@haleyray07 My son lived in Inwood in 2009 and 2010. It is a nice place to live – kids going to school in uniforms, farmers market on the street on summer weekends, nice park. People put things out on the major corners downtown as a sort of recycling center. There is a grocery store, and some nice places to eat.
The down sides – a long way from Midtown. And,I don’t think you can find a place for your budget. Son had a third floor walkup, in which you literally had to go outside to see what the weather was like – and neighbors who had big dogs, and played salsa music from 6 pm on Friday, to 6 pm on Sunday. He did have three rooms and a bath, but it was almost 1500 a month, plus utilities.
Forget having a car. There is no place to park. But Inwood is in Manhatten, and is/has a nice neighborhood feel – with a lot of different nationalities of people. There are a lot of Dominicans there – the President of the Dominican Republic has a house there. And there is still a large Irish population. Try the coffee at the Carrot Top bakery on Broadway. Best coffee in the state!
I would skip Washington Heights, if i were you. But there are some fantastic places to eat, there – if you know where to look.