RENT OR BUY?

The Gayest Neighborhoods In America—And How To Afford Them

Since we tend to live in cities, the cost of living for gays and lesbians is usually a lot higher on average than it is for straight folks. But a new report has dug up ten affordable alternatives to tried-and-true gayborhoods—at least for gay couples.

The real-estate website Trulia crunched the numbers by identifying zip codes with high-concentrations of gay and lesbian couples (they got their numbers by tweaking some Census Bureau statistics on same-sex households) and examining the average price-per-foot of real estate in that area.

As it turns out, if you’re willing to chose a less-epic but still vibrant gay community, you can get a pretty good bang for your buck.

In San Francisco, for example, if you want to live in the Castro, you’re gonna shell out about $670 a square foot. But a similar place in Brisbane, which also has a healthy queer population, is just $311 per square foot.

In New York, the median price for a home in Chelsea has topped $1,200 per square foot or more than $1.2 million for a two-bedroom apartment. (And Chelsea’s on it’s way out as the gayborhood of choice.)  But a PATH ride away in Jersey City, you could pay just $450,000 for a comparable place.

Honey, where are the real-estate ads?

Did Trulia get it wrong? Have another option?. Leave a tip in the comments.

Click through for Trulia’s list of the ten gayest neighborhoods in America, including the average price per square foot of real estate there, and in an affordable, gay-friendly alternative.



 

TOP TEN GAY NEIGHBORHOODS IN AMERICA

Avondale Estates, GA
Avondale Estates, GA

Atlanta

Most popular among same-sex male couples: Morningside/Lenox Park/Piedmont Heights, Atlanta ($129 per square foot). Affordable alternative: Grant Park,
Atlanta ($104 per square foot).

Most popular among same-sex female couples: Avondale Estates, GA ($96 per square foot). Affordable alternative: Also Avondale Estates, GA

Chicago

Most popular among same-sex male and female couples: Edgewater, Chicago
($131 per square foot). Affordable alternative: Rogers Park, Chicago
($95 per square foot).


Boston

Most popular neighborhood for same-sex male couples: South End, Boston ($608 per square foot). Most affordable alternative: Dorchester, Mass. ($209 per square foot).

Most popular neighborhood among same-sex female couples: Jamaica Plain, Bos

ton ($304 per square foot). Affordable alternative: Roslindale, Mass. ($227 per square foot).

 

Dallas

Most popular among same-sex male couples: Oak Lawn, Dallas ($160 per square foot). Affordable alternative: Northwest Dallas ($92 per square foot).

Most popular among same-sex female couples: Lake Highlands, Dallas ($128 per square foot). Affordable alternative: Also Lake Highlands.

West Hollywood, Los Angeles

 

Los Angeles

Most popular neighborhood among same-sex male couples: West Hollywood, Los Angeles ($481 per square foot). Affordable alternative: Signal Hill, Long Beach ($200 per square foot).

Most popular neighborhood among same-sex female couples: West Hollywood, Los Angeles ($481 per square foot). Affordable alternative: Eastside, Long Beach ($207 per square foot).

 

Most popular neighborhood among same-sex male couples: Wilton Manors, FL ($206 per square foot). Affordable alternative: Oakland Park, Fla. ($115 per square foot).

Most popular neighborhood among same-sex female couples: Wilton Manors, FL ($206 per square foot). Affordable alternative: Lake Worth, Fla. ($66 per square foot).

 

Chelsea, Manhattan

New York

Most popular neighborhood among same-sex male couples: Chelsea, New York ($1,199 per square foot). Affordable alternative: Jersey City, N.J. ($452 per square foot).

Most popular neighborhood among same-sex female couples: Park Slope, Brooklyn ($664 per square foot). Affordable alternative: Nyack, New York ($266 per square foot).

 

Philadelphia

Most popular among same-sex male couples: Washington Square West, Philadelphia ($341 per square foot ). Affordable alternative: Center City, Philadelphia ($160 per square foot).

Most popular among same-sex female couples: Mount Airy, Philadelphia ($120 per square foot). Most affordable alternative: Also Mount Airy

 

San Francisco

Most popular neighborhood among same-sex male couples: Castro, San Francisco ($671 per square foot). Affordable alternative: Brisbane, CA ($311 per square foot).

Most popular neighborhood among same-sex female couples: Castro, San Francisco ($671 per square foot). Affordable alternative: Redwood Heights, Oakland ($230 per square foot).

 

Washington, DC

Most popular neighborhood among same-sex male couples: Logan Circle, DC ($525 per square foot). Affordable alternative: Columbia Heights, DC ($333 per square foot).

Most popular neighborhood among same-sex female couples: Alexandria, VA ($405 per square foot). Affordable alternative: Hyattsville, MD ($101 per square foot).


Did Trulia get it wrong? Have another option. Leave a tip in the comments.

 

Don't forget to share:

Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...

We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock Queerty articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated