Familiar with SF and NY? (Inwood, Hudson: crime, neighborhoods, school)

[kmvspeedwagon]

I am researching places to live in NYC. Washington Heights and Inwood seem to fit the bill for what I am willing to spend on rent, according to CraigsList.

Are these neighborhoods any better or worse than the Tenderloin, where I live now? I don't feel safe, per se, but honestly I'm no more or less comfortable late night in North Beach.

I know the history of Wash Heights and Inwood, but has it improved?

[rlrl]

The farther west you are in Wash Hts and Inwood the better the areas are

[UpsonDowns]

I live in Washington Heights and I think it feels safer than the Tenderloin simply because there is a lot more foot traffic. I don't know if the crime stats bear that out though. It's a cliche, but you will find the neighborhood more genteel if you stick west of broadway.

[mead]

Yeah try to find something to the west of broadway. The neighborhood known as "Hudson Heights" (west of broadway, north of the GWB, south of Fort Tryon Park) is especially nice, but more expensive than regular Washington Heights.

Both areas have a completely different feel though.

Definitely no where nearly as many homeless people in that area of Northern Manhattan. Washington Heights/Innwood has a lot of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, and while they might get annoying for other reasons (loud music, slanging "goods" on the corners, etc) nobody is going to be hitting you up for change every 20 ft on the street as in SF. Dominicans are generally hardworking people who are trying to better their lot in life, unlike a lot of the folks in the Tenderloin who just seem to hanging out and collecting government benefits.

NYC on the whole in my opinion feels safer than SF. Even in some of the sketchier neighborhoods I think NYC is safer than SF. There are just simply fewer crazy and homeless people wandering the streets.

[Viralmd]

Parts of Washington Heights are FAR worse than the Tenderloin. They're REALLY scary. As others have said, the farther west you go, the better off you are. Inwood, too, has ups and downs, but generally like the Tenderloin or better.

[mae12]

Washington Heights= Dominican Heights. Do you speak Spanish?Good luck!

[Viralmd]

Particularly the WESTERN part of both these areas are becoming very gentrified. I went to medical school up there and I, as a white, non-Spanish speaking female, about 20 years ago, when it wasn't gentrified, felt pretty much OK when walking around. And I didn't live in Columbia housing, I lived in the neighborhood.

[kmvspeedwagon]

Thanks everyone for your input! I know the best thing is to be wary no matter where you are.

Sounds just like the TL, some intersections I wouldn't cross carrying a baseball bat. Others are okay.

I'm visiting the city next month, so I'll weigh in with my thoughts. From what I've heard though, NY knows better than to let it's crazies rule the street. Honestly I love city-livin' but quite sick of living at the mercy of the homeless and addicts. Lots of places (i.e. Starbucks, Subway, Virgin Music) can't even have public restrooms available to it's customers because of all the junkies that abuse them.

Speaking of Dominican neighborhoods, where's the best Latin food?

[SeventhFloor]

i hear malecon on 175th and bway is pretty good