Bound by the Bowery and the East River, the Lower East Side is an eclectic mix of many cultures and energies. With Houston Street to the North and the Manhattan Bridge to the south, this neighborhood has a lot to offer to people visiting the area as well as those who already live here.
Occupied by the Lenape people before Dutch colonization, the Lower East Side was perfect for farming and agriculture due to its proximity to the river. Over time, however, the area was made into a residential neighborhood to support the growing population of the city and for the strategic location of Corlears Hook, a notable site that sailors used for navigation.
Starting after the American Revolution, the area became very popular with immigrants of German descent. The new micro-neighborhood of “Little Germany” was established but, as things tend to happen in NYC, they were soon sharing the area with large Italian Jewish populations.
In the early 1900’s the Lower East Side became recognized as one of New York’s first racially integrated neighborhoods due to its large European, Black, and Puerto Rican populations. Financial crises and negligence left the area in bad shape, leading to a sort of counter culture similar to the East Village.
By the 1980’s Chinatown, whose population has been slowly growing since the early 1900’s, exploded, overtaking much of Little Italy. The area also became popular with students and young professionals looking for cheap rent. Today the area is very diverse and popular.
The Lower East Side has a lot of variety when it comes to buildings in the area. There’s an equal mix of pre-war and modern apartment complexes. Low rise buildings still pepper the area but mid and high rise apartments keep popping up and casting shadows over them.
The Lower East Side has a lot going on. The one common factor is that the neighborhood is extremely high energy. There’s a lot of shopping and sightseeing during the day while a vibrant bar and restaurant scene dominate the night.
The area is full of hustle and that’s due to the people who live here. Young professionals, students, and families keep the energy alive. Additionally, the tourism of the area is extremely active. This leads to a neighborhood that’s extremely lively.
The Lower East Side is very safe and family friendly. There’s a ton of access to school, hospitals, and activities. That said, this area is packed and often very loud. Additionally, even the most luxurious apartments aren’t very spacious. If you have a big family who needs peace and quiet, the Lower East Side might not be for you. However, this area is great for visiting families as well as those who are seeking to start a family.
The New York City subway system has several train lines that service the Lower East Side. The lines are the B, D, M, F, J, and Z trains.
Biking is decently popular in the area. There are a good number of bike lanes and Citi Bike docking stations. However, this is a pedestrian heavy neighborhood, so cyclists should proceed with caution.
Driving in this area is rough. There’s not a lot of parking and traffic is almost always packed, especially during rush hour.
8 Places to Share Small Plates in Lower Manhattan
| Bedrooms | Rent | Rent / sqft |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,413 | $7.61 |
| 1 BR | $4,623 | $6.59 |
| 2 BR | $4,750 | $8.26 |
| 3 BR | $5,995 | N/A |
| 4+ BR | $7,995 | N/A |
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Lower East Side is located within 10002. This area currently has 78,096 residents in 33,327 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 41.
When looking at residents older than 25, around 20.25% have graduated from high school, 22.88% have a bachelor's degree, and 11.27% have obtained their master's degree or above. Employment rate is typically around 50.9% and the median income in this zipcode is $35,594.
At least 86.19% 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 33 minutes.
Geographically, 10002 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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