Union Square / Lower East Side

AManhattan· Population 162,000· UHF42 public health district

Each metric normalized 0-100 across all 42 neighborhoods (100 = best):

❤️
Life Expectancy77/100(20%)

86.4y

🫁
Asthma ED Rate90/100(15%)

32.4/10K

⚖️
Obesity81/100(15%)

16.8%

💰
Poverty73/100(15%)

18.4%

🌬️
Air Quality23/100(10%)

7.5μg/m³ (scoring baseline)

🛡️
Overdose Rate81/100(10%)

35.8/100K

🩺
Diabetes79/100(10%)

7.4%

👶
Preterm Births45/100(5%)

10.1%

Best: Asthma ED Rate (90)Needs work: Air Quality (23)
D
66/100

Move Score: D#20 of 42

Daily livability: air quality, safety, neighborhood investment, food access, environment.

How is this calculated?

Emphasizes factors that affect day-to-day quality of life. Weighted average:

  • Air Quality (PM2.5): 25%
  • Overdose Rate (safety): 20%
  • Poverty Rate (investment): 20%
  • Obesity (walkability proxy): 15%
  • Life Expectancy: 10%
  • Asthma ER Rate (environment): 10%

Grades: A (90+), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (60-69), F (<60).

Pulse NYC composite. Not an official DOHMH or DOT metric.

Asthma ED rank: #30 of 42 neighborhoods(#1 = highest burden)
Life expectancy rank: #8 of 42 neighborhoods(#1 = longest)
Asthma ED Rate
2019
32.4
per 10K · city avg 57.6 · ▼ below avg
Obesity Rate
2023
16.8%
adults · city avg 25.5% · 34% below
Diabetes Rate
2023
7.4%
adults · city avg 11.8%
Poverty Rate
2022
18.4%
below poverty line · city avg 20.5%
PM2.5
2022
7.6 μg/m³
annual avg · city avg 6.9 · NYCCAS
Life Expectancy
2019
86.4y
city avg 82.6y · ▲ +5% from avg
Overdose Death Rate
2023
35.8
per 100K · city avg 41 · ▼ below avg
Preterm Births
2020
10.1%
births <37 wks · city avg 9.2%
Smoking Rate
2022
11.2%
adults · NYC CHS
Uninsured Rate
2022
7.6%
adults without insurance · NYC CHS
Union Square / Lower East Side compares favorably to citywide averages. Notable strengths: asthma ED burden below city average; above-average life expectancy (86.4y vs. 82.6y); lower-than-average poverty.

Health Snapshot vs. City Average

Asthma ED Rate32.4/10K vs 57.6/10K
Obesity16.8% vs 25.5%
Diabetes7.4% vs 11.8%
Poverty18.4% vs 20.5%
Overdose Rate35.8/100K vs 41/100K
Preterm Birth10.1% vs 9.2%
Life Expectancy86.4y vs 82.6y

Vertical line = NYC citywide average. Red = worse than avg, colored = better.

Air Quality

7.6μg/m³ annual PM2.52022 NYCCAS
WHO target: 5.0NYC avg: 6.9EPA standard: 9.0 ✓

Data Sources

  • • Asthma ED: NYC DOHMH EHDP · 2019
  • • Obesity / Diabetes: CDC PLACES · 2023
  • • Poverty: U.S. Census ACS 2022
  • • PM2.5: NYCCAS · 2022
  • • Life expectancy: NYC DOHMH Vital Stats · 2019
  • • Overdose deaths: NYC DOHMH Epi Data Brief · 2023
  • • Preterm births: NYC DOHMH EHDP · 2020

Live Borough Activity

· Manhattan · updates hourly

Rodent Inspections (30d)

5,953

1,152 active signs

Noise Complaints (7d)

3,315

311 service requests

🥗

Eat Smart in Union Square / Lower East Side

16.8% obesity rate in this area. Find healthy food options at 30 chains near you.

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How Union Square / Lower East Side Compares

Union Square / Lower East Side is #12
#1
A

Upper East Side

Manhattan

93#2
A

Lower Manhattan

Manhattan

90#3
B

Upper West Side

Manhattan

88#4
B

Greenwich Village / SoHo

Manhattan

85#5
B

Gramercy Park / Murray Hill

Manhattan

84#6
B

Bayside / Little Neck

Queens

81#7
B

Downtown / Heights / Slope

Brooklyn

80#8
B

Chelsea / Clinton

Manhattan

80#9
C

Flushing / Clearview

Queens

77#10
C

Fresh Meadows

Queens

76

Other Manhattan Neighborhoods

Central Harlem / Morningside HtsChelsea / ClintonEast HarlemGramercy Park / Murray HillGreenwich Village / SoHoLower ManhattanUpper East SideUpper West SideWashington Heights / Inwood