Age-old debate: Upper West Side or Upper East Side?

[Anonymous]

Yes, we're moving in when everyone's moving out. Is the Upper West Side or Upper East Side better for raising a family? Specifically looking at the below criteria:

1. Housing Stock
2. Schools
3. Amenities for the kids (ballet, soccer, gymnastics, art classes, etc.)
4. Restaurants
5. Access to green space/playgrounds
6. Other amenities (grocery stores, libraries, shopping, etc.)

Which ranks best on those 6 points? Which do you prefer? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Are you a private or public school family? What’s your budget? Where are you commuting to work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you a private or public school family? What’s your budget? Where are you commuting to work?

We will probably go private but I won't poo poo a public since I know there are really great ones uptown. Willing to go up to $5 million (we're here for the long haul and putting down roots). I WFH and DH works in Midtown.

[Anonymous]

Are you white? Protestant or Jewish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you white? Protestant or Jewish?

White and Jewish

[Anonymous]

Liberal? If so, how liberal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Liberal? If so, how liberal?

I feel like I'm being interrogated! (I joke, thank you for helping!)

Pretty liberal. Probably not liberal enough for some people but definitely too liberal for others.

[Anonymous]

Personally I think you’ll like the UWS more because I feel like it has a less stuffy vibe.

[Anonymous]

UWS is more laid back, less stuffy and more family friendly. Lots of kid friendly restaurants, museums etc.

[Anonymous]

A vote for the UES. The UWS is great but is a little less neighborhood-y than the UES and, ime, has more tourists.

East side is quiet, has great schools (you've got all the privates and PS 6), great playgrounds (the Ancient Playground right next to the Met is wonderful, as is John Jay park - it even has a pool), Central Park and Carl Schurz (which is one of the loveliest parks in NYC imo). It's also very kid-friendly. So many kids events (Haloween parades, carnivals, etc.) and has about all of the after school activities you could want. You also have the 92nd Street Y.

Restaurant scene is definitely better than it once was. You have all of the fancy places but there are a ton of cooler restaurants. A few recs: Hutch and Waldo, the Little Frog, Sarabeths, Up Thai, Le Moulin a Café, Vicolina, Sfoglina, Cafe Grazie, and Emmy Squared.

Can't go wrong with the UWS though - you obviously have all of the cultural institutions and some great restaurants as well. Good thing - it only takes 15 minutes to cross the park.

[Anonymous]

Either are filled with tons of kids. Tons of kids from UWS go to UES privates and lots of UES go to Trinity

UWS, in my opinion, is more fun, has better food options, is nice but more laid back, is easier, is prettier, and has better parks.

[Anonymous]

UWS all the way. UES is weird - it's either billionares or just out of college kids. UWS is a little "newer" and "hipper" (as hip as the UWS can be) and definitely is more solidly UMC (other than the few projects left...). Ridiculously kid friendly - you can't escape Uppababies and scooters on every corner.

Great private schools and public schools but a lot of families send their kids to privates on the east side.

GREAT restaurants. Way more amenities (Citarella, two of the best Whole Foods in the city, Trader Joes, Fairway, Zabar's). Tons of gyms and workout classes, tons of after school activities for the kids. You've got Lincoln Center, Columbia, Riverside Park, Central Park, playgrounds on every corner, Columbus Circle, the amazing new Nordstrom

Both are great though. $5 million will get you a lot farther on the east side unless you're willing to go way far north on the UWS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you a private or public school family? What’s your budget? Where are you commuting to work?

We will probably go private but I won't poo poo a public since I know there are really great ones uptown. Willing to go up to $5 million (we're here for the long haul and putting down roots). I WFH and DH works in Midtown.

Its "pooh pooh" unless you're talking defecation...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you a private or public school family? What’s your budget? Where are you commuting to work?

We will probably go private but I won't poo poo a public since I know there are really great ones uptown. Willing to go up to $5 million (we're here for the long haul and putting down roots). I WFH and DH works in Midtown.

Its "pooh pooh" unless you're talking defecation...

Thanks

[Anonymous]

UWS!!!

The UES is completely unappealing to me.