Is Inwood Safe? Manhattan Livability, Crime & Rent
Inwood scores 6.3 median (IQR 5.9–6.7): a tree-dense, practically livable neighborhood compromised by noise, rising crime, and geographic distance from the city core.
Inwood at a glance
- Borough
- Manhattan
- Livability score
- 6.3/10
- Borough rank
- #22 of 33
- Safety verdict
- Higher Than Average
- Crimes (12 mo)
- 2,649
- Median listing
- $0
- Subway stations
- 3 (Inwood-207 St, 215 St, 207 St)
- Active listings
- 2
- Data updated
- 2026-04-05
Is Inwood Safe?
Inwood, Manhattan scores 6.3/10 for overall livability, ranking #22 of 33 Manhattan neighborhoods. Inwood scores 6.3 median (IQR 5.9–6.7): a tree-dense, practically livable neighborhood compromised by noise, rising crime, and geographic distance from the city core.
This score aggregates live NYPD crime data, 311 safety complaints, shooting incidents, and building health signals within walking distance. Safety varies by block — check a specific Inwood address below for a block-level breakdown.
Score Overview
Vertical line = borough median. Scale: 0-10.
Neighborhood Character
Inwood is a heavily treed neighborhood at Manhattan's northern edge where you'll walk under a canopy density of 9.5/10—among the densest in the borough. You're surrounded by an average of 81 trees within 200 meters, and Inwood Hill Park anchors the area with immediate access to green space. The A train runs express through here at Inwood-207 St, while the 1 line serves 215 St and 207 St, giving you multiple escape routes downtown. The building stock splits evenly between mid-rise and walk-up structures, creating a mixed streetscape. But this is a high-activity neighborhood (79th percentile for safety incidents): you'll hear it. Noise complaints are very high at 6,579, and total crimes over 12 months registered at 1,880, trending worse (+138.9%).
Analysis based on 2 properties scored across 30+ data points
Livability & Restoration
Tree Canopy
81 trees
Avg within 200m | Density: 9.5/10
10 additional trees per block correlates with health benefits equivalent to being 7 years younger (Kardan et al., 2015)
Park Access
Sherman Creek
Avg 466m away | Score: 2.5/10
Living within 300m of green space associated with 30% fewer antidepressant prescriptions (Taylor et al., 2015)
Acoustic Quality
10/10
Noise proxy score (higher = quieter)
Chronic noise above 55 dB at night associated with 8% cardiovascular mortality increase (Basner et al., 2014)
Street Character
0/10
Enclosure: 0/10
What is the ART Score?
ART stands for Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989) — the framework environmental psychologists use to measure whether a place helps your brain recover from mental fatigue, or pushes it deeper into overload. Cities deplete directed attention (the effortful focus you use at work); exposure to restorative environments replenishes it.
We compute an ART score for every block by combining four signals: access to restorative zones (parks, museums, libraries), sensory load (nightlife and tourist density), street vitality (Jane Jacobs’ “eyes on the street”), and third places (Oldenburg’s informal community spaces).
In line with the Manhattan median — typical city stimulus with typical restorative access.
What drives the score
- +Restorative zones. Museums, libraries, community gardens, and parks within walking distance. “Soft fascination” stimuli (clouds, tree branches, water) let directed attention recover without effort — the Kaplans’ core mechanism.
- −Sensory load. Bar and nightclub density (5+ within 150m), firehouse siren corridors, tourist chokepoints, and very high foot traffic push the score down by up to 8 points.
- +Street vitality (Jacobs, 1961). Permitted block parties, farmers markets, and community festivals over the past 12 months — a proxy for “eyes on the street” and the informal surveillance that makes blocks feel safe and maintained.
- +Third places (Oldenburg, 1989). Cafés, public plazas (POPS), community centers — the “anchors of community life” that buffer against social isolation. Loneliness has been linked to 29% higher incident coronary heart disease risk (Valtorta et al., 2016).
Health mechanism. Directed-attention fatigue (DAF) is linked to impaired decision-making, irritability, and elevated cortisol. A meta-analysis of 60+ studies (Ohly et al., 2016) found restorative environment exposure significantly improves attention-task performance (Hedges’ g ≈ 0.32) and reduces negative affect.
Theoretical foundations. Kaplan & Kaplan (1989), The Experience of Nature; Jacobs (1961), The Death and Life of Great American Cities; Oldenburg (1989), The Great Good Place.
Transit & Commute
Subway Stations
Commute Score
5.5/10
Borough median: 8.5/10
Walk Score Proxy
0/10
Based on street geometry analysis
Financial Landscape
Median Price
$0
Price per Sq Ft
$0
Price Distribution
Price by Building Type
Investment Indicators
Avg Unused FAR
0 sqft
Development rights potential
Unused development rights valued at $30-$80/sqft in Brooklyn (Glaeser, 2011)
Avg Days on Market
0
Market velocity signal
Multi-Family Stock
0%
2-4 family buildings
Multi-family owner-occupants build 2.4x wealth vs single-family (Herbert, 2013)
Outdoor & Green Space
Avg Tree Count
81
Within 200m radius
Canopy Density
9.5/10
Normalized canopy coverage
Park Network
- Sherman Creek
- Monsignor Kett Playground
- Dyckman House Museum
Avg distance: 466m
Practical Living
Building Types
Who Inwood Is For
Transit-dependent commuters
The A train express and dual 1-line access (215 St, 207 St) give you strong downtown connectivity. Commute score of 5.5 reflects the distance north, but express service partially offsets this.
Nature-focused renters unbothered by noise
Exceptional outdoor score driven by 81 average trees per 200m and 9.5/10 canopy density. Very high noise complaints mean you need tolerance for urban sound.
Practical-minded residents
Practical score of 9.0 (versus borough median 5.8) indicates strong availability of essentials—groceries, services, daily needs are accessible without friction.
Pros & Cons
Strengths
Dense tree canopy and park access
81 trees average within 200m, 9.5/10 canopy density, plus Inwood Hill Park and Sherman Creek nearby (avg 466m to parks)
Excellent practical livability
Practical score of 9.0, well above borough median of 5.8—essentials are readily available
Strong transit options
A-line express at Inwood-207 St plus 1-line service at 215 St and 207 St provide multiple route choices
Low rodent pressure
Only 155 rodent complaints, classified as low
Trade-offs
Very high noise levels
6,579 noise complaints recorded—among the highest in the borough
Rising crime trend
1,880 crimes over 12 months with a +138.9% upward trend; safety percentile of 79% reflects high-activity classification
Weak arts and cultural amenities
ART/Livability score of 4.8 versus borough median 5.5; limited galleries, performance venues, and cultural infrastructure
Extended commute times
Commute score of 5.5 versus borough median 8.5—distance to major job centers adds travel time despite express service
Score Any Address in Inwood
Get detailed livability scores based on building health, transit access, safety, noise levels, and 15+ NYC data sources.
Search an Address in InwoodFrequently Asked Questions about Inwood
1Is Inwood safe?
By NYPD data, Inwood is rated "Higher Than Average" — safer than 44% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 2,649 crime incidents and 5 shooting incidents over the past 12 months. See the safety page for the full breakdown.
2What is the average rent in Inwood?
Rents in Inwood, Manhattan vary significantly by building and apartment type. The median listing price is $0. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses.
3How is transit access in Inwood?
Inwood has a commute score of 5.5/10. 3 subway stations serve the area: Inwood-207 St, 215 St, 207 St.
4What are the best streets in Inwood?
The best streets depend on your priorities. Use DwellCheck to compare specific addresses across livability, safety, transit, and environmental factors.
5What is Inwood known for?
Inwood sits in Manhattan and ranks #22 of 33 Manhattan neighborhoods on DwellCheck's livability score (6.3/10). It's served by 3 subway stations (Inwood-207 St, 215 St, 207 St), with a median listing price of $0. Inwood scores 6.3 median (IQR 5.9–6.7): a tree-dense, practically livable neighborhood compromised by noise, rising crime, and geographic distance from the city core.
6What is it like to live in Inwood?
Living in Inwood, Manhattan weights against six livability dimensions: practical (HPD-violation density), commute (subway proximity), arts/culture (venue density), outdoor (parks + trees), financial (price level), investment (price trend). Inwood's composite is 6.3/10. Inwood scores 6.3 median (IQR 5.9–6.7): a tree-dense, practically livable neighborhood compromised by noise, rising crime, and geographic distance from the city core. For the block-by-block view, run any specific Inwood address through DwellCheck.
7Is Inwood expensive?
Median listing price in Inwood, Manhattan is $0 based on 2 active listings as of 2026-04-05. Whether that reads "expensive" depends on the comparison: it's lower than Manhattan averages and varies considerably by building. Rent-stabilized units in Inwood can run 20-40% below the median; check DHCR rent history for any specific address to verify.
8Can you walk around Inwood at night?
Inwood is classified as "Higher Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 5 shooting incidents and 2,649 total crime incidents. Walking at night carries the same risk profile as anywhere in NYC: stay on commercial corridors with foot traffic, avoid empty side streets after midnight, and prefer subway lines that run 24/7.
9Is Inwood dangerous?
By NYPD data, Inwood is rated "Higher Than Average" — safer than 44% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 2,649 crime incidents over 12 months. Block-level risk varies; check the address-level safety score for any specific street or building.
10What parts of Inwood should I avoid?
NYPD CompStat reports incidents at the precinct level, not block-by-block, so a granular "avoid this street" answer isn't possible from public data alone. The most reliable signal at the block level is DwellCheck's address-level safety score, which weights NYPD incidents within a 250m radius of a specific building. As a general rule across NYC: industrial blocks with no foot traffic are higher-risk than residential blocks; subway-station-adjacent commercial corridors are lowest-risk.
11Is Inwood a good place to live?
Inwood scores 6.3/10 for overall livability and ranks in the 44th percentile for safety in Manhattan. Inwood scores 6.3 median (IQR 5.9–6.7): a tree-dense, practically livable neighborhood compromised by noise, rising crime, and geographic distance from the city core. Whether it's a good fit depends on what you weight: families, solo renters, and remote workers each prioritize different factors (noise, transit access, parks, building quality).
12What is the average DwellScore in Inwood?
The median composite score is 6.3 (interquartile range 5.9–6.7). Practical infrastructure is its strongest component (9.0), while arts/livability (4.8) and outdoor amenities (5.0) lag relative to borough medians.
13How safe is Inwood?
Inwood ranks at the 79th percentile for safety incidents in Manhattan—classified as high-activity. Total recorded crimes over 12 months: 1,880. The trend is worsening, with a +138.9% increase. Rodent complaints are low (155), but noise complaints are very high (6,579).
14What transit serves Inwood?
You have access to the A line (express) at Inwood-207 St, plus the 1 line at both 215 St and 207 St. The commute score of 5.5 reflects northern Manhattan's distance from major job centers, despite these options.
15Is Inwood green?
Yes. You'll find an average of 81 trees within 200 meters and a canopy density of 9.5/10—among the highest in the borough. Inwood Hill Park, Sherman Creek, and Monsignor Kett Playground are all within ~466 meters on average.
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