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

Hamilton Heights

454 West 146th Street

$2,200 base rent

1 |

1

Central Harlem

136 Edgecomb Avenue

$2,250 base rent

1 |

1

Hamilton Heights

557 West 149th Street

$2,000 base rent

Studio |

1

Inwood

93 Payson Avenue

$1,975 base rent

1 |

1

Chinatown

2 Allen Street

$2,195 base rent

1 |

1

Yorkville

337 East 86th Street

$2,200 base rent

Studio |

1

Fort George

11 Fairview Avenue

$2,190 base rent

1 |

1

Fort George

671 West 193rd Street

$2,250 base rent

1 |

1

East Harlem

2319 Third Avenue

$2,267 base rent

Studio |

1

Upper West Side

936 West End Avenue

$2,200 base rent

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

2903 Frederick Douglass Boulevard

$2,295 base rent

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

2903 Frederick Douglass Boulevard

$2,200 base rent

Studio |

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

Hamilton Heights

454 West 146th Street

$2,200 base rent

1 |

1

Central Harlem

136 Edgecomb Avenue

$2,250 base rent

1 |

1

Hamilton Heights

557 West 149th Street

$2,000 base rent

Studio |

1

Inwood

93 Payson Avenue

$1,975 base rent

1 |

1

Inwood

83 Post Avenue

$2,344 base rent

1 |

1

Fort George

11 Fairview Avenue

$2,190 base rent

1 |

1

Inwood

87 Post Avenue

$2,345 base rent

1 |

1

Hudson Heights

728 West 181st Street

$2,350 base rent

1 |

1

Fort George

671 West 193rd Street

$2,250 base rent

1 |

1

East Harlem

2319 Third Avenue

$2,267 base rent

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

2903 Frederick Douglass Boulevard

$2,295 base rent

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

2903 Frederick Douglass Boulevard

$2,200 base rent

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 StreetEasy Article continues below

Murray Hill

320 East 42nd Street

$2,400 base rent

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

402 West 45th Street

$2,396 base rent

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

860 Ninth Avenue

$2,300 base rent

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

692 Ninth Avenue

$2,383 base rent

Studio |

1

Midtown South

606 Eighth Avenue

$2,152 base rent

Studio |

1

Turtle Bay

303 East 46th Street

$2,400 base rent

Studio |

1

Sutton Place

320 East 59th Street

$2,492 base rent

1 |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

424 West 56th Street

$2,388 base rent

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

412 West 56th Street

$2,430 base rent

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

403 West 54th Street

$2,400 base rent

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

353 West 44th Street

$2,383 base rent

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

416 West 49th Street

$2,494 base rent

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

East Village

97 East 7th Street

$2,500 base rent

Studio |

1

Chinatown

2 Allen Street

$2,195 base rent

1 |

1

Chelsea

259 West 19th Street

$2,896 base rent

Studio |

1

East Village

512 East 12th Street

$2,600 base rent

1 |

1

Chinatown

34 East Broadway

$2,995 base rent

1 |

1

Soho

57 Thompson Street

$2,900 base rent

Studio |

1

Lower East Side

148 Orchard Street

$2,750 base rent

Studio |

1

East Village

425 East 12th Street

$2,695 base rent

Studio |

1

Gramercy Park

330 East 15th Street

$2,950 base rent

Studio |

1

Lower East Side

101 Clinton Street

$2,600 base rent

1 |

1

East Village

336 East 6th Street

$2,950 base rent

Studio |

1

West Village

634 Hudson Street

$2,850 base rent

Studio |

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. 

—
Whether you’re looking to rent, to buy, or to sell in NYC, StreetEasy can help. Log in or create an account to find listings best suited to your personal needs.