UES/UWS for newlyweds new to the city?

First, I think there may be some considerations relating to children, if you have or plan to have any -- such as school districts or the like. But since I don't have, I can't offer any advice there.

Otherwise...it's really just a matter of preference. I like the UWS because I find it feels somewhat more like a neighborhood to me -- I thought the UES sometimes felt like a mix between an old lady's tea party and a frat house. (Though that may have had more to do with specifically where I lived.) But others may get an entirely different feel.

In terms of grocery stores, they've both got them -- but the UWS has a few more upscale ones (Whole Foods, Zabars, Fairway).

Of course, choosing between the UWS and UES is only part of the issue -- it's not just about the general neighborhood, but also about where within that neighborhood works best for you. Some parts of the UWS will feel like a real neighborhood, and some won't -- and the same is true on the UES. You've got to find the area within the neighborhood that offers what you're looking for.

Good luck!

You might also want to factor in your commutation time to work, unless bus/subway/taxi time is not relevant for you.

is there a reason you are limiting your search to uptown? i think a couple your age without kids would be happier in an area that populated by young people and not families. ask your fun brother where he likes to go out and live there.

If you want neighborhood charm, the west side has a more relaxed, albiet grittier, feel than the east side. Though with all the recent construction it's definately upping it's game. You don't mention your budget, but you might be able to get a bit closer to the park on the west side than on the east, and that's a nice thing. The east side tends to feel busier and more bustling, to me, than the west.

The food shopping on the west side is great as mentioned above, but the restaurants are not great, except for a handful.

You might want to spend some time walking around both and see where you think you fit in. You'll know from the vibe. Your work commute should also play a part in your decision.

Sounds like you may be limiting your choices to be near the park. One major consideration is that you can live closer to Central Park for less on the UWS. As an example, we live in low 80's b/w Amsterdam & Columbus, 5 minute walk to Central Park (plus same distance to Riverside Park), and we absolutely love our location. We used to live mid East 70's b/w 1st & 2nd Ave, and also liked it for other reasons, but were much further from the park. My advice, limit your search on the West side from 72 to 86, and about the same on the East side. Easier to digest, and will provide the most "neighborhoody" feel. Good luck.

Another item to factor in: Rent. So if you aren't happy in the neighborhood you picked you can always move to another one.

both are nice, depends on the street and commute time

Between the two, I'd vote hands-down for UWS. It's vibrant, with great food and amenities. Plus, you get both Central Park and Riverside Park (my personal fave) within easy reach. I disagree that 'uptown' is not fun for younger adults--I lived in GV for several years after college and have just as much fun now that I'm on the UWS as I did downtown.

Personally I prefer not to live in partying/hanging out neighborhoods. Live "here" party "there". That is why we have the train.

At some point you're going to want to get a good night of rest and you will be hearing drunk people yelling in the street.

Agree with switel on basing your decision on your commute.

If you and your wife work west of Fifth and live on the UES, you'll be spending half your life doing the east-west schlep from work to home.

Vice-versa if you work east of Fifth and live on the UWS.

Agreed, commute is the biggest factor IMHO. Much easier to stay on same side as where you travel.

And what you can afford will make much of a difference.

And, yes, UWS has grocery advantage (though UES is slowly closing the gap), but UES has, outside of big box, MUCH better shopping, and much better restaurants. Both are good when you get low and essentially into midtown, but as you get higher up, UWS gets pretty lacking. And obviously UES has the museum advantage, and UWS has lincoln center.

UES is also big and has more variety, in terms of getting from more expensive than anything on the UWS to less expensive than anything on the UES (if you go far east). And the nicest stuff is nicer, and the crappier stuff can be crappier. Of course, this also means much of what folks remember about the UES is their first cheap apartment in the worst parts. But prime UES, its tough to touch in this town.

The most expensive blocks in the city (one o the papers did the analysis) are generally the 70s, park to 5th.

That being said, if kids are not a factor, I'd consider looking more downtown. I consider both UES and UWS essentially the suburbs of manhattan, definitely not the center of things, and quieter (could be good for some) than the more lively parts.

Personally, I think the neighborhoods down the middle in manhattan (lets say park to 7th)..... in the single digits, tens, and twenties, are some of the most interesting in a well-rounded sense in Manhattan (And accessible to so many neighborhoods). East Village can be fantastic for some, but its not my first though with "couples". West village also great, but expensive, and can get cut off (and some falls within my zone).

I have spent time on both sides. Both have pros and cons, and I agree commute time should be the deciding factor.

UES - Don't go east of 2nd, unless it's by the river and you don't mind walking 10min to subway. Train is super crowded but frequent.
UWS - Although having two subway lines, don't let it fool you. It's a pain to get to the east side, and the train frequency on local stops sucks.

agreed on those also.

23 has it right for express stop, but the fact that the AD express are 59th and 125th... basically means they skip the UWS entirely. So useless without a 70s or 80s stop.

Agree with most of what's been said, commute is the deciding factor. Live on the same side of the island that you work and go from there.

"but the fact that the AD express are 59th and 125th... basically means they skip the UWS entirely."

I agree and seldom use the A,B,C,D but I find the 1,2,3 much better than the 4,5,6. Not worth choosing a place to live over but my opinion.

"Personally I prefer not to live in partying/hanging out neighborhoods. Live "here" party "there". That is why we have the train."

Also a good point. We spend spend many a night in the Village and return to the quiter, suburb feel of the UWS.

"Personally, I think the neighborhoods down the middle in manhattan (lets say park to 7th)..... in the single digits, tens, and twenties, are some of the most interesting in a well-rounded sense in Manhattan"

Agreed, Gramercy Park is a great neighborhood if you can find a decent place

Your brother was right. Alphabet City.

Folks, the Upper West or Upper East side "suburban"? I think "residential" is a much better description. Their ain't nuthin' suburban about either neighborhood.

Now Riverdale on the other hand, has a suburban feel.

did you guys scare off dbash from this board and new york in general?

"UWS - Although having two subway lines, don't let it fool you. It's a pain to get to the east side, and the train frequency on local stops sucks."

Are you referring to the 1 train? I've lived on this line most of my life. A 7-8 minute wait is about average during off-peak. About a 5 minute wait during peak. Nights maybe 15-20 minutes.

Maybe you had some bad experiences during weekend track work or something?

Straphangers ranks the 1 train quite well: http://www.straphangers.org/statesub10/1.pdf

I guess you are right about 1 train. I use it mostly on weekends.
I have more experience with BC, which really sucks.
I don't have hard data, but from experience, 6 train is probably the most frequent line, 3-5 min wait max, although you have to deal with the crowd. I would take crowded train than waiting any day, but that's probably personal preference.

"I agree and seldom use the A,B,C,D but I find the 1,2,3 much better than the 4,5,6. Not worth choosing a place to live over but my opinion."

I've lived on both, prefer the 456 a bit more. I actually take the 123 much more now than the 456. The 1 has some random stops. LIke is an 18th street stop really necessary? And going 42 to 72, not bad (certainly better than skipping UWS), but much prefer 42 to 60 to 86, much better spaced. The 123 also has some wacky stations, with the whole cut and cover thing.

The trains are also more frequent on the 456, particularly the 6, which hits some crazy number like once every 3 minutes at peak.

More crowded, yes, but I think that is connected to usefulness.

"Folks, the Upper West or Upper East side "suburban"? I think "residential" is a much better description. Their ain't nuthin' suburban about either neighborhood."

They are suburban in the same way that Cleveland is a "city".

To me, they are absolutely suburbs compared to Manhattan, not other suburbs. They're really just not destinations for the most part, their allure generally comes from "getting away" from city center.

Other neighborhoods downtown are just as much residential.... UWS/UES is something else.

"LIke is an 18th street stop really necessary?"

An interesting question. I've had a couple reasons to exit at 18th over the last few weeks. It surprised me that more people got off at 18th than at 23rd. Maybe an anomaly.

"More crowded, yes, but I think that is connected to usefulness"

I think it serves a much larger population

> It surprised me that more people got off at 18th than at 23rd.

Possibly. But pick one so everyone doesn't have to stop ever 4-5 blocks.

Seriously, 14, 18, 23, 28? Not an effective use of stops.