Staten Island: Quiet Luxury Meets Unbeatable Skyline Views
If you want to see kangaroos or feel like you’ve entered the suburbs without actually leaving New York City, Staten Island, the southernmost borough, is the place to go.
Home to some of New York’s best-loved historic landmarks (including the Staten Island Zoo, where you’ll find those kangaroos), Staten Island is a borough known for its strong community ties and growing residential appeal, plus its beautiful views of the New York City skyline. And it’s a must-visit, laid-back locale for anyone who wants the sights of the city without the go-go-go intensity of areas like Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Learn more about Staten Island below, including demographics, schools, and transportation, and find out what makes this underrated borough one of the best that New York City has to offer.
History of Staten Island
Staten Island became an official borough of New York City in 1898. Prior to that, it was the site of significant military activity during the Revolutionary War, and before that, a trading stronghold for the Dutch West India Company. Its name is derived from that time, when European settlers called the island Staten-Generaal after the Dutch legislature. It would go on to be called Richmond before becoming the Staten Island we know and love today.
Want a true taste of Staten Island history? Make your way to Historic Richmond Town, located near the center of the island. You’ll get a living example of that period of New York’s history, with immersive buildings and exhibits that cover more than 300 years of the island’s unique past.
Popular Staten Island
Neighborhoods
Staten Island is the third largest of New York City’s boroughs in terms of land mass, but the least densely populated. There are just under 500,000 residents of the expansive island, compared to about 2.5 million in nearby Brooklyn.
Popular neighborhoods in Staten Island include:
- Todt Hill
- St. George
- Great Kills
- Richmondtown
- West Brighton
- Shore Acres
- Lighthouse Hill
- Westerleigh
- Castleton Corner
- Annadale
- Tottenville
- Rosebank
- Eltingville
Take a stroll through one of these charming neighborhoods and you might forget you’re in the city at all. Staten Island is known for its suburban feel, and features ample single-family homes, green spaces, and suburban amenities you won’t always find elsewhere in the city.
Demographics of Staten Island
It may be the least densely populated New York City borough, but there’s still plenty of diversity on this beautiful island, including a large Italian American community. Other immigrant communities, including Hispanic and Asian families, are becoming a more prominent part of Staten Island’s population as well.
The median household income on Staten Island is $99,170, which is higher than the city-wide median income of $79,840. That being said, income levels can vary quite a bit between neighborhoods, meaning you’ll find plenty of mansions, multi-family apartment buildings, and everything in between along the borough’s tree-lined blocks.
Staten Island Education and Top Schools
There is just a single school district, District 31, serving the 54,000 or so K-12 students of Staten Island. Top schools include:
- Staten Island Technical High School, ranked the #3 public high school in all of New York City
- Staten Island Academy, an A+ rated private institution with a strong focus on college prep
- CSI High School for International Studies, a small high school centered around an internationally-themed curriculum
- Children’s Harbor Montessori School, considered one of the best Montessori establishments in the city
Also located on the island are several notable colleges and universities, including the College of Staten Island, Wagner College, St. John’s University, and the New York City campus of SUNY Empire State University.
Public Transportation in Staten Island
The number one complaint about Staten Island is generally its inconvenience when it comes to getting to Manhattan and other parts of the city. However, there are plenty of buses and trains operating on the island, plus the free Staten Island Ferry, which runs between St. George and Manhattan.
You won’t find any subways on Staten Island. Instead, the borough is served by the Staten Island Railway (SIR), a 24/7, rapid transit line providing local service along the island’s eastern side. If you want to hop over to another borough, you’ll need to get on the ferry or take a ride on the bus. You can also travel into, out of, and around the island by car, with main roads that include the Staten Island Expressway (I-278), Hylan Boulevard, and Richmond Road.
Staten Island Activities
and Landmarks
Nature abounds on Staten Island, making it a great place for people looking for green in a city dominated by steel gray. Local natural attractions are some of the most popular on the island, and include:
- Staten Island Greenbelt
- Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens
- High Rock Park
- Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk and Beach
- Freshkills Park
If history is more your thing, you’ll find plenty of that too:
- Staten Island Museum
- Historic Richmond Town
- Fort Wadsworth
- The Conference House
- National Lighthouse Museum
- Alice Austen House
Of course, there’s also no shortage of fun and family-friendly attractions on Staten Island, such as:
- Staten Island Zoo
- St. George Theater
- Staten Island Ferry
- Staten Island Children’s Museum
Sell or Borrow Against Luxury Goods in New York City
Staten Island is all about quiet luxury, but things get a bit glitzier when you make your way to Manhattan and the historic Diamond District, a single city block where more than 90% of the country’s diamonds pass through.
Our office is located in the Diamond District at 50 W 47th Street, Suite 319, New York, NY 10036, about an hour by bus or car from Staten Island. Meet with a Qollateral loan expert to sell or borrow against luxury assets like:
- High-end watches
- Designer and heirloom jewelry
- Designer handbags
- Rare collectibles
- Gold and precious metals
- Collectible art
- Loose diamonds and gemstones
You can reach us easily via the B, D, F, and M trains. Please note: the B and M lines operate on weekdays only, while the F train runs during rush hours in the peak direction.
If you’re driving, a parking lot is available just around the corner at 55 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036.
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