Motley
Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill, Manhattan

Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill

At A Glance

Carnegie Hill on the Upper East Side features top private schools, museum proximity, and elegant pre-war architecture. One of Manhattan's most sought-after family neighborhoods.

Did you know?

The Dalton School in Carnegie Hill was founded in 1919 as a progressive experiment — students called teachers by their first names, revolutionary at the time.

Neighborhood Stats

33
Schools
1
Parks
7
Subway
100
Dining
13
Groceries
50
Coffee

Who’s your neighbor?

$198KMedian Income
17%Under 18
84%College+
59%Own Their Home

Housing cost

Avg Rent
$3,950per month
Avg Sale Price
$1.20Mmedian sale

Family scores

55
/100
Family Fit
How well the area suits families overall.
26
/100
Safety
Local crime and street-safety signals.
97
/100
Schools
Quality and choice of nearby schools.
2
/100
Affordability
Cost of living — higher is more affordable.
Show 5 more
98
/100
Family-Friendly Vibe
How many families with kids live nearby.
39
/100
Neighborhood Character
Settled, long-term residents and housing.
95
/100
Transit
Subway and bus access for getting around.
15
/100
Air & Water
Air quality and environmental health.
54
/100
Things to Do
Restaurants, shops, and activities nearby.
Lower
050100
Higher

What families should know

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Living here

2 playgrounds within a 10-min walkNearest large park: Central Park · ~5 min walk (0.2 mi)

Carnegie Hill's park scene is thin — you've really just got Samuel Seabury Playground off Third Avenue to work with. It's a solid, well-kept little spot with equipment that's held up better than most in the area, but one playground for the whole neighborhood means you won't be strolling to get there. The surrounding blocks are lush with tree canopy and townhouse gardens, which helps the walk feel greener than the limited outdoor space might suggest.

Schools & early education

The school landscape here skews heavily private — the Dalton School operates dual campuses near East 89th and East 91st, with Spence and Buckley as longstanding independents — yet public options persist, including P.S. 6 Lillie D. Blake and P.S. 77 Lower Lab School. The private roster runs from Catholic stalwarts like St. Ignatius Loyola to Jewish day schools like Ramaz, offering real breadth if you're going the non-public route. Public school families have just a couple of zoned options to work with, so the calculus is different here than in neighboring areas with stronger public alternatives.

Compare with nearby neighborhoods

Best schools in Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill a good neighborhood for families?
Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill scores 55/100 for families on Motley — near the middle of the pack citywide. The Family Fit score blends safety, schools, parks, cost of living, and community.
Is Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill safe?
Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill scores 26/100 on safety — toward the lower end citywide. We build the score from NYPD complaint data, normalized by population.
How are the schools in Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill?
Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill has 33 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 97/100 for schools — ahead of most NYC neighborhoods.
Is Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill affordable?
Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill scores 2/100 for affordability on Motley — among the pricier parts of the city.
Which borough is Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill in?
Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill is a neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City.

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