A borough of New York City, home to about 494,956 people (Richmond County). Resident comments and photos are about Staten Island; job and weather numbers cover the wider New York area.
“Life is good. Everything you need is on the island.”
How locals describe Staten Island
The words residents use most, from 50 comments on Reddit, City-Data and Quora. Bigger means more people said it. Tap a word to read what they said.
"The commute into the city sucks. I live near the ferry and it's still a one and a quarter hour commute."
Staten Island at a glance
Each grade compares this area with all 813 U.S. metro and small-town areas: A is the top 20%, F the bottom 20%. Cost compares everyday prices with the U.S. average. Varro doesn't grade safety; crime facts are further down. Graded on the New York area's numbers.
Big-city feel, Outdoorsy, Lively
Scored the same way as the quiz, against 813 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Staten Island scores 70 or higher out of 100.
Less so: cozy.
A walk through Staten Island
Places residents talk about, in their words. Each photo is of the place named.
Look around Staten Island
Google Street View near the center of town, taken 2024-11. Drag to turn, click the street to move.
Open in Google MapsPhotos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.
What Staten Island is known for
Every year
SepRichmond County Fair: old-time fair with rides, music, food at Historic Richmond Townhistoricrichmondtown.org
OctOHNY Weekend: citywide festival opening destinations for tours across all boroughsohny.org
On a normal week
Walking or biking the FDR Boardwalken.wikipedia.org
Riding the Staten Island Ferryen.wikipedia.org
Visiting Historic Richmond Townnyctourism.com
Spending time at South Beach and Midland Beachnyctourism.com
Around Staten Island
Take a tour of Staten Island
"Tour of Staten Island New York | The Hidden Gem of the City" by Jose Molina: On Tour, on YouTube. Not made by Varro.
Most talked about: food and coffee (5), nightlife and social (4), getting around (4).
One commenter enjoys the beaches for tanning even though the water is not very clear.
“The beaches are good, water is not clear but you'll get that tan. There are many parks for hiking and biking. Good food all around.”
Read the full commentAround 2024Someone was surprised how far Staten Island feels from the rest of New York City on a map.
“I've always known Staten Island to be a NYC borough but the other day I was looking at Gmaps and it's crazy how far it is from the rest of NYC, even Manhattan.”
Read the full commentAround 2025One resident said the North Shore has the best coffee shop options, naming Northside, Beans and Leaves, Americano Cafe, and Bloom.
“So many options. Northside and Beans and Leaves on Forest, Americano Cafe, Bloom. All the best places are on the North shore.”
Read the full commentAround 2026
One resident recommends KPOT on Forest Avenue, Don Cheech on Bay Street, Zara, and a great steak at West Shore Inn.
“Don cheech on Bay Street is so good! Zara is delicious also! 1y ago West shore in has one of the best steaks ever.”
Posted Sept. 2025One resident mentioned the Green Belt Trail and Moses Mountain hiking trails in Fort Wadsworth National Park, along with Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Wolfe's Pond.
One resident named several spots with decent views including Beso, Blue, Sally's Southern, and Joe and Pat's
“But in terms of at least decent views, you could go to Beso, Blue, Sally's Southern, Joe and Pat's… Olympia00.”
Posted Nov. 2024From 10 resident comments about meeting people and the social scene.
One resident suggests finding social events or clubs centered on shared interests and hobbies as the best way to meet people.
“Best bet is to find any social events or clubs with people who share common interests and hobbies. Other than that, bc the Island is relatively...”
Read the full commentAround 2025One resident says it has been hard to make new connections since moving from Brooklyn to Staten Island two years ago.
“Exactly what the title says, I moved out to Staten Island after living in Brooklyn my entire life about two years ago, and it’s been a challenge to...”
Read the full commentAround 2026One resident mentions a board game club that meets on Fridays, though it is not a dating scene.
“There's a board game club that meets.om Fridays at 7 pm at the Staten Island bridge club. Definitely not a scene for dating, but if you're just...”
Read the full commentAround 2022. Things may have changed since.One resident complains there is no place to meet guys and dating someone from the city becomes difficult once they are back on Staten Island.
“38 votes, 50 comments. There is no place to meet guys. I cant date anyone from the City bc once im on Staten Island, the clock strikes 12...”
Read the full commentAround 2023. Things may have changed since.One resident observes that people from off the island lose interest once they learn someone is from Staten Island.
“And with regards to dating you can try to date people from off the island but when they know you're from Staten Island that's a big motivator...”
Read the full commentAround 2024One resident in their late 20s finds dating on Staten Island extremely frustrating since they are no longer in school and have lost that dating pool.
“I'm in my late 20s and find dating on SI extremely frustrating. I'm not in school anymore, so that's a huge dating pool that I don't have.”
Read the full commentPosted Nov. 2018. Things may have changed since.Flagship Brewing Company offers a chill, sociable vibe with live music on weekend nights.
“Flagship Brewing Company. A warmly lit tasting room with a chill, sociable vibe. Open Thursday through Sunday, it often hosts live music,...”
Read the full commentAround 2025One resident mentioned The Coupe in Stapleton as possibly the only bar on the island open until 4am
“The Coupe on Van Duzer in Stapleton may be the only bar left on the island open until 4am. I know thats a little out the way from Dongan...”
Read the full commentPosted Aug. 2025One resident named several spots with decent views including Beso, Blue, Sally's Southern, and Joe and Pat's
“But in terms of at least decent views, you could go to Beso, Blue, Sally's Southern, Joe and Pat's… Olympia00.”
Read the full commentPosted Nov. 2024One resident listed good beer bars like Killsboro, Flagship, Craft House, and Killmeyer's but said they had been driven out of each
“Certainly, I know where to go for the good beer (e.g. Killsboro; Flagship; Craft House, Killmeyer's) but I've been driven out of each of those...”
Read the full commentPosted Oct. 2024One resident notes the borough has abundant baseball fields and green space, letting parents easily watch their kids play.
“We have more baseball fields, complexes, & green space per capita than any other borough. You can actually pull up, park your car, sit down, & watch your kids...”
Read the full commentRecent stories from local outlets. Tap a headline to read it.
About 65,817 business locations in the Staten Island area, employing about 1,804,859 people. That's about the usual U.S. share.
U.S. Census County Business Patterns, 2023. Counts business locations with paid employees, not job openings.
One resident questions whether the city job salaries posted in the 50s or 60s are adequate
“Title says it all, I have been looking into the city jobs and I see in the job announcements salaries like 50s or 60s. I don’t not think these salaries...”
Read the full commentPosted Oct. 2024Retail, delivery, and warehouse employers like Home Depot and Amazon are constantly hiring on the island.
“Home Depot, Lowes, Groceries, Amazon, all driving businesses, all deliveries constantly looking for employees as are busy restaurants, retail...”
Read the full commentAround 2025Pick a month. A dot means residents talked about that time of year.
No resident has talked about October yet.
Around Staten Island
What's nearby
Within 5 miles of Staten Island's center.
Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Stores nearby
Biking and trails
Within 5 miles of the center of Staten Island.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.
Buses and trains
- 8th Street Light Rail Station · Light rail, streetcar or people mover · about 3 miles
- 22nd Street Light Rail Station · Light rail, streetcar or people mover · about 3 miles
- St. George Ferry Terminal · Ferry · about 3 miles
- St. George · Ferry · about 3 miles
Health care
Nearest hospital with an emergency room: Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island, about 2 miles away in a straight line.
Costs of moving here
What moving costs
Average cost: $1,946
From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.
Moving to New York: before and after
- Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
- Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the New York DMV.
- Register to vote at your new address: New York voter registration.
- Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
- Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
- Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.
Schools and childcare
Schools
One public school district serves this county, with about 60,306 students. The county also has 8 public charter schools and 26 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.
Closest public schools to the center of Staten Island
Straight-line miles from the center of Staten Island, nearest first. Being closest doesn't mean a school serves a given home. "Passed the state test" is the share of students who scored proficient or better on New York's own reading and math tests in the 2021-22 school year, the latest year the U.S. Department of Education has published for every school. Each state sets its own test and passing bar, so compare schools within the same state, not across states. Test results track family income closely and leave out a lot (teachers, programs, how a school fits your child). For newer results, see the state's school report card.
Public school districts in the county
School choice and pre-K in New York
School choice: state law as summarized by the Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: Open Enrollment Policies (2022). Pre-K: share of children in state-funded pre-K, National Institute for Early Education Research, State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 school year).
Special education in New York
Source: U.S. Department of Education, 2026 determinations on state implementation of IDEA Part B (issued June 18, 2026).
What residents say about schools
"I'm in my late 20s and find dating on SI extremely frustrating. I'm not in school anymore, so that's a huge dating pool that I don't have."reddit.com · Posted Nov. 2018
One resident's view each, in their own words. Experiences differ by school, grade and family.
NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rank single schools. The area's Schools grade at the top of the page compares its test pass rates with the rest of the state only. For programs and newer results, see each district's site and the state's school report card.
Childcare and colleges
New York keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.
| Age | Daycare center | Home daycare |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $300/week about $15,600 a year | $250/week about $13,000 a year |
| Toddler (2) | $277/week about $14,400 a year | |
| Preschool (3 to 4) | $259/week about $13,500 a year | $200/week about $10,400 a year |
| School-age | $225/week about $11,700 a year |
For an infant at a center: $300/week here, $296 across NY, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 13% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.
131 colleges in the county and the wider metro around Staten Island. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.
Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.
IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.