How do Lower East Side and Midtown-Times Square compare on safety and schools?

Lower East Side: 35/100 safety, 61/100 schools. Midtown-Times Square: 0/100 safety, 52/100 schools.

Are Lower East Side and Midtown-Times Square similar neighborhoods?

They're 86% similar across the nine signals we score. Lower East Side stands out on Safety, Neighborhood Character, and Family Fit.

Lower East Side vs Midtown-Times Square

Manhattan

Lower East Side (Manhattan) and Midtown-Times Square (Manhattan), compared across the nine signals we score for families. Lower East Side scores higher on Safety and Neighborhood Character; Midtown-Times Square leads on Activities and Transit. Overall they're 86% similar on family fit.

How they compare

Lower East Side compared with Midtown-Times Square, metric by metric
Metric	Lower East Side	Midtown-Times Square
Family Fit	40/100 (leads)	30/100
Families	40/100 (leads)	36/100
Affordability	9/100 (leads)	0/100
Schools	61/100 (leads)	52/100
Neighborhood Character	32/100 (leads)	16/100
Transit	93/100	98/100 (leads)
Safety	35/100 (leads)	0/100
Health	11/100 (leads)	10/100
Activities	92/100	99/100 (leads)

Weekday-morning commute

Lower East Side compared with Midtown-Times Square, metric by metric
Metric	Lower East Side	Midtown-Times Square
To Midtown	26–27 min	10–11 min (leads)
To Lower Manhattan	18–19 min (leads)	23–24 min
To Hudson Yards	34–35 min	18–19 min (leads)
To Union Square / Flatiron	26–27 min	16–17 min (leads)
To Upper East Side medical corridor	41–42 min	21–23 min (leads)
To Downtown Brooklyn	17–18 min (leads)	29–30 min
To Long Island City	35–36 min	15–16 min (leads)
To Jamaica	58–60 min	42–43 min (leads)
To Flushing	59–60 min	38–40 min (leads)
To Fordham	56–60 min	39–42 min (leads)

Typical transit and walking time, leaving between 7:30 and 9:00 a.m. on a weekday, from each neighborhood's population center; the shorter trip leads. From MTA, NYC DOT and NYC Ferry schedules, so no delays or crowding. Streets © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lower East Side or Midtown-Times Square better for families?: Lower East Side and Midtown-Times Square each suit different families. Lower East Side leads on Safety, Neighborhood Character, and Family Fit, while Midtown-Times Square leads on Activities and Transit. What's "better" depends on what you prioritize — safety, schools, affordability, or transit. Our neighborhood search can rank them by your own weights.
How do Lower East Side and Midtown-Times Square compare on safety and schools?: Lower East Side: 35/100 safety, 61/100 schools. Midtown-Times Square: 0/100 safety, 52/100 schools.
Are Lower East Side and Midtown-Times Square similar neighborhoods?: They're 86% similar across the nine signals we score. Lower East Side stands out on Safety, Neighborhood Character, and Family Fit.

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