Is West Village Safe? Manhattan Livability, Crime & Rent
West Village scores 7.1—a solidly livable, tree-dense neighborhood with excellent transit and parks, offset by persistent noise.
West Village at a glance
- Borough
- Manhattan
- Livability score
- 7.1/10
- Borough rank (NYC Open Data guides)
- #3 of 33
- Safety verdict
- Higher Than Average
- Crimes (12 mo)
- 3,024
- Subway stations
- 4 (14 St/8 Av, W 4 St-Wash Sq, 14 St/6 Av)
- Data updated
- 2026-09-14
Is West Village Safe?
West Village, Manhattan scores 7.1/10 for overall livability, ranking #3 of 33 Manhattan neighborhoods scored from NYC Open Data. West Village scores 7.1—a solidly livable, tree-dense neighborhood with excellent transit and parks, offset by persistent noise.
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 West Village safety page. Safety varies by block — check a specific West Village 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 Manhattan neighborhood guides.
Neighborhood Character
West Village wraps you in tree-lined streets where nearly 273 trees average within a 200-meter radius, creating a 9.4/10 tree density that softens the urban grid. You'll walk on cobblestones past independent boutiques and historic townhouses, with five parks within a short walk—James J Walker Park, Jefferson Market Garden, and the NYC AIDS Memorial at St. Vincent's Triangle among them. The neighborhood's four major subway hubs (14 St/8 Av, W 4 St-Washington Square, 14 St/6 Av, and Christopher St-Stonewall) mean you're never more than a few blocks from fast transit, and Hudson River Park's waterfront amenities anchor the western edge. All buildings here are walk-ups, a defining characteristic that shapes both the neighborhood's charm and its physical reality.
Livability & Restoration
Trees
273 trees
Expected in a 200m circle (NYC Parks tree inventory) | Density: 9.4/10 (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
15 parks
NYC Parks properties inside the neighborhood | largest: James J Walker Park | nearest to the center: Bleecker Playground, 135m | 3 nearest average 218m 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 Manhattan 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
8.5/10
Borough median: 7/10
Outdoor & Green Space
Avg Tree Count
273
Trees expected in a 200m circle
Tree Density
9.4/10
2,170 trees per km² in NYC Parks' tree inventory (street and park trees); city percentile, 1 = sparsest
Largest Parks In or Near the Neighborhood
- James J Walker Park
- Corporal John A. Seravalli Playground
- Bleecker Playground
- NYC AIDS Memorial Park at St. Vincent’s Triangle
- Jefferson Market Garden
Nearest to the neighborhood's center: Bleecker Playground, about 135m. The 3 nearest NYC Parks properties average 218m from the center (approximate park centers, not entrances).
Practical Living
Practical (HPD violations): 7/10 (Manhattan median 6). It measures HPD housing violations per residential lot over the last 12 months (higher = fewer violations).
Building Mix (Residential Tax Lots)
Share of the 1,769 residential tax lots in the neighborhood by PLUTO building class (NYC Department of City Planning).
Who West Village Is For
Transit-dependent professionals
Commute score of 8.5 is above the borough median of 7.0, with 11 subway lines providing access to Midtown and Downtown employment centers
Outdoor-focused residents
Outdoor score of 7.9 significantly exceeds the borough median of 7.3, driven by above-average parks, tree density, and immediate access to Hudson River Park
Long-term residents seeking stability
Crime down 16.1% over 12 months and a practical score of 7 (above the borough median of 6.0) suggest a neighborhood built for staying put
Pros & Cons
Strengths
High tree density and park access
273 trees within 200m with 9.4/10 tree density; the 3 nearest parks average 218m from the neighborhood's center, plus waterfront access
Frequent, reliable transit options
Trade-offs
High noise complaints
4,084 noise complaints—a significant volume reflecting street-level activity and pedestrian density
Walk-up buildings with no elevators
Walk-up apartment buildings are the largest group (39% of residential tax lots) and elevator buildings only 8%; relevant for mobility concerns or moving logistics
Score Any Address in West Village
Get detailed livability scores based on building health, transit access, safety, noise levels, and 15+ NYC data sources.
Search an Address in West VillageFrequently Asked Questions about West Village
1Is West Village safe?
By NYPD data, West Village is rated "Higher Than Average", with a lower crime rate per resident than 38% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 3,024 crime incidents and 1 shooting incident over the past 12 months. See the safety page for the full breakdown.
2What is the average rent in West Village?
Rents in West Village, Manhattan 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 West Village?
West Village has a commute score of 8.5/10. 4 subway stations serve the area: 14 St/8 Av, W 4 St-Wash Sq, 14 St/6 Av.
4What are the best streets in West Village?
The best streets depend on your priorities. Use DwellCheck to compare specific addresses across livability, safety, transit, and environmental factors.
5What is West Village known for?
West Village sits in Manhattan and ranks #3 of 33 Manhattan neighborhoods scored from NYC Open Data on DwellCheck's livability score (7.1/10). It's served by 4 subway stations (14 St/8 Av, W 4 St-Wash Sq, 14 St/6 Av). West Village scores 7.1—a solidly livable, tree-dense neighborhood with excellent transit and parks, offset by persistent noise.
6What is it like to live in West Village?
DwellCheck scores West Village, Manhattan 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). West Village's composite is 7.1/10. West Village scores 7.1—a solidly livable, tree-dense neighborhood with excellent transit and parks, offset by persistent noise. For the block-by-block view, run any specific West Village address through DwellCheck.
7Where is West Village?
West Village is in Manhattan, New York City. DwellCheck maps it to the West Village Neighborhood Tabulation Area (MN0203), which falls in the Census tabulation area that matches Manhattan Community District 2 (Greenwich Village-SoHo). Its main ZIP codes are 10014 and 10011. Subway stations in the neighborhood include 14 St/8 Av, W 4 St-Wash Sq and 14 St/6 Av.
8What ZIP code is West Village in?
West Village spans ZIP codes 10014 (88% of residential units) and 10011 (13%). Shares are of the 24,535 residential units in the West Village Neighborhood Tabulation Area (MN0203), from NYC PLUTO 26v2 tax-lot records.
9Can you walk around West Village at night?
West Village is classified as "Higher Than Average" by NYPD complaint data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 1 shooting incident and 3,024 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 West Village dangerous?
By NYPD data, West Village is rated "Higher Than Average", with a lower crime rate per resident than 38% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 3,024 crime incidents over 12 months. Block-level risk varies; check the address-level safety score for any specific street or building.
11What parts of West Village 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 West Village a good place to live?
West Village scores 7.1/10 for overall livability and has a lower crime rate per resident than 38% of Manhattan neighborhoods. West Village scores 7.1—a solidly livable, tree-dense neighborhood with excellent transit and parks, offset by persistent noise. 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 West Village?
The composite score is 7.1. The neighborhood's strength lies in commute (8.5/10), practical (7/10) and outdoor (7.9/10) scores, while Art/Livability trails at 5.2.
14How safe is West Village compared to Manhattan?
West Village has a lower crime rate per resident than 38% of Manhattan neighborhoods, a higher crime rate per resident than the borough middle. Crime also fell 16.1% over 12 months, to 3,024 incidents.
15What transit options are available?
Four subway stations serve the neighborhood: 14 St/8 Av (A, C, E, L); W 4 St-Washington Square (A, B, C, D, E, F, M); 14 St/6 Av (1, 2, 3, F, L, M); and Christopher St-Stonewall (1). The commute score of 8.5 is above the borough median of 7.0.
16How green is West Village?
Outdoor score of 7.9 significantly exceeds the borough median (7.3). You'll find approximately 273 trees within 200 meters with tree density rated 9.4/10, plus Hudson River Park waterfront access; the 3 nearest parks average 218m from the neighborhood's center.
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