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Tottenville-Charleston sits at Staten Island's southern tip with waterfront parks, Victorian homes, and a small-town feel. The most remote neighborhood from Manhattan in the city.
Tottenville-Charleston sits at Staten Island's southern tip with waterfront parks, Victorian homes, and a small-town feel. The most remote neighborhood from Manhattan in the city.
Did you know?
Tottenville's Conference House hosted a failed peace conference in 1776 between Benjamin Franklin and British Admiral Lord Howe, the last attempt to avert the American Revolution.
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
$496 / sq ft
Commute
Weekday mornings · leaving 7:30–9:00
- FromTottenville-Charleston
- ToNear Bryant Park
Family scores
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Trade-offs
Stands out
- Air & Child Health100/100
Cleaner air and better child-health measures
- Affordability94/100
Lower costs than most
- Schools91/100
Strong results at the public and charter schools serving it
To weigh
- Transit0/100
Longer weekday-morning trips to the city's main job centers
- Family-Friendly Vibe19/100
Fewer families with children than most
Each score compares it with NYC's other residential neighborhoods.
What these scores don't measure: how a block feels on foot, what's changing on it, and whether a particular school suits your child. Walk it at school drop-off time, and check the zoned school for the exact address before you sign a lease.
Your family’s read
How does Tottenville-Charleston fit your family?
An agentic read of this neighborhood — including safety and cost of living — tailored to your priorities, family size, budget, and commute.
Analyze for My FamilySchools & early education
Schools5 schools
Schools here run the gamut from zoned public to private, giving families a real mix to consider. P.S. 001 Tottenville anchors the historic core as an elementary option, while I.S. 034 Tottenville serves as the neighborhood's main middle school. Gateway Academy runs both private K-8 and a public UPK program under the same roof on Boscombe Avenue — a rare setup. With five public and two private schools in the area, there's reasonable choice for different educational paths.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Parks & Playgrounds3 places
Aesop Park anchors the playground scene here with a solid spot for kids to burn off energy, but the options are thin — there's really just this one dedicated play space in the area. Staten Island's more park-rich neighborhoods are a short drive away if you're looking for variety, but for everyday quick outings, Aesop gets the job done.
Nearest large park: Freshkills Park (South) · ~65 min walk (2.5 mi)
Transportation55 stops
Tottenville sits at Staten Island's southern tip, so let's be honest about the commute: you're looking at the SIR to the ferry for a trek into Manhattan — roughly 75 minutes door-to-door on a good day. The good news is the Staten Island Railway runs three stops here (Arthur Kill, Richmond Valley, and Tottenville itself), and the bus network along Amboy Road and Arthur Kill Road is thick enough that you won't be waiting in the rain for long. It's car-friendly territory, but you have transit options if you prefer not to drive.
Restaurants50 places
Tottenville-Charleston delivers a solid mix of sit-down spots and quick bites, with Italian and Asian options leading the pack. Page Avenue and Arthur Kill Road anchor the eat-out scene — you'll find several pizza parlors and Chinese restaurants clustered together, plus a few sushi and hibachi spots that pull date-night duty. Family-friendly diners and delis cover the casual end, while the usual suspects (Dunkin', McDonald's, Popeyes) handle the grab-and-go days. It's not flashy, but the bench runs deep enough for weeknight rotation.
Groceries6 places
For the weekly shop, expect to drive — the supermarket scene here is spread out along Amboy Road and Veterans Road W, so it's not exactly walkable. You've got a decent mix of big-box options and family-run markets covering the basics, plus a few specialty grocers that handle the Italian and Caribbean essentials. It's not a food desert, but you're not grabbing milk on the corner either; a car makes life much easier here.
Coffee Shops9 places
On the coffee front, Tottenville-Charleston keeps it local — there's a decent spread of independent spots scattered along Page Avenue and Arthur Kill Road, from counter-service setups to more sit-down cafes. Starbucks has two outposts (one near Richmond Valley Plaza, another by the Target on Veterans Road West), but beyond that it's mostly neighborhood joints. Not a third-wave scene, but enough to grab a morning cup without much fuss.
Things to Do20 places
This corner of Staten Island leans heavily into the arts — dance studios dominate the landscape, with multiple options covering everything from recreational classes to competitive programs. Martial arts and a few sports facilities sit alongside, plus a tutoring center and a movie theater for variety. Swim options are thinner here than in other parts of the island, though what's there covers the basics.
Daycare & informal care3 places
Tottenville-Charleston offers a solid foundation for families with Pre-K through the local schools — P.S. 1 and P.S. 6 both run Universal Pre-K programs, plus Gateway Academy and Prodigy Preschool add a few private options. Daycare options are thinner on the ground, with just a handful of standalone centers scattered along Arthur Kill Road and Veterans Road. For parents needing full-time childcare, the selection is modest but functional — you won't be traveling far for drop-off, though options are more limited than you'd find closer to the North Shore.
Family Resources3 places
Tottenville-Charleston holds its own when it comes to civic anchors. The Tottenville Library on Amboy Road and the Charleston Library off Bricktown Way give this southern slice of Staten Island a solid two-library bench — both well-used, both offering the usual programming mix. Aesop Park down on Page Avenue adds a recreation anchor for families who want a little green without crossing too many streets. It's not flashy, but the public infrastructure here is reliable.
Healthcare3 places
Healthcare options here are thin — there's one pediatrician and a pair of dental practices along Arthur Kill Road, but the neighborhood lacks urgent care entirely and no hospitals sit within the boundaries. For parents, this means routine pediatric and dental care is accessible nearby, but any urgent visits or hospital admissions require travel outside Tottenville-Charleston. Families should map the nearest ER routes in advance.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in Tottenville-Charleston
Schools in Tottenville-Charleston
5
Early education in Tottenville-Charleston
7
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Tottenville-Charleston a good neighborhood for families?
- Tottenville-Charleston scores 66/100 for families on Motley — ahead of most NYC neighborhoods. The Family Fit score blends six parts: how many families live there, schools, affordability, weekday-morning transit time to job centers, safety, and air quality and child health.
- What are the pros and cons of Tottenville-Charleston for families?
- For families, Tottenville-Charleston stands out for cleaner air and better child-health measures; lower costs than most; and strong results at the public and charter schools serving it. What to weigh: longer weekday-morning trips to the city's main job centers, and fewer families with children than most. Each score compares it with NYC's other residential neighborhoods. They don't measure how a block feels on foot or whether a particular school suits your child, so walk it before you decide.
- Is Tottenville-Charleston safe?
- Tottenville-Charleston scores 79/100 on safety — ahead of most NYC neighborhoods. We build the score from NYPD crime complaints, pedestrian and cyclist injuries, and serious (Class C) housing violations, each counted per 1,000 residents.
- How are the schools in Tottenville-Charleston?
- Tottenville-Charleston has 5 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 91/100 for schools — ahead of most NYC neighborhoods.
- How do middle and high school admissions work from Tottenville-Charleston?
- Middle school: families in Tottenville-Charleston apply in 5th grade through the citywide middle school application. District 31's 28 middle school programs admit by method: 13 zoned, 7 unscreened, 6 screened and 2 charter lottery. High school: one citywide application in 8th grade lets a family rank programs anywhere in the city, and the eight specialized high schools admit on the SHSAT alone.
- Is Tottenville-Charleston affordable?
- Tottenville-Charleston scores 94/100 for affordability on Motley — more affordable than most NYC neighborhoods.
- Which borough is Tottenville-Charleston in?
- Tottenville-Charleston is a neighborhood in Staten Island, New York City.
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