Location and Vibe: Brooklyn’s Creative Pulse
98 Jefferson St sits in the Bushwick area of Brooklyn, a neighbourhood known for its street art, vintage shops, and relatively relaxed pace compared to Manhattan. The address puts you within walking distance of the Jefferson Street L train, giving direct access to Manhattan’s 14th Street corridor in about 20 minutes. The surrounding blocks are filled with local cafes, bodegas, and thrift stores – one review specifically mentions visiting for the “thrift shop experience.” The building itself is housed in a former hostel (Moore Hostel, per guest reviews) that has been converted into shared apartment-style living. It’s not a dedicated student dorm; the unit type listed is “6b apartment” (a six-bedroom apartment), meaning you share the full flat with five other people.
This setup suits students or young professionals who want an authentic Brooklyn neighbourhood feel – gritty, creative, and social – rather than a polished high-rise. It does not suit anyone who needs absolute quiet, private bathroom access, or a short commute to midtown Manhattan (expect 35–40 minutes door-to-door). The building’s social atmosphere is strong, but if you prefer studying alone in your room every evening, the shared common areas may feel either distracting or underused.
What Residents Actually Say
Three Google reviews give a clear picture of what life is like here. A guest named Paul Kissel wrote: “I stayed at Moore Hostel for three days and had a fantastic experience. Honestly, it was probably the cleanest hostel I’ve ever stayed in. The staff kept everything spotless, and the front desk was always staffed. No matter what I needed or what questions I had, someone was there to help. The location was excellent.”
Siti Aida gave 4 stars and noted: “I stayed here towards the end of October while visiting a friend in Brooklyn—and of course for the thrift shop experience. I loved the graffiti walls; they really gave the place cool, creative vibes. I’d recommend the four-bed dorms. It was easy to make friends, but overall the hostel has a nice, low-key atmosphere.”
Heather Knutson gave 5 stars: “Spacious & clean rooms, tons of good common areas, convenient location, lots of good food options nearby. Loved having a larger bed rather than a twin. Only complaint was WiFi was a little spotty but sorted itself out quickly!”
The recurring themes: cleanliness (rating 4.7 out of 5 in the property’s own dimension), staff helpfulness (4.7), social atmosphere (4.7), and location (4.7). WiFi issues appear briefly but seem resolved. The overall Google rating is 4.2 from 1,119 reviews – a solid, reliable score. Note that these reviews are from when the building operated as a hostel; the current unit type (six-bed apartment) likely shares the same building management and many common spaces. The property’s own rating dimensions also show high marks for cleaning (4.7), internet (4.7), and value for money (4.7), while food, accuracy, amenities, and room experience score lower at 3.5. That is typical for a shared apartment: you get a bed and basic furniture, but don’t expect hotel-style luxury.
Price Positioning vs. the City’s From-Price
Rental prices at 98 Jefferson St range from $1,350 to $1,750 per month – that is the cost for a single bed in one of the six-bedroom apartments. All bills are included (electricity, water, gas, WiFi, TV, cleaning of common areas – the tags say “bills_included, Tv, Wifi”). The city-wide from-price for student housing in New York City is $850 per month, according to the dataset. However, that $850 figure typically represents a bed in a larger dorm-style room in lesser-known neighbourhoods or older buildings. At $1,350–$1,750, 98 Jefferson St sits above the absolute baseline, but not at the high end for Brooklyn student accommodation (many purpose-built studios near universities can exceed $2,500). The average of $1,550 lands roughly mid-range for a shared apartment in a popular transit-connected area.
Important: All prices mentioned here are indicative — confirm with the operator. Rates shown are for the 2026–2027 academic year. Minimum lease length is 6 months, so you can book for a single semester or a full year. No deposit information was provided; you need to ask the operator directly.
Room-Type Guidance
The only available unit type is a 6-bedroom apartment (6b). That means you will share the entire flat – kitchen, living room, bathroom(s) – with five other people. Based on review comments about “four-bed dorms” and “spacious rooms,” it appears the building also used to offer smaller dorms, but the current inventory shows only six-bed apartments. The reviews mention that rooms have “larger bed rather than a twin,” likely a full or queen size. The rooms are described as “spacious & clean” and have common areas described as “tons of good common areas.” If you are comfortable living with five housemates and want an inherently social environment, this is a good fit. If you need a private bathroom or a single room in a smaller apartment, you should look elsewhere.
Given that the building used to be a hostel, the management likely still runs it with hostel-style oversight (regular cleaning of shared spaces, front desk staff). The rating for “condition” is 3.5, “indoor spaces” 3.5, and “property maintenance” 3.5 – adequate but not outstanding. The highest scores go to staff, social, location, cleaning, internet, and value for money (all 4.7). So the trade-off is clear: you get a well-maintained place with good staff support and a lively vibe, but the physical rooms and common areas are functional rather than luxurious.
Booking Timing
For occupancy starting in 2026 (if you are planning for fall 2026), you should ideally start looking in early 2026. The property is within a large city (212 student properties listed across New York City), and demand for affordable shared apartments in Brooklyn is high. The dataset shows a minimum lease of 6 months, so you can book for either the fall semester (August–January) or spring semester (February–July). If you want to secure a bed for August 2026, contacting the operator by March–April 2026 is wise; many students book 4–6 months ahead. For a January 2027 start, begin in September–October 2026.
Since no specific “available from” date is listed, you will need to confirm exact move-in dates directly. Prices are monthly and include bills, so you avoid extra utility fees. However, remember that the $1,350–$1,750 range is indicative – actual rates may vary by floor, room size, or lease duration.
FAQ
H3: Is 98 Jefferson St suitable for graduate students who need quiet study time?
The property’s ratings for “study environment” and “room experience” are both 3.5, suggesting average conditions for focused study. The common areas are described as “tons of good common areas” and “creative vibes,” which may mean they are lively and sometimes noisy. If you require silent space for long hours, a private studio or a quieter building might be better. However, the bedrooms themselves are described as spacious, and you can work in your room with a door closed. The WiFi rating of 4.7 indicates reliable internet. Overall, it works for a graduate student who enjoys socialising but can also study in their own room; it’s less ideal for someone who needs a library-like atmosphere at home.
H3: Can I choose my apartment mates, or are they assigned?
The data does not specify a matching service. Given the hostel-turned-apartment model, it is likely that rooms are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, and you will be placed with other tenants of similar age or gender (if you request). One reviewer mentioned staying in a “four-bed dorm” and finding it “easy to make friends,” suggesting an open, mixed-gender environment. For the six-bed apartments, you should ask the operator whether you can request a gender-specific room or a quiet floor. There is no indication of private en-suite bathrooms; you will share facilities with your five apartment-mates.
H3: How does this compare to living in Manhattan at the same price?
At $1,350–$1,750 inclusive, a similar shared room in Manhattan (such as in the Upper East Side or East Village) typically costs $1,600–$2,200 for the same level of space and inclusions, and often with smaller rooms and older buildings. Bushwick gives you more square footage, cleaner common areas (according to reviews), and a neighbourhood with a strong arts scene. The commute to Manhattan is about 30 min by L train, which is standard for Brooklyn. If your classes or workplace are in downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg, or near the L line, this location is convenient. If you study at Columbia or NYU, you should add 15–20 minutes.
Sources & data date: All data used is from the provided property listing, including ratings and reviews from Google (dated to 2026-07). Price ranges and availability are indicative and should be confirmed with the operator.
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