I lived there for a year in the 90s, on 45th between 8th & 9th. Caveats: that was 20+ years ago, and also I'm not even going to address Covid, because that's making life suck everywhere.

Overall, I really didn't like it. And I was young and ready for excitement at the time. In middle age, I'd be really unhappy living there again.

My take is that the farther from 42nd St. you are, the better. I'd also check the soundproofing and security of the building really carefully.

Pros:

• If you like theater, it's all right there. You're also close to Carnegie Hall, City Center, Lincoln Center, etc. Lots of movie theaters too.

• There are a lot of bars & restaurants on and near 9th ave.

• Your local subway station connects to almost every line in Manhattan.

• You are very close to Port Authority, Penn Station, Grand Central.

• If you work in Midtown, you can walk to/from work. A walking commute iscan bereally nice.

Cons:

• the crowds of tourists, by the unholy name of robert moses they are awful to deal with, and they are there all the time. I remember popping out to the store to pick up a few things and having to battle through 2-3 huge shuffling stupid crowds of tourists each way in a 2 block walk. They congregate outside theaters and restaurants and are totally oblivious to anyone else trying to walk.

• your local subway station is times square. It's convenient in terms of connections but also sucks in so many ways.

• a lot of the regular neighborhood stuff (Pharmacies, grocery stores, hardware stores, etc.) are a little rarer than in other residential neighborhoods.Also you know that thing where the guys in the bodega know you? Not so much there.

• you need to really plan ahead for New Year's Eve. They close off blocks and blocks, close off some subways stations, and it starts in the afternoon. You need to plan to either be elsewhere or lock yourself in your place that night. (Or be prepared to deal with the insane crowds, I guess.)