In most of America, a single county contains multiple cities and towns. But the city of New York is made up of five counties. So what county is Manhattan in? Unsurprisingly, that would be New York County. In fact, each of New York City’s five boroughs corresponds to its own county:

• Manhattan = New York County
• Brooklyn = Kings County
• Queens = Queens County
• Staten Island = Richmond County
• The Bronx = Bronx County

While there is a centralized government for NYC, each of the boroughs has a certain amount of autonomy. Each also has representation in the city government. They’re recognized as their own counties primarily for judicial/legal reasons. For a deep dive into the geographical history, let’s get to know how each county came to be.

What County Is Manhattan In?

When people think of New York City, they typically think of Manhattan. It was the city’s first borough and county. The 23-square-mile island was originally given the name “Mannahatta” (meaning “island of many hills”) by the indigenous Lenapes. It was renamed “Nieuw Amsterdam” by the Dutch and then “New York” by the British.

Manhattan quickly became the nation’s center of economic and political power. It was even the first capital of the United States. But in the late 19th century, Chicago began outpacing Manhattan. To stay competitive, Manhattan decided to expand. It incorporated its surrounding counties into the larger municipality of New York City, with itself as New York County. That’s why the answer to “What county is Manhattan in?” isn’t simply “Manhattan.”

The expansion was a smart move. Manhattan has a current population of 1.6 million, which nearly doubles from the influx of daily commuters. It also serves as the center of the US publishing, financial, and theater industries, among others. And it attracts millions of tourists annually — 66.6 million in 2019.

As you’d expect, this is a desirable place to live if you want to be in the center of everything. But it isn’t cheap. According to the StreetEasy Data Dashboard, as of August 2021, the median asking price for a home in Manhattan is $1.4 million. And the median asking rent is $3,100 per month.

Manhattan Rentals Under $3K on StreetEasy Article continues below

Washington Heights

511 West 169th Street

$2,583 base rent

2 |

1

Washington Heights

1224 Saint Nicholas’ Avenue

$2,099 base rent

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

488 Saint Nicholas’s Avenue

$1,950 base rent

Studio |

1

East Harlem

214 East 111st Street

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1

Central Harlem

160 West 132nd Street

$2,200 base rent

1 |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

412 West 56th Street

$2,450 base rent

Studio |

1

Yorkville

525 East 81st Street

$2,950 base rent

Studio |

1

Lower East Side

25 Clinton Street

$2,775 base rent

Studio |

1

Turtle Bay

45 Tudor City Place

$3,000 base rent

Studio |

1

Midtown

152 West 49th Street

$2,975 base rent

Studio |

1

Inwood

184 Nagle Avenue

$2,702 base rent

2 |

1

Lenox Hill

238 East 74th Street

$2,650 base rent

Studio |

1

Manhattan Homes Under $1M on StreetEasy Article continues below

Hell’s Kitchen

431 West 54th Street

$499,000

1 |

1

Lenox Hill

326 East 73rd Street

$395,000

1 |

1

Kips Bay

148 East 24th Street

$999,999

1 |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

350 West 50th Street

$915,000

1 |

1

Upper West Side

110 West 86th Street

$975,000

1 |

1

Carnegie Hill

161 East 91st Street

$620,000

1 |

1

Turtle Bay

223 East 50th Street

$479,000

1 |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

529 West 42nd Street

$749,000

1 |

1

Battery Park City

300 Rector Place

$699,000

1 |

1

Yorkville

340 East 80th Street

$720,000

1 |

1

Lenox Hill

225 East 73rd Street

$999,999

1 |

1

Beekman

415 East 52nd Street

$699,000

1 |

1

What County Is Brooklyn In?

In its early history, Brooklyn was just one of many small villages settled by the Dutch. They called it “Breukelen” after a town in the Netherlands that is likewise situated along a river. When the British took over, they Anglicized the name to “Brooklyn” and consolidated the surrounding villages into Kings County, after King Charles II.

The introduction of ferry service in 1814 allowed Manhattan workers to live in the more affordable Brooklyn and commute. This led to a population boom in Kings County, helping Brooklyn to become the third-largest city in the country by the mid-19th century. The completion of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883 made commuting even easier. So when Manhattan first came courting, Brooklyn was not overly enthusiastic about being incorporated. It eventually joined New York City in 1898.

Today, Brooklyn is the most populous of NYC’s boroughs with 2.59 million residents spread across 69.4 square miles. The median asking rent here is $2,650 as of August 2021, while the median asking sale price is $925,000.

Brooklyn Rentals Under $2,700 on StreetEasy Article continues below

East Williamsburg

62 Sharon Street

$2,695 base rent

Studio |

1

Flatbush

200 Linden Boulevard

$2,544 base rent

1 |

1

Flatbush

1270 New York Avenue

$2,695 base rent

2 |

1

Sunset Park

351 55th Street

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1

East Flatbush

3509 Farragut Road

$2,700 base rent

1 |

1

Flatbush

2201 Beverley Road

$2,284 base rent

Studio |

1

East Flatbush

1484 Brooklyn Avenue

$2,700 base rent

2 |

1

Midwood

2607 Avenue O

$2,400 base rent

2 |

1

East Flatbush

1482 Brooklyn Avenue

$2,700 base rent

2 |

1

Flatbush

188 Lott Street

$2,200 base rent

1 |

1

East Flatbush

1482 Brooklyn Avenue

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1.5

Coney Island

2955 Shell Road

$2,550 base rent

1 |

1

Brooklyn Homes Under $950K on StreetEasy Article continues below

Sheepshead Bay

1625 Emmons Avenue

$350,000

1 |

1

Homecrest

2128 Ocean Avenue

$575,000

1 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

1240 Bedford Avenue

$699,000

2 |

1

Weeksville

1479 Sterling Place

$549,000

1 |

1

Midwood

1408 Avenue O

$667,000

2 |

2

Brighton Beach

50 Brighton 1st Road

$499,000

1 |

1

Williamsburg

77 Kingsland Avenue

$769,000

1 |

1

Bath Beach

30 Bay 29th Street

$399,000

2 |

1

Sheepshead Bay

2552 East Seventh Street

$399,000

2 |

1

Gravesend

1802 Ocean Parkway

$259,000

1 |

1

East New York

460 Hinsdale Street

$649,000

3 |

2.5

Crown Heights

630 Grand Avenue

$849,000

1 |

1

What County Is Queens In?

Just as Kings County was named after King Charles II, Queens County was named after his wife, Queen Catherine. But unlike other boroughs, Queens addresses can be tricky. For example, Queens residents typically list their neighborhood on mailing addresses rather than their borough or county name. (So “Astoria, NY,” as opposed to “Queens, NY.” There are multiple theories on how this came to be.

Another quirk is the hyphen in Queens street addresses. (For example, 79-01 35th Avenue.) Here’s an easy decoder: The first number is the nearest cross street. In this case, it’s 79th Street. The second number is how far up the block the building is from that cross street. The “01” in this example indicates that it’s the first building, and likely on the corner. With all that info right in the address itself, it’s virtually impossible to get lost!

That’s a good thing, since Queens is a sprawling 178 square miles — the largest borough by far. It’s home to 2.29 million residents, with a median asking price of $599,999 as of August 2021. The median asking rent is $2,250.

Queens Rentals Under $2,500 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Jamaica

89-15 Parsons Boulevard

$1,999 base rent

Studio |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

24-40 26th Street

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1

Fresh Meadows

73-07 190th Street

$2,250 base rent

1 |

1

Elmhurst

86-19 Elmhurst Avenue

$2,000 base rent

Studio |

1

Jackson Heights

87-13 30th Avenue

$2,500 base rent

2 |

1

Richmond Hill

86-03 102nd Street

$1,825 base rent

1 |

1

Sunnyside

50-66 42nd Street

$2,100 base rent

1 |

1

Rego Park

97-12 65 Road

$2,423 base rent

Studio |

1

Jamaica

153-10 88th Avenue

$2,182 base rent

Studio |

1

Long Island City

37-11 9th Street

$2,123 base rent

2 |

1

Jamaica

153-10 88th Avenue

$2,160 base rent

Studio |

1

Jamaica

92-27 160th Street

$2,350 base rent

Studio |

1

Queens Homes Under $750K on StreetEasy Article continues below

Briarwood

142-35 84 Drive

$299,000

2 |

1

Kew Gardens Hills

150-11 72 Road

$288,000

1 |

1

Jackson Heights

73-12 35th Avenue

$625,000

2 |

1

Forest Hills

71-36 110th Street

$449,000

2 |

1

Jackson Heights

35-34 84th Street

$399,000

1 |

1

Rockwood Park

156-41 85th Street

$249,000

1 |

1

Elmhurst

83-30 Vietor Avenue

$330,000

1 |

1

Forest Hills

66-36 Yellowstone Boulevard

$269,000

1 |

1

Kew Gardens Hills

144-22 78th Avenue

$238,000

1 |

1

Kew Gardens Hills

68-04 150th Street

$290,000

1 |

1

Jackson Heights

32-20 91st Street

$257,000

2 |

1

Jackson Heights

91-10 32nd Avenue

$219,000

1 |

1

What County Is Staten Island In?

The Dutch called it “Staaten Eylandt,” but the British renamed it “Richmond” after the Duke of Richmond. Because of the continued usage of “Staten Island,” however, the borough was renamed that in 1977. It retains “Richmond” as the borough’s county name.

Fun fact: This 59-square-mile island was the object of a tug of war between New Jersey and New York for nearly 200 years! Each state disputed the other’s jurisdiction over Staten Island’s surrounding waters until the borders were finally settled in 1833. By the late 19th century, the quiet fishing and farming community was in need of substantial infrastructure investments. Thus, residents agreed to consolidate with NYC in 1898 by a margin of 5 to 1.

But that’s not the end of the story. Over the years, the scrappy island with a population of nearly 475,000 often changed its mind. It has tried to secede from NYC multiple times, very nearly succeeding in 1993. The latest attempt was in 2019, but that also came to naught.

Staten Island is extremely affordable compared to other boroughs. The median asking rent here as of August 2021 is $1,950. The median asking sale price is $659,000.

Staten Island Rentals on StreetEasy Article continues below

Grasmere

121 Fayette Avenue

$1,650 base rent

1 |

1

New Springville

34 Orbit Lane

$2,250 base rent

1 |

1

New Springville

34 Orbit Lane

$4,850 base rent

3 |

3.5

Grymes Hill

31 Cunard Avenue

$3,600 base rent

3 |

2

Emerson Hill

43 Gateway Drive

$3,000 base rent

3 |

1.5

Saint George

232 Richmond Terrace

$2,800 base rent

3 |

1

Saint George

5 Bay Street

$2,658 base rent

Studio |

1

Port Richmond

98 Clinton Place

$1,750 base rent

1 |

1

Saint George

43 Benziger Avenue

$3,000 base rent

2 |

1.5

Saint George

5 Bay Street

$3,208 base rent

1 |

1

Saint George

5 Bay Street

$3,554 base rent

2 |

1

Saint George

5 Bay Street

$4,523 base rent

2 |

2

Staten Island Homes on StreetEasy Article continues below

Westerleigh

69 Crystal Avenue

$839,000

4 |

2

Oakwood

85 Malone Avenue

$795,000

3 |

1

Saint George

304 Westervelt Avenue

$695,000

5 |

2

Tottenville

40 Dintree Lane

$2,295,000

5 |

3.5

Rosebank

31 Hylan Boulevard

$1,600,000

2 |

2

Arlington

182 Arlington Place

$538,000

2 |

1.5

Midland Beach

29 Maplewood Place

$699,999

5 |

2

Rosebank

31 Hylan Boulevard

$675,000

2 |

2

Arden Heights

667 Ilyssa Way

$350,000

1 |

2

Arden Heights

278 Ilyssa Way

$560,000

3 |

2.5

Dongan Hills

76 South Railroad Avenue

$750,000

3 |

2

Castleton Corners

21 Wheeler Avenue

$889,500

4 |

3

What County Is the Bronx In?

Despite a dense population of 1.4 million, the Bronx manages to squeeze in some of the city’s largest swaths of green space. Its 57 square miles contain the New York Botanical Garden and Van Cortlandt Park. It’s also home to iconic destinations like Yankee Stadium and the Bronx Zoo.

The last of the boroughs to join NYC, the Bronx is also the only one that’s not part of an island. It’s named for Jonas Bronck, who established a Dutch settlement in 1639 and amassed a whopping 500 acres. No wonder early residents referred to the area as “Bronck’s Land,” which eventually morphed into “the Bronx.”

But unlike the other boroughs, the Bronx didn’t start out as its own county. NYC began annexing parcels of Westchester County in 1874. By 1898, the boundaries of the Bronx were taking shape. But it was still considered part of New York County until 1912, when it was established on its own as Bronx County.

The first subway connecting Manhattan to the Bronx opened in 1904. Subsequent subway lines allowed for an influx of new residents eager to commute to Manhattan from a more affordable area. The median rent in the Bronx is $2,075 as of August 2021. And the median asking sale price is $479,000, the lowest of all five boroughs.

Bronx Rentals Under $2,300 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,150 base rent

Studio |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,116 base rent

Studio |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,169 base rent

Studio |

1

Soundview

1404 Noble Avenue

$2,200 base rent

2 |

1

Mott Haven

228 East 135th Street

$2,283 base rent

Studio |

1

Mott Haven

228 East 135th Street

$2,163 base rent

Studio |

1

Mott Haven

228 East 135th Street

$2,296 base rent

1 |

1

Mott Haven

2385 3rd Avenue

$2,246 base rent

1 |

1

Mott Haven

2385 3rd Avenue

$2,246 base rent

1 |

1

Mott Haven

2385 3rd Avenue

$2,246 base rent

1 |

1

Mott Haven

2385 3rd Avenue

$2,246 base rent

1 |

1

University Heights

111 West 183rd Street

$1,250 base rent

1 |

1

Bronx Homes Under $650K on StreetEasy Article continues below

Concourse

185 East 163rd Street

$230,000

3 |

1

Laconia

2723 Colden Avenue

$629,000

4 |

2.5

Kingsbridge Heights

2835 Webb Avenue

$210,000

2 |

1

Spuyten Duyvil

555 Kappock Street

$424,000

2 |

2

Parkchester

1690 Metropolitan Avenue

$247,000

1 |

1

Spuyten Duyvil

601 Kappock Street

$249,000

1 |

1

East Tremont

2040 Washington Avenue

$650,000

5 |

3

Woodstock

769 Union Avenue

$600,000

2 |

2.5

Riverdale

3810 Greystone Avenue

$269,000

1 |

1

Pelham Parkway

2166 Bronx Park East

$240,000

2 |

1

Highbridge

1177 Anderson Avenue

$139,000

1 |

1

Pelham Parkway

2199 Holland Avenue

$220,000

2 |

1