As of 2021, central Harlem's Black residents numbered 56,668, comprising 44% of the total population. In that regard, there are an estimated 27% (34,773) Hispanics, 18% (23,182) White, 4% (5,151) Asian, 6% (7,727) of two or more races and 2% (2,575) Other.
Census records show the neighborhood, once considered the Capital of Black America, is no longer majority Black, and hasn't been for years. As of 2021, about 56,000 African Americans live in Central Harlem, amounting to 44% of the population according to city data. The white population steadily rising to nearly 18%.
Brooklyn, known for its multitude of ethnic enclaves, also has the distinction of being home to the city's least diverse neighborhood. All 1,488 residents of this section of Midwood, Brooklyn, classified themselves as white during the recent census, data shows.
Harlem has undergone a cultural and economic renaissance, but some areas, particularly in East Harlem, are still seen as dangerous parts of New York City.
Harlem became an area that held a portion of New York City's population that was relatively well-off. While the area had a wealthy white population, it also held a small black population since a few blacks had stayed from the time of slavery. New blacks moved in with the whites as domestic servants.
How is Life in Harlem | A Stroll Through NYC’s Legendary District 🇺🇸
Is Harlem rich or poor?
Median household income in 2023 was $50,830, about 36% less than citywide median household income ($79,480). The poverty rate in Central Harlem was 28.6% in 2023 compared to 18.2% citywide.
Economic opportunities in the early part of the 20th century triggered a mass migration of black Americans from the racist and rural South to the industrial centers of the North – particularly into the Harlem section of New York City.
Despite its reputation, which may lead travelers to think it is an extremely dangerous area, Harlem is safe. Though much of it is residential, Harlem is a great travel destination with plenty to do. Travelers should remember that although Harlem is safe, tourists should not wander around late at night alone.
Ignored by both private and public sectors, Harlem became the best-known slum in the United States. Seventy-five years of concentrated poverty and failed public policy caused this once affluent suburb of New York City to rot.
South Harlem exhibits robust culture, inclusive of the Apollo Theater and renowned restaurants, Clay and Vinateria. East Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem, is rich with Puerto Rican history and popular eateries. West Harlem offers quiet, tree-lined streets and picturesque parks.
The dubious distinction belongs to Bedford-Stuyvesant, specifically to ZIP code 11216, according to House Fresh, which examines indoor air quality. That section of Brooklyn was found to have the most sanitation complaints, with 7,664 complaints per 100,000 residents.
The most recent decade from 2010 to 2020 saw a continued decrease in the White population to 34.09%, significant growth in the Asian population to 15.73%, stability in the Black population around 22-25%, and growth in the Hispanic/Latino community to 28.29%.
Though Harlem has a storied history as an epicenter of cultural and creative expression during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920's, today, the borough is largely residential, serving as a bedroom community for commuters to areas like midtown Manhattan.
New York City, in particular Harlem, was referred to as a black mecca during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s and still is as of today.
The average rent in Harlem is currently $3,009 per month. A total of 23 cities nearby have an average rent lower than that. Our records show that Waterbury, CT, with an average rent of $1,600, is the most affordable city nearby. In contrast, the most expensive city near Harlem, New York, NY is Ocean Beach, NY.
By 1900, tens of thousands lived in Harlem. The mass migration of African Americans into the area began in 1904, due to another real estate crash, the worsening of conditions for black people elsewhere in the city, and the leadership of black real estate entrepreneurs including Phillip Payton Jr.
As elsewhere Harlem blacks reacted to racial discrimination, segregation, police brutality and social injustices that dominated their lives. They resorted to violence to express their disgust with the system.
West Africans were drawn to Harlem not only by its vibrant cultural scene but also by the solidarity found in the Black American community. The migration wave was part of a larger postcolonial movement, with Harlem's established networks providing a refuge for those escaping economic instability and political unrest.
Harlem is currently defined as the area from Central Park North (West 110th Street) to West 155th Street; from Fifth Avenue to the east, westward to a combination of St. Nicholas Avenue and Morningside Avenue.
Ever since the Harlem Renaissance—an early 20th-century boom in music, literature, dance and art—this neighborhood has been synonymous with Black culture. This shows up in cultural institutions, restaurants and many other attractions that populate the area.
Of the five major violent felonies (murder, rape, felony assault, robbery, and burglary), the 23rd Precinct had a rate of 819 crimes per 100,000 residents in 2019, compared to the boroughwide average of 632 crimes per 100,000 and the citywide average of 572 crimes per 100,000.
The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 9.5% (11,322) White, 63% (74,735) African American, 0.3% (367) Native American, 2.4% (2,839) Asian, 0% (46) Pacific Islander, 0.3% (372) from other races, and 2.2% (2,651) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.2% (26,333) of the population.
