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I'm looking for a new place and have narrowed it down to those two areas. Specifically, I'm thinking of:
-Washington Heights or Inwood west of Broadway and above 168th, or
-Ditmas Park or Kensington between the Q and F lines and within a 20 minute walk of Prospect Park.
Obviously I must make this decision alone, but I'm curious which area all you internet strangers would pick and why. Let's say I can afford a decent place in either area so this is about the neighborhoods only, not cost/value.
I'm a white collar professional in my late 20s, fwiw.
Ditmars Park/ Kensignton- hands down IMO. These are two very different areas with very different demographics.
Washington Heights is mostly Dominican, Inwood is slightly more diverse but it's also predominantly Dominican.
I'm also a young professional who moved up to Washington Heights and Inwood and truthfully I can't move out fast enough. Mostly because of the noise along Broadway. It's insane and very annoying- even for Manhattan standards. Not just on weekends- all the time. The area I live in at Dyckman and Broadway has a really bad noise problem with (traffic jams of club goers/ bar hoppers, motorcycle gangs and also because it's a bit rough at night) My mistake for not researching it well enough and making a bad judgment call of wanting to live in Manhattan on an entry level salary.
However that said there are a few nice pockets around 215th Street near Inwood Hill Park and especially in Hudson Heights (which is still one of the few decent affordable neighborhoods left in Manhattan) which is west of Broadway to the river, 190th down to around 175th Street. Ft Washington and Pinehurst Avenues are really nice but mostly dominated by owner occupied co-ops. You also have Ft Tyron Park and the Cloisters which is very nice also.
I'd still pick Kensington since it's relatively safe, quiet, it has some beautiful old Victorian homes, tree lined streets, and there's a little commercial strip along Cortelyou Road. If I moved to Brooklyn that's one of the areas I'd consider.
It's up to you personally but I'd go with Ditmars Park/ Kensington.
Ditmars Park/ Kensignton- hands down IMO. These are two very different areas with very different demographics.
Washington Heights is mostly Dominican, Inwood is slightly more diverse but it's also predominantly Dominican.
I'm also a young professional who moved up to Washington Heights and Inwood and truthfully I can't move out fast enough. Mostly because of the noise along Broadway. It's insane and very annoying- even for Manhattan standards. Not just on weekends- all the time. The area I live in at Dyckman and Broadway has a really bad noise problem with (traffic jams of club goers/ bar hoppers, motorcycle gangs and also because it's a bit rough at night) My mistake for not researching it well enough and making a bad judgment call of wanting to live in Manhattan on an entry level salary.
However that said there are a few nice pockets around 215th Street near Inwood Hill Park and especially in Hudson Heights (which is still one of the few decent affordable neighborhoods left in Manhattan) which is west of Broadway to the river, 190th down to around 175th Street. Ft Washington and Pinehurst Avenues are really nice but mostly dominated by owner occupied co-ops. You also have Ft Tyron Park and the Cloisters which is very nice also.
I'd still pick Kensington since it's relatively safe, quiet, it has some beautiful old Victorian homes, tree lined streets, and there's a little commercial strip along Cortelyou Road. If I moved to Brooklyn that's one of the areas I'd consider.
It's up to you personally but I'd go with Ditmars Park/ Kensington.
You were crazy to move up there and live near Broadway. Everyone knows that in Upper Manhattan, the areas WEST of Broadway are safer and quieter. Same thing with Riverdale... The areas west of Broadway are far more desirable as opposed to the area along Broadway, which is safe, but not as upscale.
/\ I was indeed. Even west of Broadway from 125th on up (with the exception of most of Hudson Heights) can get loud though. People need to research neighborhoods very carefully and walk around them multiple times since they can change drastically in the span of a few blocks. Lesson learned the hard way.
I'm still sticking with my choice of Kensington/ Ditmars Park though
You were crazy to move up there and live near Broadway. Everyone knows that in Upper Manhattan, the areas WEST of Broadway are safer and quieter. Same thing with Riverdale... The areas west of Broadway are far more desirable as opposed to the area along Broadway, which is safe, but not as upscale.
You need to move to the right location. It is like night and day, back and forth across Broadway, I could not believe it. Hudson Heights is very nice.
You need to move to the right location. It is like night and day, back and forth across Broadway, I could not believe it. Hudson Heights is very nice.
No question about it and for those who drive, it's always best to get out of your car and walk around the neighborhood during various times of the day and night on weekdays and weekends, regardless of the neighborhood. If it's dead and desolate at night, you'll know in advance.
I'm looking for a new place and have narrowed it down to those two areas. Specifically, I'm thinking of:
-Washington Heights or Inwood west of Broadway and above 168th, or
-Ditmas Park or Kensington between the Q and F lines and within a 20 minute walk of Prospect Park.
Obviously I must make this decision alone, but I'm curious which area all you internet strangers would pick and why. Let's say I can afford a decent place in either area so this is about the neighborhoods only, not cost/value.
I'm a white collar professional in my late 20s, fwiw.
Where do most of your friends live? What is your work commute like from each place? If you require specialty services in your neighborhood (like a good gym, for example), would you be able to find it in both of these areas?
I suppose I should have provided some more info...I know Washington Heights quite well because I used to live there, but my social circle has changed/moved around since then so that most of my friends now live in Brooklyn. That itself may end up being the deciding factor, but something about upper Manhattan keeps drawing me back.
I work in lower Manhattan but I know from experience that the A train is very fast during rush hour. Commute length will not be a factor.
A gym would be nice but is not essential. A decent grocery store is, but I know both places have that. A couple bars where I'm not totally out of place (i.e., not just old man dives or places where little English is spoken) would be good too. I know my options for nightlife near my home would be much greater in Brooklyn, though I've heard some new places have opened uptown since I left.
Anyway, the internet can't decide this for me. I'll hang out a little in both places and ask friends. Just gathering random thoughts.
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