The Manhattan Apartment Rental Price Map, courtesy of Rentenna.com, has compiled a month of data to bring you up to speed on the median prices for popular Manhattan neighborhoods. The map will either surprise you or entice you to begin your New Year’s search for the right home. We wanted to highlight some of the neighborhoods they list that stand out in one way or another and give you a little more insight into what you will get for your money.
1. Morningside Heights is an area known for Columbia and Barnard, the prestigious universities that complement the neighborhood’s vibrant community. In recent years the neighborhood, which is adjacent to Harlem, has been drawing in more business owners who have added to its array of restaurants and shops. Despite these additions, the area has managed to remain relatively laid back and quiet, with its biggest attractions being Morningside and Riverside Parks.
2. Upper West Side has been featured in numerous TV shows and movies, from Seinfeld to Will Smith’s “Hitch,” as a showcase for classic New York City living. A neighborhood known for its popular eateries, such as Grey’s Papaya, and its strong arts community—prominently represented by the world-renowned Lincoln Center—always delivers something for everyone.
3. East Harlem, nicknamed “Spanish Harlem” and “El Barrio,” is another area that is gaining popularity. Its rents are still great for Manhattan, and New Yorkers have been flocking to the area over the last couple of years as more and more people have discovered the neighborhood’s great variety of international cuisine and diverse shops. There are also plenty of museums and cultural centers in the section that flanks Harlem, including The Museum of the City of New York and El Museo Del Barrio.
4. East Village is the neighborhood east of Greenwich Village. It is known for its unique avant-garde flair, more so than its West Village counterpart. Brimming with intimate cafes and restaurants that flatter its mixture of NYU students and longtime residents, this area is one that never gets old.
5. Lower East Side has grown significantly in recent years with several notable new luxury developments accompanying its classic pre-war walkups for which the neighborhood has been most famous. Clinton Street is the area’s most popular street and one of the city’s “restaurant rows,” offering a variety of cuisines that has New Yorkers flocking to the neighborhood. The Clinton Street Baking Company and Restaurant is one of the city’s “go to” breakfast spots and is known for its pancakes and freshly baked goods that loyal frequenters wait hours for.
6. Midtown West, which includes the Hell’s Kitchen and Clinton areas, has become quite the trendy neighborhood from its less-than-stellar beginnings. The enclave now contains a delightful mixture of long-time denizens and young up-and-comers who frequent the neighborhood’s variety of restaurants, shops, and art galleries—it even boasts its own Artists Guild called “Artists in the Kitchen.”
7. Chelsea is bounded by Midtown and the West Village. This neighborhood features a vast array of landmarks and attractions that make it unique—its newest attraction being the High Line, which has had New Yorkers coming in droves to this unparalleled aerial greenway. Of course, there is also the neighborhood’s famous Chelsea Piers that features recreation and cuisine for everyone, and has become one of the city’s most popular places to visit.
8. Murray Hill is located in the center of Manhattan between Fifth Avenue and FDR Drive. This neighborhood was once home to the highest concentration of mansions in the city. The area that boasts the Empire State Building and The New York Public Library is now known for a variety of townhouses and co-ops that complement its acclaimed cultural centers and educational facilities.
9. Battery Park is a unique area in that it contains no brownstones or walk-ups, but mostly luxury new development condos and rentals. It was the leading New York City neighborhood to take on the “green” initiative by erecting the first “green” residential tower in the United States. The Solaire is the city’s benchmark for luxury green living and provides its residents with full service and convenient amenities that complement the neighborhood’s fine restaurants, shopping, and arts scene. The area is most known for its esplanade, which runs along West Hudson and has become the ideal location for its residents to find relaxation. Battery Park is also home to The Winter Garden and the World Financial Center.
10. Financial District was once primarily known for housing the New York Stock Exchange, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and the World Trade Center before becoming the new “go to” neighborhood for offices that have been beautifully converted into apartments and condos. The Financial District has also become the hub for public art and created several walking tours and podcasts catering its displays.