Is Lincoln Square Safe? Manhattan Livability, Crime & Rent
Lincoln Square scores 7.2—a neighborhood where elite commute access and green space compensate for noise and limited cultural diversity, best suited to professionals and arts workers prioritizing transit efficiency over neighborhood scene.
Is Lincoln Square Safe?
Lincoln Square, Manhattan scores 7.2/10 for overall livability, ranking #3 of 17 Manhattan neighborhoods. Lincoln Square scores 7.2—a neighborhood where elite commute access and green space compensate for noise and limited cultural diversity, best suited to professionals and arts workers prioritizing transit efficiency over neighborhood scene.
This score aggregates live NYPD crime data, 311 safety complaints, shooting incidents, and building health signals within walking distance. Safety varies by block — check a specific Lincoln Square address below for a block-level breakdown.
Score Overview
Vertical line = borough median. Scale: 0-10.
Neighborhood Character
Lincoln Square feels like the Upper West Side's more purposeful cousin—tree-lined blocks where you're as likely to pass someone in rehearsal clothes heading to Lincoln Center as you are a parent with a stroller. The neighborhood clusters around the performing arts complex, which shapes everything: you'll notice a quieter, less commercial street-level experience than comparable Manhattan neighborhoods, with fewer chain storefronts and more residential brownstones and mid-rise apartments. The blocks between Columbus and Amsterdam have a studied calm, interrupted by genuine foot traffic tied to the arts institutions rather than tourist appetite. Building character skews toward pre-war walkups and modern residential complexes built in the last 20 years, creating a neighborhood that feels simultaneously established and still settling into its own identity.
Analysis based on 596 properties scored across 30+ data points
Livability & Restoration
Tree Canopy
123 trees
Avg within 200m | Density: 9.5/10
10 additional trees per block correlates with health benefits equivalent to being 7 years younger (Kardan et al., 2015)
Park Access
Riverside Park South
Avg 383m away | Score: 3/10
Living within 300m of green space associated with 30% fewer antidepressant prescriptions (Taylor et al., 2015)
Acoustic Quality
10/10
Noise proxy score (higher = quieter)
Chronic noise above 55 dB at night associated with 8% cardiovascular mortality increase (Basner et al., 2014)
Street Character
0/10
Enclosure: 0/10
Transit & Commute
Subway Stations
Commute Score
9.5/10
Borough median: 8.5/10
Walk Score Proxy
0/10
Based on street geometry analysis
Financial Landscape
Median Price
$0
Price per Sq Ft
$0
Price Distribution
Price by Building Type
Investment Indicators
Avg Unused FAR
0 sqft
Development rights potential
Unused development rights valued at $30-$80/sqft in Brooklyn (Glaeser, 2011)
Avg Days on Market
0
Market velocity signal
Multi-Family Stock
0%
2-4 family buildings
Multi-family owner-occupants build 2.4x wealth vs single-family (Herbert, 2013)
Outdoor & Green Space
Avg Tree Count
123
Within 200m radius
Canopy Density
9.5/10
Normalized canopy coverage
Park Network
- Riverside Park South
- Theodore Roosevelt Park
- Lincoln Center Plaza
- Damrosch Park
- Joan Of Arc Park
Avg distance: 383m
Practical Living
Building Types
Who Lincoln Square Is For
Professionals with Manhattan-wide commutes
Commute score of 9.5/10 and six subway lines within 200m (1, 2, 3, A, B, C, D at various stations) give you reliable access downtown, midtown, and across the city without relying on a single line
Arts workers and performing artists
Living steps from Lincoln Center, Juilliard, and the performing arts infrastructure means your workplace is your neighborhood; the cultural anchor justifies the cost in ways it doesn't elsewhere on the UWS
Families seeking green space without chaos
123 trees within 200m and five parks averaging 383m away provide outdoor access; Riverside Park South offers riverfront breathing room without the intensity of Central Park proximity
Pros & Cons
Strengths
Elite public transit access
Commute score 9.5/10 with six subway lines at six different stations within walking distance; 59 St-Columbus Circle alone serves five lines
Exceptional tree canopy and green infrastructure
123 trees within 200m with 9.5/10 canopy density—among the highest in Manhattan; creates genuine seasonal visual change and temperature regulation
Practical neighborhood fundamentals
Practical score 9/10 indicates reliable access to grocery, pharmacy, services; you won't struggle with basic errands or daily needs
Trade-offs
Significant noise complaints relative to Manhattan baseline
Noise score 10/10 (higher = more complaints); street-level activity tied to Lincoln Center events, plus proximity to major avenues generates sustained ambient noise
Limited arts and cultural venues beyond the anchor institution
ART score 4.8/10 suggests most cultural activity clusters at Lincoln Center; independent galleries, studios, and smaller performance spaces are sparse compared to neighborhoods like the Lower East Side or Chelsea
Higher cost relative to practical amenities
Financial score 5/10 (below-average value) means you're paying Upper West Side prices for slightly less density of dining, retail, and secondary cultural institutions
Score Any Address in Lincoln Square
Get detailed livability scores based on building health, transit access, safety, noise levels, and 15+ NYC data sources.
Search an Address in Lincoln SquareFrequently Asked Questions about Lincoln Square
1Is Lincoln Square safe?
Lincoln Square safety varies by block. DwellCheck provides detailed safety data including NYPD crime statistics, arrest data, and 311 complaints. Check the Lincoln Square safety page for full details.
2What is the average rent in Lincoln Square?
Rents in Lincoln Square, Manhattan vary significantly by building and apartment type. The median listing price is $0. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses.
3How is transit access in Lincoln Square?
Lincoln Square has a commute score of 9.5/10. 7 subway stations serve the area: 96 St, 86 St, 81 St-Museum of Natural History.
4What are the best streets in Lincoln Square?
The best streets depend on your priorities. Use DwellCheck to compare specific addresses across livability, safety, transit, and environmental factors.
5What is the average DwellScore in Lincoln Square?
7.2 composite, with Commute (9.5/10) and Practical (9/10) as primary strengths, offset by noise complaints (10/10) and limited arts venues (4.8/10)
6How does Lincoln Square compare to the broader Upper West Side?
Both neighborhoods share high Commute and Practical scores, but Lincoln Square trades Upper West Side's distributed cultural amenities for a single dominant institution (Lincoln Center), resulting in lower ART score but distinct character
7Which subway lines serve Lincoln Square and how many options do you have?
Six lines (1, 2, 3, A, B, C, D) across six stations: 59 St-Columbus Circle (5 lines), 72 St (4 lines), 66 St-Lincoln Center (1 line), 81 St-Museum (2 lines), 86 St (3 lines), 96 St (4 lines)—exceptional redundancy
8How much green space is actually near Lincoln Square?
123 trees within 200m at 9.5/10 canopy density, plus five parks averaging 383m away (Riverside Park South, Theodore Roosevelt Park, Lincoln Center Plaza, Damrosch Park, Joan of Arc Park)—more accessible than Central Park alone