Population 220,135 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Upper West Side
Household size in Upper West Side
| Period | Upper West Side | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.97 | 2.15 | 2.79 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.00 | 2.16 | 2.85 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.97 | 2.12 | 2.82 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.02 | 2.08 | 2.79 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.06 | −0.07 | −0.00 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Upper West Side are small: just 2.02 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has crept up from 1.97 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Upper West Side
| Period | Upper West Side | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.7 | 37.5 | 38.0 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.5 | 38.2 | 38.7 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.6 | 39.4 | 39.8 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.5 | 40.4 | 40.4 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.8 | +2.8 | +2.4 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 44.5, Upper West Side is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 40.7 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Upper West Side is older than at least four in five Manhattan neighborhoods.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Upper West Side
| Period | Upper West Side | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.7% | 10.5% | 13.1% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 9.5% | 12.8% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 8.5% | 11.4% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 8.9% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.8% of households in Upper West Side, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 2.1 points, even as the national share fell. Compared with other Manhattan neighborhoods, though, Upper West Side has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Upper West Side
Renters in Upper West Side
| Period | Upper West Side | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 68.1% | 77.2% | 47.1% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 68.1% | 77.4% | 48.7% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 64.5% | 75.9% | 48.8% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 64.5% | 74.9% | 48.6% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −2.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Upper West Side: 64.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Still, renters make up a smaller share here than in Manhattan overall (74.9%). Among homeowners, 49.3% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 3.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Upper West Side
| Period | Upper West Side | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.1% | 12.8% | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.1% | 13.1% | 9.0% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.3% | 13.8% | 9.1% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.0% | 15.4% | 7.9% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +2.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Upper West Side: 17.0% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is up 3.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Upper West Side
| Period | Upper West Side | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1949 | 1952 | 1957 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1950 | 1954 | 1958 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1950 | 1954 | 1959 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1953 | 1956 | 1962 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Upper West Side is a place of older homes: half were built before 1953, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1949 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Upper West Side
| Period | Upper West Side | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,469 | $1,332 | $1,268 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,647 | $1,485 | $1,377 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,081 | $1,922 | $1,645 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,776 | $2,383 | $2,060 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,307 | +$1,051 | +$792 | +$698 | +$606 |
Rent in Upper West Side runs $2,776 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,307 a month since 2006–10, up 89%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 27.4% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Upper West Side
Bachelor's degrees in Upper West Side
| Period | Upper West Side | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.4% | 57.2% | 35.0% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 74.9% | 59.6% | 36.7% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 76.4% | 62.2% | 39.9% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 77.6% | 64.7% | 43.6% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +7.5 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Upper West Side is highly educated: about eight in ten adults 25 and older (77.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.2 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Upper West Side
| Period | Upper West Side | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.4% | 84.9% | 83.7% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.9% | 86.6% | 84.6% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.9% | 87.8% | 86.2% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.2% | 89.9% | 86.9% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +5.0 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Upper West Side: 95.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 1.8 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Upper West Side
| Period | Upper West Side | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 8.3% | 7.9% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 8.6% | 9.5% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 5.5% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 8.2% | 6.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Upper West Side than nationally: unemployment was 6.7%, against 5.4%. Still, the rate is lower than in Manhattan overall (8.2%). Unemployment has edged up 0.7 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Upper West Side compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper West Side | 2.02 | 44.5 | 7.8% | 64.5% | 17.0% | 1953 | $2,776 | 77.6% | 95.2% | 6.7% |
| Carnegie Hill | 1.92 | 45.2 | 3.2% | 58.4% | 16.2% | 1951 | $2,950 | 84.7% | 96.7% | 4.5% |
| Upper East Side | 1.92 | 43.9 | 4.7% | 62.9% | 22.4% | 1958 | $2,882 | 82.1% | 97.9% | 4.8% |
| Yorkville | 2.30 | 40.3 | 18.3% | 91.4% | 9.1% | 1961 | $1,443 | 37.8% | 78.2% | 12.0% |
| Morningside Heights | 2.13 | 34.1 | 7.6% | 76.1% | 16.3% | 1944 | $2,157 | 71.7% | 93.3% | 10.7% |
| Midtown | 1.71 | 42.3 | 2.8% | 69.8% | 25.6% | 1969 | $3,083 | 82.1% | 97.8% | 4.9% |
| Theater District | 1.57 | 40.5 | 2.5% | 85.3% | 14.6% | 1966 | $2,390 | 65.9% | 93.2% | 8.2% |
| East Harlem | 2.21 | 39.0 | 17.7% | 90.7% | 9.8% | 1968 | $1,483 | 32.5% | 78.0% | 12.1% |
| North Sutton Area | 1.84 | 49.5 | 4.3% | 46.1% | 22.0% | 1958 | $2,933 | 85.4% | 98.7% | 5.6% |
| Roosevelt Island | 2.10 | 36.9 | 5.7% | 81.1% | 12.6% | 1989 | $3,007 | 76.6% | 95.7% | 4.4% |
| Clinton | 1.63 | 38.8 | 4.2% | 89.6% | 14.1% | 1987 | $2,830 | 77.4% | 95.4% | 7.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Astoria, Queens, NY · Southeast, Houston, TX · Northeast Dallas-White Rock, Dallas, TX · North Last Vegas, North Las Vegas, NV · Southeast Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA · Paradise Valley, Phoenix, AZ · Pasadina, Houston, TX · Powers, Colorado Springs, CO · Roosevelt, Fresno, CA · South Bronx, Bronx, NY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Upper West Side. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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