Milton Coste

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NYC Neighborhood Comparison

Briarwood vs Hamilton Heights

Side-by-side market data, transit, and neighborhood profiles to help you decide.

Queens|Manhattan

Briarwood

Queens

Hamilton Heights

Manhattan

How They Compare

For buyers focused on affordability, Briarwood has the lower median sale price at $325K vs $645K in Hamilton Heights.

Investors analyzing rental yield will find Briarwood offers a stronger rent-to-price ratio based on current market data.

Commuters have more transit options in Hamilton Heights, which is served by 5 subway lines compared to 0 in Briarwood.

Median Sale Price
$325K
$645K
Median Rent
$2K
$3K
Active Listings
39
83
Avg Days on Market
36.5 days
76.5 days
YoY Price Change
-29.3%
+20.7%
Monthly Sales Volume
9
7

Detailed Comparison

MetricBriarwoodHamilton Heights
Median Sale Price$325,000$645,000
Median Condo PriceN/A$532,500
Median Co-op Price$276,250$400,000
Median Rent$2,300$3,000
Active Listings3983
Rental Inventory53235
Days on Market36.576.5
Price Cut Share10.3%7.2%
Monthly Sales Volume97
YoY Price Change-29.3%+20.7%
YoY Rent Change+15.0%+7.1%
YoY Inventory Change-7.1%+22.1%
Subway LinesN/A1 A B C D

Year-Over-Year Price Movement

Prices in Briarwood moved -29.3% over the past year, compared to +20.7% in Hamilton Heights. Hamilton Heights is seeing price appreciation while Briarwood has softened, pointing to different supply-demand dynamics in each market.

Neighborhood Profiles

Briarwood

Briarwood is a residential neighborhood in central Queens with Tudor Revival, Colonial, and ranch-style single-family homes alongside low-rise garden apartment co-ops and prewar brick buildings. The E and F trains stop at Briarwood-Van Wyck Boulevard, providing express service to Midtown Manhattan. The neighborhood sits between three major green spaces: Forest Park to the west, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park to the north, and the Kissena Corridor to the east.

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Hamilton Heights

Hamilton Heights is a historic and architecturally stunning section of Harlem, named after Alexander Hamilton. The neighborhood is famous for its grand row houses and the beautiful campus of City College. Residents enjoy proximity to Riverbank State Park and a growing number of cafes and restaurants. The real estate market features a mix of impeccably preserved historic townhouses, value-driven HDFC cooperatives, and modern boutique developments.

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Transit Access

Briarwood

No subway data available

Hamilton Heights

1ABCD

145 St (1 A B C D) — 0.2 mi

125 St (1) — 0.7 mi

Active Listings

Briarwood for sale

View all Briarwood listings

Hamilton Heights for sale

View all Hamilton Heights listings

Listing data is derived in whole or in part from the RLS at REBNY (Real Estate Board of New York) Internet Data Exchange (IDX) database. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Milton Coste | Keller Williams NYC are marked with the RLS logo. The information provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data is refreshed every 15 minutes per REBNY IDX requirements.

Briarwood vs Hamilton Heights: Home Price Resilience 2008-2020

From the 2008 financial crisis through the 2020 pandemic, the NYC metro Case-Shiller composite fell about 25% peak-to-trough between 2007 and 2012, then fully recovered by 2017 and gained another 15% through Q1 2020. Briarwood and Hamilton Heights both tracked this broader NYC arc, with annual closing volume contracting sharply in 2009 and again in Q2 2020 before normalizing.

Hamilton Heights tracked the more resilient Manhattan price path with a 10% to 15% peak-to-trough decline, while Briarwood moved closer to the broader NYC metro pattern of a 20% to 25% retracement before recovering through 2017.

Source: Per Case-Shiller Home Price Index, NYC metro subset, 2008-2020, cross-referenced with StreetEasy historical price data series.

Metric (2026)BriarwoodHamilton Heights
Median Sale Price$325,000$645,000
Median Rent$2,300/mo$3,000/mo
Year-over-Year Price Change-29.3%+20.7%
Average Days on Market36.5 days76.5 days
Distance to Nearest SubwayN/A0.20 mi

Table values reflect current 2026 market conditions. Historical 2008-2020 commentary is sourced from Case-Shiller NYC metro composite and StreetEasy historical series.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Briarwood cheaper than Hamilton Heights?
Yes, Briarwood has a lower median sale price at $325,000 compared to $645,000 in Hamilton Heights as of the most recent market data. Co-op and condo prices within each neighborhood can vary significantly, so the right fit depends on property type and building.
Which has better transit, Briarwood or Hamilton Heights?
Briarwood has access to 0 subway lines and Hamilton Heights has 5, making Hamilton Heights the stronger option for transit access. Briarwood has 0 lines, which may still cover your commute depending on your destination.
Which is better for families, Briarwood or Hamilton Heights?
This depends on what type of home fits your household. Briarwood and Hamilton Heights both offer a mix of apartment and multi-room units in co-ops, condos, and townhouses. Larger 3- and 4-bedroom units, including townhouses and multi-family properties, tend to be more available in lower-density areas. Reviewing active listings filtered by bedroom count is the most reliable way to see what each neighborhood currently offers for larger households. A licensed broker can pull current inventory by bedroom count across both areas for a direct comparison.
Should I buy in Briarwood or Hamilton Heights?
The right neighborhood depends on your price range, commute needs, and preferred property type. A comparative market analysis (CMA) of recent sales in both Briarwood and Hamilton Heights gives you the clearest picture of what your budget gets in each location. Request a free CMA from Milton Coste to get a side-by-side breakdown of current opportunities.

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