Is Murray Hill Safe? Manhattan Livability, Crime & Rent
Murray Hill scores 6.1 median—a practical, transit-rich Midtown neighborhood that trades character for convenience, with improving tree cover and safety undercut by noise and rising crime.
Is Murray Hill Safe?
Murray Hill, Manhattan scores 6.1/10 for overall livability, ranking #17 of 22 Manhattan neighborhoods. Murray Hill scores 6.1 median—a practical, transit-rich Midtown neighborhood that trades character for convenience, with improving tree cover and safety undercut by noise and rising crime.
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 Murray Hill address below for a block-level breakdown.
Score Overview
Vertical line = borough median. Scale: 0-10.
Neighborhood Character
Murray Hill is a vertical neighborhood where you'll navigate between high-rises (70% of the building stock) and tree-lined blocks that feel denser than the borough average. You'll find 67 trees within a 200-meter radius on a typical block, with a canopy density of 9.5/10—real shade in Midtown. The East River Esplanade and five nearby parks (averaging 495 meters away) give you waterfront access and green space, though noise complaints run very high at 6,225 annually. Grand Central-42 Street station (4, 5, 6, 7, S lines) anchors your transit options. The neighborhood reads as young professional: dense, convenient, loud, and relentlessly practical.
Analysis based on 10 properties scored across 30+ data points
Livability & Restoration
Tree Canopy
67 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
St. Vartan Park
Avg 495m away | Score: 2.7/10
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
4.5/10
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
67
Within 200m radius
Canopy Density
9.5/10
Normalized canopy coverage
Park Network
- St. Vartan Park
- Asser Levy Playground
- East River Esplanade
- Bellevue South Park
- Robert Moses Playground
Avg distance: 495m
Practical Living
Building Types
Who Murray Hill Is For
Commuters prioritizing transit access
Practical score of 9 (well above borough median of 5.8) reflects excellent walkability and immediate subway proximity. Low commute friction if your workplace is on these lines.
Safety-conscious renters
Safety percentile of 77% in borough means fewer crimes relative to Manhattan average, though total crime count (2,084 over 12 months) and worsening trend (+147.2%) warrant attention.
People who need predictable urban infrastructure
High-rise heavy, low rodent complaints (132), established dining district. Suits those seeking order over neighborhood character; livability and arts scores lag borough average.
Pros & Cons
Strengths
Subway-adjacent living
Grand Central-42 St serves 4, 5, 6, 7, and S lines; practical score of 9 reflects seamless Midtown connectivity
Dense tree canopy for Midtown
67 average trees per 200m with 9.5/10 canopy density—above borough standards for shade and air quality
Waterfront and park access
Five parks within 495m including East River Esplanade and Asser Levy Playground; outdoor score of 5.3 (above borough average of 4.2)
Relative safety in Manhattan terms
77th percentile for safety in borough; rodent complaints low at 132 annually
Trade-offs
Severe noise pollution
6,225 noise complaints annually—classified as very high. Plan for persistent urban noise.
Worsening crime trend
Crime up 147.2% year-over-year despite above-average safety ranking; 2,084 crimes in trailing 12 months shows momentum problem
Limited neighborhood character
Art/livability score of 4.8 lags borough median of 5.5; largely chain dining and high-rise residential, less distinctive than adjacent neighborhoods
High-rise dominance
70% of buildings are high-rise; limited brownstone/walk-up texture; fewer ground-level retail and community spaces
Score Any Address in Murray Hill
Get detailed livability scores based on building health, transit access, safety, noise levels, and 15+ NYC data sources.
Search an Address in Murray HillFrequently Asked Questions about Murray Hill
1Is Murray Hill safe?
Murray Hill safety varies by block. DwellCheck provides detailed safety data including NYPD crime statistics, arrest data, and 311 complaints. Check the Murray Hill safety page for full details.
2What is the average rent in Murray Hill?
Rents in Murray Hill, 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 Murray Hill?
Murray Hill has a commute score of 4.5/10. 1 subway stations serve the area: Grand Central-42 St.
4What are the best streets in Murray Hill?
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 Murray Hill?
6.1 median (interquartile range 5.7–6.5). Practical infrastructure (9/10) drives the composite; livability (4.8) and commute friction (4.5) pull it down relative to borough medians.
6How safe is Murray Hill?
Safety percentile of 77% places it above most Manhattan neighborhoods. However, crime is worsening at +147.2% year-over-year, with 2,084 reported crimes in the trailing 12 months. Noise complaints are very high (6,225).
7What's the transit situation?
Grand Central-42 Street is the primary hub, serving the 4, 5, 6, 7, and S lines. This drives the neighborhood's excellent practical score (9/10) but also contributes to high noise complaint volume.
8How much green space is there?
You'll find an average of 67 trees within 200 meters on a typical block with 9.5/10 canopy density—above borough average. Five parks within 495m include the East River Esplanade, St. Vartan Park, and Asser Levy Playground.