Despite Manhattan’s tiny landmass of just 23 square miles, New Yorkers have developed virtually endless ways to divide up the island. With monikers that sound more like futuristic texting lingo than neighborhood names (NoLita? FiDi? NoMad?), it’s no wonder NYC explorers might feel they need an annotated neighborhood guide. Beyond these nuanced neighborhood distinctions lies a more fundamental question: What counts as Uptown, Downtown, and Midtown in Manhattan? Let us explain.

Manhattan Rentals Under $2300 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Central Harlem

44 East 132nd Street

$2,000 No Fee

Studio |

1

Washington Heights

715 West 170th Street

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

Murray Hill

129 East 39th Street

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Village

430 East 9th Street

$2,000 No Fee

1 |

0.5

Central Harlem

211 West 146th Street

$1,895 No Fee

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

217 West 145th Street

$1,975 No Fee

1 |

1

Hudson Heights

225 Bennett Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

Studio |

1

Lenox Hill

435 East 74th Street

$2,295 No Fee

1 |

1

Central Harlem

215 West 145th Street

$2,150 No Fee

1 |

1

Gramercy Park

305 East 21st Street

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

1

Washington Heights

1224 Saint Nichlas Avenue

$1,879 No Fee

Studio |

1

Fort George

64 Hillside Avenue

$2,050 No Fee

1 |

1

Uptown Manhattan & Upper Manhattan: What’s the Difference?

If you need a visual reference for the start of uptown, head to 59th Street, where you’ll find Columbus Circle traffic, abundant food carts, and the southern end of Central Park. “Uptown” generally means anything parallel to or north of Central Park. So, the Upper East Side and Upper West Side are both “Uptown” — above 59th Street — and to the east and west of the park, respectively. 

Yet while “Uptown” means north of 59th Street, Upper Manhattan means something else entirely. Neighborhoods north of Central Park, such as Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood, make up Upper Manhattan. Upper Manhattan starts at 110th Street at Central Park on the West Side and 97th or 98th Street on the East Side. In other words, where East and West Harlem begin. The best part, rental deals are plentiful in both Uptown and Upper Manhattan neighborhoods compared to areas further south.

Upper Manhattan Rentals Under $2500 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Central Harlem

44 East 132nd Street

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Central Harlem

44 East 132nd Street

$2,000 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Harlem

414 East 120th Street

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

South Harlem

149 West 119th

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Washington Heights

715 West 170th Street

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

Central Harlem

230 West 126th Street

$2,498 No Fee

1 |

1

Central Harlem

230 West 126th Street

$2,375 No Fee

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

620 Lenox Avenue

$2,458 No Fee

1 |

2.5

Central Harlem

211 West 146th Street

$1,895 No Fee

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

210 West 133rd Street

$2,375 No Fee

2 |

1

Central Harlem

217 West 145th Street

$1,975 No Fee

1 |

1

Inwood

5008 Broadway

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Midtown Manhattan: Where It Starts and Ends

Midtown is Manhattan’s bustling, concrete heart, full of skyscrapers, office buildings, and transit centers. But if you’re looking for a more precise descriptor, it’s roughly between 30th Street and 59th street. Midtown Manhattan houses many distinctive — and incredible — neighborhoods. For example, the bright lights of Times Square provide a completely different vibe than the prewar buildings and countless eateries of Hell’s Kitchen. Midtown East neighborhoods like Kips Bay and Murray Hill seamlessly blend historic landmarks like Grand Central Terminal with numerous sports bars. Also good to know: Midtown is home to the luxurious high-rises of Billionaire’s Row.

Midtown Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Murray Hill

129 East 39th Street

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

1

Kips Bay

326 East 25th Street

$2,484 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

554 West 50th Street

$2,276 No Fee

1 |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

537 West 49th Street

$2,300 No Fee

1 |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

415 West 44th Street

$2,475 No Fee

1 |

1

Sutton Place

223 East 58th Street

$2,470 No Fee

Studio |

1

Midtown

12 West 44th Street

$2,400 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

450 West 55th Street

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

1

Midtown South

9 West 32nd Street

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

435 West 46th Street

$2,478 No Fee

1 |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

353 West 44th Street

$2,396 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

411 West 43rd Street

$2,225 No Fee

Studio |

1

Downtown Manhattan: Where It Starts and Ends

At StreetEasy, we consider Downtown Manhattan to be everything south of 30th Street. Of course, famous neighborhoods such as Tribeca, SoHo, and the West Village usually anchor Downtown Manhattan. These areas typically carry higher median asking prices and are home to numerous celebrities living in luxury apartments.

Where Is Lower Manhattan?

And while “Downtown” seems like it could encompass anything south of Midtown, most people refer to the southernmost part of the borough as “Lower Manhattan.” It includes neighborhoods like the Financial District, Two Bridges, and the Lower East Side.

Downtown Manhattan Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Lower East Side

67 Eldridge Street

$2,600 No Fee

2 |

0.5

Greenwich Village

106 Mac Dougal Street

$3,000 No Fee

1 |

1

East Village

624 E 11th Street

$2,699 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Village

244 E. Houston Street

$2,699 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Village

78 East Third Street

$2,800 No Fee

Studio |

1

Gramercy Park

223 East 14th Street

$2,800 No Fee

1 |

1

East Village

430 East 9th Street

$2,000 No Fee

1 |

0.5

Noho

308 Mott Street

$2,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Gramercy Park

305 East 21st Street

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

1

West Chelsea

409 West 24th Street

$2,425 No Fee

Studio |

1

Financial District

1 Wall Street Court

$2,998 No Fee

Studio |

1

Gramercy Park

338 East 15th Street

$2,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Uptown and Downtown Are Relative

If you find all this confusing, let us remind you that residents use “Uptown” and “Downtown” in directional terms too. Any time you’re heading north in Manhattan, you’re going uptown. Anytime you’re heading south, you’re heading downtown. So if you hear someone at 145th Street say they’re running “downtown” to 76th Street, don’t try to inform them that 76th Street is, in fact, uptown. 

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