Is Pelham Parkway Safe? Bronx Livability, Crime & Rent
Pelham Parkway is a green neighborhood with a mid-pack safety standing, but high noise and a long commute make it a measured choice—best for residents prioritizing nature over commute speed or tranquility.
Pelham Parkway at a glance
- Borough
- Bronx
- Livability score
- 4.5/10
- Borough rank (NYC Open Data guides)
- #14 of 22
- Safety verdict
- Average
- Crimes (12 mo)
- 2,257
- ZIP codes
- 10462 (88%), 10460 (12%)Share of residential units, NYC PLUTO 26v2
- Subway stations
- 1 (Pelham Pkwy)
- Data updated
- 2026-09-14
Is Pelham Parkway Safe?
Pelham Parkway, Bronx scores 4.5/10 for overall livability, ranking #14 of 22 Bronx neighborhoods scored from NYC Open Data. Pelham Parkway is a green neighborhood with a mid-pack safety standing, but high noise and a long commute make it a measured choice—best for residents prioritizing nature over commute speed or tranquility.
The livability score draws on HPD housing violations, subway access, NYC Parks' tree inventory and parks, and 311 noise complaints per resident from NYC Open Data, refreshed periodically rather than live. It does not include crime; NYPD complaint and shooting figures are on the Pelham Parkway safety page. Safety varies by block — check a specific Pelham Parkway address below for a block-level breakdown.
Score Overview
Vertical line = borough median. Scale: 0-10.
Practical measures HPD housing violations per residential lot over the last 12 months (higher = fewer violations). Borough medians are computed across DwellCheck's Bronx neighborhood guides.
Neighborhood Character
You'll find a tree-dense residential pocket anchored by two major cultural institutions—the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden sit at the neighborhood's edges, drawing foot traffic. Average tree count reaches 188 per 200 meters with a tree density of 6.9/10, making Pelham Parkway feel sheltered despite the urban density. The neighborhood runs on the 2 and 5 subway lines via Pelham Parkway station, connecting you downtown, though the commute score (3.5) reflects longer travel times. Two-family houses sit on 49% of residential tax lots and walk-up apartment buildings on 29%. Parks like Matthews Muliner Playground (about 270 meters from the neighborhood's center), Young Park, and Van Nest Park — the 3 nearest average 694 meters — offering green space without the tourist crush of the adjacent institutions.
Livability & Restoration
Trees
188 trees
Expected in a 200m circle (NYC Parks tree inventory) | Density: 6.9/10 (city percentile)
In Toronto, 10 more trees on a city block went with a rise in self-rated health comparable to being 7 years younger (Kardan et al., 2015, Scientific Reports). In a cross-sectional study of London boroughs, each additional street tree per km of street went with 1.18 fewer antidepressant prescriptions per 1,000 residents (Taylor et al., 2015, Landscape and Urban Planning).
Park Access
3 parks
NYC Parks properties inside the neighborhood | largest: Matthews Muliner Playground | nearest to the center: Matthews Muliner Playground, 270m | 3 nearest average 694m from the neighborhood's center
Acoustic Quality
2/10
Noise proxy score (higher = quieter)
Environmental noise exposure increases the occurrence of hypertension and cardiovascular disease; WHO's night-noise guidelines call average outdoor night noise above 55 dB increasingly dangerous for public health (Basner et al., 2014, The Lancet).
What is the ART Score?
ART stands for Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989) — the framework environmental psychologists use to measure whether a place helps your brain recover from mental fatigue, or pushes it deeper into overload. Cities deplete directed attention (the effortful focus you use at work); exposure to restorative environments replenishes it.
DwellCheck uses the idea in two separate places, and they measure different things. The neighborhood ART score below comes from neighborhood-wide data: up to 5 points from tree density (a city percentile) and up to 5 from how few 311 noise complaints there are per resident. An address report has no ART score. It runs the Wellness checks below, and their points go into the address’s overall score.
Within a point of the Bronx median.
What an address report checks instead (Wellness)
- ±Sensory environment. A calm score minus a busy score, each starting at 50. Busy: a firehouse within 100m (+15) or 200m (+8), and 311 noise complaints within 200m over 6 months (15+ adds 5, 40+ adds 12, 80+ adds 20, and 3 more at 20+ complaints that include vehicle or street noise). Calm: a library (+15), community garden (+12) or public plaza or atrium (POPS; +15 indoor, +8 outdoor) within 200m, and a park within 300m (+10; +15 at 1+ acre; +20 at 5+ acres). A difference of +20 or more adds 8 points; −10 to −29 costs 2; −30 or less costs 4. Bars, museums, tourists and foot traffic are not counted.
- +Third places (Oldenburg, 1989). Public libraries, public plazas and atriums (POPS) and community gardens within 400m: 1–2 add 5 points, 3 or more add 10. Cafés and community centers are not counted. In a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies, loneliness or social isolation went with a 29% higher risk of incident coronary heart disease (Valtorta et al., 2016, Heart).
- 0Street vitality (Jacobs, 1961). Permitted block parties, farmers markets and similar community events in the borough over the past 12 months. The event data has no coordinates, so this is a borough-wide count shown for context. It doesn’t change the score.
Health mechanism. The theory holds that natural settings let directed attention recover. The evidence is mixed: a systematic review of 31 studies (Ohly et al., 2016, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B) found that time in natural environments improved 3 of 13 pooled attention measures (Digit Span Forward, Digit Span Backward and Trail Making Test B) and showed no marked benefit on the other 10.
Theoretical foundations. Kaplan & Kaplan (1989), The Experience of Nature; Jacobs (1961), The Death and Life of Great American Cities; Oldenburg (1989), The Great Good Place.
Transit & Commute
Subway Stations
Commute Score
3.5/10
Borough median: 5/10
Outdoor & Green Space
Avg Tree Count
188
Trees expected in a 200m circle
Tree Density
6.9/10
1,492 trees per km² in NYC Parks' tree inventory (street and park trees); city percentile, 1 = sparsest
Largest Parks In or Near the Neighborhood
- Matthews Muliner Playground
- Young Park
- Van Nest Park
Nearest to the neighborhood's center: Matthews Muliner Playground, about 270m. The 3 nearest NYC Parks properties average 694m from the center (approximate park centers, not entrances).
Practical Living
Practical (HPD violations): 5/10 (Bronx median 4). It measures HPD housing violations per residential lot over the last 12 months (higher = fewer violations).
Building Mix (Residential Tax Lots)
Share of the 1,756 residential tax lots in the neighborhood by PLUTO building class (NYC Department of City Planning).
Who Pelham Parkway Is For
Nature-oriented renters
Tree density of 6.9/10 and 188 trees within 200m signal above-median greenery. The 3 nearest parks average 694m from the neighborhood's center.
Zoo/Botanical Garden workers or frequent visitors
Direct proximity to both institutions; though commute score (3.5) is low borough-wide, internal neighborhood access to employers is simplified.
Residents who accept higher noise
Pelham Parkway has a lower crime rate per resident than 52% of Bronx neighborhoods, near the borough middle, and 4,145 noise complaints (High) mean trading quiet for green space.
Pros & Cons
Strengths
Above-median tree density
188 trees per 200m with 6.9/10 tree density, providing shade.
Crime falling
Crime down 9.1% year-over-year, with a lower crime rate per resident than 52% of Bronx neighborhoods; moderate rodent complaints (111) indicate basic sanitation standards are met.
Above-median practical score
Practical score of 5 (borough median: 4) reflects the rate of HPD housing violations per residential building.
Trade-offs
Severe noise pollution
4,145 noise complaints (High category) indicate persistent issues from traffic, construction, or nightlife activity.
Poor commute access
Commute score of 3.5 (borough median: 5) reflects longer travel times to major job centers outside the immediate area.
Below-average outdoor recreation infrastructure
Outdoor score of 5.4 (borough median: 6.7); the three nearest parks average 694 meters away.
Score Any Address in Pelham Parkway
Get detailed livability scores based on building health, transit access, safety, noise levels, and 15+ NYC data sources.
Search an Address in Pelham ParkwayFrequently Asked Questions about Pelham Parkway
1Is Pelham Parkway safe?
By NYPD data, Pelham Parkway is rated "Average", with a lower crime rate per resident than 52% of Bronx neighborhoods. 2,257 crime incidents and 2 shooting incidents over the past 12 months. See the safety page for the full breakdown.
2What is the average rent in Pelham Parkway?
Rents in Pelham Parkway, Bronx vary significantly by building and apartment type. Market pricing isn't aggregated for this neighborhood yet; use DwellCheck to research specific addresses for HPD registration, HPD violations, and other building-level records. DwellCheck doesn't show rent-stabilization status; request the apartment's rent history from DHCR for that.
3How is transit access in Pelham Parkway?
Pelham Parkway has a commute score of 3.5/10. 1 subway stations serve the area: Pelham Pkwy.
4What are the best streets in Pelham Parkway?
The best streets depend on your priorities. Use DwellCheck to compare specific addresses across livability, safety, transit, and environmental factors.
5What is Pelham Parkway known for?
Pelham Parkway sits in Bronx and ranks #14 of 22 Bronx neighborhoods scored from NYC Open Data on DwellCheck's livability score (4.5/10). It's served by 1 subway station (Pelham Pkwy). Pelham Parkway is a green neighborhood with a mid-pack safety standing, but high noise and a long commute make it a measured choice—best for residents prioritizing nature over commute speed or tranquility.
6What is it like to live in Pelham Parkway?
DwellCheck scores Pelham Parkway, Bronx from NYC Open Data on practical (HPD housing violations per residential lot over the last 12 months (higher = fewer violations)), commute (subway stations and lines in the neighborhood), ART (tree density and 311 noise complaints per resident), outdoor (trees and park proximity). Pelham Parkway's composite is 4.5/10. Pelham Parkway is a green neighborhood with a mid-pack safety standing, but high noise and a long commute make it a measured choice—best for residents prioritizing nature over commute speed or tranquility. For the block-by-block view, run any specific Pelham Parkway address through DwellCheck.
7Where is Pelham Parkway?
Pelham Parkway is in the Bronx, New York City. DwellCheck maps it to the Pelham Parkway-Van Nest Neighborhood Tabulation Area (BX1101), which falls in the Census tabulation area that approximates Bronx Community District 11 (Pelham Parkway-Morris Park). Its main ZIP codes are 10462 and 10460. Subway stations in the neighborhood include Pelham Pkwy.
8What ZIP code is Pelham Parkway in?
Pelham Parkway spans ZIP codes 10462 (88% of residential units) and 10460 (12%). Shares are of the 11,739 residential units in the Pelham Parkway-Van Nest Neighborhood Tabulation Area (BX1101), from NYC PLUTO 26v2 tax-lot records.
9Can you walk around Pelham Parkway at night?
Pelham Parkway is classified as "Average" by NYPD complaint data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 2 shooting incidents and 2,257 total crime incidents. Walking at night carries the same risk profile as anywhere in NYC: stay on commercial corridors with foot traffic, avoid empty side streets after midnight, and prefer subway lines that run 24/7.
10Is Pelham Parkway dangerous?
By NYPD data, Pelham Parkway is rated "Average", with a lower crime rate per resident than 52% of Bronx neighborhoods. 2,257 crime incidents over 12 months. Block-level risk varies; check the address-level safety score for any specific street or building.
11What parts of Pelham Parkway should I avoid?
NYPD complaint records carry approximate incident coordinates, but a neighborhood total can't tell you which blocks drive it, so we don't publish an "avoid this street" list. For a specific block, use DwellCheck's address-level safety score, which counts NYPD crime complaints within a 300m radius of the building over the latest 12 months of published data and compares that count with the borough average.
12Is Pelham Parkway a good place to live?
Pelham Parkway scores 4.5/10 for overall livability and has a lower crime rate per resident than 52% of Bronx neighborhoods. Pelham Parkway is a green neighborhood with a mid-pack safety standing, but high noise and a long commute make it a measured choice—best for residents prioritizing nature over commute speed or tranquility. Whether it's a good fit depends on what you weight: families, solo renters, and remote workers each prioritize different factors (noise, transit access, parks, building quality).
13What is the average DwellScore in Pelham Parkway?
The composite score is 4.5. It is held back by weak Commute (3.5) and Outdoor (5.4) subscores.
14How safe is this neighborhood?
Pelham Parkway has a lower crime rate per resident than 52% of Bronx neighborhoods, with 2,257 crimes recorded in the past 12 months and crime down 9.1% year-over-year.
15What transit options connect from here?
Pelham Parkway station serves the 2 and 5 subway lines. Commute score (3.5) reflects longer travel times, likely due to distance from major employment centers in Manhattan.
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