In NYC its not Colonials and Split Levels, its.......

....Pre-War or Post-War.

 The dividing line between post war and pre way is somewhat murkey...the "war" that is being referred to is WWII which ended in 1945.

Pre War buildings generally have larger rooms, eat in kitchens, hard wood floors, high ceilings and tons of closet space. They are generally thought of to be very quiet since sheet rock was not used yet, rather, the walls are cement. They also have electrical and plumbing systems that are quiet old and antiquated. Prewar buildings often offer more gracious room size and ceiling heights, but their reputation for quiet is a bit of an overstatement. Tenements (built on a shoestring budget for working-class renters) and brownstones (originally designed for occupancy by a single family rather than being diced up into apartments) tend to be among the least quiet buildings to live in, while older buildings that were specifically constructed as multiple-use buildings for middle- and upper-class residents tend to have excellent soundproofing.

Post War buildings tend to be high rise, doorman, granite kitchen, marble baths, thin sheet rock walls allowing neighbors to hear each other breath, a lack of closet space and tons of amenities. You get what you pay for in new (post-2000) construction. A quality job by an experienced builder yields tomb-like quiet, lower energy bills, and finishes that don't fall apart after two years. Plus, you may have perks like in-unit washer dryers, bigger windows, potentially amazing building amenities, modern layouts, etc., that are rare if not impossible to find in prewar counterparts.