New York City Neighborhoods Ranked: Crime, Schools, and Value

NeighborScore's composite index — weighted 40% crime, 35% schools, and 25% property value — ranks DUMBO/Downtown Brooklyn (ZIP 11201) as New York City's top neighborhood in our dataset at 80/100, followed by Chelsea/Hudson Yards (10001) at 76/100, and Times Square/Midtown West (10036) at 70/100. The 10-point spread across NYC's three analyzed ZIPs is tighter than Chicago or LA — a reflection of the city's relatively strong baseline on schools, but meaningful variation on crime and value.

Why DUMBO Brooklyn Scores 80/100 — NYC's Top Neighborhood

DUMBO leads NYC's rankings across all three dimensions. According to NCES EdFacts assessment data, schools in ZIP 11201 reach 76% math proficiency and 79% reading proficiency, delivering a school score of 84/100. The crime score of 71/100 reflects city data showing approximately 8 violent incidents per month — low for a dense urban area. The value score of 78/100 is the strongest among the three NYC ZIPs, with a median home price of $1,050,000 and average days on market of 26.

Chelsea (10001): Solid Performance at 76/100

Chelsea/Hudson Yards scores 76/100, with a school score of 82/100 and crime score of 65/100. NCES data shows local schools reaching 74% math proficiency. City data shows approximately 10 violent incidents and 24 property crimes per month in 10001. The value score of 58/100 is the weakest of the three NYC ZIPs — median home prices of $890,000 with rents around $3,800/mo. Chelsea offers central Manhattan location at a price point below Midtown but above what the value score rewards.

Times Square/Midtown West (10036): Urban Core at 70/100

Times Square/Midtown West scores 70/100, with crime (60/100) and schools (74/100) both slightly below Chelsea. City data shows approximately 13 violent incidents and 27 property crimes per month in 10036, consistent with one of New York's highest foot-traffic corridors. NCES data places local school math proficiency at 68%. The value score of 65/100 reflects a median home price of $1,100,000 and rents averaging $4,500/mo — the highest in the NYC dataset — offset by relatively quick turnover (35 days on market).

NYC Neighborhood Rankings at a Glance

• DUMBO / Downtown Brooklyn (ZIP 11201) — NeighborScore 80/100 | Crime 71 | Schools 84 | Value 78 | Median home $1,050,000 | Rent $3,600/mo
• Chelsea / Hudson Yards (ZIP 10001) — NeighborScore 76/100 | Crime 65 | Schools 82 | Value 58 | Median home $890,000 | Rent $3,800/mo
• Times Square / Midtown West (ZIP 10036) — NeighborScore 70/100 | Crime 60 | Schools 74 | Value 65 | Median home $1,100,000 | Rent $4,500/mo

Composite = crime × 0.40 + schools × 0.35 + value × 0.25. Sources: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, NCES EdFacts, Zillow ZHVI.

What NYC's Neighborhood Data Means for Buyers

New York's three analyzed ZIPs all score in the Good range (70–84), but DUMBO's lead is driven by its combination of high school performance, lower crime than Manhattan counterparts, and a stronger value score. Chelsea's 76/100 reflects Manhattan's traditionally stronger schools offset by lower value scores. Times Square/Midtown West at 70/100 is a neighborhood built for proximity to commerce — its crime and school scores are adequate but not the reason anyone moves there.

Full ZIP-level profiles are available for DUMBO Brooklyn (11201), Chelsea (10001), and Times Square/Midtown West (10036) on NeighborScore.

Bottom Line: DUMBO Brooklyn (11201) tops New York City's analyzed ZIP codes at 80/100, leading on schools (84), crime (71), and value (78). Chelsea follows at 76/100, offering Manhattan access with strong school performance. Times Square/Midtown West scores 70/100 — a solid urban ZIP where location drives demand more than composite score. All three NYC neighborhoods score in the Good range, reflecting the city's strong educational baseline.