other side of the tracks

the other side of the tracks

A part of a town or city that is particularly impoverished (and usually dangerous or undesirable as a result). "Tracks" refers to railroad tracks, which are sometimes thought of as demarcating different economic areas of a town. I was always looked down on as a kid because I grew up on the other side of the tracks. His mother didn't want him dating anyone from the other side of the tracks.
See also: of, other, side, track
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

other side of the tracks

 and wrong side of the tracks
the poor part of a town or city. He was a rich boy, and she was a girl from the other side of the tracks. You don't want to buy a house in that neighborhood. It's on the wrong side of the tracks.
See also: of, other, side, track
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • side of the tracks
  • the other side of the tracks
  • the wrong side of the tracks
  • wrong side of the tracks
  • wrong side of the tracks, the
  • right side of the tracks
  • the right side of the tracks
  • from the wrong side of the tracks
  • from/on the wrong side of the tracks
  • on the wrong side of the tracks
References in periodicals archive
It is a 10-minute journey to Goole, a walk down an underpass and an hour's wait for another train back - just to get to the other side of the tracks, which is about 20 yards."