Living in a convent might seem like an unlikely choice for someone just starting their career.
In New York City, however, it's becoming increasingly common.
With rent prices soaring, young professionals are turning to residences run by nuns and religious communities. Many arrive simply looking for a more affordable place to live, only to discover they've found much more than that.
The trend was highlighted in a report published by The Wall Street Journal, which showed how many newcomers to the city have begun considering these residences as New York's housing costs continue to climb.
The median asking rent in New York reached $3,616 during the first quarter of 2026. For someone just beginning their career, that price can make living alone nearly impossible.
That's exactly what happened to 32-year-old Katie Rettig.
She arrived in New York with two suitcases, a job starting the very next day, and nowhere to live.
Temporary apartments in Manhattan were costing around $5,000 per month. Her solution was the Sacred Heart Residence in Chelsea, where she paid about $1,650 per month.
A few weeks later, she secured a room at St. Mary's Residence on the Upper East Side. She lived there for nearly a year, paying approximately $1,200 per month.
Other residences offer even lower prices.
At St. Agnes Residence on the Upper West Side, rooms start at about $950 per month. At the Maria Center in the Bronx, monthly rates are around $800.
These residences typically welcome people of different faiths and do not require residents to be practicing Catholics.
In exchange for the lower cost, residents agree to follow a few rules. There are curfews, limits on male visitors, alcohol restrictions, and shared household responsibilities.
That last detail especially caught people's attention on social media.
Many commenters pointed out that the greatest benefit of these residences may not even be the affordable rent.
One of the most-liked comments read:
"They live with trustworthy and respectable people, go to bed early, cut out vices, value silence, and are polite."
Another summed up the reaction of many readers:
"The Catholic Church is always saving the world in every way possible."
Others shared their own experiences living in similar places.
"I stayed with nuns in Rome and loved it. We became friends."
Another commenter wrote:
"My daughter lived in a convent for five years while she was in college. Imagine how peaceful that was."
The responses revealed that these residences offer something increasingly difficult to find in major cities:
Silence. Security. Routine. Community.
Many people initially choose them because of the affordable rent, but many end up staying because of the atmosphere.
In a city known for its fast pace and high cost of living, these homes run by nuns continue to offer something that's becoming increasingly rare:
A place where neighbors know one another, people share responsibilities, and it's still possible to find a little peace at the end of the day.