New York/Compare
Upper East Side vs Upper West Side
Upper East Side and Upper West Side are official neighborhoods in New York. Upper East Side leads safety (67 vs 52). Upper West Side leads walk. Upper West Side has the lower ACS median rent ($2,660).
Data vintage. ACS 2024 5-year · NYPD Oct 2025 – Jun 2026 · OSM Sep 2026 · updated Sep 2026
| Axis | Upper East Side | Upper West Side |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 67 | 52 |
| Schools | 97 | 87 |
| Walk | 73 | 74 |
| Cost fit | 89 | 94 |
| Vibe | 59 | 59 |
| Median rent | $2,817 | $2,660 |
| Median home | $1,416,654 | $1,352,804 |
| Population | 193,914 | 198,830 |
| Commute to Midtown | 15 min | 12 min |
| Commute to FiDi | 30 min | 30 min |
| Commute to Downtown Brooklyn | 29 min | 32 min |
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
Upper West Side
Pre-war co-ops, the park, and a grocery on every other corner. Family default for people who still want a subway.
$2,660 median rent · safety 52 · walk 74
Scores are relative among official New York neighborhoods with the same editorial weights. Read the method.