It is the northernmost part of the West Harlem area, along with Manhattanville and Morningside Heights to its south,[4] and it contains the sub-neighborhood and historic district of Sugar Hill.

[6] Hamilton Heights is part of Manhattan Community District 9, and its primary ZIP Codes are 10031, 10032, and 10039.

Based on data from the 2010 United States Census, the population of Hamilton Heights was 48,520, a decrease of 2,035 (4.0%) from the 50,555 counted in 2000.

[2] In 2018, an estimated 24% of Community District 9 residents lived in poverty, compared to 14% in all of Manhattan and 20% in all of New York City.

[6] There are spacious apartment buildings, brownstones and other row houses prominently lining the leafy eastern streets of Hamilton Heights, an area traditionally home to a substantial black professional class.

Hamilton Heights had a very heavy population of Eastern European heritage, with a predominantly large amount of Russians living in this immediate area.

One of the highest hills in Hamilton Heights slopes up from the Hudson River at 155th Street, and contains the Trinity Cemetery.

[9]: 14 The concentration of fine particulate matter, the deadliest type of air pollutant, in Community District 9 is 0.008 milligrams per cubic metre (8.0×10−9 oz/cu ft), more than the city average.

[29] The United States Postal Service operates two post offices in or near Hamilton Heights: Community District 9 has a higher rate of college-educated residents than the rest of the city as of 2018[update].

[9]: 6  The percentage of students in Community District 9 excelling in math rose from 25% in 2000 to 49% in 2011, and reading achievement increased from 32% to 35% during the same time period.

[31] Community District 9's rate of elementary school student absenteeism is higher than the rest of New York City.

[10]: 24 (PDF p. 55) [9]: 6  Additionally, 65% of high school students in Community District 9 graduate on time, less than the citywide average of 75%.

[9]: 6 The New York City Department of Education operates the following public elementary and middle schools in Hamilton Heights as part of Community School District 5:[32] The following public high schools are also located in Hamilton Heights, serving grades 9–12:[32] The City College of New York, of the City University of New York system, is located in Hamilton Heights.

The New York Public Library (NYPL) operates the Hamilton Grange branch at 503 West 145th Street.

The branch, a Carnegie library, opened in 1907 and was renovated in 1975; it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[40] The New York City Subway's IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line stops in Hamilton Heights at the 137th Street–City College and 145th Street stations (1 train).