Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY

The elegant front entrance welcomes students and visitors
Low Memorial Library was built by university president Seth Low in 1895
A fountain sits outside the Low Memorial Library

Columbia University in the City of New York Morningside Heights - New York, NY Area Guide

Ivy-League prestige meets New York sophistication

Private Ivy League Public Transportation Subway Urban Parks

As one of the most esteemed and exclusive universities in the nation, Columbia provides an absolutely unparalleled academic environment on the west side of Manhattan. The stunning Beaux-Arts architecture of the Ivy League university’s buildings evokes a timeless character, a testament to the institution's more than 250 years of academic legacy.

Easy access to Central Park and Riverside Park gives you endless opportunities for outdoor recreation in your free time, and the numerous bars, coffeehouses, and restaurants along Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue provide numerous options for after-hours R&R. And with the 116 Street Subway Station right on campus, the city that never sleeps is at your fingertips any time. While rent in New York City is rarely cheap, apartments and condos in Morningside Heights tend to be relatively reasonable, with numerous options within just a couple blocks of the Columbia campus.

Explore the College

The elegant front entrance welcomes students and visitors

Low Memorial Library was built by university president Seth Low in 1895

A fountain sits outside the Low Memorial Library

Students often gather at the Van Amringe Quadrangle, or Van Am Quad

The Belleophon Taming Pegasus sculpture adorns the west entrance of Columbia Law School

Cast from Rodin’s famous masterpiece, the Thinker sculpture is located outside Philosophy Hall

Rent Trends

As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in New York, NY is $3,323 for a studio, $4,095 for one bedroom, $5,609 for two bedrooms, and $7,089 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in New York has increased by 1.2% in the past year.

  • Studio

  • 439 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $3,323/month

    Average Rent

  • 1 BR

  • 594 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $4,095/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 791 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $5,609/month

    Average Rent

  • 3 BR

  • 986 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $7,089/month

    Average Rent

Getting Around

Exceptionally Walkable

Walkability

100 / 100

Exceptional Public Transit

Transit

100 / 100

Somewhat Drivable

Drivability

30 / 100

Very Bikeable

Bikeability

80 / 100

Daily Essentials

Supermarket Within a 5 Minute Walk

Groceries

100 / 100

Exceptional Restaurant Variety Nearby

Restaurants

90 / 100

Great Café Variety Nearby

Cafes

80 / 100

Exceptional Variety of Shops Nearby

Shopping

90 / 100

Recreation

Exceptional Amount of Park Space Nearby

Parks

100 / 100

Exceptional Wellness Amenity Variety Nearby

Wellness

100 / 100

Local Vibe

Highly Vibrant Atmosphere

Vibrancy

80 / 100

Good Nightlife Variety Nearby

Nightlife

60 / 100

Very Noisy

Quiet Score

30 / 100

Schools

Harlem Village Academy East Charter School

Public

Grades PK-12

347 Students

Success Academy Upper West

Public

Grades K-8

1,002 Students

Harlem Village Academy West 2 Charter School

Public

Grades K-5

444 Students

Ps 290 Manhattan New School

Public

Grades PK-5

444 Students

Harlem Village Academy East Charter School

Public

Grades PK-12

347 Students

Success Academy Upper West

Public

Grades K-8

1,002 Students

The Clinton School

Public

Grades 6-12

849 Students

Ms 245 The Computer School

Public

Grades 6-8

372 Students

Stuyvesant High School

Public

Grades 9-12

3,265 Students

High School Math Science And Engineering At CCNY

Public

Grades 9-12

577 Students

Bard High School Early College

Public

Grades 9-12

573 Students

Manhattan/Hunter Science High School

Public

Grades 9-12

448 Students

High School For Dual Language And Asian Studies

Public

Grades 9-12

368 Students

Points of Interest

Top Apartments Near Columbia University in the City of New York

Houses Near Columbia University in the City of New York

Property Management Companies

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.