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

128 Seaman Avenue

$1,630 No Fee

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1

Fort George

601 West 190th Street

$1,850 No Fee

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1

Washington Heights

539 West 179th Street

$2,250 No Fee

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1

Hudson Heights

4469 Broadway

$2,200 No Fee

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1

East Harlem

1698 Lexington Avenue

$2,017 No Fee

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1

Upper West Side

936 West End Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

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1

South Harlem

52 West 125th Street

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Hamilton Heights

474 West 146th Street

$1,971 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

2340 Seventh Avenue

$2,222 No Fee

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1

South Harlem

2 West 120th Street

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

112 West 138th Street

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Carnegie Hill

160 East 91st Street

$1,700 No Fee

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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

East Harlem

306 East 105th Street

$2,375 No Fee

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1

East Harlem

122 East 103rd Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Inwood

128 Seaman Avenue

$1,630 No Fee

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1

West Harlem

408 West 130th Street

$2,319 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

217 West 145th Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Fort George

601 West 190th Street

$1,850 No Fee

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1

East Harlem

343 East 115th Street

$2,450 No Fee

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1

East Harlem

424 East 116th Street

$2,348 No Fee

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1

East Harlem

2181 Third Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Washington Heights

539 West 179th Street

$2,250 No Fee

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1

Hudson Heights

4469 Broadway

$2,200 No Fee

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1

East Harlem

1698 Lexington Avenue

$2,017 No Fee

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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

517 West 45th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Hudson Yards

430 West 34th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

725 Ninth Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Hudson Yards

449 West 37th Street

$2,395 No Fee

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1

Murray Hill

144 East 40th Street

$2,300 No Fee

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1

Midtown

12 West 44th Street

$2,300 No Fee

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1

Midtown

12 West 44th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Sutton Place

1066 Second Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

353 West 44th Street

$2,292 No Fee

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

548 West 50th Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Murray Hill

535 Third Avenue

$2,495 No Fee

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1

Kips Bay

219 East 26th Street

$2,500 No 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 StreetEasy Article continues below

Little Italy

139 Mulberry Street

$2,450 No Fee

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1

Chelsea

261 Seventh Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Lower East Side

25 Clinton Street

$2,470 No Fee

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1

Chinatown

64 East Broadway

$2,350 No Fee

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1

East Village

624 E 11th Street

$2,599 No Fee

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1

Lower East Side

203 Chrystie Street

$2,499 No Fee

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1

Lower East Side

177 Orchard Street

$2,745 No Fee

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1

East Village

534 East 14th Street

$2,650 No Fee

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1

East Village

206 East 10th Street

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Soho

429 Broome Street

$2,999 No Fee

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2

Chinatown

54 Elizabeth Street

$2,000 No Fee

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1

Chinatown

55 Bayard Street

$2,600 No Fee

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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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