New York rental guide - Staten Island
The basics
Staten Island is, in a way, New York City's last frontier. To many New Yorkers, it's an entirely undiscovered, enigmatic place. It has areas that are completely undeveloped, places that are truly wild and unvisited and a picturesque shoreline (though Hurricane Sandy left it a bit less picturesque).
It's the least populous of New York's five boroughs and, although it's politically part of New York City, largely feels like another place altogether. It's only accessible via bridges (to Brooklyn or New Jersey) or via the world-famous Staten Island Ferry. Millions of tourists a year take the (free) ferry crossing to get a good view of The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the Manhattan skyline. Sadly most of them simply turn round and head back to Manhattan without setting foot outside the ferry terminal.
There's no subway in Staten Island; the only transit line serving the relatively quiet neighborhoods is the Staten Island Railroad.
A closer look
Statistically speaking you're unlikely to find yourself living on Staten Island. Only around 5% of New Yorkers do. But, if you do, you'll be a part of a small subset who take pride in their special, semi-secret realm.
Staten Island is cheaper than most of New York City, due, in part, to the lack of transport options. It's not unheard of to find an entire house for the same rent as a dingy studio in parts of Manhattan or Brooklyn.