in the city, plus Staten Island Technical High School, a specialized high school, and a large, well established Catholic and private school world. School zones can change block to block, so confirm the zone for any address.

Do I need flood insurance on Staten Island?

On parts of the East and South Shore, yes. Neighborhoods along the water sit in FEMA flood zones, and a mortgage on a home in a mapped zone requires flood insurance, which can add real money to your monthly cost. Always check the flood map and get a quote first.

How long is the commute from Staten Island to Manhattan?

It depends on where you live, but a typical Manhattan commute generally runs 60 to 90 minutes each way by ferry or express bus. North Shore ferry commuters can beat that, and deep South Shore commuters can run longer.

Bridge and Boro · Real Broker

Moving to Staten Island? Here Is What to Know First

Updated September 2026

Moving here is a genuinely different way of living inside New York City. Here is the honest version, so you pick the right area and skip the expensive mistakes I watch transplants make.

Pick your area by life stage and commute

On Staten Island you do not pick a neighborhood by vibe, you pick by your life stage and your commute. Manhattan commuters want the North Shore near the ferry or an express bus. Families chasing schools and space point toward the South Shore, which is furthest from Manhattan. Get honest about how you live before you fall in love with a block.

The no subway reality

There is no subway on Staten Island. Your options are the free Staten Island Ferry, which runs 24 hours a day and reaches Lower Manhattan in about 25 minutes, the Staten Island Railway down the East Shore, and express buses into Manhattan. A typical Manhattan commute generally runs 60 to 90 minutes each way, so map it from the exact address at the exact time you would travel.

You will need a car, and the tolls

For most of the borough a car is how life works, so budget the payment, the insurance, which is not cheap here, the gas, and the bridge tolls. The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge connects you to Brooklyn, and Staten Island residents can register for an E-ZPass discount that makes a real difference over a year.

Schools are a major draw

The whole borough is New York City school District 31, and school zones matter block to block, so confirm the exact zone for any address. Staten Island Technical High School is one of the city's specialized high schools, and there is a deep bench of Catholic and private options, which is a big reason families move here.

Your dollar buys more than Brooklyn

The money that buys a small condo in Brooklyn can buy an actual house here, often with a driveway, a yard, and a garage. A lot of buyers also use a legal 2 family home, living in one unit and renting the other to help cover the mortgage.

Flood zones near the water

Parts of the East Shore and South Shore sit in FEMA flood zones, and Staten Island was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. If a home is in a flood zone and you have a mortgage, flood insurance is required and it is not cheap, so check the flood map and get a real quote before you commit.

Thinking about making the move to Staten Island?

Tell me your budget and what you are after, and I will give you the honest read on neighborhoods, numbers, and next steps. Call or text 917-905-2541.