The 10 Best Neighborhoods In The United States


The best neighborhoods in the US are Battery Park and Downtown for 2023 based on Saturday Night Science.

Not all American neighborhoods aren’t created equal.

Some are better than others.

But which ones?

Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and used Saturday Night Science to find out which neighborhoods are the best.

Turns out the Battery Park neighborhood of New York is the best neighborhood where you can live in this country. The worst? Shelby Forest-Frayser in Memphis.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table


So basically, downtown New York City has the best neighborhoods, if you can afford to live there.

Check out more about America here:

The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In America For 2023

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 15,714
Median Home Value: $1,546,050
Median Income: $211,402
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 172
Property Crime Per 100k: 1,271

You might not be surprised to hear it, but almost every neighborhood on this list is in downtown New York City. The only problem? It’s understandably hard to afford to live here.

In Battery Park, crime is very low, and homes are actually relatively affordable – at least more so than in most other ‘great’ downtown NYC neighborhoods.

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 38,783
Median Home Value: $772,881
Median Income: $133,134
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 192
Property Crime Per 100k: 649

Across the Hudson from New York is the awesome neighborhood of Downtown Jersey City, where you get views of downtown NYC and much cheaper homes, too. For those who want low crime and affordability, plus the NYC metro area experience, this place is super.

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 187,724
Median Home Value: $1,412,032
Median Income: $152,408
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 251
Property Crime Per 100k: 1,844

The television show ‘The Jeffersons’ made this neighborhood in downtown NYC a household name. If you wanted to move on up yourself and live on the Upper East Side, you’d better get in line and have a deep pocketbook.

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 17,334
Median Home Value: $1,364,986
Median Income: $130,238
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 140
Property Crime Per 100k: 1,680

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 17,279
Median Home Value: $763,965
Median Income: $147,814
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 114
Property Crime Per 100k: 872

In North Sutton Area, crime numbers are about the same as some of the other more posh NYC neighborhoods, but homes are the most expensive. The average home is more than a million bucks. Lots of people might argue that makes the neighborhood ‘less’ desirable, and they might have a good point.

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 16,095
Median Home Value: $1,714,572
Median Income: $185,103
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 129
Property Crime Per 100k: 1,764

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 19,022
Median Home Value: $1,614,046
Median Income: $142,263
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 167
Property Crime Per 100k: 2,161

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 209,387
Median Home Value: $1,520,156
Median Income: $137,257
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 300
Property Crime Per 100k: 2,013

The Upper West Side is the ‘every man’s’ neighborhood in downtown New York. Those who can’t afford the Upper East Side, but want the poshness that comes with a fancy downtown experience live here. It’s packed, and for good reason.
That’s certainly a sign that there’s demand to live here.

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 20,512
Median Home Value: $661,838
Median Income: $133,268
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 203
Property Crime Per 100k: 1,503

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 16,587
Median Home Value: $1,382,200
Median Income: $111,188
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 165
Property Crime Per 100k: 1,749

How We Determined The Best Neighborhoods In The US

To rank the best neighborhoods in America, we had to determine what criteria people like or dislike about a place to live. Most people like low crime, things to do, and a stable economy.

So, we used Saturday Night Science to research FBI crime and Census data. The following are the criteria we used:

  • Population Density
  • Unemployment Rates
  • Median Income
  • Home Prices
  • Crime Rates

We ranked each neighborhood over 15,000 people from the 100 biggest cities in the United States — 749 neighborhoods to be exact.

For each criteria, we ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst. We then averaged the rankings to create a “Best Place To Live Index.” The neighborhood with the highest “Best Place To Live Index” was named the best neigborhood in the US.

We updated this report for 2023. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods in America.

There You Have It — The Best Neighborhoods In The US

If you’re looking at best neighorhoods in the U.S. where crime is low, people are rich, and the public schools are awesome, this is an accurate list.

Here’s a look at the best neighborhoods in America according to the data:

  1. Shelby Forest-Frayser, Memphis
  2. Park, Stockton
  3. Parkway Village-Oakhaven, Memphis

Table: Best Neighborhoods To Live In The United States

Rank Neighborhood Population Home Value Median Income Crime Per 100k
1 Battery Park, New York, NY 15,714 $1,546,050 $211,402 1,443
2 Downtown, Jersey City, NJ 38,783 $772,881 $133,134 841
3 Upper East Side, New York, NY 187,724 $1,412,032 $152,408 2,095
4 Inner Sunset, San Francisco, CA 17,334 $1,364,986 $130,238 1,820
5 North Sutton Area, New York, NY 17,279 $763,965 $147,814 986
6 Noe Valley, San Francisco, CA 16,095 $1,714,572 $185,103 1,893
7 Inner Richmond, San Francisco, CA 19,022 $1,614,046 $142,263 2,328
8 Upper West Side, New York, NY 209,387 $1,520,156 $137,257 2,313
9 North Center, Chicago, IL 20,512 $661,838 $133,268 1,706
10 Outer Richmond, San Francisco, CA 16,587 $1,382,200 $111,188 1,914
11 Park Slope, New York, NY 66,947 $1,541,846 $155,486 1,597
12 Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA 19,649 $1,749,956 $172,749 3,204
13 Downtown, New York, NY 15,186 $1,074,885 $134,995 855
14 Charlestown, Boston, MA 19,678 $742,385 $123,289 1,947
15 Middle Village, New York, NY 34,717 $725,579 $89,872 1,156
16 Potomac West, Alexandria, VA 24,852 $666,145 $128,834 1,803
17 University Park, Dallas, TX 24,259 $1,176,311 $198,578 1,716
18 West Park, Irvine, CA 22,993 $815,446 $129,158 1,596
19 West San Jose, San Jose, CA 96,997 $1,301,833 $143,421 1,746
20 Mar Vista, Los Angeles, CA 36,353 $1,249,943 $102,786 1,545
21 Bernal Heights, San Francisco, CA 27,627 $1,230,414 $143,080 2,624
22 Morningside Heights, New York, NY 39,365 $1,033,354 $98,486 2,072
23 Forest Hills, New York, NY 72,632 $580,702 $94,597 1,195
24 Cambrian Park, San Jose, CA 70,045 $1,139,062 $145,893 1,816
25 Au-Tenleytown, Washington, DC 18,855 $973,793 $178,534 1,063
26 Gramercy, New York, NY 56,008 $836,188 $143,821 3,742
27 Excelsior, San Francisco, CA 25,088 $900,731 $86,292 2,068
28 Tribeca, New York, NY 21,871 $1,862,334 $205,908 5,929
29 Outer Sunset, San Francisco, CA 18,347 $1,023,558 $121,072 1,234
30 Bay Ridge, New York, NY 50,752 $879,942 $84,100 1,686
31 Chelsea, New York, NY 49,712 $1,087,861 $131,352 4,181
32 Spuyten Duyvil, New York, NY 16,320 $359,578 $110,042 1,660
33 Lake View, Chicago, IL 57,436 $556,847 $128,310 2,376
34 Parkside, San Francisco, CA 18,914 $1,182,169 $116,184 2,668
35 Northwood, Irvine, CA 22,218 $798,725 $111,899 1,368
36 Audubon, New Orleans, LA 16,004 $704,812 $105,976 1,730
37 Palms, Los Angeles, CA 37,859 $987,476 $83,954 1,782
38 Whitestone, New York, NY 39,821 $838,977 $87,013 1,123
39 South Boston, Boston, MA 41,090 $746,666 $132,281 1,917
40 Chevy Chase, Washington, DC 18,506 $919,342 $142,356 2,050
41 East Village, New York, NY 65,898 $829,305 $90,545 3,307
42 Woodside, New York, NY 46,363 $648,903 $69,068 1,323
43 Clinton, New York, NY 35,153 $1,207,833 $117,139 2,650
44 Financial District, New York, NY 31,183 $1,221,787 $175,518 4,944
45 West University, Houston, TX 34,360 $759,119 $165,516 2,536
46 Dyker Heights, New York, NY 36,602 $956,217 $73,713 944
47 Canarsie, New York, NY 86,694 $579,181 $76,372 1,871
48 Auburndale, New York, NY 28,366 $790,259 $75,551 1,062
49 Greenwood, New York, NY 17,307 $948,600 $98,534 2,186
50 Blossom Valley, San Jose, CA 71,983 $809,087 $118,432 2,428
51 Queen Anne, Seattle, WA 28,522 $908,813 $127,134 2,556
52 Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA 17,902 $1,403,934 $111,424 3,344
53 South Of Market, San Francisco, CA 28,489 $1,032,286 $131,546 5,202
54 Great Kills, New York, NY 23,788 $559,585 $111,056 639
55 Ridgewood, New York, NY 69,396 $756,326 $76,103 1,795
56 West Of Twin Peaks, San Francisco, CA 21,375 $1,095,080 $153,714 2,463
57 Magnolia, Seattle, WA 19,471 $767,500 $141,201 2,139
58 Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, CA 21,864 $2,000,001 $205,646 1,737
59 Willow Glen, San Jose, CA 77,437 $1,088,590 $130,927 2,556
60 Midtown, Atlanta, GA 21,945 $378,430 $96,712 709
61 Centerville, Fremont, CA 17,026 $816,275 $123,349 3,193
62 The Plaza, Long Beach, CA 20,109 $676,764 $113,703 1,177
63 Wallingford, Seattle, WA 16,998 $833,794 $122,922 3,119
64 Pocket, Sacramento, CA 26,316 $471,400 $90,462 1,134
65 Borough Park, New York, NY 92,564 $1,008,418 $48,705 1,000
66 Pico-Robertson, Los Angeles, CA 18,291 $1,296,346 $103,804 2,493
67 West Roxbury, Boston, MA 33,915 $558,847 $122,248 870
68 Bensonhurst, New York, NY 96,974 $883,397 $58,789 1,156
69 North Clairemont, San Diego, CA 15,494 $603,617 $98,740 1,530
70 Carmel Valley, San Diego, CA 48,364 $1,037,794 $172,093 829
71 Almaden Valley, San Jose, CA 46,778 $1,176,574 $181,680 1,969
72 Woodbridge, Irvine, CA 24,966 $745,050 $114,407 1,097
73 Bay Park, San Diego, CA 17,860 $707,443 $97,131 1,724
74 Brentwood, Los Angeles, CA 31,709 $1,392,827 $163,253 1,533
75 Mira Mesa, San Diego, CA 75,182 $544,098 $107,972 1,110
76 Laurelton, New York, NY 27,665 $488,835 $97,949 1,239
77 Scripps Ranch, San Diego, CA 22,537 $791,708 $134,883 591
78 Lower Peters Canyon, Irvine, CA 18,938 $759,843 $112,733 1,823
79 Clearview, New York, NY 28,704 $555,508 $81,878 831
80 Glendale, New York, NY 35,623 $654,182 $82,011 1,596
81 Greenwich Village, New York, NY 44,403 $1,236,862 $155,690 5,792
82 Evergreen, San Jose, CA 81,105 $896,235 $159,304 1,622
83 Westwood, Los Angeles, CA 57,287 $1,266,754 $78,789 1,255
84 Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, CA 31,016 $820,187 $95,550 1,849
85 Roslindale, Boston, MA 31,348 $503,105 $92,096 1,341
86 Queensboro Hill, New York, NY 75,376 $521,976 $57,190 794
87 Douglastown-Little Neck, New York, NY 82,321 $518,824 $83,053 1,176
88 Maspeth, New York, NY 55,134 $696,249 $76,126 1,761
89 Portar Ranch, Los Angeles, CA 22,688 $681,550 $122,141 1,395
90 La Jolla, San Diego, CA 36,662 $1,298,387 $128,665 1,887
91 Adams Morgan, Washington, DC 17,154 $529,538 $101,976 3,067
92 Westerleigh-Castleton, New York, NY 29,688 $449,604 $85,305 839
93 Sunset Park, New York, NY 93,293 $943,771 $57,733 1,784
94 West Seattle, Seattle, WA 30,285 $715,152 $114,356 3,396
95 Rancho Penasquitos, San Diego, CA 52,735 $770,052 $141,794 755
96 Buckhead, Atlanta, GA 78,972 $491,544 $113,902 709
97 Landmark-Van Dom, Alexandria, VA 28,354 $319,643 $100,175 1,754
98 Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA 47,098 $632,712 $104,228 1,852
99 Tierrasanta, San Diego, CA 30,151 $645,145 $108,245 905
100 Corona, New York, NY 107,981 $707,427 $60,039 2,482
About Nick Johnson

Nick Johnson earned his masters in Business Administration from the Drucker School At Claremont Graduate University. He has written for 39 publications across the country and ran the media relations department at Movoto, a real estate portal based in San Francisco. He has been featured in over 500 publications as an expert in real estate and as an authority on real estate trends.

Nick's the creator of the HomeSnacks YouTube channel that now has over 900,000 subscribers and is an excellent source to learn about different parts of the country.