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Fordham Heights is anchored by Fordham University and the bustling Fordham Road shopping corridor. Dense residential blocks serve a predominantly Latino population.
Fordham Heights is anchored by Fordham University and the bustling Fordham Road shopping corridor. Dense residential blocks serve a predominantly Latino population.
Did you know?
Fordham Road has been the Bronx's premier shopping street for over a century — in the 1930s it rivaled 34th Street in Manhattan for retail volume.
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
Commute
Weekday mornings · leaving 7:30–9:00
- FromFordham Heights
- ToNear Bryant Park
Family scores
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Trade-offs
Stands out
- Family-Friendly Vibe92/100
Many families with children, with homes and schools close by
To weigh
- Safety2/100
More reported crimes, traffic injuries or serious housing violations per resident
- Schools7/100
Weaker results at the public and charter schools serving it, or fewer of them
- Affordability31/100
Higher costs than most
Each score compares it with NYC's other residential neighborhoods.
What these scores don't measure: how a block feels on foot, what's changing on it, and whether a particular school suits your child. Walk it at school drop-off time, and check the zoned school for the exact address before you sign a lease.
Your family’s read
How does Fordham Heights fit your family?
An agentic read of this neighborhood — including safety and cost of living — tailored to your priorities, family size, budget, and commute.
Analyze for My FamilySchools & early education
Schools9 schools
Fordham Heights runs heavy on zoned public options with a handful of specialized programs scattered throughout. P.S. 033 Timothy Dwight and P.S. 085 Great Expectations anchor the elementary scene, while the campus at 125 East 181 Street packs three distinct schools — including the Elementary School for Math, Science, and Technology — under one roof. Daycare and pre-K coverage is thinner, with just a few options like Bronx Baptist Day Care and Rose Hill Pre-K Center serving the youngest set.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Parks & Playgrounds1 place
Slattery Playground anchors Fordham Heights as the neighborhood's main — and essentially only — dedicated play space. It's a functional spot with standard equipment that gets solid use from local families, though the broader park offerings are thin. Tree canopy is limited here, and the area leans more concrete than green. Families needing more robust outdoor options typically venture to nearby Jerome Park or the Botanical Garden area.
5 playgrounds within a 10-min walk
Nearest large park: Crotona Park · ~28 min walk (1.1 mi)
Transportation19 stops
Fordham Heights sits on a solid transit backbone for getting into Manhattan. The B and D lines run through both the 182-183 Sts stop and Fordham Rd, while the 4 train has its own station at 183 St — giving commuters two quick options to hit the Bronx-Manhattan trunk. The bus network along Grand Concourse, Jerome Ave, and Fordham Rd fills in the gaps nicely, though service can thin out off-peak.
Restaurants38 places
Fordham Heights runs on grab-and-go energy — a deep bench of Dominican and Puerto Rican spots lines Grand Concourse and the side streets, from casual sit-down places like Delicias to no-frills counter service and bakeries. You'll find your share of fried chicken joints, Chinese takeout, and delis that double as breakfast spots. It's not a destination-dining scene, but what\'s here covers the everyday bases well: quick, affordable, and neighborhood-born.
Groceries7 places
The grocery scene here runs along the main drags — Grand Concourse, Jerome Avenue, and Ryer Ave each host a solid independent supermarket, so walking to the weekly shop is realistic for most blocks. C-Town has a presence on Creston Ave, and there's a Fine Fare plus a couple of independents filling in the gaps. It's not a food desert, but you're definitely crossing at least one major street to stock up. No car? Manageable. With one? Even easier.
Coffee Shops1 place
Coffee options in Fordham Heights are thin, with just a bakery or two handling morning runs rather than a dedicated third-wave scene. You're more likely to grab a quick coffee at a corner deli or bodega than settle into a laptop-friendly cafe. For a proper coffee shop ritual, many neighbors head a few stops south into Grand Concourse or over to the Bronx Botanical Garden area where the options broaden.
Things to Do6 places
The Things to Do scene here leans athletic with a solid tutoring backup — you've got a couple of parks and recreation centers for soccer, basketball and general running around, a pair of tutoring and test-prep spots, and one dance option to round things out. It's a lean list, true, but what exists is community-rooted and affordable, which matters more than variety when you're planning weekly logistics. Don't expect bells and whistles, but expect accessible.
Daycare & informal care2 places
Fordham Heights has a solid foundation of Pre-K options, with the public schools — P.S. 33, P.S. 85, P.S. 209 and P.S. 9 among them — carrying the bulk of the universal Pre-K seats. A couple of private daycares fill in the gaps for families wanting more flexible or full-day coverage. Morning drop-off around the Grand Concourse and Marion Avenue corridors can get congested, so mapping your route ahead of the first week helps avoid the rush.
Family Resources1 place
Fordham Heights keeps family resources lean but functional — Slattery Playground at 2300 Ryer Avenue gives kids a solid recreation anchor. Beyond that, the neighborhood leans on the broader Grand Concourse corridor for libraries and community centers, which are close enough to feel accessible but require families to walk a few blocks. It's a thin bench, so knowing what's nearby in adjacent Bedford Park helps.
Healthcare21 places
Healthcare in Fordham Heights is anchored by a handful of solid institutions — Union Community Health Center on 188th Street and BronxCare's Poe location on Grand Concourse both serve as the neighborhood's backbones, with multiple sites spread across the area. Pediatric care has a decent bench of independent practices tucked along the main drags, so most families can find something nearby. Urgent care is thinner — just a couple of options on Fordham Road and 183rd Street — and dental care is sparse, with only one oral surgery outfit on Grand Concourse. For anything beyond basic needs, families often head further afield.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in Fordham Heights
Schools in Fordham Heights
9
Early education in Fordham Heights
12
- Arcadia Children's Daycare
- ARCADIA CHILDREN'S DAYCARE AND PRESCHOOL
- Bronx Baptist Day Care & Learning Center
- Elementary School for Math, Science, and Technology
- P.S. 033 Timothy Dwight
- P.S. 085 Great Expectations
- P.S. 209
- P.S. 9 Ryer Avenue Elementary School
- ROSE HILL EARLY CHILDHOOD ACADEMIES AT 2512 MARION AVENUE
- Round The Clock Nursery
- School for Environmental Citizenship
- UCNY ROUND-THE-CLOCK NURSERY
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Fordham Heights a good neighborhood for families?
- Fordham Heights scores 38/100 for families on Motley — toward the lower end citywide. The Family Fit score blends six parts: how many families live there, schools, affordability, weekday-morning transit time to job centers, safety, and air quality and child health.
- What are the pros and cons of Fordham Heights for families?
- For families, Fordham Heights stands out for many families with children, with homes and schools close by. What to weigh: more reported crimes, traffic injuries or serious housing violations per resident; weaker results at the public and charter schools serving it, or fewer of them; and higher costs than most. Each score compares it with NYC's other residential neighborhoods. They don't measure how a block feels on foot or whether a particular school suits your child, so walk it before you decide.
- Is Fordham Heights safe?
- Fordham Heights scores 2/100 on safety — toward the lower end citywide. We build the score from NYPD crime complaints, pedestrian and cyclist injuries, and serious (Class C) housing violations, each counted per 1,000 residents.
- How are the schools in Fordham Heights?
- Fordham Heights has 9 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 7/100 for schools — toward the lower end citywide.
- How do middle and high school admissions work from Fordham Heights?
- Middle school: families in Fordham Heights apply in 5th grade through the citywide middle school application. District 10's 47 middle school programs admit by method: 15 unscreened, 14 screened, 13 zoned and 5 charter lottery. High school: one citywide application in 8th grade lets a family rank programs anywhere in the city, and the eight specialized high schools admit on the SHSAT alone.
- Is Fordham Heights affordable?
- Fordham Heights scores 31/100 for affordability on Motley — among the pricier parts of the city.
- Which borough is Fordham Heights in?
- Fordham Heights is a neighborhood in Bronx, New York City.
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