Oh, the subway. 

The charm and albatross of every New Yorker. The Great Equalizer, they call it. It's the one facet of life in New York City that's shared by hedge fund bankers and the homeless alike. The transportation service we all love and loathe.

However, not all trains are equal. Take one ride on the C train at rush hour and follow that up with one ride on the 7 train at rush hour. That'll clear up whether all subways are equal really quickly.

In case you didn't get our implication there, they're not equal. The 7 train is better, cleaner, faster, and overall more enjoyable than the C train.

So here's the thing. In general, the subway is great. We complain a lot, but when it gets down to it, we're grateful that it exists.

It transports more than 4.3 million people per day. Its walls are adorned in artwork, and in 2014, MTA's subway trains travelled a combined 361.1 million miles. So, its feats are noteworthy.

Were you wondering which line you should be sure to live near? Great. We've compiled some tips on that situation below.

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1. The L

The L is dead useful for a lot of reasons. First and foremost, it's the lifeline between Brooklyn and Manhattan. 

If you live anywhere between Canarsie and Bedford Avenue and work in Manhattan, living near the L is essential. If you live in Brooklyn and you socialize in Manhattan, it's also super helpful to live near the L.

Sure, we gripe and moan about the L a lot (could we chill out on those delays, though?) but when it comes down to it, we'd never be able to dine at Smorgasburg or have one night stands in Bushwick without it.

If you live in Manhattan, it's also super helpful to live near the L, and not just for the purpose of getting to Brooklyn. 

It runs completely across town in Manhattan, from 8th Avenue to 1st Avenue, with five stops on the way. So, provided the train is running, getting from the east side to the west side is a cinch when you live near the L.

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2. The Q

All hail the Q train.

Even though it's route will (hopefully) soon be reappropriated for use on the 2nd Avenue subway line, its current route can whip its passengers from Astoria in a little over an hour. If speed is your thing, the Q train is probably the train for you.

We're also super into east side/west side access. On the Q train, you can get from East 59th Street to Herald Square in fifteen minutes or so, and then hurl yourself back to the east side to disembark at Union Square, if that's your thing.

For those of us who work in Midtown West, it's very pleasant to only have a fifteen minute ride to the East Village and all its treasures right after work.

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3. The 7

Okay, yeah. We've said it before and we're not afraid to say it again: we're all about that crosstown access. We shudder to think about life without the 7 train. 

We adore getting from Times Square to Grand Central in less than five minutes. Plus, have you seen that new Hudson Yards subway station?

If not, do yourself a favor and get there. It is seriously state-of-the-art, replete with fountains, a domed ceiling mural, and a very pleasant, modern vibe. Plus, it's got that far West Side access. No more sprinting for the Bolt Bus, are we right?

The 7 train now brings you so far west, it practically dumps you in the Hudson River. We're kidding. But it does go farther west than ever before.

Also, when it comes to technicalities, the 7 train ranked as the cleanest subway train, and the overall best line in Straphangers 2015 State of the Subway report. Basically, the 7 train is a pleasure. You should live near it.

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4. The N

Once again, east side/west side mobility is golden, and the N train has that locked down. On the N train, getting from Lexington Avenue 59th Street to Times Square, and vice versa, is a breeze. This is great for everyone who lives on the east side and works on the west side.

Or, everyone who lives on the west side and hangs out on the east side. Basically, the N train offers a supreme level of mobility.

We also love the N trains stunning views while it roars across the Manhattan Bridge while crossing from Manhattan to Brooklyn. That's always a thrill.

Plus, the Q train leaves Astoria behind, the N train will pick up the slack.

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5. The 5

The 5 train tops our hearts for sheer speed. 86th Street to Fulton Street in T-minus 20 minutes? Yes please. 

The 5 train's speed is further illuminated by spending any time on the glacially paced 6 train. Once you've experienced firsthand how it takes 45 minutes to get from 125th Street to Union Square on the 6 train, you'll be positively delighted when it takes only 15 minutes to cover that distance on the 5 train.

Plus, 5 trains are spanking new, and spanking clean. They'll bring us from the Bronx to Brooklyn with speed and style. 

The 5 train also dominates on distance, twisting and serving up the entire island of Manhattan. Though the D, F, N, and Q trains all travel further down in Brooklyn than the 5, the 5 travels the furthest up in the Bronx.

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6. The E 

The E is way useful. Way more useful than popular conception. For people who take a lot of flights out of JFK airport, the E train is essential for getting to that air train.

If you've never taken the air train, do yourself a favor and check it out. It's something special. You're up in the air, zooming above all the traffic congesting the entrance of JFK, and what's more is that it brings you right to your terminal.

So, the E train is required to get to the air train. To get to the Air Train, you have to take a Queens-bound E train and ride it all the way to Sutphin Blvd (also you can take the A train to Howard Beach to get to the Air Train...)

Plus, the E train brings you to Penn Station. So with that Air Train to JFK access and that Penn Station access, the E train can basically bring you anywhere in the world. Maybe we're stretching reality a bit, but every time we're ready to high tail it out of the city, we find ourselves on the E train.

The E train doesn't, strictly speaking, have East Side access, but you can transfer to a 6 train at 51st Street, which is basically good enough.

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7. The D 

Thought we forgot about the D, didn't you? How could we, though? The D train scored numero uno on Straphanger's 2015 State of the Subway report for regularity of service. The D train is pleasantly reliable.

You won't find yourself sitting and waiting for double-digit minutes waiting for a D train, is what we mean. You're also fairly likely to get a seat on the D train.

The real reason we're about it, though? Well, that's easy. It's got the quickest Brooklyn to Manhattan access we could ask for. 

Also, if it weren't for the D train, how could we ever get to Yankee Stadium? Okay, we could take the 4 train or the B train, but we wouldn't get there as quickly or as pleasantly without the D train. Plus, connection from West 4th Street to Grand Street is a delight.

Check out 8 Worst Subway Rides We've Ever Endured in NYC. 

[Feature Image Courtesy Herman Yung]