Executive Summary
Times Square and Theater District offer an exceptional urban core with the highest levels of vibrancy and transit access, supporting constant activity for residents and visitors. With top scores for notable features, utility, and green access, the area blends cultural density with livability. An expansive amenity mix—772 cafes and 389 restaurants within 1km, 161 parks, and 28 landmarks—drives daily foot traffic and a broad daytime and evening mix.
Vibrancy Score
cafés + restaurants + bars
Utility Score
supermarkets + malls + convenience
Notable Features
universities + landmarks + stadiums
Transit
stops within 15-min walk
Green Access
parks within 15-min walk
Location Overview
Times Square, Theater District, Manhattan Community Board 5, Manhattan, New York County, City of New York, New York, 10036, United States of America provides a balanced mix of urban amenities within a compact, walkable area.
The area shows strong urban connectivity with 369 transit stops within a 15-minute walk, making it easy to explore the wider city. For food and social activities, there are 772 cafes and restaurants nearby, perfect for both quick meals and leisurely dining experiences.
Green spaces are well represented with 161 parks in the vicinity, providing residents and visitors with opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. The overall urban experience scores reflect a balanced neighborhood that prioritizes accessibility, convenience, and quality of life.
History
Times Square and the Theater District emerged in the early 1900s as the city’s premiere Broadway corridor, named after the New York Times that helped define the area when it moved to One Times Square in 1904. The electric era transformed the street into “The Great White Way,” with bold marquee lighting signaling a shift toward entertainment-driven urban life. Over the decades the neighborhood evolved with ongoing theater development, urban redesigns, and a shift toward dense commercial and tourist activity, including pedestrian-plaza initiatives in the late 2000s to manage crowds and improve public space.
Demographics
Today the neighborhood functions as a busy hub with a large daytime population drawn from office workers, performers, students, and visitors. The mix of theater venues, nearby universities, and a dense concentration of dining and retail support a highly transient, walk-oriented economy. The character is cosmopolitan and international, with a steady stream of tourists and business travelers shaping spending patterns and street life.
Overall Vibe
Vibe is unmistakably dynamic and iconic, with bright signage, stages, and marquee-lit streets that stay active from morning through late night. The district blends entertainment, dining, and retail into a walkable, transit-rich environment, where visitors mingle with local workers and students. While intense, the area also features engineered public spaces, like pedestrian plazas, that shape a more navigable urban experience within a busy urban core.
Insights
- Total population (BG): 319
- Median age (BG): 67.8
- Median Household income (BG): $30,129
- Educational attainment (BG): 33.9%
- Commute under 30 minutes (BG): 0.0%
- Renter share (BG): 100.0%
Age Distribution
Ethnic Composition
BG = Census block group (~neighborhood scale).