The Upper West Side at Lincoln Square is a premier family neighborhood with top-rated public schools, Central and Riverside Parks, and Lincoln Center. Dense retail along Broadway and Columbus Avenue.
The Upper West Side at Lincoln Square is a premier family neighborhood with top-rated public schools, Central and Riverside Parks, and Lincoln Center. Dense retail along Broadway and Columbus Avenue.
Did you know?
Lincoln Center's Revson Fountain was designed to mask the sound of subway trains running beneath the plaza — the water jets are choreographed to the noise schedule.
Neighborhood Stats
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
Family scores
Show 5 moreShow fewer
What families should know
Personalize
Get an agentic neighborhood analysis — including safety and cost of living — tailored to your priorities, family size, budget, and commute.
Analyze for My FamilyLiving here
The Upper West Side has a thin but solid bench of playgrounds, with Riverside Park South's Little Engine Playground being a standout — the name alone tells you someone put real thought into it. Gertrude Ederle Recreation Center and Matthew P. Sapolin Playground round out the options, and what exists here is genuinely well-maintained and loved by local families. The real luxury is the park itself though: that Riverside waterfront and the tree canopy through this stretch of Manhattan make up for the limited playground count.
Schools & early education
Upper West Side-Lincoln Square offers a deep bench of schooling options, with an almost even split between public and private — roughly 15 public schools and 15 private institutions serve the area. Families will find zoned elementary options like P.S. 199 Jesse Isidor Straus on West 70th Street, along with the citywide draw of LaGuardia High School for arts and music. Private options range from the Ethical Culture Fieldston School on Central Park West to Collegiate School near Lincoln Center.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in Upper West Side-Lincoln Square
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Upper West Side-Lincoln Square a good neighborhood for families?
- Upper West Side-Lincoln Square scores 54/100 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 West Side-Lincoln Square safe?
- Upper West Side-Lincoln Square scores 23/100 on safety — toward the lower end citywide. We build the score from NYPD complaint data, normalized by population.
- How are the schools in Upper West Side-Lincoln Square?
- Upper West Side-Lincoln Square has 26 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 95/100 for schools — ahead of most NYC neighborhoods.
- Is Upper West Side-Lincoln Square affordable?
- Upper West Side-Lincoln Square scores 2/100 for affordability on Motley — among the pricier parts of the city.
- Which borough is Upper West Side-Lincoln Square in?
- Upper West Side-Lincoln Square is a neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City.
Want personalized insights for your family?
Sign in to get an agentic neighborhood analysis — including safety and cost of living — tailored to your priorities, family size, budget, and commute.