Not all American neighborhoods aren’t created equal.
Some are better than others.
But which ones?
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and used Saturday Night Science to find out which neighborhoods are the best.
Turns out the Battery Park neighborhood of New York is the best neighborhood where you can live in this country. The worst? Shelby Forest-Frayser in Memphis.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The Best Neighborhoods In The United States For 2026
So basically, downtown New York City has the best neighborhoods, if you can afford to live there.
Check out more about America here:
- Best Cities In The US To Raise A Family
- Best States In The United States
- Most Dangerous States In The United States
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In America For 2026
/10
Population: 15,714
Median Home Value: $1,546,050
Median Income: $211,402
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 169
Property Crime Per 100k: 1,671
You might not be surprised to hear it, but almost every neighborhood on this list is in downtown New York City. The only problem? Itâs understandably hard to afford to live here.
In Battery Park, crime is very low, and homes are actually relatively affordable â at least more so than in most other âgreatâ downtown NYC neighborhoods.
/10
Population: 38,783
Median Home Value: $772,881
Median Income: $133,134
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 114
Property Crime Per 100k: 574
Across the Hudson from New York is the awesome neighborhood of Downtown Jersey City, where you get views of downtown NYC and much cheaper homes, too. For those who want low crime and affordability, plus the NYC metro area experience, this place is super.
/10
Population: 17,279
Median Home Value: $763,965
Median Income: $147,814
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 130
Property Crime Per 100k: 1,327
In North Sutton Area, crime numbers are about the same as some of the other more posh NYC neighborhoods, but homes are the most expensive. The average home is more than a million bucks. Lots of people might argue that makes the neighborhood âlessâ desirable, and they might have a good point.
/10
Population: 187,724
Median Home Value: $1,412,032
Median Income: $152,408
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 296
Property Crime Per 100k: 2,894
The television show âThe Jeffersonsâ made this neighborhood in downtown NYC a household name. If you wanted to move on up yourself and live on the Upper East Side, youâd better get in line and have a deep pocketbook.
/10
Population: 96,997
Median Home Value: $1,301,833
Median Income: $143,421
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 181
Property Crime Per 100k: 831
/10
Population: 19,678
Median Home Value: $742,385
Median Income: $123,289
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 341
Property Crime Per 100k: 1,434
/10
Population: 17,334
Median Home Value: $1,364,986
Median Income: $130,238
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 260
Property Crime Per 100k: 2,972
/10
Population: 209,387
Median Home Value: $1,520,156
Median Income: $137,257
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 334
Property Crime Per 100k: 2,990
The Upper West Side is the âevery manâsâ neighborhood in downtown New York. Those who canât afford the Upper East Side, but want the poshness that comes with a fancy downtown experience live here. Itâs packed, and for good reason.
Thatâs certainly a sign that thereâs demand to live here.
/10
Population: 70,045
Median Home Value: $1,139,062
Median Income: $145,893
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 203
Property Crime Per 100k: 930
/10
Population: 16,095
Median Home Value: $1,714,572
Median Income: $185,103
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 195
Property Crime Per 100k: 3,166
How We Determined The Best Neighborhoods In The US
To rank the best neighborhoods in America, we had to determine what criteria people like or dislike about a place to live. Most people like low crime, things to do, and a stable economy.
So, we used Saturday Night Science to research FBI crime and Census data. The following are the criteria we used:
- Population Density
- Unemployment Rates
- Median Income
- Home Prices
- Crime Rates
We ranked each neighborhood over 15,000 people from the 100 biggest cities in the United States — 708 neighborhoods to be exact.
For each criteria, we ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst. We then averaged the rankings to create a “Best Place To Live Index.” The neighborhood with the highest “Best Place To Live Index” was named the best neigborhood in the US.
We updated this report for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the best neighborhoods in America.
There You Have It — The Best Neighborhoods In The US
If you’re looking at best neighorhoods in the U.S. where crime is low, people are rich, and the public schools are awesome, this is an accurate list.
Here’s a look at the best neighborhoods in America according to the data:
- Shelby Forest-Frayser, Memphis
- Parkway Village-Oakhaven, Memphis
- White Haven-Coro Lake, Memphis
Table: Best Neighborhoods To Live In The United States
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income | Crime Per 100k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battery Park, New York, NY | 15,714 | $1,546,050 | $211,402 | 1,840 |
| 2 | Downtown, Jersey City, NJ | 38,783 | $772,881 | $133,134 | 688 |
| 3 | North Sutton Area, New York, NY | 17,279 | $763,965 | $147,814 | 1,457 |
| 4 | Upper East Side, New York, NY | 187,724 | $1,412,032 | $152,408 | 3,190 |
| 5 | West San Jose, San Jose, CA | 96,997 | $1,301,833 | $143,421 | 1,012 |
| 6 | Charlestown, Boston, MA | 19,678 | $742,385 | $123,289 | 1,775 |
| 7 | Inner Sunset, San Francisco, CA | 17,334 | $1,364,986 | $130,238 | 3,232 |
| 8 | Upper West Side, New York, NY | 209,387 | $1,520,156 | $137,257 | 3,324 |
| 9 | Cambrian Park, San Jose, CA | 70,045 | $1,139,062 | $145,893 | 1,134 |
| 10 | Noe Valley, San Francisco, CA | 16,095 | $1,714,572 | $185,103 | 3,361 |
| 11 | Bernal Heights, San Francisco, CA | 27,627 | $1,230,414 | $143,080 | 2,955 |
| 12 | Downtown, New York, NY | 15,186 | $1,074,885 | $134,995 | 1,227 |
| 13 | Midtown, New York, NY | 16,642 | $1,458,940 | $137,325 | 1,227 |
| 14 | University Park, Dallas, TX | 24,259 | $1,176,311 | $198,578 | 1,881 |
| 15 | Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA | 19,649 | $1,749,956 | $172,749 | 4,284 |
| 16 | Middle Village, New York, NY | 34,717 | $725,579 | $89,872 | 1,790 |
| 17 | Parkside, San Francisco, CA | 18,914 | $1,182,169 | $116,184 | 2,326 |
| 18 | Willow Glen, San Jose, CA | 77,437 | $1,088,590 | $130,927 | 1,116 |
| 19 | Potomac West, Alexandria, VA | 24,852 | $666,145 | $128,834 | 2,608 |
| 20 | Mar Vista, Los Angeles, CA | 36,353 | $1,249,943 | $102,786 | 2,199 |
| 21 | Park Slope, New York, NY | 66,947 | $1,541,846 | $155,486 | 2,704 |
| 22 | Blossom Valley, San Jose, CA | 71,983 | $809,087 | $118,432 | 1,664 |
| 23 | Tribeca, New York, NY | 21,871 | $1,862,334 | $205,908 | 6,433 |
| 24 | Morningside Heights, New York, NY | 39,365 | $1,033,354 | $98,486 | 3,015 |
| 25 | Au-Tenleytown, Washington, DC | 18,855 | $973,793 | $178,534 | 1,167 |
| 26 | South Boston, Boston, MA | 41,090 | $746,666 | $132,281 | 1,853 |
| 27 | Flatbush, New York, NY | 129,617 | $805,687 | $68,707 | 11 |
| 28 | West University, Houston, TX | 34,360 | $759,119 | $165,516 | 2,795 |
| 29 | Almaden Valley, San Jose, CA | 46,778 | $1,176,574 | $181,680 | 926 |
| 30 | Chevy Chase, Washington, DC | 18,506 | $919,342 | $142,356 | 2,324 |
| 31 | Inner Richmond, San Francisco, CA | 19,022 | $1,614,046 | $142,263 | 6,161 |
| 32 | Centerville, Fremont, CA | 17,026 | $816,275 | $123,349 | 2,837 |
| 33 | Excelsior, San Francisco, CA | 25,088 | $900,731 | $86,292 | 3,152 |
| 34 | Spuyten Duyvil, New York, NY | 16,320 | $359,578 | $110,042 | 2,230 |
| 35 | Clinton, New York, NY | 35,153 | $1,207,833 | $117,139 | 3,535 |
| 36 | Audubon, New Orleans, LA | 16,004 | $704,812 | $105,976 | 2,255 |
| 37 | North Center, Chicago, IL | 20,512 | $661,838 | $133,268 | 3,993 |
| 38 | Forest Hills, New York, NY | 72,632 | $580,702 | $94,597 | 2,645 |
| 39 | Palms, Los Angeles, CA | 37,859 | $987,476 | $83,954 | 2,575 |
| 40 | Queen Anne, Seattle, WA | 28,522 | $908,813 | $127,134 | 3,035 |
| 41 | East Village, New York, NY | 65,898 | $829,305 | $90,545 | 4,627 |
| 42 | Mid Wilshire, Los Angeles, CA | 39,181 | $1,204,131 | $99,711 | 1,467 |
| 43 | Magnolia, Seattle, WA | 19,471 | $767,500 | $141,201 | 2,122 |
| 44 | Financial District, New York, NY | 31,183 | $1,221,787 | $175,518 | 7,223 |
| 45 | Dyker Heights, New York, NY | 36,602 | $956,217 | $73,713 | 1,557 |
| 46 | Downtown, San Jose, CA | 84,990 | $844,232 | $95,888 | 1,626 |
| 47 | Great Kills, New York, NY | 23,788 | $559,585 | $111,056 | 664 |
| 48 | Woodside, New York, NY | 46,363 | $648,903 | $69,068 | 2,092 |
| 49 | Outer Richmond, San Francisco, CA | 16,587 | $1,382,200 | $111,188 | 4,786 |
| 50 | Chelsea, New York, NY | 49,712 | $1,087,861 | $131,352 | 7,460 |
| 51 | East Sacramento, Sacramento, CA | 19,736 | $622,723 | $105,996 | 682 |
| 52 | Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, CA | 21,864 | $2,000,001 | $205,646 | 1,964 |
| 53 | Wallingford, Seattle, WA | 16,998 | $833,794 | $122,922 | 3,560 |
| 54 | South Of Market, San Francisco, CA | 28,489 | $1,032,286 | $131,546 | 6,473 |
| 55 | West Of Twin Peaks, San Francisco, CA | 21,375 | $1,095,080 | $153,714 | 3,189 |
| 56 | Gramercy, New York, NY | 56,008 | $836,188 | $143,821 | 8,549 |
| 57 | Brentwood, Los Angeles, CA | 31,709 | $1,392,827 | $163,253 | 1,430 |
| 58 | Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA | 30,872 | $920,036 | $105,991 | 3,483 |
| 59 | Maspeth, New York, NY | 55,134 | $696,249 | $76,126 | 1,437 |
| 60 | West Roxbury, Boston, MA | 33,915 | $558,847 | $122,248 | 895 |
| 61 | Greenwood, New York, NY | 17,307 | $948,600 | $98,534 | 3,222 |
| 62 | North Clairemont, San Diego, CA | 15,494 | $603,617 | $98,740 | 1,546 |
| 63 | Carmel Valley, San Diego, CA | 48,364 | $1,037,794 | $172,093 | 864 |
| 64 | Bay Park, San Diego, CA | 17,860 | $707,443 | $97,131 | 1,818 |
| 65 | North San Jose, San Jose, CA | 35,478 | $826,107 | $144,769 | 1,309 |
| 66 | The Plaza, Long Beach, CA | 20,109 | $676,764 | $113,703 | 1,501 |
| 67 | Santa Teresa, San Jose, CA | 58,064 | $818,408 | $141,919 | 1,554 |
| 68 | Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA | 17,902 | $1,403,934 | $111,424 | 5,015 |
| 69 | Evergreen, San Jose, CA | 81,105 | $896,235 | $159,304 | 1,472 |
| 70 | West Seattle, Seattle, WA | 30,285 | $715,152 | $114,356 | 3,338 |
| 71 | North Valley, San Jose, CA | 80,651 | $731,928 | $105,663 | 1,852 |
| 72 | Whitestone, New York, NY | 39,821 | $838,977 | $87,013 | 2,647 |
| 73 | Bay Ridge, New York, NY | 50,752 | $879,942 | $84,100 | 3,703 |
| 74 | La Jolla, San Diego, CA | 36,662 | $1,298,387 | $128,665 | 1,853 |
| 75 | Mira Mesa, San Diego, CA | 75,182 | $544,098 | $107,972 | 1,240 |
| 76 | Auburndale, New York, NY | 28,366 | $790,259 | $75,551 | 2,123 |
| 77 | Adams Morgan, Washington, DC | 17,154 | $529,538 | $101,976 | 3,512 |
| 78 | Loop, Chicago, IL | 32,384 | $331,150 | $98,220 | 1,790 |
| 79 | Ridgewood, New York, NY | 69,396 | $756,326 | $76,103 | 2,910 |
| 80 | The Heights, Jersey City, NJ | 50,701 | $454,812 | $71,342 | 1,782 |
| 81 | Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA | 47,098 | $632,712 | $104,228 | 1,796 |
| 82 | Clearview, New York, NY | 28,704 | $555,508 | $81,878 | 1,209 |
| 83 | Westwood, Los Angeles, CA | 57,287 | $1,266,754 | $78,789 | 1,503 |
| 84 | City Center East, Philadelphia, PA | 26,784 | $481,058 | $76,360 | 2,416 |
| 85 | Scripps Ranch, San Diego, CA | 22,537 | $791,708 | $134,883 | 1,225 |
| 86 | Bensonhurst, New York, NY | 96,974 | $883,397 | $58,789 | 1,951 |
| 87 | Roslindale, Boston, MA | 31,348 | $503,105 | $92,096 | 1,548 |
| 88 | Queensboro Hill, New York, NY | 75,376 | $521,976 | $57,190 | 1,128 |
| 89 | Lake View, Chicago, IL | 57,436 | $556,847 | $128,310 | 5,591 |
| 90 | Alum Rock-East Foothills, San Jose, CA | 29,934 | $680,715 | $94,629 | 1,961 |
| 91 | Tierrasanta, San Diego, CA | 30,151 | $645,145 | $108,245 | 774 |
| 92 | Portar Ranch, Los Angeles, CA | 22,688 | $681,550 | $122,141 | 1,665 |
| 93 | Westerleigh-Castleton, New York, NY | 29,688 | $449,604 | $85,305 | 1,202 |
| 94 | Macalester-Groveland, St. Paul, MN | 18,918 | $391,207 | $94,793 | 1,738 |
| 95 | Greenwich Village, New York, NY | 44,403 | $1,236,862 | $155,690 | 9,129 |
| 96 | Pocket, Sacramento, CA | 26,316 | $471,400 | $90,462 | 2,167 |
| 97 | Outer Sunset, San Francisco, CA | 18,347 | $1,023,558 | $121,072 | 3,941 |
| 98 | Glendale, New York, NY | 35,623 | $654,182 | $82,011 | 2,213 |
| 99 | Williamsburg, New York, NY | 157,050 | $1,095,912 | $75,970 | 3,135 |
| 100 | Douglastown-Little Neck, New York, NY | 82,321 | $518,824 | $83,053 | 1,697 |