Various rental buildings that recently launched leasing in NYC
Living with roommates has long been considered a rite of passage for young and broke New Yorkers just arriving in the city, but it is lasting longer than that for many: A 2022 study by the Pew Research Center found that over 30% of households across America are living in a shared household situation – i.e., parents and adult children living together, adults of all ages with roommates. More recently, a study from May 2024 found that city rents are rising seven times faster than wages, making renting a challenge for even New Yorkers earning six figures.
New York’s housing shortage plays a significant role in the high rents that forces people into shared households. However, there is a glimmer of hope: The City Planning Commission voted to advance Mayor Adams’ “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” which aims to deliver over 100,000 new housing units by loosening zoning changes. These include, but are not limited to, allowing more residences above commercial properties, making it easier to convert pre-1990 office buildings to housing, allowing three- to five-story developments near public transportation, and removing parking mandates in new construction to allow for more housing units. The plan is now headed to the City Council.
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Penthouse terrace at Anagram Columbus Circle (Rose Associates)
In the meantime, some affluent New Yorkers would rather share a beautiful, amenity-rich apartment in a central neighborhood with a roommate or two than have their own studio in the farthest reaches of the outer boroughs: Shortly after the New York Post ran a profile of three young finance professionals sharing a Lower East Side penthouse with a private terrace and a trendy address, Anagram Columbus Circle achieved full occupancy with rents as high as $28,500/month. In addition to an address across from Central Park and Columbus Circle, residents enjoy four floors of amenities including, but not limited to, a library lounge, a fitness center, a multi-sport simulator, a children's playroom, a basement-level game room, and a penthouse lounge with catering kitchen and outdoor terrace.
Finding a roommate used to mean going on Craigslist and hoping for the best, but there are now dozens of platforms catering to people who need to find a roommate, most of which drastically reduce the risk and guesswork that roommate searches once entailed. This article looks at the most popular platforms for all ages and lifestyles, as well as newly launched rentals throughout the city.
Popular Roommate Platforms
Between the rise of technology and continued popularity of social media, there are more ways to find a roommate than ever.. While all these platforms essentially offer the same services, they each have their pros and cons.
- SpareRoom allows users to find each other using a wide range of search criteria, from parking and pets permitted to vegetarians and utilities included. Users post ads describing themselves and their rooms, and can opt to add photos and video to further enhance it. It’s free to post an ad, but for an extra fee, users can post Bold Ads that allow them to rank higher in listings. SpareRoom also hosts a monthly Live Rent Free competition, where they pay a month’s rent for a winner and donate that same amount to Breaking Ground, New York’s largest provider of permanent supportive housing and outreach services.
- RoomZoom is a woman-founded roommate-finding app, developed when founder and CEO Elien Blue Becque was living in New York City, juggling poorly paid jobs and gigs, and of course, living with roommates to help makes ends meet. Years later, her app is a go-to platform for people just like herself—18- to 35-year-old New Yorkers who are college students or recent graduates and in search of roommates who share their lifestyles and values.
- RoomieMatch essentially offers the same service offered by its competitors—it promises to help you find a roommate who won’t scam you or turn out to be exceptionally skeezy with the help of a questionnaire covering everything from household clothing preferences to television and cooking habits. There are two options on RoomieMatch—what the platform describes as free or cheap. If you do choose the cheap option, the extra $19.95 per year will help speed up your search by enabling you to immediately contact potential roommates.
(via Pexels)
- The Roomi app is free, but if you want to take full advantage of the platform, it does cost a bit more. To run a background check and bump up your listing, expect to pay extra fees.
- Diggz is free, and looks and operates a bit less like a listings site and more like a dating site. To begin on Diggz, users are invited to survey potential roommates and click “like” when they see someone who seems like a good match. The platform also relies on an algorithm to help potentially good matches find each other more quickly.
- In business since 2005, Rainbow Roommates is New York's leader in LGBTQ+ roommate services, matching members of the queer community as well as allies. Listing subscription options range from $30 for a 15-day account to $93 for a 90-day account with interview guidelines and sample roommate contracts.
- Despite being the source of many a cautionary tale, Craigslist remains a popular resource among both new arrivals and longtime residents looking for roommates. In addition to roommates, users can search for sublets and housing swaps. Apartment postings cost $5.
- One of the original social networks, Facebook is also a resource for New Yorkers seeking roommates. Facebook Marketplace includes rooms for rent. Additionally, while Roommates NYC is the most popular group, the site contains a number of other groups centered around people seeking roommates (e.g., women-only groups). The logic is that potential roommates can look at each other’s pages to see if they'd like to live together; however, it is important to note that this is just the first step in determining whether people would be a good fit.
- People can use Reddit for anything, including finding a roommate. The NYC Roommates community seeks to connect people looking for rooms with those looking to fill a vacancy in their apartments. The community has rules, including no brokers, but the onus is on users to conduct background checks and interviews, set up agreements, and generally make sure everything is on the level.
Common Baltic offers private rooms within furnished shared suites (Common)
Roommates + Co-Living
In addition to platforms for finding roommates, there are now a growing number of platforms set up to bring together like-minded people in co-living spaces and find much more than a roommate. On platforms like Common, you not only get roommates and an already furnished room, but also utilities, WiFi, and laundry facilities. Better yet, there will be no nasty fights with roommates about the grungy shower or dirty toilet since your monthly Common fee also includes a weekly cleaning.
During the pandemic, when common spaces closed, cleaning services were suspended, and residents were confined to their homes, The New York Times wondered what this would mean for co-living companies. While some companies did falter or lose their holdings, others are still going strong: Shared housing company AYA bought a new multi-family building on the Upper East Side in January 2022, and people are still drawn to this type of living arrangement for the cost, convenience, and community.
During the pandemic, when common spaces closed, cleaning services were suspended, and residents were confined to their homes, The New York Times wondered what this would mean for co-living companies. While some companies did falter or lose their holdings, others are still going strong: Shared housing company AYA bought a new multi-family building on the Upper East Side in January 2022, and people are still drawn to this type of living arrangement for the cost, convenience, and community.
Roommates for Creatives
If you’re a painter, drummer, bassoonist, or performance artist, you’ll probably be looking to live with people who are also artists or at least art lovers. You may also be looking for a specific type of space—
for example, one equipped to handle paint fumes, long hours of rehearsal, or room for props. Likewise, if you already have a creative home and would like to keep it that way, you may have a strong desire to find roommates who are open to your specific lifestyle, odd hours, and creative vibe. The number one roommate-finding platform for creatives in New York City is Stephanie Diamond’s passion project known as Listings Project. Originally just a list of available rooms and studio spaces, over the past decade, Diamond’s project has turned into the most reliable sources of workspaces and living spaces for artists in the five boroughs and beyond.
Roommates in the Golden Years
If you think roommates are just for people under thirty, think again. In New York City, high rents often leave older residents searching for roommates to help cover rent or building fees and searching for rooms in other people’s homes. Over the past decade, a few online platforms have launched in other cities (e.g., Nesterly in Boston) to meet the needs of this unique demographic. In New York City, there is not yet a dedicated intergenerational online roommate platform, but there is the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens Home Sharing Program. To participate in the program, either the host or renter must be over the age of 60. In some cases, older residents who join the program are searching for a roommate to help offset their current rent, mortgage, or building fees. In some cases, it’s not money they want in return. Many older residents also elect to take in a roommate to help with the occasional heavy lifting or just for companionship.
Newly launched rentals
55 Broad Street, Financial District
4 availabilities from $3,990
3 months free rent on a 27-month lease
4 availabilities from $3,990
3 months free rent on a 27-month lease
55 Broad Street (CityRealty)
55 Broad Street (Compass)
The Financial District is home to many office-to-residence success stories, and shows no sign of slowing down: Leasing has just launched at 55 Broad Street, the Emery Roth-designed former headquarters of Goldman Sachs turned luxury residences by CetraRuddy. Many floor plans include home offices to accommodate the rise in remote and hybrid work, and all interiors feature 10-foot ceilings, oversized sound-insulated windows, custom Italian kitchens, and in-unit washer/dryers. A 25,000-square-foot amenity package includes an attended lobby, a Technogym fitness center with yoga studio, a library, and a rooftop pool.
The Maybury, Midtown West
550 Tenth Avenue
5 availabilities from $3,750
2 months free rent on a 18-month lease
550 Tenth Avenue
5 availabilities from $3,750
2 months free rent on a 18-month lease
The Maybury (Gotham Organization)
At the nexus of Hudson Yards and Hell’s Kitchen, The Maybury stands out for its rust-rest panels and oversized windows. The 453 apartments include the 28-unit Abode by Gotham micro-unit collection with built-in beds and sofas, and all interiors feature oversized windows, plank flooring, paneled kitchen appliances, high-end bath fixtures, central heat and air conditioning, and in-unit laundry. Residents arrive to an attended lobby, and amenities include a fourth-floor lounge, an eighth-floor coworking space and terrace, and a 46th-floor sky lounge and outdoor sun deck. Model residences are now open.
The Delecor, Yorkville
250 East 83rd Street
16 availabilities from $6,500
250 East 83rd Street
16 availabilities from $6,500
Rendering of The Delecor (Torkian Group)
The Delecor interiors and amenities (Cantor and Pecorella)
The Upper East Side’s recent building boom is not limited to luxury condos: The Delecor, a new high-rise rental, has risen on the southwest corner of Second Avenue and East 83rd Street. The design is rich in Art Deco design influences like a limestone facade and multiple setbacks, but interiors with high-end finishes and state-of-the-art kitchen appliances were designed for the modern renter.
A live-in resident manager and 24-hour concierge are on staff to keep life running smoothly for residents. Over 25,000 square feet of amenities include a double-height fitness center, indoor pool, multi-sports simulator, movie theater with performance stage, children’s playroom, lounge with dining room, and outdoor roof terrace with fire pit and panoramic views.
A live-in resident manager and 24-hour concierge are on staff to keep life running smoothly for residents. Over 25,000 square feet of amenities include a double-height fitness center, indoor pool, multi-sports simulator, movie theater with performance stage, children’s playroom, lounge with dining room, and outdoor roof terrace with fire pit and panoramic views.
Bridgeview (EXR)
As the name of this DUMBO rental suggests, residents enjoy incredible views, including the river and bridges, through expansive windows. Interiors feature spacious living areas, kitchens with stainless steel appliances, queen-size bedrooms, and in-unit washer and dryers. Amenities include a fitness center with yoga studio, a lounge with dedicated coworking space, a recreation room, a screening room, and a furnished roof terrace with BBQ grills and panoramic views.
505 State Street, Downtown Brooklyn
19 availabilities from $3,830
1.5 months free rent on an 18-month lease
19 availabilities from $3,830
1.5 months free rent on an 18-month lease
505 State Street (Nancy Packes)
Located on “Alloy Block” in Downtown Brooklyn, 505 State Street is New York’s first all-electric skyscraper. This allows for carbon-neutral living, though not at the expense of style: All interiors feature exposed concrete ceilings, oversized triple-pane windows, kitchens with induction stoves, smart thermostats, and in-unit washer and heat pump dryers. Amenities include an attended lobby, a gym with yoga studio, a coworking space, a screening room, and a rooftop terrace with outdoor pool and grills.
420 Carroll Street, Gowanus
15 availabilities from $3,585
3 months free rent on a 27-month lease
15 availabilities from $3,585
3 months free rent on a 27-month lease
420 Carroll Street (Compass)
Following the 2021 Gowanus rezoning, 420 Carroll Street was the first new project to be developed. More recently, leasing is underway at the two-building complex connected by an underground tunnel. All units feature airy floor plates, abundant natural light, modern finishes, custom kitchens, and in-unit Bosch washer and dryers. The project includes a public promenade along the canal as well as such outdoor amenities as landscaped terraces and a rooftop sun deck. Indoor amenities include an attended lobby, a library, a lounge, a fitness center, and a dining room with demonstration kitchen.
Terra, Long Island City
45-19 Davis Street
9 availabilities from $3,725
45-19 Davis Street
9 availabilities from $3,725
Terra (Acre NY Realty)
The latest entrant in Long Island City’s rental building boom, Terra is in a central location near MoMA PS1, Trader Joe’s, popular restaurants, and the Court Square and Queensboro Plaza subway stops. All units feature LATCH keyless entry, windows with acoustic noise cancellation, custom floor-to-ceiling wardrobes, kitchens with Bosch appliance packages, and bathrooms with Toto Neorest toilets and LED backlit vanities. Many units have private outdoor space, and all residents have access to the building’s fitness center, basketball court, racquetball court, pickleball court, and rooftop lounge.
Astor Square, Astoria
14-30 Astoria Boulevard
4 availabilities from $3,100
14-30 Astoria Boulevard
4 availabilities from $3,100
Astor Square (Nest Seekers LLC)
Boutique rental Astor Square has taken shape in a dynamic section of Astoria near Astoria Park, Halletts Cove, and the ferry stop. All 37 one- to two-bedroom units feature high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, LED lighting, kitchens with quartz countertops, spa-like baths, and custom closets. Conveniences and perks include virtual doorman service, a package room, a central laundry room, bike storage, parking, a state-of-the-art gym, and a rooftop with city views.
SOLA, Woodside
72-01 Queens Boulevard
23 availabilities from $3,050
2 months free rent on a 14-month lease
72-01 Queens Boulevard
23 availabilities from $3,050
2 months free rent on a 14-month lease
SOLA (MNS)
Modern new rental SOLA brings 364 studio to three-bedroom apartments to Woodside, a short distance from Elmhurst Park, popular restaurants, and the Elmhurst Avenue transportation hub. All units are reached via keyless entry and feature floor-to-ceiling windows, kitchens with quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances, and in-unit laundry. Amenities include an attended lobby package room, fitness center, playroom, screening room, music room, media/game lounge, and roof terrace.
Reservoir, Kingsbridge Heights
3103 Sedgwick Avenue
4 availabilities from $3,100
2 months free rent on a 12-month lease
3103 Sedgwick Avenue
4 availabilities from $3,100
2 months free rent on a 12-month lease
Reservoir (Bohemia Realty Group)
Boutique Bronx rental Reservoir is named in honor of the Jerome Park Reservoir across the street. All units feature open layouts, large casement windows, recessed lighting, designer kitchens with stainless steel appliances, California closets, and in-unit laundry. Amenities include virtual doorman service, a fitness center, a coworking lounge, and a furnished roof deck with grills. The building also offers bike storage, parking, and close proximity to the 1, 4, B, and D trains.
Contributing Writer
Cait Etherington
Cait Etherington has over twenty years of experience working as a journalist and communications consultant. Her articles and reviews have been published in newspapers and magazines across the United States and internationally. An experienced financial writer, Cait is committed to exposing the human side of stories about contemporary business, banking and workplace relations. She also enjoys writing about trends, lifestyles and real estate in New York City where she lives with her family in a cozy apartment on the twentieth floor of a Manhattan high rise.
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