Is University Heights Safe? Bronx Livability, Crime & Rent
University Heights is a neighborhood with real park access, but high noise, crime and housing violations constrain its appeal—composite score 4.1/10.
University Heights at a glance
- Borough
- Bronx
- Livability score
- 4.1/10
- Borough rank (NYC Open Data guides)
- #16 of 22
- Safety verdict
- Higher Than Average
- Crimes (12 mo)
- 7,496
- ZIP codes
- 10453 (60%), 10468 (30%)Share of residential units, NYC PLUTO 26v2
- Subway stations
- 2 (Burnside Av, 176 St)
- Data updated
- 2026-09-14
Is University Heights Safe?
University Heights, Bronx scores 4.1/10 for overall livability, ranking #16 of 22 Bronx neighborhoods scored from NYC Open Data. University Heights is a neighborhood with real park access, but high noise, crime and housing violations constrain its appeal—composite score 4.1/10.
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 University Heights safety page. Safety varies by block — check a specific University Heights 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
University Heights sits on elevated terrain with above-median tree density—you'll find an average of 203 trees within a 200-meter radius, a tree density of 7.6/10—and a residential feel. The area is anchored by green space: St. James Park, Devoe Park, University Woods, and the Aqueduct Walk are among its largest parks, and the 3 nearest average 421 meters from the neighborhood's center, offering genuine outdoor access. The built environment is split evenly between walk-ups and mid-rise buildings, creating a mixed-scale streetscape. Transit runs through the 4 train at Burnside Av and 176 St, and the neighborhood scores a 5/10 for commute.
Livability & Restoration
Trees
203 trees
Expected in a 200m circle (NYC Parks tree inventory) | Density: 7.6/10 (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
30 parks
NYC Parks properties inside the neighborhood | largest: St. James Park | nearest to the center: Grand Playground, 361m | 3 nearest average 421m 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
5/10
Borough median: 5/10
Outdoor & Green Space
Avg Tree Count
203
Trees expected in a 200m circle
Tree Density
7.6/10
1,619 trees per km² in NYC Parks' tree inventory (street and park trees); city percentile, 1 = sparsest
Largest Parks In or Near the Neighborhood
- St. James Park
- Aqueduct Walk
- Devoe Park
- Fordham Landing Playground
- University Woods
Nearest to the neighborhood's center: Grand Playground, about 361m. The 3 nearest NYC Parks properties average 421m from the center (approximate park centers, not entrances).
Practical Living
Practical (HPD violations): 2/10 (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 2,203 residential tax lots in the neighborhood by PLUTO building class (NYC Department of City Planning).
Who University Heights Is For
Outdoor-focused residents
Outdoor score of 7.0 paired with 203 trees per 200m and five nearby parks makes this attractive for those prioritizing green space and walkable nature access
Pros & Cons
Strengths
Trees and park access
203 trees within 200m, 7.6/10 tree density, the 3 nearest parks averaging 421m from the neighborhood's center
Stable, mixed building stock
Walk-up apartment buildings (36% of residential tax lots) and two-family houses (35%) create architectural variety
Trade-offs
High noise and crime activity
13,333 noise complaints (high), 7,496 crimes in 12 months, crime trend stable at +0.7%
Score Any Address in University Heights
Get detailed livability scores based on building health, transit access, safety, noise levels, and 15+ NYC data sources.
Search an Address in University HeightsFrequently Asked Questions about University Heights
1Is University Heights safe?
By NYPD data, University Heights is rated "Higher Than Average", with a lower crime rate per resident than 43% of Bronx neighborhoods. 7,496 crime incidents and 18 shooting incidents over the past 12 months. See the safety page for the full breakdown.
2What is the average rent in University Heights?
Rents in University Heights, 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 University Heights?
University Heights has a commute score of 5/10. 2 subway stations serve the area: Burnside Av, 176 St.
4What are the best streets in University Heights?
The best streets depend on your priorities. Use DwellCheck to compare specific addresses across livability, safety, transit, and environmental factors.
5What is University Heights known for?
University Heights sits in Bronx and ranks #16 of 22 Bronx neighborhoods scored from NYC Open Data on DwellCheck's livability score (4.1/10). It's served by 2 subway stations (Burnside Av, 176 St). University Heights is a neighborhood with real park access, but high noise, crime and housing violations constrain its appeal—composite score 4.1/10.
6What is it like to live in University Heights?
DwellCheck scores University Heights, 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). University Heights's composite is 4.1/10. University Heights is a neighborhood with real park access, but high noise, crime and housing violations constrain its appeal—composite score 4.1/10. For the block-by-block view, run any specific University Heights address through DwellCheck.
7Where is University Heights?
University Heights is in the Bronx, New York City. DwellCheck maps it to the University Heights (South)-Morris Heights and University Heights (North)-Fordham Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (BX0501, BX0701), which fall in the Census tabulation area that approximates Bronx Community District 5 (Morris Heights-Mount Hope) and the Census tabulation area that approximates Bronx Community District 7 (Fordham-Bedford Park-Norwood). Its main ZIP codes are 10453 and 10468. Subway stations in the neighborhood include Burnside Av and 176 St.
8What ZIP code is University Heights in?
University Heights spans ZIP codes 10453 (60% of residential units) and 10468 (30%). Shares are of the 42,453 residential units in the University Heights (South)-Morris Heights and University Heights (North)-Fordham Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (BX0501, BX0701), from NYC PLUTO 26v2 tax-lot records. 3 other ZIP codes each hold under 5%.
9Can you walk around University Heights at night?
University Heights is classified as "Higher Than Average" by NYPD complaint data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 18 shooting incidents and 7,496 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 University Heights dangerous?
By NYPD data, University Heights is rated "Higher Than Average", with a lower crime rate per resident than 43% of Bronx neighborhoods. 7,496 crime incidents over 12 months. Block-level risk varies; check the address-level safety score for any specific street or building.
11What parts of University Heights 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 University Heights a good place to live?
University Heights scores 4.1/10 for overall livability and has a lower crime rate per resident than 43% of Bronx neighborhoods. University Heights is a neighborhood with real park access, but high noise, crime and housing violations constrain its appeal—composite score 4.1/10. 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 University Heights?
The composite score is 4.1/10. This is driven down by a practical score of 2/10 (a high housing-violation rate); its ART/Livability score (4.3) is above the borough median.
14How safe is University Heights?
The neighborhood is rated higher than average for crime, with a lower crime rate per resident than 43% of Bronx neighborhoods. Total crimes in the last 12 months: 7,496. Crime has held stable, +0.7% year-over-year.
15What transit options serve University Heights?
Two 4 train stations, Burnside Av and 176 St, serve the neighborhood; the commute score is 5/10 (vs. borough median 5/10). You'll need to verify current service via MTA schedules.
16What green space is available?
The largest parks are St. James Park, Devoe Park, Aqueduct Walk, Fordham Landing Playground, and University Woods; the 3 nearest parks average 421m from the neighborhood's center. Tree density: 203 trees per 200m radius and 7.6/10 tree density.
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