Artsy neighboorhood with grounded/down to earth people
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I think the OP should seriously look into Detroit or Philly for this kind of scene. I don't know. NYC is not perfect but who wants to permanently be a starving artist? The idea is to find an affordable community with a balanced amount of grittiness, culture, and economic success and progression so so that your options are always open.
You don't want grit to the point that it is depressing and embarrassing for you to bring home a girl that you really like. Or have a lady or man that you are dating that has children feel as if they cannot even bring their kids to your neighborhood for a day at the park or a walk around because the streets are filthy, full of ignorant, hostile, extremely vocal local yokels who have no idea to act outside of the ghetto. Sorry.
You also don't want nothing but white-washed gentrified bullcrap where everything is a copy of a copy of a pseudo-artistic environment turned bourgeoisie because now everything "green" is the thing to do.
You want to have some bars, galleries, cool shops, and decent restaurants in the neighborhood. It should also be a place where if you want to be a starving artist you can promote whatever your unique little craft is without going broke or going to far. It should also be located strategically enough that if you want to play the flipside and really hustle, you can get to the economic hub location corresponding to what your skills are.
If you know finance, don't be too far from Wall St. If you sell cars, live somewhere that you can get to outer Queens/LI or Staten Island. If you're doing construction, have some reasonable way into Manhattan or Brooklyn.
This sounds like a lot of parameters here but really, they're not and many many neighborhoods exist. What the hell is so hard about this? The model I just presented should be the ideal model for all people seeking relocation in NYC. Not the new place. Not where the transplants are. Not where all the "real" artsy fartsies are. Jesus. Get over it.
The words gentrification, creative, hipster, and displacement have become so disgustingly ambiguous these days it's ridiculous it makes me sick. Apparently EVERYONE who wasn't born and raised in East New York or Mott Haven and recently moved to the city, with a little bit of an education and a decent job, some tattoos and a taste for rock music is either a hipster or a yuppie. This is ridiculous. GET OVER IT. We are no longer in 1979 New York anymore. Surprise! The city now appeals to more than just depressed classes and niche groups.
In the words of gunslinger Doc Holliday, to his friend Wyatt Earp:
"There is no normal life Wyatt. It's just life. NOW GET ON WITH IT".
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