Though we deny, deny, deny, we New Yorkers get a bad rap for being mean, and with New York being named the least friendly state in America in a new study, dare we say we’re starting to develop a complex… Well, a recent study identified the friendliest neighborhoods in the U.S., and one of them is in NYC! Take that, haters!
Using data from the U.S. Census, Zillow, and FBI crime data, the study compared 30+ neighborhoods across a number of key standards, including population density, number of family households, median income, house value, violent crime rates, and cost of living. With that info they were able to rank the neighborhoods from most to least friendly.
In eighth place was NYC’s Upper West Side, with a 58 friendliness score. The study writes:
The most densely populated and costly neighborhood in the ranking, it’s a desired place for moving. The real estate in the area is looked up over 17,000 times daily. The neighborhood has the highest cost of living at 38% above the national average and costly housing but the area has strong safety with 9.9 violent crimes per 1,000 residents.
We certainly know how fabulous the Upper West Side is. The quaint residential neighborhood gives off quintessential New York charm, and the brownstones and storefronts make for the perfect “rainy day in New York” footage–it’s no wonder the neighborhood has been featured in shows and movies such as Only Murders in the Building, Seinfeld, West Side Story, and more.
A spokesperson from Hastha Kalalu, who conducted the study, stated:
Friendly neighborhoods need more than just nice people – they emerge from a connection of affordability, safety, and community rather than just social factors alone. While most friendly neighborhoods tend to be suburban, New York’s Upper West Side proves that even expensive city areas can build strong communities when other factors line up right.
The top ten friendliest neighborhoods in the U.S. are as follows:
1. Elkhorn, Omaha. Nebraska
2. Kingwood, Houston, Texas
3. South Side, Corpus Christi, Texas
4. Northwest, El Paso, Texas
5. Deer Valley, Phoenix, Arizona
6. Highland, Saint Paul, Minnesota
7. Brickell, Miami, Florida
8. Upper West Side, New York, New York
9. Maryvale, Phoenix, Arizona
10. Chevy Chase, Lexington, Kentucky