New York City has appeared in loads of songs and it has served as the backdrop for countless movies, inspiring people worldwide with its grandiosity.

Brimming with historic landmarks and some of the tallest buildings in the US, it has been a leader in trade and culture for centuries, redefining everything from fashion trends to what a proper bagel with schmear should taste like in the process.

The metro area is a land of opportunity, which is why – despite the crowds and costs – people keep coming to it.

Some of the world's best theaters, restaurants, museums, parks, and cultural activities can be found here.

From Greenwich Village in downtown to Harlem in uptown, New York City's communities are as diverse as its people.

Beyond Manhattan, the city is comprised of four additional boroughs: Queens, which has a long history of fabulous immigrant food; Brooklyn and its thriving literary and arts scene; the Bronx and its abundant green space and wildlife; and Staten Island, famous for its coastline.

New York City is also known for its fast-paced, around-the-clock lifestyle, which may be overwhelming for newcomers. Dubbed "the city that never sleeps," this relentless metropolis draws people seeking to advance their careers and push their potential to its absolute limits. The saying goes that "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere."

After U.S. News analyzed 150 metro areas in the country in an attempt to find the best places to settle based on the quality of life and the local job market, as well as the value of living there and people's desire to live there, New York City placed:

• #120 in Best Places to Live;
• #14 in Best Places to Retire;
• #5 in Best Places to Live in New York;
• #9 in Most Expensive Places to Live;
• #24 in Safest Places to Live.

However, New York City houses people from all walks of life. More than one-third of New Yorkers are foreign-born, making the metro area a genuine melting pot of cultures. Moreover, NYC is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel and one of the largest Puerto Rican populations in the continental US. New York City is also home to a flourishing LGBTQ community; the annual Pride celebration welcomes a few million attendees each year.