NoHo, Manhattan, NY
About NoHo, Manhattan
Noho is a chic, upscale neighborhood in Lower Manhattan. Noho is a portmanteau of North of Houston, as Houston Street forms its Southern border. Its northern border is formed by East 9th Street and Mercer Street and the Bowery forms its eastern and western borders. It’s a small, yet influential neighborhood that features some of the best restaurants and shopping in the city. Much of the neighborhood was declared a historic district by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2003.
Noho is a hub for creative industries like advertising, fashion, film, and media. It’s known for its historic landmarks and bohemian ambiance. Noho was once a commercial and manufacturing hub, which gave birth to its distinctive architectural identity. Now it’s one of New York’s most desirable neighborhoods. It’s an area full of creative energy and hip establishments. Prewar buildings are complemented by tasteful graffiti and art installations. Plus, you’ll find some of the best coffee shops, bookstores and music stores in the city in Noho.
History of NoHo
Noho has always been an enclave for well to do residents. In 1748 a Swiss physician named Jacob Sperry created the city’s first botanical garden near Astor place. The garden attracted some of the city’s aristocracy. Bond Street, Bleecker, and Great Jones Streets were areas of a major development that established NoHo as a neighborhood for the upper class of New York. Residential mansions were erected in the area and were home to families like the Astor’s and the Vanderbilt’s as well as famous writers like Washington Irving and Charles Dickens. The neighborhood remained a wealthy enclave until the factories moved out of New York in the 1960s. The buildings that housed the factories were converted into lofts and sold to artists in the 1970s. Some of these residents went on to be famous and influential like Andy Warhol, Jean Michel Basquiat, and Robert Mapplethorpe. Noho was also the home of the famous punk venue CBGBs. Today NoHo is an upscale neighborhood of artists and working professionals.
NoHo Demographics
Only about 2,800 people live in NoHo. It’s predominantly a neighborhood of young, working professionals, with 51% of residents being between the ages of 25 and 44. It’s also a predominantly white neighborhood with 77% of residents identifying as such. It’s a very wealthy neighborhood – the median household income is $160,000 per year, with 53% of residents earning more than $150,000 per year.
Transportation in NoHo
There are many transportation options available to residents of Noho. The 4, 5, 6, B, D, F, N, M, and R trains all make stops in or near Noho. As do the M103, M2, M3, SIM3C, and X28 New York City buses. The Path train makes a stop on 14th Street that residents can take to New Jersey or to Penn Station, where other transportation options are available. Being a small, landlocked neighborhood, means transportation options are limited. But it’s also a great area for walking or biking if you are comfortable with city traffic.
Housing in NoHo
NoHo is famous for its historic buildings. There are many buildings in the neighborhood that are classic examples of Federalist style architecture. Colonnade Row is a preserved series of Greek Revivalist Buildings on Lafayette Street built in the early 19th Century and was a former residence of John Jacob Astor. Housing in the neighborhood is an eclectic mixture of expertly detailed buildings and gorgeous brick row houses that were erected during the heyday of manufacturing in the district. As a result, lofts are common. Housing tends to be small and pricey, but for those with the right budget, NoHo is a bohemian paradise that has an artsy yet upscale ambiance.
Neighborhood Life in NoHo
NoHo is as trendy as it gets. Residents have their pick of the litter when it comes to bars, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment options. Residents are known to congregate outside at Astor Place or Cooper Square to enjoy a mild day or go shopping along Bond Street. The Public Playhouse on Lafayette Street offers acting workshops and performances from up and coming actors. The Bowery Electric on The Bowery is a popular music venue that hosts up and coming acts as well as household names. It’s a small residential-commercial district. There isn’t as much to do in the neighborhood itself as there is in large surrounding districts like the Lower East Side and the East Village. But part of NoHo’s charm and attraction is it’s quiet, subdued vibe and easy access to other popular neighborhoods.
Similar Neighborhoods to NoHo
NoHo Real Estate Trends
NoHo is one of New York’s most coveted neighborhoods and features some of the priciest real estate in the city. Prices have remained fairly consistent in the neighborhood only decreasing 3.5% over the past five years. NoHo is a popular area and there are few areas like it – other than its sister district SoHo – to threaten its position as one of the main places to be in NYC. Many of the buildings have been historically preserved and turned into stunning lofts. New development in the neighborhood is scarce, but older buildings are often being updated and repurposed to attract new tenants.
NoHo Median Sale Price (USD):
1bd 1,300,000
NoHo Median Rent Price (USD):
1bd 4,600
2bd 7,500
The Truth About NoHo, Manhattan
Is NoHo Safe?
Yes, NoHo is very safe. It has a crime rate that is considerably lower than the city as a whole and the area is heavily patrolled by the NYPD. Even the property crime rate is low in NoHo, despite its reputation as a ritzy area. The neighborhood saw rapid gentrification in the late ’90s and early 2000’s and ever since that time, NoHo has been a safe neighborhood. There are occasionally suspicious elements that spillover from the Lower East Side or East Village and residents should still be on alert after dark. But overall, it’s very safe.
Are the Schools Good in NoHo?
There are few Schools in NoHo itself. For elementary school, the neighborhood is zoned for PS 003 The Charrette School in Greenwich Village. The Harvey Milk High School is also in Noho, which is a highly rated public high school. NoHo is not known to be a particular family-friendly area, but residents with children tend to send students to private schools or other highly rated public schools in the NYC school system.
Popular Eateries in NoHo
Things to Do in NoHo
Visit Astor Place, the plaza is a historical NYC landmark
Check out the street art, the Bowery Mural and the Jean Michel Basquiat commemorative plaque are both in NoHo
Visit the Arcadia Museum, a pop-up museum located in NoHo dedicated to environmental sustainability
Check out the Velvet Underground Experience, a museum dedicated to the legendary rock group who lived and performed in the neighborhood in the 1960s and 70s
See a performance at the Public Theatre, the playhouse features performances from New York City’s up and coming thespian talent
Take an architectural tour of the neighborhood to learn about the different building styles
Is NoHo Dog Friendly?
NoHo isn’t an area known to be particularly dog-friendly, as many of the buildings have strict rules regarding pets. Landlords and condo managers want to keep property values high and don't like dogs scratching the floors. Plus, many units tend to be small and there is limited green space for furry friends to exercise. That doesn’t mean that you can’t find a unit that accepts pets if needed. Dog owners have the option of traveling to surrounding neighborhoods to walk their pets if need be. But overall, it’s not the best neighborhood for dogs, especially larger animals.
Is NoHo Good for Cycling?
It’s not an area that is known for its cyclists, but those who are accustomed to biking in the city will have no problem navigating the NoHo streets. The traffic isn’t as bad as areas like Midtown and there are bike lanes on major thoroughfares like Houston and the Bowery. Most residents tend to walk or take the train when traveling within the borough, but those who enjoy cycling will likely enjoy riding down the picturesque blocks of the neighborhood.
3 Things to Know Before Moving to NoHo, Manhattan
Parking in NoHo is next to impossible. Those who want to have a car should look into renting a garage.
NoHo attracts a diverse array of residents from fine artists to Wall Street traders
Real estate in NoHo is scarce and highly desirable. Those who are serious about finding a unit in the neighborhood may need to be patient and hire a broker