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Murray Hill-Kips Bay combines Midtown proximity with residential blocks. A mix of young professionals and families with strong dining options.
Murray Hill-Kips Bay combines Midtown proximity with residential blocks. A mix of young professionals and families with strong dining options.
Did you know?
The Morgan Library on Madison Avenue was J.P. Morgan's personal library — his collection included three Gutenberg Bibles and original Mozart manuscripts.
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
Commute
Weekday mornings · leaving 7:30–9:00
- FromMurray Hill-Kips Bay
- ToNear Bryant Park
Family scores
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Trade-offs
Stands out
- Family-Friendly Vibe95/100
Many families with children, with homes and schools close by
- Transit94/100
Quick weekday-morning transit to the city's main job centers
- Safety63/100
Fewer reported crimes, traffic injuries and serious housing violations per resident
To weigh
- Affordability6/100
Higher costs than most
- Air & Child Health15/100
More air pollution, childhood lead or asthma ER visits 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 Murray Hill-Kips Bay 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
Schools12 schools
Murray Hill-Kips Bay offers a genuine mix of public and private options, with seven of each. The zoned public schools here include P.S. 116 Mary Lindley Murray along East 33rd Street and The River School on East 35th, while magnet and charter programs like Manhattan Academy For Arts & Language share space on that same stretch. Private families can choose from institutions like the British International School of NY (which operates multiple nearby campuses), Churchill School and Center, or Lyceum Kennedy — the latter offering a French-language track. The governance diversity means families here effectively pick their own approach to school.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Parks & Playgrounds6 places
Murray Hill-Kips Bay offers a solid lineup of playgrounds for such a small-footprint neighborhood. Asser Levy Playground near the East River and Bellevue South Park are the anchors — both well-maintained with updated equipment. St. Vartan Park and Vincent F. Albano Jr. Playground round out the options, giving families a few choices scattered across the area. The park scene here isn't extensive, but what's there is clean and functional for quick visits.
3 playgrounds within a 10-min walk
Nearest large park: Central Park · ~36 min walk (1.4 mi)
Transportation57 stops
Grand Central-42 St anchors the transit picture here — that 7 train gets you to Times Square in a single stop and puts the rest of Midtown within walking distance. The bus network is where this area really shines though: lines along 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Avenues run frequently, and the east-west crosstown routes on 34th and 23rd Streets make it easy to hop over without the subway. For a Manhattan-core commute, you're well-served — the east side location means you're not fighting the worst of the subway crowding, though you will walk a few blocks to hit Grand Central.
Restaurants99 places
Murray Hill-Kips Bay runs heavy on delis — there's a deep bench along 2nd Avenue and Lexington where you can grab a sandwich at just about any corner. The scene leans practical: quick bites, takeout-friendly spots, and a few solid diners (Gemini Diner holds it down on 35th). But there's real range hiding in here — a couple of higher-end options pop up near the mid-30s blocks, and you’ll find solid Greek, Chinese, and Caribbean pockets scattered throughout. It's not a destination dining 'hood, but the everyday eats are reliable.
Groceries14 places
Murray Hill and Kips Bay deliver a surprisingly deep bench for the weekly shop without leaving the neighborhood. Trader Joe's on 32nd Street handles the bulk staples run, while Fairway and a pair of Gristedes locations cover conventional needs. Lidl brings budget-conscious options to 32nd Avenue, and the ethnic food scene holds it down — Kalustyan's for Mediterranean and Middle Eastern spices, Little India Market and New Foods of India along Lexington for South Asian provisions. Most everything's walkable, though a larger Target or Whole Foods run would require transit north.
Coffee Shops39 places
Murray Hill-Kips Bay runs on caffeine, with a deep bench of options spanning the full spectrum from quick counter-service to proper third-wave spots. Starbucks has a heavy presence — you'll spot several along Lexington and Third — but the independents hold their own: Birch Coffee, Gregory's Coffee, and Le Pain Quotidien each have loyal followings. The bagel-and-coffee combos are lifesavers on rushed mornings, while a few quieter spots near the side streets welcome a laptop session without the crowds.
Things to Do34 places
Murray Hill and Kips Bay pack a surprisingly deep bench of active options for kids, with swimming leading the charge — there are nearly a dozen pool facilities scattered between the two neighborhoods, from recreation centers to private building rooftops. Beyond the water, you'll find martial arts studios, a handful of basketball and tennis courts, and a couple of dance studios for little ones ready to move. The enrichment side is lighter, with just a few tutoring options and a handful of cultural spots, so families seeking structured arts or music classes may need to venture farther afield.
Daycare & informal care8 places
Murray Hill-Kips Bay offers a decent mix of childcare and pre-K for such a transit-heavy pocket of Manhattan — eight daycares and five pre-K sites spread across a few blocks, with a couple of recognizable chains like Bright Horizons and The Goddard School in the mix alongside local centers. UPK options are present at a few sites, though many families end up in private daycare. Morning drop-off can get sticky during rush hour since the area is still very much a commuter corridor, but for a neighborhood where families are the minority, the bench of options is stronger than you'd expect.
Family Resources6 places
Murray Hill-Kips Bay isn't bursting with family programming, but the public anchors here are dependable. The KIPS BAY LIBRARY on Third Avenue is a real neighborhood workhorse, and three playgrounds cluster along 42nd Street — Mary O'Connor, Tudor Grove, and the larger Robert Moses Playground on First Avenue — giving kids genuine space to move. The seasonal Kips Bay Greenmarket on Second Avenue adds a weekly ritual worth planning around. It's lean but solid.
Healthcare60 places
Murray Hill and Kips Bay pack serious medical firepower into a tight Manhattan footprint. Bellevue Hospital anchors the area as a major public institution, and NYU Langone runs a deep bench of specialty centers and outpatient facilities stretching from 24th to 42nd Street. Pediatric care is particularly strong — families will find multiple NYU-affiliated clinics and dedicated children's services clustered around 32nd and 38th Streets. Urgent care is well-covered between the CityMD locations and MinuteClinics along Third Avenue. Dental options are thinner, with just a handful of practices scattered around Park Avenue and 33rd Street, so locking in a dentist early is smart.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in Murray Hill-Kips Bay
Schools in Murray Hill-Kips Bay
12
- BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF NY
- BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF NY
- BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF NY
- CHURCHILL SCHOOL AND CENTER
- LYCEUM KENNEDY
- Manhattan Academy For Arts & Language
- MARYEL SCHOOL OF NEW YORK
- Murray Hill Academy
- P.S. 116 Mary Lindley Murray
- The River School
- U N INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
- Unity Center for Urban Technologies
Early education in Murray Hill-Kips Bay
12
- BELLEVUE DAY CARE CENTER, INC.
- Bellevue-Educare Childcare Center
- BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF NY
- CHURCHILL SCHOOL AND CENTER
- IMAGINE EARLY LEARNING CENTER @VETS KIDS
- Imagine Early Learning Center At Vets Kids
- LYCEUM KENNEDY
- MARYEL SCHOOL OF NEW YORK
- P.S. 116 Mary Lindley Murray
- PRE-K CENTER AT 330 EAST 38TH STREET
- The River School
- U N INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Murray Hill-Kips Bay a good neighborhood for families?
- Murray Hill-Kips Bay scores 55/100 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 Murray Hill-Kips Bay for families?
- For families, Murray Hill-Kips Bay stands out for many families with children, with homes and schools close by; quick weekday-morning transit to the city's main job centers; and fewer reported crimes, traffic injuries and serious housing violations per resident. What to weigh: higher costs than most, and more air pollution, childhood lead or asthma ER visits 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 Murray Hill-Kips Bay safe?
- Murray Hill-Kips Bay scores 63/100 on safety — ahead of most NYC neighborhoods. 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 Murray Hill-Kips Bay?
- Murray Hill-Kips Bay has 12 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 60/100 for schools — ahead of most NYC neighborhoods.
- How do middle and high school admissions work from Murray Hill-Kips Bay?
- Middle school: families in Murray Hill-Kips Bay apply in 5th grade through the citywide middle school application. District 2's 36 middle school programs admit by method: 21 screened, 6 unscreened, 5 zoned and 4 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 Murray Hill-Kips Bay affordable?
- Murray Hill-Kips Bay scores 6/100 for affordability on Motley — among the pricier parts of the city.
- Which borough is Murray Hill-Kips Bay in?
- Murray Hill-Kips Bay is a neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City.
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