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

Hell’s Kitchen

860 Ninth Avenue

$2,300 base rent

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1

Tribeca

37 Warren Street

$1,500 base rent

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1

East Harlem

2336 Second Avenue

$1,900 base rent

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1

Hamilton Heights

545 West 152nd Street

$2,000 base rent

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1

Yorkville

225 East 81st Street

$1,500 base rent

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1

Hamilton Heights

520 West 140th Street

$2,000 base rent

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1

South Harlem

63 East 115th Street

$2,250 base rent

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1

East Village

303 East 5th Street

$2,200 base rent

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1

Central Harlem

304 West 151st Street

$2,185 base rent

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1

Central Harlem

103 West 128th Street

$1,775 base rent

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1

Washington Heights

725 West 172nd Street

$2,250 base rent

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1

Washington Heights

920 Riverside Drive

$2,291 base rent

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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

East Harlem

2336 Second Avenue

$1,900 base rent

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1

Hamilton Heights

545 West 152nd Street

$2,000 base rent

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1

Hamilton Heights

520 West 140th Street

$2,000 base rent

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1

South Harlem

63 East 115th Street

$2,250 base rent

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1

Manhattanville

519 West 134th Street

$2,413 base rent

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1

Central Harlem

304 West 151st Street

$2,495 base rent

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1

Central Harlem

304 West 151st Street

$2,185 base rent

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1

Central Harlem

145 West 138th Street

$2,500 base rent

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1

Central Harlem

103 West 128th Street

$1,775 base rent

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1

Washington Heights

725 West 172nd Street

$2,250 base rent

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1

Washington Heights

920 Riverside Drive

$2,291 base rent

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1

Hamilton Heights

629 West 138th Street

$2,500 base rent

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

Hell’s Kitchen

860 Ninth Avenue

$2,300 base rent

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1

Sutton Place

1007 Second Avenue

$2,500 base rent

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1

Kips Bay

73 Lexington Avenue

$2,475 base rent

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

342 West 48th Street

$2,450 base rent

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1

Midtown South

606 Eighth Avenue

$2,262 base rent

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1

Turtle Bay

303 East 46th Street

$2,400 base rent

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

424 West 56th Street

$2,388 base rent

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

412 West 56th Street

$2,430 base rent

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

403 West 54th Street

$2,400 base rent

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

353 West 44th Street

$2,383 base rent

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

416 West 49th Street

$2,494 base rent

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1

Turtle Bay

45 Tudor City Place

$2,500 base rent

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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

Tribeca

37 Warren Street

$1,500 base rent

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1

Gramercy Park

331 East 17th Street

$2,600 base rent

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1

East Village

170 East 3rd Street

$2,450 base rent

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1

East Village

303 East 5th Street

$2,200 base rent

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1

Greenwich Village

7 Minetta Street

$2,695 base rent

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1

West Village

303 West 11th Street

$3,000 base rent

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1

Lower East Side

97 Allen Street

$2,900 base rent

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1

Greenwich Village

57 West 10th Street

$2,995 base rent

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1

East Village

420 East 10th Street

$2,595 base rent

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1

Lower East Side

123 Ludlow Street

$2,402 base rent

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Lower East Side

156 Orchard Street

$2,550 base rent

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1

East Village

234 East 7th Street

$2,599 base rent

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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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