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 StreetEasyArticle continues below
East Harlem
208 East 116th Street
$2,083No Fee
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1
Upper West Side
212 West 80th Street
$2,250No Fee
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1
Central Harlem
28 Macombs Place
$2,138No Fee
1 |
1
East Village
171 Avenue C
$2,300No Fee
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1
East Village
433 East Ninth Street
$2,195No Fee
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1
Lincoln Square
35 West 64th Street
$2,300No Fee
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1
Central Harlem
265 West 146th Street
$1,848No Fee
1 |
1
Manhattan Valley
2790 Broadway
$2,000No Fee
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1
Hell’s Kitchen
449 West 56th Street
$2,300No Fee
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1
Central Harlem
217 West 145th Street
$2,000No Fee
1 |
1
Fort George
520 West 184th Street
$2,200No Fee
2 |
1
Central Harlem
217 West 145th Street
$2,300No Fee
2 |
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 StreetEasyArticle continues below
East Harlem
208 East 116th Street
$2,083No Fee
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1
Washington Heights
620 West 171st Street
$2,375No Fee
1 |
1
Central Harlem
28 Macombs Place
$2,138No Fee
1 |
1
Hamilton Heights
549 West 144th Street
$2,310No Fee
2 |
1
Washington Heights
91 Audobon Avenue
$2,500No Fee
1 |
1
East Harlem
22 East 105th Street
$2,340No Fee
1 |
1
Central Harlem
265 West 146th Street
$1,848No Fee
1 |
1
Morningside Heights
510 West 123rd Street
$2,400No Fee
1 |
1
Central Harlem
217 West 145th Street
$2,000No Fee
1 |
1
Fort George
520 West 184th Street
$2,200No Fee
2 |
1
Central Harlem
217 West 145th Street
$2,300No Fee
2 |
1
Central Harlem
167 West 126th Street
$2,175No Fee
Studio |
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 StreetEasyArticle continues below
Hell’s Kitchen
519 West 48th Street
$2,399No Fee
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1
Hell’s Kitchen
333 West 55th Street
$2,395No Fee
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1
Hell’s Kitchen
436 West 49th Street
$2,350No Fee
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1
Hell’s Kitchen
449 West 56th Street
$2,300No Fee
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1
Kips Bay
220 East 26th Street
$2,205No Fee
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1
Hell’s Kitchen
433 West 44th Street
$2,300No Fee
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1
Midtown
150 West 47th Street
$2,500No Fee
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1
Midtown South
606 Eighth Avenue
$2,050No Fee
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1
Kips Bay
113 Lexington Avenue
$2,395No Fee
1 |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
657 Tenth Avenue
$2,500No Fee
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1
Turtle Bay
45 Tudor City Place
$2,150No Fee
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1
Sutton Place
339 East 58th Street
$2,400No Fee
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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 StreetEasyArticle continues below
East Village
171 Avenue C
$2,300No Fee
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1
East Village
433 East Ninth Street
$2,195No Fee
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1
East Village
185 Avenue C
$2,995No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
91 Clinton Street
$2,850No Fee
1 |
1
East Village
112 East 7th Street
$2,600No Fee
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1
East Village
112 East 7th Street
$2,570No Fee
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1
East Village
640 East 14th Street
$2,441No Fee
1 |
1
Battery Park City
250 South End Avenue
$2,950No Fee
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1
Greenwich Village
210 Thompson Street
$2,200No Fee
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1
East Village
276 East Tenth Street
$2,825No Fee
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1
Greenwich Village
224 Sullivan Street
$2,995No Fee
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1
East Village
126 East 4th Street
$2,795No 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.