StayAreasMidtown or Upper West Side: where should you stay in New York?
- Hotels cost about the same: around $280 a night for a mid-range double in either.
- Midtown is closer to 5 of the 8 big sights we timed; Upper West Side wins on 1.
- Upper West Side has quieter nights.
- Upper West Side has an easier time with kids.
- Upper West Side has less street crime: below the city average, against above the city average in Midtown.
MidtownTimes Square, Broadway & the big sightsPick Midtown if
- First-time visitors
- Theatre-goers
- Business travellers
Upper West SideCentral Park, museums & calm streetsPick Upper West Side if
- Families
- Travellers who want calm evenings
- Longer stays
Midtown vs Upper West Side, side by side
The better one in each row is in green| What | Midtown | Upper West Side |
|---|---|---|
| What a night costs · typical double outside peak events, Sep 2026 | ||
| Budget double | $170 | $170 |
| Mid-range double | $280 | $270 |
| Luxury double | $650 | $500 (better) |
| Door to door · public transport or on foot, weekday morning | ||
| To Times Square | 5 min (better) | 15 min |
| Times Square | 5 min walk (better) | 21 min |
| Rockefeller Center | 12 min walk (better) | 22 min |
| The Met | 29 min | 16 min (better) |
| Grand Central | 18 min walk (better) | 24 min |
| Empire State Building | 21 min walk | 23 min |
| One World Trade Center | 30 min (better) | 34 min |
| Arriving · weekday afternoon | ||
| From JFK | 60 min (better) | 70 min |
| What it's like · crime: NYC Open Data (NYPD); ratings ours | ||
| Street crime | Above the city average | Below the city average (better) |
| Sights on foot | Excellent (better) | Very good |
| Nightlife | Good (better) | Limited |
| Quiet at night | Poor | Excellent (better) |
| Food | Very good | Very good |
| Families | Good | Excellent (better) |
| Transport | Excellent (better) | Very good |
Hotels in Midtown and Upper West Side
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Midtown or Upper West Side: questions
Is Midtown or Upper West Side better to stay in?
Hotels cost about the same: around $280 a night for a mid-range double in either. Midtown is closer to 5 of the 8 big sights we timed; Upper West Side wins on 1. Upper West Side has quieter nights. Upper West Side has an easier time with kids. Upper West Side has less street crime: below the city average, against above the city average in Midtown. Midtown suits first-time visitors and theatre-goers; Upper West Side suits families and travellers who want calm evenings.
Which is cheaper, Midtown or Upper West Side?
Typical doubles in Midtown: $170 budget, $280 mid-range, $650 luxury. In Upper West Side: $170, $270 and $500. Rates outside peak events, updated Sep 2026.
Is Midtown or Upper West Side safer?
Street crime in Midtown is above the city average; in Upper West Side it is below the city average. Based on NYC Open Data (NYPD).
Which is closer to the sights, Midtown or Upper West Side?
Door to door: Times Square is 5 min walk from Midtown and 21 min from Upper West Side; Rockefeller Center is 12 min walk from Midtown and 22 min from Upper West Side; The Met is 29 min from Midtown and 16 min from Upper West Side; Grand Central is 18 min walk from Midtown and 24 min from Upper West Side.
How far is JFK from Midtown and Upper West Side?
60 min to Midtown and 70 min to Upper West Side, door to door by public transport.