Astoria

Astoria is best-known for housing New York City’s largest Greek population. And while there are indeed many Greeks here, Astoria is also home to numerous other communities, including Egyptians, Brazilians and, yes, young professionals.

Unlike other newly hip neighborhoods -- like, say, Bushwick or DUMBO -- there's convenience galore in Astoria. Located along the last stops of the N train, Astoria boasts numerous restaurants, bars, grocery stores and even the suburban shopping-mall experience (Victoria’s Secret, The Gap, etc.) along Steinway Street.

A popular neighborhood for affordable rentals, Astoria has seen its share of the condo boom in recent years. However, unlike neighboring Long Island City -- which got itself an entirely new skyline -- the majority of the development so far has been small and homegrown. New additions to the ’hood include the Astoria Windsor (30-80 21st St., one-bedrooms with home offices starting at $530,000) and Hoyt Terrace (25-47 23rd St., studios starting at about $260,000).

Big changes, however, are on the horizon. Along the nabe’s western border, near the East River and Socrates Sculpture Park, developers are eyeing former industrial buildings -- a Karl Fischer-designed building is in the works -- raising the possibility of something like Williamsburg's McCarren Park makeover in the near future.