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

Inwood

50 Seaman Avenue

$1,950 base rent

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1

Fort George

64 Hillside Avenue

$2,200 base rent

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1

East Harlem

2006 Second Avenue

$2,250 base rent

1 |

1

Central Harlem

150 West 140th Street

$1,800 base rent

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1

South Harlem

131 West 116th Street

$2,200 base rent

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1

East Harlem

215 East 110th Street

$2,095 base rent

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1

Washington Heights

546 West 180th Street

$2,300 base rent

1 |

1

Inwood

207 Dyckman Street

$2,250 base rent

1 |

1

Fort George

52 Arden Street

$1,927 base rent

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1

Hudson Heights

718 West 178th Street

$1,967 base rent

2 |

1

Fort George

9 Sherman Avenue

$1,340 base rent

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

692 Ninth Avenue

$2,081 base rent

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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

Inwood

50 Seaman Avenue

$1,950 base rent

Studio |

1

Washington Heights

421 West 162nd Street

$2,350 base rent

1 |

1

Fort George

64 Hillside Avenue

$2,200 base rent

1 |

1

East Harlem

2006 Second Avenue

$2,250 base rent

1 |

1

Central Harlem

150 West 140th Street

$1,800 base rent

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

215 West 145th Street

$2,500 base rent

3 |

1

South Harlem

131 West 116th Street

$2,200 base rent

Studio |

1

East Harlem

215 East 110th Street

$2,095 base rent

Studio |

1

Washington Heights

546 West 180th Street

$2,300 base rent

1 |

1

Inwood

207 Dyckman Street

$2,250 base rent

1 |

1

Fort George

52 Arden Street

$1,927 base rent

Studio |

1

Hudson Heights

718 West 178th Street

$1,967 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

Kips Bay

246 East 26th Street

$2,350 base rent

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

692 Ninth Avenue

$2,081 base rent

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1

Turtle Bay

133 East 45th Street

$1,875 base rent

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

428 West 46th Street

$2,495 base rent

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

449 West 46th Street

$2,400 base rent

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

457 West 46th Street

$2,495 base rent

Studio |

1

Murray Hill

314 East 41st Street

$2,300 base rent

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1

Murray Hill

25 Tudor City Place

$2,400 base rent

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

444 West 49th Street

$2,338 base rent

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

444 West 49th Street

$2,338 base rent

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

412 West 56th Street

$2,453 base rent

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

305 West 45th Street

$2,300 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

East Village

717 East Fifth Street

$2,750 base rent

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1

Nolita

37 Spring Street

$2,750 base rent

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1

East Village

230 East 14th Street

$2,545 base rent

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1

Two Bridges

199 Henry Street

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1

Gramercy Park

318 East 19th Street

$2,995 base rent

1 |

1

Chinatown

79 Mott Street

$2,600 base rent

1 |

1

Greenwich Village

125 Mac Dougal Street

$2,800 base rent

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1

East Village

76 E 1st Street

$2,799 base rent

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1

Two Bridges

84 Madison Street

$2,800 base rent

1 |

1

Greenwich Village

260 Sixth Avenue

$2,667 base rent

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1

East Village

420 East 10th Street

$2,750 base rent

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1

Lower East Side

90 Rivington Street

$2,395 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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