Boston

(Zindex: $415,483)



Most Up & Coming Neighborhood: Dorchester

Q4 2006 Zindex: $331,896

Q4 2001 Zindex: $207,924

5-year change: 59.62%



Dorchester is the largest neighborhood in Boston, located south of the city center. It is a diverse working-class community with many African-Americans, Vietnamese, and Irish immigrants. The area's Franklin Park features 527 acres of green space, a zoo, and an 18-hole golf course.

Chicago

(Zindex: $240,187)



Most Up & Coming Neighborhood: East Garfield Park

Q4 2006 Zindex: $214,757

Q4 2001 Zindex: $110,142

5-year change: 94.98%



East Garfield Park, located on the West Side of Chicago, is seeing revitalization after years of neglect. The improvement is due to its proximity to downtown, historical homes, and access to mass transit.

Denver

(Zindex: $208,773)



Most Up & Coming Neighborhood: Civic Center

Q4 2006 Zindex: $188,880

Q4 2001 Zindex: $162,140

5-year change: 16.49%



Denver's Civic Center contains numerous museums and government buildings and is the site of many festivals and parades. The city has recently cracked down on drug-dealing and crime in the area and begun to add new pedestrian crossings, bus areas, and kiosks.

Los Angeles

(Zindex: $597,784)



Most Up & Coming Neighborhood: Pico Union

Q4 2006 Zindex: $516,498

Q4 2001 Zindex: $129,621

5-year change: 298.47%



Traditionally one of the poorest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, Pico Union seems to be in the early stages of gentrification with increased development on the area's fringes. It is heavily populated by Hispanic immigrants and also has a number of Korean businesses.

Miami

(Zindex: $329,963)



Most Up & Coming Neighborhood: Little River

Q4 2006 Zindex: $314,768

Q4 2001 Zindex: $91,351

5-year change: 244.57%



Part of Miami's “Little Haiti,” Little River is home to many Haitian Creole residents. The crime rate has decreased in recent years, and the area is experiencing a boom due to its close proximity to the Design District and the development of the new nearby Edgewater community.

New York

(Zindex: $936,439)



Most Up & Coming Neighborhood: Kingsbridge Heights, The Bronx

Q4 2006 Zindex: $442,544

Q4 2000 Zindex: $99,546*

6-year change: 344.56%



Kingsbridge Heights is a neighborhood in the West Bronx near the end of the No. 1, 4, and D subway lines. The area has seen a marked increase in luxury rental and co-op building construction in the past few years due to its location, good schools. and parks.

Phoenix

(Zindex: $229,234)



Most Up & Coming Neighborhood: Cashion

Q4 2006 Zindex: $198,951

Q4 2001 Zindex: $75,355

5-year change: 164.02%



Cashion is a recently annexed neighborhood in West Phoenix. Inexpensive housing developed in the 1950s has attracted many immigrant families from Mexico and Latin America, making the area one of the most diverse in the metropolitan area.

San Francisco

(Zindex: $835,895)



Most Up & Coming Neighborhood: Mission Bay

Q4 2006 Zindex: $704,678

Q4 2001 Zindex: $313,391

5-year change: 124.86%



Located on the central bay shore of San Francisco, Mission Bay was created in 1998 as a redevelopment project. In place of warehouses and shipping yards, the area now features luxury condos, high-end restaurants, and biotech research facilities.

Seattle

(Zindex: $447,927)



Most Up & Coming Neighborhood: University District

Q4 2006 Zindex: $436,524

Q4 2001 Zindex: $232,294

5-year change: 87.92%



Seattle's “U. District” is the home of the main campus of the University of Washington and one of the city's oldest communities. It has suffered commercial decline in recent years but remains the location of many street fairs, farmers' markets, and student bars.

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