In Manhattan, “Uptown” usually refers to the areas on both sides of Central Park, the Upper East Side and the Upper West side, which for the past 80-odd years or so have held some of the most expensive real estate in the world. “Downtown”, at least in terms of residential neighborhoods, can refer to places like the Lower East Side or Little Italy, which, at least until 30-40 years ago, were significantly poorer.
Consider this a British variation on the same subject:
