Which Apartment Floor Should You Live in – A Complete Guide?

By: ROS Team

Are you thinking about making a move and want to score a top-floor apartment? Before searching for an apartment and deciding which floor is best to live on in an apartment, you should know the pros and cons of living on each apartment floor.

Additionally, based on your comfort level, there are some factors about each apartment building you should take into consideration. By considering these factors, you can find the best floor to live on in an apartment for your comfort level.

1) Factors When Choosing a Floor to Live
2) Which Floor Should You Live in
3) Pros of Living in Top Floor Apartment
4) Cons of Living in Top Floor Apartment
5) Pros of Living in Ground Floor Apartments
6) Cons of Living in Ground Floor Apartments
7) Pros of Living in Middle Floor Apartments
8) Cons of Living in Middle Floor Apartments

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Floor to Live On

1. Security

Security is usually the highest priority when choosing a new apartment. The level of security varies from floor to floor. For example, the ground and basement floors are naturally more susceptible to break-ins and flooding than higher floors in the same building.

2. Apartment Views

If you love to see the sights of the city from your living room, choosing a top floor may be the best floor to live on in an apartment. Lower floors only offer a limited range of view due to surrounding buildings and treelines.

3. Accessibility

Accessibility is a factor to consider if you require walking assistance or have trouble climbing stairs. The best floor to live on in an apartment is the ground floor, but if you don’t want to live on the ground floor, expand your apartment search to buildings with an elevator.

Disability

4. Noise

Higher floors historically are more noisy than lower floors. This is especially true in the case of traffic noise. Apartments located on the ground floor or any floor where there’s high resident traffic like floors close to the building’s fitness center or stairs will likely have more outside noise.

5. Evacuation

No one wants to encounter a disaster, but should one occur, it may be necessary to evacuate the apartment building. Tenants who live on higher floors may face a bigger challenge with exiting the building than someone who lives on a lower floor since they are closer to exit points on the ground floor. If you are concerned about your ability to make a quick and safe exit in case of an emergency, lower floors are the best floor to live on in an apartment.

6. Fear of heights

For people with acrophobia, or a fear of heights, top floor apartments are more than likely not on their wish lists. The natural fit would be a ground floor apartment or a unit on a lower level.

7. Cost

Money is one of the most important factors to consider when deciding which floor is best to live in an apartment. The rent amount often increases the higher the apartment is in the building. If you want to avoid paying higher monthly rent, you should choose an apartment on a lower floor.

Which Apartment Floor Should You Live in?

What is the best apartment floor to live on? Top floor apartments offer more privacy and pleasant views, while ground-level apartments are generally more affordable. Every floor has its pros and cons – it’s up to you to decide what you’re comfortable with. Here are some of the pros and cons you should consider if you’re apartment hunting.

Apartment Floor

Pros and Cons of Living in a Top Floor Apartment

Pros

1- Less Noise

Top floor apartments are not exposed to as much noise from outside or inside the building. However, this doesn’t account for if your neighbors are noisy. If that’s the case, the only solution is to convince them to be quieter.

2- Panoramic Views of the City

The panoramic view from top-floor apartments is something almost everyone desires, and you can enjoy these views from top floor apartments. You can also enjoy these views from middle-floor apartments and possibly save a significant amount in rent. Before deciding on an apartment, check the view from apartments of both top floors and middle floors and decide which you like best.

3- Increased Security

One of the essential pros of higher floor apartments is more safe security than the security of lower floors apartments. Apartments on lower floors are more viable to security risks and criminal activities like break-ins, while top floors are highly safe from these security threats.

Apartments on top floors of high-rise buildings are the most secured apartments, so you should live in a top-floor apartment if you are concerned about security threats.

4- More Exposure to Natural Light

The higher you go up in an apartment building, the more natural light can enter the apartment unit. Natural sunlight does not only brighten up your place but can also have a positive impact on your health. Tenants who live on upper floors can also enjoy more fresh air.

5- Fewer Pests

Apartments on high floors are less likely to have annoying pests and critters. This is because pests generally live in or on the ground outside, so they have easier access to the ground floor or apartments on lower floors.

Top Floor Apartment

Cons

1- More Expensive

As we previously mentioned, the monthly rent rate often increases the higher up the apartment is in the building. Another reason upper floor apartments are more expensive is because of the cost to cool upper floor apartments. This is especially true during the summer months if you live in a city with a particularly warm climate.

2- Less Accessible

Yes, living in a top-floor apartment may be considered classy, but it comes with the need to climb stairs if your building doesn’t have an elevator or if the elevator is out of service. This is especially challenging if you have heavy stuff like groceries or a bicycle to carry in or out the apartment multiple times per week.

3- Limited Emergency Evacuation Options

Evacuation options generally become limited when living on upper apartment floors. Unlike on lower floors, you would have to evacuate using the stairs. In addition, in case of a fire, fire truck ladders can only reach a certain floor level to stage a rescue. Evacuating is much easier on lower floors.

4- Building Conditions May Impact Apartment

Top floor apartments stand to be directly impacted by a building’s roof damage, so keep that in mind, especially if you’re considering moving into a top floor apartment of an older building.

Pros and Cons of Living in Ground Floor Apartments

We generally think that ground floor apartments are not as beneficial as top floor apartments, but this is a misconception. So, if you are looking for the best floor to live on in an apartment, here are things to consider before choosing a ground floor apartment.

Ground Floor Apartments

Pros

1- Easier to Access

As discussed above, tenants on the top floors may find it more difficult to access their apartments when transporting large, heavy items or when there’s no elevator available. This isn’t an issue when living ina ground floor apartment.

2- Less Expensive

Ground floor apartments often cost less than higher floor apartments, but rent is not the only thing that is cheaper when living in a ground-floor apartment. Utilities like electricity use may be significantly less for tenants who live in ground floor apartments, especially during summer months because these apartments typically don’t get as much direct sunlight. As a result, the temperature remains pleasant for a longer time without having to use the air conditioner.

3- More Options for Outdoor Space

Tenants who live in ground floor apartments with large green spaces or onsite parks can enjoy the benefit of easy access to the apartment’s outdoor spaces and amenities. This makes it easier to enjoy outdoor activities with pets, kids, and friends.

Cons

1- Potentially More Noise

Though tenants on the first floor face the problem of street noise, they have the advantage of not worrying about the bugging of neighbors below them. Moreover, high-heel lovers and late-night vacuuming are also included in people who may wake you up at night with their noise. So, if you tolerate enough noise that you can live in a ground-floor apartment, then the benefits of a ground floor apartment are enough to compensate for this disadvantage.

2- Potential for more Pests in the Home

Ground floor apartments are usually more likely to have pests inside than higher floor apartments. This is one of the main reasons many people choose not to rent ground-floor apartments.

Pros and Cons of Living in a Middle Floor Apartment

Undoubtedly, the top and bottom-floor apartments have their perks, but middle floor apartments are best in terms of heating and cooling costs. However, there are some cons to living in these apartments as well.

Pros

1- Break-ins Unlikely

As is the case with apartments located on upper floors, apartments on middle floors are less likely to be broken into because they’re not as accessible to burglars. In addition, it’s nearly impossible to see the contents of the apartment simply from walking by as is the case with ground floor apartments.

2- Less Exposed to City Noise

Outdoor noises are not as prevalent for tenants who live in middle-floor apartments compared to ground-floor apartments.

Cons

1- Surrounded by Neighbors

Middle floor apartment tenants are subjected to noise from neighbors who live above and below their apartment.

How Many Floors is a High Rise Building?

The height of high-rise buildings varies from place to place, but usually, a high-rise building has at least four stories. In the U.S. a building consisting of at least seven stories is considered a high-rise building, while in India, a building with at least four stories is considered a high-rise building.

How Can You Cool your Top Floor Apartment More Efficiently?

You can cool down your apartment without a high increase in electricity bills by using fans around your apartment.

Conclusion:

We have provided the pros and cons of ground and top floor apartments, but there are a few other things to consider when deciding the best floor to live on in an apartment building. Every floor has cons, but pros like closeness to amenities, pool, laundry rooms, and barbecues can outweigh the cons.

Listen to your heart when making your decision, but make sure your decision is also based on information such as safety, convenience, and cost so that you are more prepared to determine which floor is best to live on in an apartment.