10 Neighborhoods With The Highest HIV Rates in NYC Boroughs

To learn more about the concentration of people living with HIV in New York City, please take a look at our list of neighborhoods with the highest HIV rates in NYC boroughs.

If you live outside of NYC, you should also check our list of 25 cities with the highest STD rates in America.

Jonathon Larson’s prolific musical masterpiece Rent premiered in 1993, popularizing the vocalization of the unique challenges and experiences of those struggling with HIV and AIDs in New York City during the 80’s and early 90’s. This devastating epidemic in American culture resulted in the spread of information on safer sex, and the focus of the scientific and medical community on the treatment of HIV and AIDs. Unfortunately, this terrible disease has not been completely eradicated, though much progress has been made. Anyone can be affected by the presence of HIV, and many have felt the weight of loss due to its existence. Doing all we can to remain educated, safe, and compassionate will continue to propel us toward an HIV and AIDs-free world.     

In order to create our list of neighborhoods with the highest HIV rates in NYC boroughs, we used AIDSVu to see how many people in New York City are diagnosed and living with HIV. However, since this source is sorted by ZIP Code, we used the Department of Health in New York State to see which borough and neighborhood those ZIP Codes correlates to. We then collected information on the number of people who have HIV, along with their sex and age. Keep in mind that the statistics are from 2013, and rates are expressed out of 100,000 people.

Continue reading to get more details on the neighborhoods with the highest HIV rates in NYC boroughs.

10. Southeast Bronx

Overall:

Number of people with HIV: 2,855

Sex:

Male: 3,880

Female: 1,928

Age:

13 to 24: 480

25 to 44: 2,554

45 to 59: 6,616

60+: 2,147

9. Central Brooklyn

Overall:

Number of people with HIV: 3,144

Sex:

Male: 4,384

Female: 2,269

Age:

13 to 24: 614

25 to 44: 3,116

45 to 59: 6,177

60+:2,829

8. Hunts Point and Mott Haven

Overall:

Number of people with HIV: 3,538

Sex:

Male: 4,649

Female: 2,598

Age:

13 to 24: 655

25 to 44: 3,227

45 to 59: 7,737

60+: 3,334

7. Greenwich Village and Soho

Overall:

Number of people with HIV: 3,551

Sex:

Male: 7,037

Female: 223

Age:

13 to 24: 162

25 to 44: 1,499

45 to 59: 9,054

60+: 4,801

6. High Bridge and Morrisania

Overall:

Number of people with HIV: 3,620

Sex:

Male: 4,781

Female: 2,657

Age:

13 to 24: 554

25 to 44: 3,111

45 to 59: 7,603

60+: 4,201

5. Central Bronx

Overall:

Number of people with HIV: 3,972

Sex:

Male: 5,486

Female: 2,722

Age:

13 to 24: 604

25 to 44: 3,108

45 to 59: 8,816

60+: 4,801

We’re halfway through our list of neighborhoods with the highest HIV rates in NYC boroughs, and now, let’s see the other half.

4. Central Harlem

Overall:

Number of people with HIV: 4,041

Sex:

Male: 7,344

Female: 1,775

Age:

13 to 24: 698

25 to 44: 4,538

45 to 59: 8,057

60+: 2,218

3. East Harlem

Overall:

Number of people with HIV: 4,194

Sex:

Male: 5,880

Female: 2,523

Age:

13 to 24: 518

25 to 44: 3,457

45 to 59: 8,687

60+: 4,489

2. Chelsea and Clinton

Overall:

Number of people with HIV: 6,747

Sex:

Male: 11,468

Female: 1,224

Age:

13 to 24: /

25 to 44: 4,978

45 to 59: 17,007

60+: 9,249

1. West Queens

Overall:

Number of people with HIV: 7,232

Sex:

Male: 8,955

Female: 4,265

Age:

13 to 24: 810

25 to 44: 5,802

45 to 59: 17,948

60+: 4,686

This was our list of the 10 neighborhoods with the highest HIV rates in NYC boroughs. On a positive note, we can see a clear and major decline in the presence of HIV in the younger generations. This is a great sign that STD awareness is increasing, and Millennials are having safer sex more often.