Hey, what's wrong with Astoria? OK, so it's ugly and not in Manhattan -- it's cheap and safe!

But anyway -- 161 and Riverside is a bit sketchy, I'd say. Would your daughter consider moving a little further uptown, to Hudson Heights or Inwood?

Marrco, dude: You need to convince your daughter to keep her sweet heinie over in Astoria. Good grief! Astoria is way safer than ANY of those Manhattan neighborhoods you've been mentioning.

If you want to see for yourselves, go visit each of those neighborhoods twice: once at about 4-5 pm and then on another occasion at about 11pm-12 midnight. Hang out in those neighborhoods for about an hour, then you and she can then see for yourselves.

My husband used to live on 111th. Around the time he was there (6 years ago), a network news program and a National Geographic program had a special on the NYC rat problem just a couple blocks away from him (I believe on 112th). Maybe the area covered was further east than 7th Avenue, but it's still worth asking about.

That's another problem besides safety with basement, first and second floor apartments in that area - rats. Acc. to the anecdotal evidence my husband had heard, the rats wouldn't really go higher than the third or fourth floor, though the mice would. And I know about the mice for a fact - even in a fourth floor apartment. Nothing like waking up in the middle of the night to the scurrying of little feet on the floor beneath you...

161st and Riverside can be a bit sketchy.

For her safety (and your peace of mind), I would suggest she look to Washington Heights ideally between 181st and 190th, closer to the Hudson River (not a good idea below 175, and not as pretty the closer you get to Broadway- though the 1/9 subway stop there is very convenient).

Washington Heights is a great neighborhood- safe, food markets, a few cafe/bars(there is even, gasp, a Starbucks there!)to hang out in, a shopping mall at 220th street with a Marshalls and a Target (very handy for younger people starting out in the city) and very populated with actors and artists (and more and more young professionals these days). If she is near the A train at 181, it is only a 20 minute ride to Columbus Circle.

That being said, regarding the big gap between Columbia University area and Washington Heights- I have known and know several people who have lived there- married, single, male, female, gay, straight...and all of them said they felt comfortable living in the neighborhood.

Thanks all. Apologies for not responding earlier but have been out of the loop. My daughter's search continues. Today she asked about 145th and Eighth Avenue. I believe that's Hamilton heights /A/K/A Harlem, right?

Why is she moving from Astoria to lower Harlem? I don't get the appeal. The park ends at 110 street, and while the whole city is safer and cleaner than in past years, why move from charming Astoria to some ex-slum because some people think it is trendy? Hamilton Heights is better, but still has no services. If she wants better subway connections look at Jackson Heights.