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University Heights South-Morris Heights features affordable housing near the Harlem River with Bronx Community College as a neighborhood anchor. The 4/B/D trains connect to Manhattan.
University Heights South-Morris Heights features affordable housing near the Harlem River with Bronx Community College as a neighborhood anchor. The 4/B/D trains connect to Manhattan.
Did you know?
The former campus of New York University's Bronx location (now Bronx Community College) features Stanford White's Hall of Fame for Great Americans, the country's first hall of fame, opened in 1901.
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
$227 / sq ft
Commute
Weekday mornings · leaving 7:30–9:00
- FromUniversity Heights (South)-Morris Heights
- ToNear Bryant Park
Family scores
Show 5 moreShow fewer
Trade-offs
Stands out
- Family-Friendly Vibe92/100
Many families with children, with homes and schools close by
To weigh
- Safety11/100
More reported crimes, traffic injuries or serious housing violations per resident
- Schools33/100
Weaker results at the public and charter schools serving it, or fewer of them
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 University Heights (South)-Morris 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
Schools17 schools
University Heights packs in roughly two dozen schools serving every age group, from early childhood programs like Bronx Community College Early Childhood Center through high school at the Charter High School for Law and Social Justice. The public system dominates — you're looking at zoned elementary schools like P.S. 091 Bronx, plus several district middle schools — with just a handful of private options and that single charter in the mix. It's a deep bench for a neighborhood with relatively few families with kids.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Parks & Playgrounds10 places
University Heights delivers a deep bench of playgrounds — Sedgwick Playground and Davidson Playground anchor the western side with solid equipment and open space, while the Aqueduct Walk corridor pulls double duty with Morton Playground and Aqueduct Lands Playground lined along it. The count is impressive for a compact neighborhood, and most are well-used by local kids. Tree shade can be thin in spots, but there's rarely a shortage of places to run.
6 playgrounds within a 10-min walk
Nearest large park: Highbridge Park · ~11 min walk (0.4 mi)
Transportation44 stops
You've got two 4 train stations — 176 St and Burnside Av — which is a solid base for commuting into Manhattan, though which one is more convenient depends on exactly where you are in the neighborhood. The bus network fills in the gaps nicely along Jerome Avenue, University Avenue, and Macombs Road, so even if the subway isn't right outside your door, you're rarely more than a short ride from it. The proximity to the George Washington Bridge adds some route flexibility too.
Restaurants39 places
The eating scene here is very much a grab-and-go world — there's a deep bench of Dominican kitchens, Mexican taquerias, and Chinese takeout spots squeezed along Jerome Avenue and Burnside, plus a handful of old-school pizza parlors turning out solid slices. The bulk of what's here is affordable, quick-serve, and geared toward locals grabbing lunch or dinner on the move. What you'd call a proper sit-down dinner spot is thin on the ground, but what exists does solid, no-frills work.
Groceries12 places
University Heights (South)-Morris Heights holds its own when it comes to putting food on the table. Associated Supermarkets anchors the area with a couple of locations, and there are several independent grocers scattered around — including some solid ethnic markets like Antillana Superfood Marketplace and Pak Fish Market for harder-to-find ingredients. The mix means most weekly staples are walkable, though a car certainly helps for heavy hauling.
Coffee Shops1 place
Coffee options are thin in this stretch — you're looking at a bakery-café situation for now, rather than a dedicated third-wave shop where you can spread out with a laptop. The Jerome Avenue and 183rd Street corridor tends to offer coffee as an add-on to other businesses rather than the main event. The upside is that Morris Heights sits close enough to Riverdale and the Grand Concourse strip that a better coffee run is just a short walk or bus ride when you need it.
Things to Do7 places
For families looking to get active, this part of the Bronx leans heavily into athletics — Roberto Clemente State Park and its basketball courts anchor the recreational scene, with Morton Playground adding another option for outdoor fun. Beyond the parks, there's a thin but real mix of enrichment: a tutoring center, a dance studio, and a college gym offering gymnastics programs. It's not a dense landscape of kids' activities, but what exists covers the basics well.
Daycare & informal care6 places
University Heights and Morris Heights offer a deep bench of childcare options — 13 pre-K sites anchored by zoned elementary schools (P.S. 109, P.S. 204, P.S. 226, P.S. 396) plus Head Start and community-based programs, alongside roughly six family daycares tucked into residential blocks. The pre-K network is the backbone here, so families targeting universal pre-K slots will find the most traction. Morning drop-off can get crowded on the main drag but the neighborhood's compact footprint keeps logistics relatively smooth.
Family Resources10 places
University Heights keeps kids busy — there's a deep bench of playgrounds scattered through the area, from Grand Playground on Grand Avenue to Beanstalk Playground up on Billingsley Terrace. The neighborhood punches above its weight for libraries too: Francis Martin Library on University Avenue and Sedgwick Library on MLK both anchor the community with programs and quiet study spaces. A seasonal farmstand adds to the civic feel, though community centers are thin on the ground.
Healthcare16 places
Healthcare in this corner of the Bronx is anchored by a cluster of solid options along West Burnside Avenue — Morris Heights Health Center and Mount Hope Family Practice both run steady operations that have been around for years, and there's a dedicated Women's Health & Birthing Pavilion for expectant moms. Pediatric care is decent here too with three practices, including one at University Medical Center. Where things thin out: there's just one urgent care on Featherbed Lane and a single dentist on Harrison Avenue, so families may find themselves traveling outside the neighborhood for after-hours needs or specialized dental work.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in University Heights (South)-Morris Heights
Schools in University Heights (South)-Morris Heights
17
- Academy for Language and Technology
- AIM HIGH - S BRONX HEADSTART SITE 2
- Charter High School for Law and Social Justice
- I.S. 229 Roland Patterson
- I.S. 232
- I.S. X303 Leadership & Community Service
- M.S. 390
- NORTHEAST BRONX DAY CARE CNTR GROW
- P.S. 091 Bronx
- P.S. 109 Sedgwick
- P.S. 204 Morris Heights
- P.S. 226
- P.S. 306
- P.S. 396
- SHIELD INSTITUTE BRONX
- The Bronx School of Young Leaders
- The New American Academy at Roberto Clemente State Park
Early education in University Heights (South)-Morris Heights
16
- Be Above 52
- BRONX COMMUNITY COLLEGE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
- Bronxworks
- BRONXWORKS UAC EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER
- JESUS LOVES THE ANGELS GROUP FAMILY DAYCARE
- Jesus Loves The Little Angels Group Family Daycare
- Little Scholars Early Development Center
- LUMINOUS EARLY CHILD CARE CENTER RICHMAN
- P.S. 109 Sedgwick
- P.S. 204 Morris Heights
- P.S. 204 MORRIS HEIGHTS
- P.S. 226
- P.S. 396
- PROMESA HEAD START
- Seventh Avenue Center For Family Services
- THE NEW AMERICAN ACADEMY AT ROBERTO CLEMENTE STATE PARK
All early education in University Heights (South)-Morris Heights →
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is University Heights (South)-Morris Heights a good neighborhood for families?
- University Heights (South)-Morris Heights scores 47/100 for families on Motley — near the middle of the pack 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 University Heights (South)-Morris Heights for families?
- For families, University Heights (South)-Morris 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, and weaker results at the public and charter schools serving it, or fewer of them. 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 University Heights (South)-Morris Heights safe?
- University Heights (South)-Morris Heights scores 11/100 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 University Heights (South)-Morris Heights?
- University Heights (South)-Morris Heights has 17 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 33/100 for schools — toward the lower end citywide.
- How do middle and high school admissions work from University Heights (South)-Morris Heights?
- Middle school: families in University Heights (South)-Morris Heights apply in 5th grade through the citywide middle school application. District 9's 34 middle school programs admit by method: 16 unscreened, 10 charter lottery, 6 screened and 2 zoned. 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 University Heights (South)-Morris Heights affordable?
- University Heights (South)-Morris Heights scores 55/100 for affordability on Motley — mid-range on cost for the city.
- Which borough is University Heights (South)-Morris Heights in?
- University Heights (South)-Morris Heights is a neighborhood in Bronx, New York City.
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