Vicinage with Vigor

Lower Manhattan Ranked Among Healthiest Districts in New York

Two Lower Manhattan neighborhoods rank among the healthiest communities anywhere in the five boroughs of New York City, according to new research by RentHop, an online listings database.

The analysis gauged overall healthy by three criteria: the proportion of overall space within each community set aside for parks, the number of gyms (and other fitness facilities) in each neighborhood, and the tally of vegetarian restaurants in each area (relative to its number of households). The operating assumption was that a community capable of supporting more health-oriented restaurants and fitness emporia likely is home to a greater proportion of residents who prioritize their well-being. And the correlation between parks and better health outcomes is anything but theoretical: Numerous studies attest to the fact that proximity to open space is associated with a broad range of positive mental and physical measures.

By these yardsticks, Tribeca (combined with the Civic Center, SoHo, and Little Italy) ranks second — trailing only the consolidated district of Midtown and Midtown-South — for overall health. It offers 29 vegetarian or vegan restaurants, or 15.5 per 10,000 households. The same area boasts 45 fitness studios or clubs, which comes to 24 such establishments per 10,000 dwellings.

Coming in third was the combined catchment of Battery Park City and the Financial District, which is home to 9.5 vegetarian or vegan eateries and 24.3 fitness facilities for every 10,000 homes.

Battery Park City and FiDi bested Tribeca and its environs in terms of parks, however, notching an overall score of 37, compared to nine.

Such quality of life does not come cheaply, however. The same study noted that the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Tribeca and the surrounding area is $3,640, while the same figure for Battery Park City and the Financial District is $3,696.

To read the original report on which this story is based, please click here.