Is Washington Heights, NY a Good Place to Live?
Washington Heights is a small town of 1,572 in New York, with a median household income of $67,188 and a 8.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 107 (US average = 100), which is 7% above the national average.
Strengths: Washington Heights's profile is close to national averages across most measures.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Washington Heights is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Washington Heights city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 107.1Washington Heights's overall cost of living index is 107.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Washington Heights costs roughly 7% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Washington Heights, NY | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $317,700 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,208 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 87.1% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $67,188 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeWashington Heights's violent crime rate is 105.5 per 100,000 residents — 72% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
| Metric | Washington Heights, NY | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | N/A | — |
| Elementary Schools | N/A | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | N/A | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 87.3% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Washington Heights sees average highs of 34.1°F in January and 82.4°F in July, with 44.4 inches of annual precipitation and 57.9 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Washington Heights, NY |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 34.1°F |
| Average High — July | 82.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.9" |
Demographics
| Metric | Washington Heights, NY | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,572 | — |
| Median Age | 39.7 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.9% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 52.5 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 35.1% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 45.1% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 16.7% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 3.1% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 11.9% | 16.8% |