Categories
Quick searches
West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill offers a mix of residential housing near Silver Lake Park and the St. George ferry. Hilltop views and affordable homes attract families.
West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill offers a mix of residential housing near Silver Lake Park and the St. George ferry. Hilltop views and affordable homes attract families.
Did you know?
Silver Lake Park's reservoir was part of Staten Island's water supply system from 1917 until 1970 — the 28-acre lake is now a scenic feature of the park.
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
Commute
Weekday mornings · leaving 7:30–9:00
- FromWest New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill
- ToNear Bryant Park
Family scores
Show 5 moreShow fewer
Trade-offs
Stands out
- Affordability99/100
Lower costs than most
- Air & Child Health92/100
Cleaner air and better child-health measures
- Safety74/100
Fewer reported crimes, traffic injuries and serious housing violations per resident
To weigh
- Transit5/100
Longer weekday-morning trips to the city's main job centers
- Schools16/100
Weaker results at the public and charter schools serving it, or fewer of them
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 West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill 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
Schools11 schools
West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill delivers a genuine mix of public and private options. The zoned public schools include P.S. 045 John Tyler and P.S. 35 The Clove Valley School at the elementary level, plus I.S. 027 Anning S. Prall for middle school — solid anchors for families staying in the public system. Private schools add real variety here: Notre Dame Academy runs both elementary and high school campuses on Howard Avenue, while St. Peter's High School for Boys serves older students on Clinton Avenue. That split between 11 public and 6 private options gives families meaningful differentiators, whether they're looking for a parochial track or staying public.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Parks & Playgrounds5 places
West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill keeps things compact on the park front — just two playgrounds serve the area, but they're solid anchors. Austin J. McDonald Playground and Terrace Playground offer the basics for younger kids, though families looking for larger green spaces or waterfront access will need to venture onto the Island proper. The tree canopy along the side streets adds some shade for stroller walks, but don't expect a major park destination here — it's more about what's walkable than what's expansive.
1 playground within a 10-min walk
Nearest large park: Freshkills Park (North) · ~102 min walk (3.9 mi)
Transportation128 stops
Bus service is the name of the game here, with strong coverage along Broadway and Castleton Avenue giving residents multiple ways to catch a ride. The tradeoff is simple: there’s no subway, so getting to Manhattan means a bus-to-ferry commute that can easily eat 90 minutes each way — that’s the Staten Island reality. The S53 and S54 routes along Castleton and the S42 along Broadway are the workhorses for anyone heading toward St. George. It’s not fast, but the network is reliable and well-traveled.
Restaurants65 places
Forest Avenue runs as the main dining drag here, with a deep bench of pizza spots and delis keeping things casual — think Billy's Pizza, Chuck's Pizzeria, and a couple of solid delis along Castleton Ave. The international flavor pops in unexpected ways: solid Middle Eastern at Baba Shawarma and Al-Humza, a row of Mexican options including El Torito and the Ho' Brah spots, and a Chinese takeout joint that fills a gap. A few diners and breakfast bagel shops round things out for the everyday carry. Chain-wise, it's thin — just a McDonald's and a couple of Dunkin' outposts — so you're largely in independent restaurant territory, which is exactly what gives this stretch its walkable, local feel.
Groceries7 places
For the weekly shop, you've got a Key Food on Forest Avenue doing the heavy lifting — it's the only proper supermarket in the immediate area. A couple of independent groceries dot the side streets near Victory Boulevard if you need something quick, but the selection is modest. Most families find themselves driving to broader options elsewhere on the island for full hauls, so the car definitely comes in handy here.
Coffee Shops16 places
A Starbucks anchors the Forest Avenue corridor near Bard Avenue, with a Dunkin' handling Castleton Ave needs. Beyond the chains, indie spots scatter across the neighborhood — some attached to restaurants, others operating as their own thing. It's not a third-wave destination, but there's enough density for a morning stop or afternoon laptop session.
Things to Do12 places
When it comes to keeping kids active, this pocket of Staten Island leans heavily athletic — particularly in the water. Swimming options are the clear anchor here with a few different pools scattered around, plus a dedicated taekwondo academy for families leaning into martial arts. There's a modest beach presence and a couple of other kids' activity spots, but the density is really in the aquatics lane. Families looking beyond wet sports may find the mix a bit narrow.
Daycare & informal care1 place
There's a solid mix of early learning options here, with Universal Pre-K sites dominating the landscape — seven of the eight providers fall into that category. The single dedicated daycare offers a more traditional childcare track if you need full-day coverage. Most of the Pre-K programs are embedded in local elementary schools and community spaces along Broadway and the surrounding streets, which keeps drop-off routes pretty intuitive for most families in this owner-heavy corner of Staten Island.
Family Resources7 places
West New Brighton's civic anchors cluster nicely around Castleton Avenue, with the West New Brighton Library serving as a solid neighborhood stalwart at 976 Castleton. The recreation scene offers a deep bench — Austin J. McDonald Playground, Prall Playground, Terrace Playground, and Walker Park give locals several spots to spread out. The Children's Aid Goodhue Center adds another layer with its farmers market, rounding out what feels like a genuinely connected stretch of public infrastructure.
Healthcare13 places
West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill has real depth on the hospital front — Richmond University Medical Center anchors the Bard Avenue corridor, and the Ambulatory Care Pavilion handles specialty and diagnostic needs. Pediatric care is thinner with just a couple of options, and there's only one urgent care on Forest Avenue. Dental coverage is solid with a handful of independent practices scattered across the area. Families will want to lock in a pediatrician early since the bench is narrow.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill
Schools in West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill
11
Early education in West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill
16
- ABERLIN NORTH SHORE
- BROADWAY YMCA
- Bumble Bees R Us
- Children's Aid Society Richmond Early Learning Center
- Hugs & Kiddies
- HUGS & KIDDIES OF STATEN ISLAND LLC
- Jewish Community Center of Staten Island
- MIRAJ ISLAMIC SCHOOL
- NOTRE DAME ACADEMY ELEM SCHOOL
- OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL SCHOOL
- P.S. 018 John G. Whittier
- P.S. 045 John Tyler
- RICHMOND EARLY LEARNING CENTER
- Sacred Heart School
- SI YMCA Nursery - North
- SILVER LAKE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
All early education in West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill →
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill a good neighborhood for families?
- West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill scores 56/100 for families on Motley — near the middle of the pack citywide. 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 West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill for families?
- For families, West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill stands out for lower costs than most; cleaner air and better child-health measures; and fewer reported crimes, traffic injuries and serious housing violations per resident. What to weigh: longer weekday-morning trips to the city's main job centers, and weaker results at the public and charter schools serving it, or fewer of them. 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 West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill safe?
- West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill scores 74/100 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 West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill?
- West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill has 11 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 16/100 for schools — toward the lower end citywide.
- How do middle and high school admissions work from West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill?
- Middle school: families in West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill 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 West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill affordable?
- West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill scores 99/100 for affordability on Motley — more affordable than most NYC neighborhoods.
- Which borough is West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill in?
- West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill is a neighborhood in Staten Island, New York City.
Want personalized insights for your family?
Sign in to get an agentic neighborhood analysis — including safety and cost of living — tailored to your priorities, family size, budget, and commute.