Washington Heights vs. Inwood: Which neighborhood is for you? | HAP

According to Duke Ellington’s 1942 signature tune, the A train was “the quickest way to Harlem,” but the jazz legend didn’t mention that the express train was also one of the best ways to get to two other equally historic Upper Manhattan neighborhoods: Washington Heights and Inwood.

Though you’ll find a number of beautiful, historic brownstones and walk-ups, most of Washington Heights’ housing stock consists of renovated prewar buildings. Median rents range from $1,668 for a studio to $2,751 for a three bedroom, while median sales prices run $435,000 for a one bedroom to $540,000 for three, StreetEasy says, but it doesn’t have any available data on studio sales prices.

The Department of Buildings’ map of active construction currently shows a handful of active permits that will bring hundreds of new units to the area, but the neighborhood has seen less new luxury development than booming elsewhere in the city. But last fall, the Highbridge opened on 167th Street, and many of its 39 condos were quickly snatched up, Patch reported then.