One of Manhattan’s most affordable areas (studios start at under $300K), Murray Hill is a neighborhood in transition. Its past is on view in some of the city’s prettiest brownstones and row houses—several designed by prominent architects—like the historically designated Sniffen Court, a charming, gated mews where Cole Porter once owned a pied-à-terre. New development, however, is on the rise. This is especially true on the eastern edges of the neighborhood, where gleaming new high-rises take advantage of views over the East River and offer amenities usually associated with boutique hotels.

Young professionals flock to Murray Hill for the area’s central location near Midtown’s business district, as well as its abundance of pubs, cheap ethnic eateries, and nightlife spots reminiscent of their college years. Most especially, they come for reasonable rents. And Grand Central Terminal’s proximity means getting out of town for a business trip or just a long weekend is a snap.