New York City has the best pizza, the best shopping, the best people, and surprisingly, some of the best neighborhoods in America.
If you ask any New Yorker, the will have NO problem telling you that their little corner of the Big Apple is the best. Not to disappoint, but if your neighborhood is not on HomeSnacks’ list of the top ten best neighborhoods in New York City for 2026 below, it’s probably not the best of the best.
What does it take to be one of the best neighborhoods in New York City? We’ll tell you. In order to determine the best, we had to give each neighborhood an actual concrete score: we call this a neighborhood’s overall ‘Snackability’. To get this score, we looked at the latest census data on income levels, unemployment rates, crime, and home prices for 123 New York City neighborhoods. Incidentally, this is our eleventh time ranking New York City’s best neighborhoods, so trust us when we say that these are the best of the best.
While New York City can be intimidating with all of its glitz and glamour, there really are places in NYC that can make one feel at home. Heck, if the city can make it’s current population of 8.3 million people feel at home, there’s a place for you. But, the trick is finding what neighborhood will best suit your lifestyle. So, if you’re looking for a neighborhood with some room to move, we recommend Westerleigh-Castleton, if you’re into that whole idyllic, Victorian vibe, we recommend Tottensville, and if you’re looking for a quaint, family friendly village, you won’t go wrong with Greenwich Village.
Want to know more? We recommend that you grab yourself a piping’ hot slice of ‘za, head to a shady park in Greenwood, and read on as we divulge New York City’s best neighborhoods.
$211,402 median income · $1,546,050 median home value
Battery Park is located on the very southern tip of Manhattan. Want to get a good look at either the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island? Well, then, head over to Battery Park.
With such iconic views, it’s no wonder this area of the city has become the number 1 best neighborhood in New York for 2026. Residents also find themselves in walking distance of the financial district and other key parts of the city.
Of course, addresses in this section come at a cost. The median home value sits at $1,546,050. But don’t start crying for the folks who have to swing those mortgage payments. The median income for the neighborhood hovers at around $170,000.
$204,127 median income · $1,925,601 median home value
You’ve probably heard the old joke. Passenger asks the cabbie, “how do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Cabbie responds: “practice.”
Well, that’s Carnegie Hall, located just south of Central Park. Here, we’re talking about Carnegie Hill. For this area, the gag could have a new punchline: “have a lot of money.” (Not that living near Carnegie Hall would be a low-price choice.)
The median home price in Carnegie Hill sits above $1.7 million. But you do get value for your money. Great amenities and a location on the eastern border of Central Park. Plus, you’ll find loads of cultural landmarks, including the Guggenheim Museum.
$152,408 median income · $1,412,032 median home value
This title defines a large section of Manhattan located between Central Park and the East River. It forms one of the more exclusive parts of the city. Residents have their choice of posh shops and restaurants, as well as a host of museums and other cultural touchstones.
The “east” part of the name refers to the fact that it sits on the east side of the island. Upper refers to the fact that it’s north of many of the iconic sections of the city – though it’s really more in the middle of Manhattan. Go further “up” and you’ll find places like Harlem and Washington Heights. Maybe it says something about the residents of this neighborhood that Central Park is about as far “up” as they’re willing to go.
$156,340 median income · $1,715,909 median home value
Here’s another one of Brooklyn’s premier neighborhoods. In fact, a strong economy and abundant amenities make this the number 4 spots to live in New York for 2026.
Cobble Hill is located on the far western side of the borough, near the water and just south of the Brooklyn Bridge. You’ll find a host of trendy shops and restaurants along Court Street, in the heart of the neighborhood.
The only major drawback in Cobble Hill comes from its cost of living. A red-hot real estate market leaves the median home price above $1.2 million. That’s a steep mortgage, even when median incomes stand at $156,340.
$148,759 median income · $992,218 median home value
$147,814 median income · $763,965 median home value
A small neighborhood located on the east side of Manhattan, the general Sutton Place neighborhood covers the space between 53rd and 59th streets. On the east, you’ll fittingly find the East River. The western boundary is usually considered First Avenue.
This represents one of the most affluent areas of New York. One of these elegant apartments or townhouses will run you a median price of $763,965. Luckily, the median income in the area approaches $150,000 a year.
The area provides excellent access to New York’s wide array of amenities. Meanwhile, you’ve got restaurants and shops scattered throughout the neighborhood, along with Sutton Park for a spot of green amid the cityscape.
$137,257 median income · $1,520,156 median home value
The Upper East Side appears on this list as well. Here’s its mirror image. The Upper West Side sits (fittingly enough) on the west side of Central Park, sandwiched between the celebrated park and the Hudson River.
The Upper West Side is one of the most famous posh neighborhoods in the world. It contains such high-end addresses as The Dakota, one-time home (and murder site) of former Beatle John Lennon.
In this area, you’ll find pretty much everything an affluent resident would want. This includes such cultural draws as the American Museum of Natural History and the Historical Society. What you won’t find: a deal on real estate. The median home value sits at $1,520,156.
$137,313 median income · $1,694,001 median home value
$155,486 median income · $1,541,846 median home value
Most of the top neighborhoods in New York City sit in Manhattan. That’s what most of us think of when we imagine high living in NYC. But don’t forget: Manhattan represents just one of the city’s five boroughs. There are plenty of gorgeous addresses elsewhere in Gotham.
Take Park Slope as an example. One of the most affluent sections of Brooklyn, it offers great access to amenities like Prospect Park. You’ll also benefit from a host of retail and food establishments located around the neighborhood. Plus, get ready for some celebrity sightings!
Unfortunately, you should also prepare to clean out your bank account. The median home price for this part of Brooklyn runs to $1,541,846.
$118,290 median income · $1,244,975 median home value
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is New York’s statewide median.
New York statewide median: $85,974
New York statewide median: $507,794
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How we determined the best New York, NY neighborhoods in 2026
To rank the best neighborhoods in New York, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 123 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In New York.” We’re lookin’ at you, Battery Park.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places New York, New York has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in New York.
The full plate
Table: Best New York neighborhoods for 2026
Click any column to sort. Search by neighborhood name.
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battery Park | 15,714 | $1,546,050 | $211,402 |
| 2 | Carnegie Hill | 13,630 | $1,925,601 | $204,127 |
| 3 | Upper East Side | 187,724 | $1,412,032 | $152,408 |
| 4 | Cobble Hill | 7,702 | $1,715,909 | $156,340 |
| 5 | Murray Hill | 10,008 | $992,218 | $148,759 |
| 6 | North Sutton Area | 17,279 | $763,965 | $147,814 |
| 7 | Upper West Side | 209,387 | $1,520,156 | $137,257 |
| 8 | Soho | 10,621 | $1,694,001 | $137,313 |
| 9 | Park Slope | 66,947 | $1,541,846 | $155,486 |
| 10 | Garment District | 4,863 | $1,244,975 | $118,290 |
| 11 | Tribeca | 21,871 | $1,862,334 | $205,908 |
| 12 | Central Park | 2,973 | $1,669,593 | $136,230 |
| 13 | Morningside Heights | 39,365 | $1,033,354 | $98,486 |
| 14 | Utopia | 2,341 | $834,900 | $136,933 |
| 15 | Financial District | 31,183 | $1,221,787 | $175,518 |
| 16 | Gramercy | 56,008 | $836,188 | $143,821 |
| 17 | Midtown | 16,642 | $1,458,940 | $137,325 |
| 18 | Little Italy | 8,216 | $1,770,800 | $107,048 |
| 19 | Downtown | 15,186 | $1,074,885 | $134,995 |
| 20 | Chelsea | 49,712 | $1,087,861 | $131,352 |
| 21 | East Village | 65,898 | $829,305 | $90,545 |
| 22 | Huguenot | 11,609 | $740,786 | $105,264 |
| 23 | Clinton | 35,153 | $1,207,833 | $117,139 |
| 24 | Flatbush | 129,617 | $805,687 | $68,707 |
| 25 | Middle Village | 34,717 | $725,579 | $89,872 |
| 26 | Prince’s Bay | 9,669 | $668,967 | $109,917 |
| 27 | Woodrow | 6,116 | $551,250 | $108,279 |
| 28 | Carroll Gardens | 14,535 | $1,715,847 | $159,531 |
| 29 | Greenwich Village | 44,403 | $1,236,862 | $155,690 |
| 30 | Forest Hills | 72,632 | $580,702 | $94,597 |
| 31 | Rossville | 9,736 | $500,567 | $91,484 |
| 32 | Great Kills | 23,788 | $559,585 | $111,056 |
| 33 | Country Club | 7,843 | $579,543 | $92,363 |
| 34 | Borough Park | 92,564 | $1,008,418 | $48,705 |
| 35 | Woodside | 46,363 | $648,903 | $69,068 |
| 36 | Dyker Heights | 36,602 | $956,217 | $73,713 |
| 37 | Greenwood | 17,307 | $948,600 | $98,534 |
| 38 | Whitestone | 39,821 | $838,977 | $87,013 |
| 39 | Spuyten Duyvil | 16,320 | $359,578 | $110,042 |
| 40 | Boerum Hill | 12,717 | $1,506,009 | $135,172 |
| 41 | Bensonhurst | 96,974 | $883,397 | $58,789 |
| 42 | West Village | 22,170 | $1,251,481 | $140,741 |
| 43 | Bay Ridge | 50,752 | $879,942 | $84,100 |
| 44 | Williamsburg | 157,050 | $1,095,912 | $75,970 |
| 45 | Corona | 107,981 | $707,427 | $60,039 |
| 46 | Ridgewood | 69,396 | $756,326 | $76,103 |
| 47 | Maspeth | 55,134 | $696,249 | $76,126 |
| 48 | Auburndale | 28,366 | $790,259 | $75,551 |
| 49 | Annandale | 9,989 | $523,892 | $95,729 |
| 50 | Todt Hill | 4,467 | $812,500 | $142,381 |
| 51 | Charlestown-Richmond Valley | 1,829 | $565,767 | $82,504 |
| 52 | East Harlem | 121,147 | $843,575 | $46,861 |
| 53 | Queensboro Hill | 75,376 | $521,976 | $57,190 |
| 54 | Chinatown | 10,815 | $1,053,520 | $72,970 |
| 55 | Lower East Side | 79,738 | $885,206 | $57,235 |
| 56 | Clearview | 28,704 | $555,508 | $81,878 |
| 57 | Sunset Park | 93,293 | $943,771 | $57,733 |
| 58 | Glendale | 35,623 | $654,182 | $82,011 |
| 59 | Douglastown-Little Neck | 82,321 | $518,824 | $83,053 |
| 60 | Canarsie | 86,694 | $579,181 | $76,372 |
| 61 | Harlem | 131,215 | $978,624 | $64,830 |
| 62 | Bushwick | 110,855 | $869,402 | $64,602 |
| 63 | Ardon Heights | 23,582 | $408,846 | $87,757 |
| 64 | Westerleigh-Castleton | 29,688 | $449,604 | $85,305 |
| 65 | Hamilton Heights | 48,477 | $910,682 | $62,103 |
| 66 | City Island | 4,322 | $590,067 | $107,660 |
| 67 | Queens Village | 56,496 | $498,356 | $89,618 |
| 68 | Laurelton | 27,665 | $488,835 | $97,949 |
| 69 | Mapleton-Flatlands | 206,460 | $610,874 | $56,352 |
| 70 | College Point | 26,932 | $733,374 | $63,320 |
| 71 | Riverdale | 14,118 | $405,592 | $104,116 |
| 72 | Washington Heights | 170,572 | $554,229 | $60,340 |
| 73 | Ettingville | 34,729 | $458,711 | $87,429 |
| 74 | Throggs Neck | 36,390 | $516,032 | $78,092 |
| 75 | Flushing | 78,900 | $657,454 | $53,919 |
| 76 | Rosebank | 11,991 | $481,956 | $77,571 |
| 77 | Gravesend-Sheepshead Bay | 255,533 | $545,099 | $58,223 |
| 78 | Fort Green | 120,941 | $663,709 | $71,767 |
| 79 | Baychester | 18,238 | $453,325 | $89,569 |
| 80 | Oakwood | 11,113 | $533,914 | $87,079 |
| 81 | Richmondtown | 38,728 | $481,561 | $79,373 |
| 82 | Inwood | 40,035 | $425,657 | $65,039 |
| 83 | New Brighton | 6,741 | $457,300 | $62,832 |
| 84 | Jackson Heights | 63,293 | $503,525 | $66,127 |
| 85 | University Heights | 53,395 | $575,333 | $44,030 |
| 86 | Woodhaven-Richmond Hill | 121,346 | $461,136 | $62,501 |
| 87 | Sunny Side | 60,580 | $410,644 | $67,936 |
| 88 | Morris Park | 36,251 | $479,960 | $68,130 |
| 89 | Nkew Gardens | 90,685 | $376,981 | $67,182 |
| 90 | Mariners Harbor | 33,993 | $316,042 | $70,893 |
| 91 | South Beach | 8,036 | $454,100 | $88,241 |
| 92 | Midland Beach | 9,559 | $489,467 | $85,664 |
| 93 | Jamaica | 131,773 | $492,953 | $68,501 |
| 94 | Springfield Gardens | 19,098 | $509,200 | $86,749 |
| 95 | Tottensville | 15,609 | $399,725 | $78,173 |
| 96 | Bloomfield-Chelsea-Travis | 10,884 | $374,558 | $75,810 |
| 97 | Port Richmond | 17,368 | $401,650 | $77,048 |
| 98 | Saintalbans | 73,668 | $395,594 | $71,773 |
| 99 | Yorkville | 56,751 | $330,640 | $46,148 |
| 100 | Astoria-Long Island City | 126,283 | $397,118 | $57,906 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024. All 123 New York neighborhoods.
Summary
Summary: Putting a bow on our analysis of the best neighborhoods in New York
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in New York where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in New York are Battery Park, Carnegie Hill, Upper East Side, Cobble Hill, Murray Hill, North Sutton Area, Upper West Side, Soho, Park Slope, and Garment District.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in New York aren’t all good. Hunts Point takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in New York.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below. Not sold on New York? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Best Neighborhoods In New York FAQs
What is the best neighborhood in New York?
Battery Park is the best neighborhood in New York for 2026, according to Saturday Night Science. Carnegie Hill and Upper East Side are next.
What are the best neighborhoods in New York?
The best neighborhoods in New York are Battery Park, Carnegie Hill, Upper East Side, Cobble Hill, Murray Hill, North Sutton Area, Upper West Side, Soho, Park Slope, and Garment District. We ranked all 123 neighborhoods in the city.
How expensive is Battery Park?
The median household income in Battery Park is $211,402 and the median home costs $1,546,050. The best blocks in New York rarely come at a discount.
How do you rank New York neighborhoods?
Each neighborhood is scored on income, home values, population density, unemployment, and crime, using Census tract data. The neighborhood with the best combined score, Battery Park, takes the top spot.
Which New York neighborhood ranked last?
Hunts Point came in last of the 123 neighborhoods we scored. Every city has a bottom of the table; in New York the numbers put it there.
