Is the Upper East Side richer than the Upper West Side?
Is the Upper West Side or Upper East Side More Expensive? Both neighborhoods are among the most affluent in the city, and which is more expensive tends to fluctuate. Currently, median property values on the Upper West Side are slightly higher than those on the Upper East Side.
Known as one of the most affluent areas of New York, the Upper East Side is known for its luxurious residential options, posh lifestyle, and is the playground of New York's elite.
Once known as the Silk Stocking District, it has long been the most affluent neighborhood in New York City. The Upper East Side is part of Manhattan Community District 8, and its primary ZIP Codes are 10021, 10028, 10065, 10075, and 10128.
But the neighborhood with the highest total number of uber-wealthy residents is the Upper West Side, with close to 18,000 residents with a household income of $200,000 or higher.
Manhattan has the most expensive real estate in the city and most of the richest areas, followed by Brooklyn. The Bronx is the most affordable borough in NYC.
Manhattan is no stranger to wealth. But “Billionaire's Row,” an enclave around 57th Street, has become a symbol of the city's increasingly stupendous riches.
Historically, one key difference between the Upper East Side and Upper West Side was that the Upper East Side had one subway line (the Lexington Avenue 4/5/6 line) while the Upper West Side had two (the Eighth Avenue A/C/E and B/D lines; and the Seventh Avenue 1/2/3 line).
Due to the often record-breaking prices that have been set for the apartments in these buildings, the press dubbed this section of 57th Street "Billionaires' Row". The term has since been extended to other supertall luxury buildings facing southern Central Park not strictly on 57th Street.
Over the years, the Upper East Side has been a magnet for old and new money. A stroll around its well-tended streets is proof of this. The following celebrities have luxurious homes in this exclusive neighborhood: Drew Barrymore, Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, Bill Murray, Samuel L. Jackson, and Mia Farrow.
The Upper East Side is the quietest neighborhood, with only . 00359 noise complaints per capita. The second quietest neighborhood in Manhattan is the Lenox Hill / Roosevelt Island neighborhood, with . 00437 noise complaints per capita.
Which part of Manhattan is the best?
- Upper West Side.
- Lenox Hill on the Upper East Side.
- Washington Heights.
- Battery Park City.
- Gramercy Park.
- Lower East Side.
- East Village.
The Bronx has the highest rate of poverty in New York City, and the greater South Bronx is the poorest area.
![Is the Upper East Side or Upper West Side richer? (2024)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4droS3UkJp0/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLCnxIkCA6EyzSuj_K52M1OQ63y14Q)
Five City Council districts (8, 14, 15, 16, and 17) encompassing East Harlem and the south and central West Bronx had poverty rates of 35%–40%. In one-third of City Council districts, more than one out of every four people lived in poverty (25%).
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- Staten Island.
- Manhattan.
- Queens.
- Brooklyn.
- The Bronx.
This area of Manhattan seems less hurried and overwhelming than many other neighborhoods. Some people say that the streets of the Upper West Side are too quiet, a description that's practically unheard of in the city. Therefore, you might sleep better at night than you would in a busier section of town.
The West Side wins the accessibility challenge. Then there are the vistas. The Park's Iconic Views tour highlights the Dairy, Sheep Meadow, Cherry Hill, the Lake, Bow Bridge, Bethesda Terrace, The Mall, and Literary Walk. 5 of the 8 of these are on the East Side, so that's where the trophy for this one goes.
RANK | FIRM/ENTITY | TOTAL SQUARE FEET |
---|---|---|
1 | NYC (government) | 362.1M |
2 | Vornado Realty Trust | 29.7M |
3 | SL Green Realty | 28.7M |
4 | Tishman Speyer | 20.5M |
The Upper East Side of Manhattan has long been known for old money in New York City (Rockefellers, Roosevelts, Kennedys, etc.). The real estate has been some of the priciest in the city. The Upper East Side includes Park Ave., Madison Ave., and Fifth Ave.
More On: luxury real estate
In the 25th spot, the 10007 ZIP code followed closely behind, and covers downtown Manhattan and other parts of Tribeca and Soho. Most of the ZIP codes that ranked in the United States' top 20 hail from the state of California, with San Mateo County (94027) taking the top spot.
Is Upper East Side like Gossip Girl?
Contrary to Gossip Girl's implications, parts of the Upper East are some of the most affordable in Manhattan, and it isn't super attractive to young people (i.e. the GG core) because there isn't much to do. The city's nightlife scene is nestled snuggly below 14th street—aka the GG red zone.
Out of 69 neighborhoods surveyed by DNAinfo.com, the Upper East Side came in as the 14th safest citywide for per capita crime and was the safest in Manhattan. In the 17 years to 2010, major crime has dropped 84 percent in the 19th Precinct. Even in Central Park, the 22nd Precinct, crime has fallen.
The Vibe of the Upper East Side
Once home to the country's wealthiest people, the Upper East Side is best known for upscale real estate, mainly on Fifth, Madison, and Park Avenue. On the UES, you can find classic mansions that date back to the 19th century, Renaissance-style townhouses, and luxury condos.
New York's Upper West Side is one of the safest, wealthiest, and most stable neighborhoods in the city—but it's not a gated community, and the challenges and problems of the broader metropolis seep in.
UPPER WEST SIDE, MANHATTAN — The Upper West Side is home to the second loudest street in all of Manhattan and one of the noisiest across the city, a new study found.
You should avoid staying in NYC neighborhoods such as the Lower East Side, East Village, Chelsea, and Meatpacking district because they can get loud and may not be as safe late at night.
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- Fordham.
Based on a survey of over 27,000 people, the list crowned Chelsea as not only the coolest neighborhood in NYC but also one of the top 10 coolest in the world.
According to a mayoral scorecard, only 85.6% of Bronx streets were rated “acceptably” clean in July compared to last year during that same period when our borough's streets were rated 97.3% clean.
Median household income for Manhattan's poorest neighborhood, East Harlem, is barely a quarter of that of its wealthiest ones. The monthly rent in 62.7% of East Harlem's rental units is less than $1,000, compared with 36.8% citywide.
Why do they call it the Bronx?
"They looked right smack in the middle of a map and there is the Bronx River, so they named it after the river, the borough of the Bronx, and that's why it's always called The Bronx and not just plain Bronx," Ultan says. The borough is named after the river.
At that, the Upper East Side is the city's most affordable neighborhood. With an area median household income of $155,213 and a median two-bedroom rent of $3,555, only 27.48 percent of income is required for rent.
In the 19th century, Five Points—where the current-day Lower East Side, Chinatown, and Civic Center districts converge—was known as one of the world's most notorious slums. The corner of lower Manhattan, built upon a drained pond, was crime-ridden, filled with gang violence and rundown tenements.
Hudson Yards was the most expensive neighborhood in New York City, United States in 2021, with the median sales price of homes at 4.75 million U.S. dollars. Out of the top ten most expensive neighborhoods to buy a home, nine were in Manhattan.
Whereas the Upper East represents "old money," the Upper West Side is seen as "new money" in Manhattan society.
The Bronx has the highest rate of poverty in New York City, and the greater South Bronx is the poorest area.
- Staten Island.
- Manhattan.
- Queens.
- Brooklyn.
- The Bronx.
The Bronx neighborhood of Bedford Park has the lowest median rent in the city—$1,558 for a one bedroom. Parkchester is the second most affordable neighborhood in the Bronx (where the median rent for a one bedroom is $1,600) and Kingsbridge is the third most affordable.
Indicator | 2000 | 2019 |
---|---|---|
Percent Asian | 5.6% | 10.1% |
Percent Black | 8.5% | 4.7% |
Percent Hispanic | 14.5% | 14.0% |
Percent white | 69.0% | 68.7% |
Historically, one key difference between the Upper East Side and Upper West Side was that the Upper East Side had one subway line (the Lexington Avenue 4/5/6 line) while the Upper West Side had two (the Eighth Avenue A/C/E and B/D lines; and the Seventh Avenue 1/2/3 line).
Where do old money families live in Manhattan?
The Upper East Side of Manhattan has long been known for old money in New York City (Rockefellers, Roosevelts, Kennedys, etc.). The real estate has been some of the priciest in the city. The Upper East Side includes Park Ave., Madison Ave., and Fifth Ave.