The rankings: 11-20

11 Seaman Avenue between Cumming and Dyckman Streets, Inwood

A short uphill walk from the busy center of Inwood, this block is marked by Washington Heights–esque apartment buildings next to the Holy Trinity Church. Add the view of Inwood Hill Park and the proximity to Fort Tryon Park and it’s a sweet deal. Bonus: +2 points for a great view and the smuttiest combination of street names in the city.

12 West 11th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, Greenwich Village

Brimming with trees and architectural gems, this is an intimate and historic strip. Bonus: +1 point for the First Presbyterian Church, dating from 1846, and for the second-oldest remaining Jewish cemetery in the city, just off Sixth Avenue.

13 West 106th Street between West End Avenue and Riverside Drive, Upper West Side

Despite its two-way traffic, this tony block is quiet and desirable; it runs up against a particularly green part of Riverside Drive that, when the leaves fall, offers spectacular views of the Hudson.

14 Arthur Avenue between East 184th and East 186th Streets, Belmont, Bronx

It’s the atmosphere that counts here: old Italian grandmas sitting outside and little kids running around, neighborhood butchers and bakers, and men shucking shellfish for sidewalk raw bars. Bonus: +1 point for some of the city’s best Italian fare; try -Roberto’s Restaurant  (around the corner at 632 Crescent Avenue).

15 West 44th Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenues, Hell’s Kitchen

This tree-lined stretch of 44th Street, a short stroll from the lights of Broadway, has mature vegetation, plenty of shade and a smattering of interesting boutiques. Young hipsters and the stroller set have found a way to coexist. Bonus: +1 point for being a true “next” neighborhood—witness the exploding Ninth Avenue restaurant row—in a formerly downtrodden area.

16 West 139th Street between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue) and Frederick Douglass Boulevard (Eighth Avenue), Harlem (Strivers’ Row)

It feels like a block out of a Spike Lee film: comfortably middle-class, yet close enough to the “street” that it’s not insulated. Bonus: +2 points for historical significance (the “striving” of African-Americans that gave the stretch its name) and the view of City College on the hill.

17 St. Pauls Avenue between Beach and Clinton Streets, Stapleton, Staten Island

Those rambling Victorian homes definitely give St. Pauls Avenue and this historic district a lot of style. And when you want some decent alternatives to the tranquillity, nearby Van Duzer Street -offers plenty of good food, drink and live music.

18 Columbia Heights between Clark and Pierrepont Streets, Brooklyn Heights

While this block is a small hike from public transportation, it’s still close to bustling Montague Street, and it literally sits on the promenade—what a view. The architecture is fascinating, moving from typical Brooklyn brownstones to more-modern, Art Deco–-influenced facades. Bonus: +1 point for allowing residents to walk out of their doors into movie-set views.

19 Howard Street between Broadway and Mercer Street, Soho

This magical little hideaway—as much of one as you can find in Soho, anyway—is close to everything, notably the cultural abundance of Prince and Spring Streets, yet remains relatively unsung.

20 11th Street between Prospect Park West and Eighth Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn

This peaceful street, lined with pristine brownstones and just off Prospect Park, is a quick jaunt from the commercial happenings on Seventh Avenue; it provides the best of both Brooklyn worlds.

THE KEY:

Aesthetics: Design, cleanliness and the overall condition of housing
Amenities: Restaurants, dry cleaning, etc.
Green factor: Not only trees and parks, but waterfront access
Noise and traffic
Public transit: Proximity to public transportation and the length of a trip to midtown
New York-ocity: The feeling of an only-in-New York spot
Affordability: A relative term, defined by by median sale and rental prices in the immediate vicinity