Upper Manhattan versus The Bronx

NO. That's not it.

Hudson Heights (the part of Washington Heights in the 180s/190s, Cabrini, Pinehurst, etc.) is a nice neighborhood. Plenty of good restaurants, very walkable. Gorgeous pre-war co-op buildings. Many apartments have sweeping river views. Close to the Cloisters museum. Family-friendly, quiet, and safe neighborhood.

Similarly, the nice part of Inwood (Park Terrace East/West area) is gorgeous. A little cheaper than Hudson Heights because it's further from downtown. Also the apartments lack river views, and there are fewer amenities in the neighborhood than in WaHi.

The Concourse area near Yankee Stadium has tremendous potential for the reasons you mention. Prices are significantly lower, however, because of a few major factors:

1. Lack of amenities. Sure there are plenty of fast food places near the Stadium. But where would you go for a nice sit-down dinner?

2. Lack of neighborhood feel. The nice part of the neighborhood is concentrated between E156 and E165, from the East River to the Grand Concourse. Step outside those bounds, and watch out!!! But even within the neighborhood, it doesn't have the same feel as Hudson Heights or the nice part of Inwood. I think this is probably changing, but that's where it is right now.

3. It's the Bronx. The Bronx's reputation from the 1970's still pollutes peoples' minds.

The Bedford Park/Mosholu Parkway area is beautiful but kinda sleepy. It's nicer than the Concourse area and the apartments are just as huge. I love art deco style!!! Just a little bit too far from the city for my taste. I have explored the area near 3131 Grand Concourse (I was curious, because that building contained the cheapest apartment listing on Streeteasy at one point, I believe it was $50,000 for a studio). Like the Concourse area there are no restaurants, bars, etc. besides fast food. Everything just seemed dead. And I was there in the middle of the day on a Saturday. Nothing seemed "wrong" with the neighborhood though. Just not what I'm used to in Hudson Heights. I think this neighborhood has less potential than Concourse because 1) it's further from the city 2) the metro north train is on the eastern fringe of the neighborhood.

Fordham is just too busy and crazy. And I've only seen a few listings. Still the transport options are fantastic, given that the Metro North regularly stops at Fordham.

Kingsbridge is decent for the most part, but subway access there is limited to the 1 train, which is local. It will take you about an hour to get to midtown.

I think Washington Heights is a better neighborhood but the Bronx has more upside. I can really see those neighborhoods transforming significantly over the next few decades, because Manhattan/Brooklyn/Queens keep getting more and more expensive, and people will need places to live. You can buy a 2 bedroom apartment for $250,000 on the Grand Concourse right. That's amazing! You can't even get a studio for that price in lower Manhattan.