New York/Compare
Harlem vs Upper East Side
Harlem and Upper East Side are official neighborhoods in New York. Upper East Side leads safety (67 vs 38). Upper East Side leads walk. Harlem has the lower ACS median rent ($1,516).
Data vintage. ACS 2024 5-year · NYPD Oct 2025 – Jun 2026 · OSM Sep 2026 · updated Sep 2026
| Axis | Harlem | Upper East Side |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 38 | 67 |
| Schools | 0 | 97 |
| Walk | 28 | 73 |
| Cost fit | 100 | 89 |
| Vibe | 7 | 59 |
| Median rent | $1,516 | $2,817 |
| Median home | $1,055,447 | $1,416,654 |
| Population | 135,011 | 193,914 |
| Commute to Midtown | 18 min | 15 min |
| Commute to FiDi | 35 min | 30 min |
| Commute to Downtown Brooklyn | 35 min | 29 min |
Harlem
Brownstones, the Apollo, and a park at the north end of the island. Not a starter-kit neighborhood — the original one.
$1,516 median rent · safety 38 · walk 28
Upper East Side
Doorman buildings, school-district hunting, and a museum wall along the park. The east 80s are quieter than the listings imply.
$2,817 median rent · safety 67 · walk 73
Scores are relative among official New York neighborhoods with the same editorial weights. Read the method.