Moving to Manhattan? If you’re relocating to this New York City borough with your family, these Manhattan neighborhoods offer safety, excellent schools, affordable pre-war and post-war brownstone townhomes and apartments, family-friendly activities, and more. Check out the five best neighborhoods in Manhattan for families!
| Neighborhood | Battery Park City | Tribeca | Upper East Side | Upper West Side | Washington Heights |
| Median Home Price | $2,785,594 | $3,412,216 | $2,535,250 | $2,718,660 | $1,010,155 |
| Median Rent Price | $5,208 | $4,638 | $3,553 | $3,665 | $2,500 |
| Median Household Income | $315,113 | $305,769 | $227,653 | $202,063 | $90,534 |
| Safer than % of City | 82% | 33% | 63% | 62% | 50% |
| High School Graduation Rate | 99% | 96% | 97% | 92% | 67% |
Battery Park City
- Home Price: $2,785,594 median purchase price; $5,208 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 82% of New York neighborhoods
Considered one of the best neighborhoods in NYC for families, Battery Park City offers waterfront parks, playgrounds, and stunning views of the Hudson River. As a highly walkable neighborhood in Manhattan, Battery Park City offers easy access to lush green spaces, plus amusement park rides like the SeaGlass Carousel. You can also attend a variety of family-friendly events year-round, such as the Swedish Midsummer Festival, River & Blues Concert Series, and Battery Dance Festival—New York City’s longest-running free public dance festival. With a number of highly rated schools in the area, including Battery Park Montessori, Battery Park City School, and P.S. 89 Liberty School, it’s easy to see why Battery Park City is a top Manhattan neighborhood for families!
Things to Do in Battery Park City
Take your children down the slide, explore nature, or splash in the water play area at Teardrop Park. Peruse the public art and gardens, or have fun on the large playground at Rockefeller Park. Walk through exhibits like History of Height and World’s Tallest Models, or attend various family programs at The Skyscraper Museum. Explore fun, ecology-themed play spaces like the Marsh, Bluff, and Meadow at Battery Playscape. Start your day with delicious Battery Park City breakfast items like a Cali Wrap, Chai Oats Granola, and Scrambled Eggs on Toast at Hutch + Waldo. Feast on a Spinach Barley Rice Bowl, Spicy & Sour Chashu Tonkotsu, or Classic Soup Dumplings at Loong Ramen. Enjoy a lunch or dinner on the water with items like the Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Sandwich, Trio of Mini Burgers, or Maine Style Lobster Roll at P.J. Clarke’s On The Hudson. Or enjoy a Walking Taco, Tuna Salad Sandwich, or a Giant Ice Cream Sandwich at Liberty Bistro.
Tribeca
- Home Price: $3,412,216 median purchase price; $4,638 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 33% of New York neighborhoods
Looking for a neighborhood in Manhattan with a rich history? Check out Tribeca! The area is comprised mostly of old factories and shipping warehouses, some of which are considered historical landmarks. Once a hotspot for artists in the 1970s, Tribeca’s housing, proximity to SoHo, and unique structures—like the iconic Jenga Building on Leonard Street—make it a creative cultural hub. The neighborhood also has a strong film presence, being home to both the annual Tribeca Film Festival and FDNY Hook & Ladder Company 8, featured in the iconic Ghostbusters film. Parents can send their kids to great schools like P.S. 234 Independence School, German-American School Manhattan, and NYC iSchool—or to great preschool and early childhood center options like My Little School and CPC-Tribeca Early Learning Center. With great walkability and easy access to the Hudson River, it’s easy to see why Tribeca is great for kids and families!
Things to Do in Tribeca
Take the whole family to the community garden, find your next read at the little free library, or explore The Butterfly Garden at Washington Market Park. Play on the Pier 26 Science Playground, ride on the Carousel, or splash around on the Chelsea Waterside Playground at Hudson River Park. Explore exhibits like Colonial Firefighting, host your child’s birthday party, or go on a fire safety tour at the New York City Fire Museum. Sign your kids up for acting camp, watch theatre performances, or take your family to see productions like Swan Lake: Symphony of Lights at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center. Enjoy a hearty Tribeca brunch with items like the Sourdough Pancakes, Cheese Grits Breakfast Plate, and Huevos Rancheros at Bubby’s. Get a taste of northern Italy with dishes like Tagliatelle Portofino, Dentice Atlantico, and Gnocchi Pomodoro e Pesto at Osteria Carlina, a resident-favorite Italian restaurant in Tribeca. Feast on Scottadito, Cozze Al Burro, and Pappardelle al Cinghiale at Pepolino Ristorante. Or experience New Orleans by trying Shucked Oysters, Signature Gumbo & Dirty Rice, and Honey Chili Brussels Sprouts at 1803 NYC.
Upper East Side
- Home Price: $2,535,250 median purchase price; $3,553 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 63% of New York neighborhoods
While the Upper East Side is a higher-cost area, the value it provides for kids and adults makes it a worthwhile Manhattan neighborhood for families to live in. Families can expose their kids to culture and expand their knowledge by visiting the Museum Mile, a stretch of notable museums that line Fifth Avenue. One of the safest neighborhoods in Manhattan, the Upper East Side is comprised of micro-neighborhoods like Lenox Hill, Carnegie Hill, and East End Avenue, giving residents a variety of vibes to choose from. This area is also very walkable, making it easy for families to enjoy green spaces like Central Park—not to mention the Central Park Zoo. And its access to excellent education—with prep schools like Buckley School and public schools like Robert F. Wagner Middle School and Eleanor Roosevelt High School—solidifies it as one of the best neighborhoods in Manhattan for families!
Things to Do in Upper East Side
Immerse yourself in Asian history through exhibits like Busy, Busy Towns and Buddha and Shiva, Lotus and Dragon, or participate in a family day at Asia Society and Museum. View Gracie Mansion, play a round of pickleball with your family, or take your kids to the playground at Carl Schurz Park. Browse through exhibits like The Face of Life: Modern Portraits at The Met, Cycladic Art, and Arts of Oceania at the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art. Enroll your kids in adaptive dance, basketball, or drawing and watercolor at the historic community center, 92NY. Begin your day with Cannoli Pancakes, Challah French Toast, and EJ’s Special at EJ’s Luncheonette. Enjoy authentic Italian dishes like Al Tacchino, In Salsa Antica, or Ragu Di Manzo at Bigoi Venezia. Get a taste of Thailand by trying Panang Curry, Crispy Zabb Duck, and Talay Thai at Up Thai. Or indulge in a Baconburger, Turkey Burger, or Steak Tartare with Toast Points & Salad at JG Melon.
Upper West Side
- Home Price: $2,718,660 median purchase price; $3,665 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 62% of New York neighborhoods
First developed in the late 19th to early 20th centuries alongside the city’s first subway line, the Upper West Side’s vibrant nature make it one of the most popular neighborhoods in Manhattan for families. It offers easy access to green spaces like Riverside Park, plus events like Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park’s Delacorte Theater. There are a variety of schools parents can enroll their children in, like P.S. 075 Emily Dickinson School and P.S. 163 The Alfred E. Smith School. Plus, young adults living at home can attend nearby colleges like the Fordham University’s Lincoln Center Campus, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and New York Institute of Technology.
Things to Do in Upper West Side
Attend family events like CMS Kids: Building Blocks of Music and The Past and The Curious Live, or enroll your kids in Little Dancers classes at the Lincoln Center. Learn about natural history through exhibits like Encounters in the Milky Way, Fossils of the Flaming Cliffs, and Extinct and Endangered: Insects in Peril at the American Museum of Natural History. Bring the whole family to exhibits like PlayWorks, Superpowered Metropolis, and Adventures with Dora and Diego at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Go on the climbing net, tire swings, or down the slide at Diana Ross Playground. Order a Lox & a Schmear Omelette, Farmers Benedict, or Steak & Eggs at The Viand. Feast on Mediterranean Mussels, Salmone Croccante, and Pizza Ortolana at Celeste. Enjoy Southeast Asian-inspired dishes like Crab Fried Rice, Half Hainanese Duck, and Pork Belly Adobo at Pig & Khao. Or dig into Grilled Chimichurri Skirt Steak, the Fajita Combo, or Cajun Jambalaya at the Mexican-inspired restaurant, Cilantro.
Washington Heights
- Home Price: $1,010,155 median purchase price; $2,500 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 50% of New York neighborhoods
Want your family to experience Manhattan living in a vibrant area? Washington Heights may be the right neighborhood for you! One of the best places to rent a home in New York City, Washington Heights has a rich history and is home to the Morris-Jumel Mansion—Manhattan’s oldest surviving house. Residents in Washington Heights appreciate the neighborhood’s tight-knit community spirit, demonstrated through events like the Washington Heights Jazz Festival and Festival del Boulevard. With a variety of parks like Fort Washington Park and schools like The Mott Hall School and P.S. 004 Duke Ellington—plus Success Academy schools like Washington Heights Elementary School—it’s easy to see why families love living in Washington Heights!
Things to Do in Washington Heights
See medieval art and architecture at The Met Cloisters, stroll through the Heather Garden, or play volleyball at Fort Tryon Park. Play basketball, go on a family walk, or take your kids to the play area at Audubon Playground. See live events like Sonic Live in Concert, Ghostbusters in Concert, or classic films like 9 to 5 at United Palace. Immerse yourself in Hispanic culture by viewing unique paintings, sculptures, and antiquities at The Hispanic Society Museum & Library. Enjoy a family breakfast with items like Nutella Hazelnut Pancakes, the Cinnamon Raisin Waffle, and the Florentine Omelette at Wahi Diner. Try authentic Cuban food like Calamares Fritos, Pollo Empanizado Sandwich, and Camarones al Ajillo at Havana Heights. Dine on Italian dishes like Chicken Francaise, Grilled Branzino, and Angel Hair Pomodoro at AquaMarina. Or indulge in Mexican-inspired cuisine like Enmoladas, Quesabirria Tacos, and Oaxaca Greek Salad at Agave & Maiz.
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The Extra Space Storage team is committed to helping people find the perfect place to call home no matter what stage of life they’re at. Our “Best Places to Live” picks are designed to make moving easier by providing accurate and comprehensive information on various metro areas across the country. We consider factors like cost of living, job opportunities, local attractions, education, and more to help those looking to move make an informed decision. Discover more about our methodology today.
Neighborhood statistics from AreaVibes
