Foodscapes

Foodscape: Washington Heights/Inwood

by NYC Food Policy Editor
written by NYC Food Policy Editor

Washington Heights/Inwood Foodscape

About Foodscapes

Access to affordable and nutritious food is one of the cornerstones of good health. Without this, individuals—and communities—are at a higher risk of food insecurity and serious chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. To improve the health of New Yorkers, we must recognize that each neighborhood has a distinct food environment.

Purpose

These Foodscape reports provide a community-level snapshot of a community’s food environment, including data on healthy and unhealthy food consumption, food access, and diet-related diseases. Additionally, the reports detail a comprehensive guide of the many food-related resources available to residents within their neighborhoods to support them in eating healthier. The Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center has compiled this information from various sources, presenting it in a user-friendly format to help NYC residents and communities better understand their local foodscapes.

*All data from DATA2GO includes Washington Heights, Inwood, & Marble Hill

Zip codes include: 10032, 10033, 10034, 10040

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

DEMOGRAPHICS:

  • Total Population: 195,830 (2.29% of NYC population) (1)
  • Population by Race and Ethnicity of Washington Heights/Inwood and New York City (1)
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 72% Latino | NYC: 29% Latino
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 7% Black | NYC: 22% Black
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 17% White | NYC: 32% White
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 3% Asian/Pacific Islander | NYC: 15% Asian
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 1% Other | NYC: 2% Other
  • Washington Heights/Inwood Population by Age: (1)
    • 0-17 years: 19%
    • 18-24 years: 10%
    • 25-44 years: 33%
    • 45-64 years: 25%
    • 65+ years: 13%
  • Life Expectancy: 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 85.5 years (2) | NYC: 82.1 years (2)
  • Born Outside the US: 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 47% (1) | NYC: 37% (1)

NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD:

  • Supermarket to Bodega Ratio: One (1) supermarket in Washington Heights/Inwood to 13 bodegas (1)
  • Meal Gap (# of meals needed per year for food security): 5,565,856 (2)
  • Food Insecurity: 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 13.2% of residents (2)| NYC: 15.4% of residents (2)
  • Residences that Lack a Kitchen: 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 0.4% of housing units (2)| NYC: 0.8% (2)
  • Households Receiving SNAP Benefits: 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 33.6% of households (2)| NYC: 22.4% of households (2)
  • Walking Distance to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: (4)
    • 5 minutes or less: 58% (Compared to 49% New York City-wide)
    • 5-10 minutes: 20% (Compared to 18% New York City-wide)
    • 10 minutes or more: 21% (Compared to 32% New York City-wide)

FOOD CONSUMPTION:

  • At Least One Serving of Fruits or Vegetables Per Day (percent of adults): 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 81% (1) | NYC: 87% (1)
  • No Fruits and Vegetables Yesterday: 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 19% of adults (2) | NYC: 12.9% of adults (2)
  • One or More 12-ounce Sugary Drinks Per Day (percent of adults): 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 23% (1) | NYC: 23% (1)

HEALTH AND DISEASE STATUS:

  • Adults Reporting Their Own Health as “Excellent,” “Very Good” or “Good” (percent of adults): 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 68% (1) | NYC: 78% (1)
  • Obesity (percent of adults): 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 26% (1) | NYC: 24% (1)
  •  Childhood Obesity (percent of public school children in grades K through 8): 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 24% (1) | NYC: 20% (1)
  • Diabetes (percent of adults): 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 13% (1) | NYC: 11% (1)
  • Hypertension (percent of adults): 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 28% (1) | NYC: 28% (1)

ECONOMIC AND LIVING-CONDITION STRESS, CONTRIBUTORS TO FOOD INSECURITY:

  • Median Household Income: 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: $51,467 (2) | NYC: $63,132 (2)
  • Poverty (percent of households with incomes below poverty): 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 23.3% (2) | NYC: 19.7% (2)
  • Unemployment (percent of people ages 16 and older): 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 6.8% (2) | NYC: 4.5% (2)
  • Extreme Housing Burden (percent of renters): 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 30.2% (2) | NYC: 29.5% (2)

EXERCISE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BURDEN

  • Air Pollution (micrograms of fine particulate matter per cubic meter): 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 7.8 (1) | New York City-wide: 7.5 (1)
  • Bicycle Network Coverage (percent of streets with bike lanes): 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 35% (1) | New York City-wide: 10% (1)
  • Pedestrian Injury Hospitalizations (per 100,000 people): 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 17 (1) | New York City-wide: 23 (1)
  • Any Physical Activity in the Past 30 Days (percent of adults): 
    • Washington Heights/Inwood: 77% (1) | New York City-wide: 73% (1)

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS/INWOOD SUMMER MEALS: 

To ensure everyone has access to nutritious meals, the Department of Education’s Meal Hubs were created in response to COVID-19 and have expanded service to all children and adults across the five boroughs. Sites serve grab-and-go meal service for adults and children and no one is turned away. No registration or identification is required.

During the summer of 2020, over 400 Meal Hubs operated from 7:30am-11:30am for children and families and 11:30am-1:30pm for adults. Starting September 29, 200 Meal Hubs continue to provide grab-and-go meal service for all New Yorkers on Monday-Friday between 3-5pm.

Please check the DOE website for updates and search for Free Meals at the select public school buildings here or text “NYCFOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877-877.

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS/INWOOD COMMUNITY GARDENS: 

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS/INWOOD GREENTHUMB GARDENS:

There are over 600 GreenThumb community gardens across the city, and any resident can join a garden. Find the most up-to-date list of gardens using GreenThumb’s searchable Garden Map. (5)  

  • William A. Harris Garden: 869 St Nicholas Ave
  • Morris Jumel Community Garden: 455-457 W 162nd St
  • West 181st Street Beautification Project: 814 W 181st St
  • Dorothy K. McGowan Memorial Garden: 513 W 158th St

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS/INWOOD SCHOOL GARDENS:

  • 430@IS349 The Equity Project Charter School (TEP): 153 Sherman Ave
  • PS 178 Professor Juan Bosch Public School: 12-18 Ellwood St
  • PS/MS 278 Paula Hedbavny School: 421 W 219th St
  • PS 98 Shorac Kappock: 512 W 212th St
  • Harbor Heights Middle School: 306 Fort Washington Ave (between W 173rd & W 174th St)
  • The Equity Project Charter School (TEP): 549 Audobon Ave
  • JHS 52 Inwood: 650 Academy St
  • HS 467 High School for Law and Public Service: 549 Audubon Ave
  • Nicholas Cardell Day Care Center: 84 Vermilyea Ave
  • PS/IS 18 Park Terrace: 4124 9th Ave
  • PS/IS 187 Hudson Cliffs: 349 Cabrini Blvd
  • PS 189: 2580 Amsterdam Ave (between W 188th & W 189th St)
  • Middle School 322: 4600 Broadway
  • PS 103 Dos Puentes Elementary School: 185 Wadsworth Ave
  • PS 48 P.O. Michael J. Buczek: 4360-78 Broadway
  • PS 28 Wright Brothers: 475 W 155th St
  • MS 328 Manhattan Middle School for Scientific Inquiry: 401 W 164th St
  • PS 828 Manhattan Alternate Learning Center @ Highbridge: 80 Audubon Ave
  • PS 314 Muscota/Amistad: 4862 Broadway (between Academy St & W 204th St)
  • PS 754 George Washington YABC : 549 Audobon Ave

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS/INWOOD FARMERS’ MARKETS: 

To ensure the below farmers’ markets are open, please call or check the listed websites for the most up-to-date information.

Many farmers’ markets accept cash, SNAP/EBT, debit/credit, WIC and Senior FMNP coupons. They may also offer Health Bucks for EBT users — for every $5 spent in EBT, customers receive a $2 Health Buck coupon to purchase additional fruits and vegetables. For an updated list of farmers’ markets near you (including days/hours of operation) visit nyc.gov/health and search “farmers markets” or text “SoGood” to 877-877.

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS/INWOOD OFFICIAL SNAP ENROLLMENT SITES IN NYC – HUMAN RESOURCES ASSOCIATION (HRA):

Data is updated on a continuous basis in collaboration with the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center’s Neighborhood Food Resource Guides.

*It is possible to apply for SNAP benefits online at https://www.ny.gov/services/apply-snap

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS/INWOOD WIC SITES:

Data is updated on a continuous basis in collaboration with the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center’s Neighborhood Food Resource Guides.

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS/INWOOD PANTRIES AND SOUP KITCHENS:

Data is updated on a continuous basis in collaboration with the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center’s Neighborhood Food Resource Guides.

*Food pantry and soup kitchen hours subject to change, and requirements may be needed to register for food pantries. Call a specific location for more information before going for the first time. 

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS/INWOOD RETAIL FOOD STORES:

*This list below includes all retail food stores from a Google Maps Places API search with keyword search terms “bakery, cafe, convenience store, deli, food, grocery, supermarket.” 

Data is updated on a continuous basis in collaboration with the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center’s Neighborhood Food Resource Guides.

PARKS IN WASHINGTON HEIGHTS/INWOOD:

To ensure the below businesses and organizations are open, please call or check the listed websites for the most up-to-date information.

FOOD POLICY ORGANIZATIONS IN WASHINGTON HEIGHTS/INWOOD:

To ensure the below organizations are and services are being offered, please call or check the listed websites for the most up-to-date information.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Last updated: 1/5/2021

REFERENCES:

  1. Hinterland, K, et al. “Community Health Profiles 2018, Manhattan Community District 12: Washington Heights and Inwood.” Community Health Profiles 2018, Manhattan Community District 12: Washington Heights and Inwood, 2018, pp. 1–20.
  2. “Data2Go: Washington Heights, Inwood & Marble Hill.” data2go.Nyc, Measure of America of the Social Science Research Council and Helmsley Charitable Trust, https://data2go.nyc/map/?id=112*36047015900*food_insecure_puma!undefined!ns*!buttonHolder~other_pop_cd_506~ahdi_puma_1~sch_enrol_cd_112~age_pyramid_male_85_plus_cd_20~median_household_income_puma_397~median_personal_earnings_puma_400~dis_y_perc_puma_102~poverty_ceo_cd_417~unemployment_cd_408~pre_k_cd_107!*air_qual_cd~ahdi_puma*family_homeless_cd_245#10/40.7543/-73.9794.
  3. “Annual Vital Statistics Data Show Fewer Premature Deaths and Fewer Births in New York City in 2017.” NYC Health, The City of New York.
  4. “A Foodscape of Washington Heights/Inwood.” New York City Food Policy Center at Hunter College, Mar. 2017,https://www.nycfoodpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/FS301_2017.pdf.
  5. “Green Thumb Garden Map.” NYC Parks, https://greenthumb.nycgovparks.org/gardensearch.php.

Article Image: “New York City (NYC) Neighborhood Maps – By Borough – Manhattan.” NYCdata, Baruch College Zicklin School of Business, https://www.baruch.cuny.edu/nycdata/population-geography/maps-boroughs.htm.

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