The Upper West Side, bordered by Central Park and Riverside Park, is dotted with residential structures that seem like they sprang straight out of a movie or television show. Indeed, the neighborhood has often been depicted in films and TV shows, notably Seinfeld, You've Got Mail, American Psycho, Ghostbusters, Hannah and her Sisters, among many others. All of this makes the Upper West Side an ideal location for a stroll through pop culture history-and history in general.
As you walk around, you’ll notice beautiful row residences and some of the loveliest pre-war structures on the tree-lined and flower-filled streets on the Upper West Side. Despite the fact that it might be an expensive location to live in, the Upper West Side provides everything you need within walking distance.
The Upper West Side is located between 59th and 110th Street between Central Park (to the East) and the Hudson River (to the West). It is next to the neighborhoods of Hell’s Kitchen to the South, Columbus Circle to the Southeast, and Morningside Heights to the North.
The Upper West Side is made up of a number of smaller neighborhoods such as Manhattan Valley, Bloomingdale, and Lincoln Square. Each comes with its own set of excellent restaurants, world-class museums, fantastic schools, grocery shops, gyms, churches, and clubs. Due to its location by two of the city’s largest parks, the UWS offers plenty of different activities for everyone in your family.
The area that is known today as the Upper West Side was originally home to the Lenape people, an indigenous group of people who lived in the Northeastern Woodlands area in present day United States and Canada.
In the early late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, the Upper West Side contained some of New York's largest and most elegant colonial mansions along Bloomingdale Road. With time, the area began filling up with more suburban villas and homes as population growth expanded. By the end of the nineteenth century, the riverfront had transformed into a shipping, transportation, and manufacturing corridor for the city and soon became home to the Hudson River Railway Line. This industrial development alongside with the construction of Central Park (which drove residents westward) resulted in the creation of squatters' housing, boarding houses, and rowdy taverns in the area.
It wasn’t until Columbia's move to Morningside Heights in the 1890s and the opening of New York's first subway line along 7th Avenue in 1904, that the neighborhood experienced a period of rapid expansion and growth.
The Upper West Side is a relaxed neighborhood with a vibe of sophisticated wealth and “old New York''. It's location between Central Park and Riverside Park, makes it a safe area that's grown particularly popular with young families. It’s common to take a stroll around the streets of the Upper West Side and see families with their young children and pets at all times of the day. Have time to swing by the neighborhood for a visit? You’ll be sure to fall in love with the neighborhood’s intimate and inviting spirit.
The neighborhood, which is now regarded as a cultural and intellectual hotspot, provides entertainment, shopping, parks, and playgrounds—everything you could want to enrich your family's life.
The Upper West Side couldn't be more family-friendly, with over 30 playgrounds, almost 80 different school options, and everyday vignettes of family life—kids on scooters, parents wheeling strollers, and families picnicking in the park.
The Upper West Side is home to a considerable number of pre-war structures (mostly four- and five-story brownstones), as well as several particularly big, elegant historical residential complexes such as the Dakota, the Dorilton, the Ansonia, San Remo, and the Apthorp.
In recent years, several big apartment buildings and complexes have been constructed in the area, particularly to the north and west. These recently constructed apartments include the Marlow, Charlotte of the UWS, 378 West End Avenue, and the Era.
The Upper West Side is a considerably easy neighborhood to access and commute from. There are a number of different transportation methods available for residents. These include:
The Upper West Side is home to a slew of superstars, which is easy to understand! In comparison to the rest of the city, living on the Upper West Side can be rather calm. It has a residential vibe to it, as well as several excellent Upper West Side restaurants and pubs, and it is adjacent to Central Park which makes it perfect for those who crave a bit of nature on a day-to-day basis.
Notable residents have included Antonio Banderas, Jerry Seinfeld, Ellie Kemper, Trey Anastasio, and Randy Rainbow.
On the Upper West Side, there are 57 public schools, including dedicated preschools, elementary, middle, and high schools, specialized high schools, charter schools, and schools that provide special education services, according to the NYC Department of Education website.
The following public and charter schools are located on the Upper West Side:
The following private schools are located on the Upper West Side:
New York's Upper West Side, known for its mom-and-pop shops, elegant townhouses, and family-friendly location near Central Park, is a peaceful residential area. In addition, there are several cultural landmarks in this area. Such landmarks include:
Other than landmarks, don’t forget to also check out the following:
The Upper West Side is also a fantastic dining destination. There are high-end grocery stores like Zabar's and Fairway, as well as neighborhood favorites like Alice's Tea Cup, Barney Greengrass, Bustan, Levain’s Bakery, Makana, and The Cottage that are not to be missed.
The Upper West Side is home to some of the city’s most-respected cultural institutions, including the Museum of Natural History, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and the Bard Graduate Center and Gallery, among others. Perhaps the most notable institution is Lincoln Center, home to many of the city’s most renowned music and theater companies, including the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, and the New York City Ballet.
Despite its family friendly reputation, the Upper West Side has great nightlife. Some favorites include: the Irish Pub, Dead Poet, Cream, Evelyn Lounge, Sugar Bar and John Lennon’s favorite, The Parlor.
On weekends, there are several locations to go for brunch, which has become a local custom. Places you can visit include:
Click here to read about the rent prices of Upper West Side homes.
| Bedrooms | Rent | Rent / sqft |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,250 | $8.07 |
| 1 BR | $4,490 | $6.90 |
| 2 BR | $7,385 | $6.84 |
| 3 BR | $10,000 | $7.48 |
| 4+ BR | $15,700 | $8.88 |
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.
Upper West Side is located within New York County, New York. This area currently has 1,634,989 residents in 753,385 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 county are currently unmarried and have a median age of 37.
When looking at residents older than 25, around 12.55% have graduated from high school, 31.80% have a bachelor's degree, and 28.64% have obtained their master's degree or above. Employment rate is typically around 62.9% and the median income in this county is $75,513.
At least 76.86% of those living in this county are renting their homes. Most residents will commute to work by public transportation with an average commute time of 31 minutes.
Geographically, New York County, New York is a part of the New York - Newark, NY - NJ - CT Urban Area. This county is currently home to 18,812,161 residents, or 6,707,347 households with a median income of $68,319. the New York - Newark, NY - NJ - CT Urban Area residents have a median age of 38 and 50.07% are currently renting their homes in the area.
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