MANHATTAN NEIGHBORHOODS
Manhattan island, the commercial and business heart of New York City and home to 1.6 million people, is about 12 miles long by 3 miles wide. This large metropolitan area is vaguely divided into a number of different districts or neighborhoods. Each one has a different character or atmosphere. Finding the right neighborhood to live or invest a property in could be overwhelming, especially for someone who is new to New York City. This guide provides a general overview of Manhattan geographic layout, some notable neighborhoods and their characteristics.
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Manhattan is arranged geographically from the north of the island to the south as per below. Neighborhood names and boundaries are not officially defined and may vary, overlap, and change from time to time due to demographic and economic variables.
Upper Manhattan
Upper Manhattan is the most northern region of the island, generally taken to include the neighborhoods of Harlem, Washington Heights, Fort George and Inwood. Except for Harlem, the northern park of Upper Manhattan is still fairly rustic and less gentrified. Harlem on the other hand, has been an up and coming area for some time, attracting many people who are priced out of the rest of the Manhattan.
Harlem
96th to 141st Streets (east), 110th to 155th Streets (central), 125th to 155th Streets (west)
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East Harlem
96th to 141st Streets; the East River to 5th Avenue
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Morningside Heights
110th to 125th Streets; Morningside to Riverside Drive
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Uptown
Upper Manhattan is the most northern region of the island, generally taken to include the neighborhoods of Harlem, Washington Heights, Fort George and Inwood. Except for Harlem, the northern park of Upper Manhattan is still fairly rustic and less gentrified. Harlem on the other hand, has been an up and coming area for some time, attracting many people who are priced out of the rest of the Manhattan.
Upper East Side
East 59th to 96th Streets; the East River to 5th Avenue (and 96th to 110th Streets along 5th Avenue)
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Upper West Side
59th to 110th Streets; Central Park West to the Hudson River
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Midtown
Midtown Manhattan is one of the most prosperous and important central business districts in the worlds. The majority of New York City's skyscrapers, including its tallest hotels and apartment towers, the city’s most iconic buildings such as the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, United Nations Headquarter, all lie within Midtown. It is also home to many fortune 500 companies. In addition to commerce, Midtown offers the most expensive apartments in the city, luxury shopping and high-end entertainments.
Midtown East
34th to 59th Streets; East River to 5th Avenue
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Midtown West
34th to 59th Streets; 5th Avenue to the Hudson River
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Hells Kitchen / Clinton
34th to 59th Streets; 8th to the Hudson River
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Hudson Yards
28th to 43rd Streets; 7th Avenue to the Hudson River
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Between Midtown and Downtown
The southern border of Midtown and the north boarder of Downtown do not have a clear cut off. Some consider 23rd Street, or even 14th Street to be southern boarder of Midtown, however, this section of Manhattan does not have the hustle and bustle of the midtown business center or the tourist crowd. Some considered Downtown extends to 23rd street, yet, you will find tall buildings that rarely exist south of 14th Street except for in the Financial district. Therefore, this section is described separately.
Kips Bay
23rd to 34th Streets; the East River to 3rd Avenue..
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Chelsea
14th to 34th Streets; 6th Avenue to the Hudson River
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East 25th Street to East 29th Street; Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue
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Flatiron District
16th to 27th Streets; Park Avenue South to 6th Avenue
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Gramercy Park
14th to 23rd Streets; 1st Avenue to Park Avenue South
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Union Square
14th to 17th Streets; 4th Avenue to University Place
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Downtown
Upper Manhattan is the most northern region of the island, generally taken to include the neighborhoods of Harlem, Washington Heights, Fort George and Inwood. Except for Harlem, the northern park of Upper Manhattan is still fairly rustic and less gentrified. Harlem on the other hand, has been an up and coming area for some time, attracting many people who are priced out of the rest of the Manhattan.
Greenwich Village
Houston to 14th Streets; Broadway to the Hudson River
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West Village
Houston to 14th Streets; 6th Avenue (or 7th Avenue) to the Hudson River
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East Village
Houston to 14th Streets; the East River to the Bowery
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Lower East Side
Canal to Houston Streets; the East River to the Bowery
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SoHo
Canal to Houston Streets; Lafayette to Varick Streets
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Tribeca
Vesey Street to Canal Street; Broadway to the Hudson River
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China Town
Chambers to Delancey Streets; East Broadway to Broadway
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Battery Park City
West of West Street
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Below Chambers Street
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Manhattan Neighborhood Map
