Renting in Upper East Side

What it's like

The Upper East Side is large and not uniform. West of Third it is expensive, quiet, and full of pre-war co-ops. East of Third, and particularly in Yorkville above 79th, it is one of the genuine bargains left in the borough: real one-bedrooms, elevator buildings, laundry in the basement, for money that buys a studio further downtown.

It is calm. Whether that reads as civilized or as dull depends entirely on you, and it is worth being honest about which one you are before signing a year to it.

Who it suits

People who want space and quiet over nightlife, anyone commuting to Midtown East, and anyone who has decided a real bedroom matters more than the neighborhood's reputation.

The catch

The 4, 5 and 6 at rush hour are the most crowded trains in the system. The Q on Second Avenue fixed a lot of this above 72nd, but if your building is west of Third you are still walking to Lexington.

Getting around

The 4, 5, 6 on Lexington and the Q on Second. The Q is the reason Yorkville stopped being cheap, and it is still the better ride.

What to check at the viewing

• Work out the exact walk to the Q rather than the advertised one. Two avenue blocks here are longer than they look.
• In pre-war buildings, ask whether the line has been converted from gas and what the electrical service is. Old service means no air conditioning in more than one room.
• Ask what the building charges for the laundry card and whether the machines are card or coin.