You're comparing two listings on the same Murray Hill block. One has a doorman; the other doesn't, and the rent is noticeably lower. The honest answer to whether the premium is worth it: it depends on how much you actually order online, how often you travel, and what feeling safe at 2 a.m. is worth to you. Here's how to think it through.
What a 24/7 Doorman Actually Covers
A real doorman building means someone is at the front desk around the clock, not just during business hours. That person greets and screens visitors, holds packages, lets in your dog walker or cleaner, signs for deliveries, hails a cab in the rain, and keeps a log of who comes and goes. At The Anthem, the 24/7 doorman works alongside a secure package room, so deliveries have a controlled place to land instead of a lobby floor. The value isn't any single task; it's that the building is never unattended.
The Package Problem, and the Security Behind It
If you order online weekly, package theft is the line item that often justifies the premium by itself. In a walk-up or an unstaffed lobby, boxes pile up by the mailboxes, and porch piracy is a genuine NYC headache. A doorman plus a secure package room means your delivery is signed for, logged, and waiting safely, whether you're at work or traveling. The staffed desk also adds a layer of security a keypad can't replicate. Someone notices the stranger tailgating through the door. Someone holds your keys for a guest. Someone is there if the elevator stalls. For people who live alone, travel often, or work late, that presence is the whole point.
What the Premium Buys Beyond the Desk
The Anthem pairs its doorman with a resident lounge that has a fireplace and library, a roof terrace, a conference room, a children's playroom, on-site Crunch Fitness, laundry, and a secure package room. The premium buys staffing plus a building that does more than house you. If you're weighing a move from out of town, the building's 117 individual unit video tours let you walk a specific apartment before you sign, which removes some guesswork from paying for amenities sight unseen.
When It's Not Worth It
If you rarely order packages, are home most of the day, or you're stretching to make rent work, a doorman can be a feature you pay for and rarely use. A common rule of thumb is around 40 times the annual rent in income, and roughly 80 times for guarantors, but those are norms, not guarantees; confirm exact requirements with the leasing office at (212) 684-3222 rather than assuming. If the premium pushes you past what's comfortable, an unstaffed building with a buzzer and a parcel locker may serve you fine.
How to Judge Staffing Quality on a Tour
Not every doorman building is staffed well. On a tour, notice whether the desk is attended when you arrive, how the staff greets you, and whether the lobby and package room look organized rather than overrun. Ask directly: Is it truly 24 hours, or are there uncovered overnight gaps? Where do packages go, and how are residents notified? A confident, specific answer is a good sign; a vague one tells you the service may be thinner than the listing implies.
The best way to decide is to stand in the lobby yourself. Call (212) 684-3222 to schedule a tour and see The Anthem's 24/7 doorman and secure package room firsthand, then judge the premium on your own terms. Browse the amenities or current listings before you visit.
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