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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 2022 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 121 New York City neighborhoods. Incidentally, this is our ninth 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.
The Best Neighborhoods In New York For 2022
The biggest cities in most states do tend to have the most problems; and while New York City does have its fair share of problems and some pretty dangerous neighborhoods, it does have some of the best, most unique, neighborhoods to call home.
So, what's the best neighborhood in New York City for 2022? That would be Carnegie Hill.
To see how your favorite NYC neighborhoods compared, take a look at the list below; and if you don't see it there, head to the bottom.
For more New York reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In New York
- Cheapest Places To Live In New York
- Most Dangerous Places In New York
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In New York
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.
Population: 14,743
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $1,741,686 (best)
Median Income: $171,603 (Second best)
More on Carnegie Hill: Homes For Sale | Data
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.
Population: 17,279
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $763,965 (18th best)
Median Income: $147,814 (Fifth best)
More on North Sutton Area: Homes For Sale | Data
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 3 best neighborhood in New York for 2022. 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 $754,550. 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.
Population: 13,570
Rank Last Year: 3 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $754,550 (19th best)
Median Income: $169,476 (Third best)
More on Battery Park: Homes For Sale | Data
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.
Population: 194,024
Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $916,352 (11th best)
Median Income: $131,996 (Sixth best)
More on Upper East Side: Homes For Sale | Data
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 $951,201.
Population: 77,662
Rank Last Year: 5 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $951,201 (Ninth best)
Median Income: $115,042 (16th best)
More on Park Slope: Homes For Sale | Data
Here's another one of Brooklyn's premier neighborhoods. In fact, a strong economy and abundant amenities make this the number 6 spots to live in New York for 2022.
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 $131,817.
Population: 10,281
Rank Last Year: 6 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $1,258,134 (Third best)
Median Income: $131,817 (Seventh best)
More on Cobble Hill: Homes For Sale | Data
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 $821,117.
Population: 204,475
Rank Last Year: 7 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $821,117 (16th best)
Median Income: $121,502 (Tenth best)
More on Upper West Side: Homes For Sale | Data
Once the home of artists, beatniks, and folk singers, Greenwich Village has certainly changed demographics since the middle of the 20th century. These days, it's laid aside its scruffy reputation aside to become the number 8 best place to live in New York for 2022.
Located on the west side of Manhattan, it includes Washington Square Park and New York University. It's also home to a myriad of hip clubs and restaurants. (The Stonewall Inn, an important landmark in LGBTQ+ history, called the neighborhood home.)
But, alas, you can't move to The Village now with just a guitar and a dream. You'll also need about $950,000 to afford a home in the area.
Population: 47,962
Rank Last Year: 8 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $951,089 (Tenth best)
Median Income: $121,594 (Ninth best)
More on Greenwich Village: Homes For Sale | Data
We've toured Manhattan. We've made a few stops in Brooklyn. Time to check in on some other parts of the city. Huguenot represents Statin Island's only example on this list.
Located on the south shore of the island, it gets its name from a French Protestant sect that settled there a couple hundred years ago. Real estate prices have certainly skyrocketed since then. Now, you'll need a median amount of $632,833 to afford a home here. Sacré bleu!
But don't worry about this particular group of Statin Islanders. With a median income of $100,754, there's a good chance they can cobble together that mortgage payment.
Population: 11,608
Rank Last Year: 9 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $632,833 (25th best)
Median Income: $100,754 (23rd best)
More on Huguenot: Homes For Sale | Data
Population: 9,310
Rank Last Year: 11 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $538,175 (37th best)
Median Income: $104,778 (20th best)
More on Woodrow: Homes For Sale | Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best New York, NY Neighborhoods In 2022
In order to rank the best neighborhoods in New York, we had to determine what criteria defines a "best".
Using 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 121 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, Carnegie Hill.
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.
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.
As we 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.
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