Located on the east side of the East Village, Alphabet City is a neighborhood with a name that's a bit on the nose. Stretching from 1st to 14th street, this area consists of Avenues A, B, C, and D, and is mostly home to families, though there's a vibrant nightlife if you know where to look for it.
Sprouting from the Commissioners' Plan of 1811, Alphabet City is all that’s left of the once prominent A, B, C, and D avenues, which were meant to be all the avenues east of 1st. Sharing most of its history with the East Village, this area was largely residential and in social decline for most of the 1900’s.
Punk and bohemian culture started sprouting up in the 1960’s and 70’s, along with many Puerto Rican families. Locals began calling the area Alphabet City, but the name didn’t enter the cultural zeitgeist until the 1980’s when a Daily News article emerged about gentrification.
Today Alphabet City is in a state of rapid growth. In 1988, 20% of rental spaces were vacant whereas today that number is only 3%. The neighborhood is now a trendy place with many hidden gems and educational opportunities.
While there are a few high rise buildings that have popped up in recent years, the majority of the area is still low rise pre-war buildings. There are several public housing projects still in use as well. Most buildings are of mixed commercial and residential use.
Alphabet City is a mix of family friendly and thriving nightlife. Being part of the rise of punk music, there are many bars and performance venues that dot the area, many who share buildings with family homes.
There’s a pleasantness about Alphabet City that simply can’t be ignored. It’s a haven for the outcast, and yet anyone is welcome to pull up a chair as long as they keep an open mind. Families have plenty to do in the neighborhood, as do young artists and professionals. It might not be the first choice for those who want to sightsee, but it's top of the list for those who want a chill place to spend the day and evening.
Even though Alphabet City hasn’t always had the best reputation, the neighborhood is now very safe. Violent crime is extremely rare, which has made the area popular with new families. It might get a little loud in the evening given the abundant nightlife. However, bars and restaurants are usually very respectful of their neighbors.
The New York City subway system doesn’t have a direct train route to Alphabet City. Instead you have to take the L train to 1st avenue or the F train to 2nd avenue and walk.
Biking, however, is very popular in this area. There aren’t as many bike lanes in this part of the city, but there are a good amount of Citi Bike docking stations and the streets are never too crowded. It’s also a very easy neighborhood to walk around in, which is why the pedestrian is king when it comes to Alphabet City.
Manhattan Listing Deals You Will Want To Check Out In December
| Bedrooms | Rent | Rent / sqft |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,699 | $7.65 |
| 1 BR | $3,495 | $5.64 |
| 2 BR | $4,600 | $6.68 |
| 3 BR | $5,495 | $4.44 |
| 4+ BR | $8,300 | $6.42 |
We make sure to refresh our rental listings every hour in order to provide you with the newest and most up-to-date inventory available on the market.
Alphabet City is located within 10009. This area currently has 59,799 residents in 30,062 households. Out of the total population, 40.12% of the residents speak another language at home instead of English. The majority of the inhabitants in this zipcode are currently unmarried and have a median age of 36.
When looking at residents older than 25, around 13.57% have graduated from high school, 36.79% have a bachelor's degree, and 22.29% have obtained their master's degree or above. Employment rate is typically around 63.2% and the median income in this zipcode is $60,788.
At least 93.26% of those living in this zipcode are renting their homes. Most residents will commute to work by public transportation with an average commute time of 32 minutes.
Geographically, 10009 is a part of New York County, New York. This county is currently home to 1,634,989 residents, or 753,385 households with a median income of $75,513. New York County, New York residents have a median age of 37 and 76.86% are currently renting their homes in the area.
Finally, New York County, New York is a part of the greater New York - Newark, NY - NJ - CT Urban Area. For those unfamiliar with the area, The New York - Newark, NY - NJ - CT Urban Area is currently home to a population 18,812,161 across 6,707,347 households. Those living in this urban area have a median income of $68,319 and median age of 38. In general, at least 50.07% of the residents are currently renting their homes in this area.
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