NYC Neighborhood Comparison
Side-by-side market data, transit, and neighborhood profiles to help you decide.
Brooklyn
Manhattan
For buyers focused on affordability, Downtown Brooklyn has the lower median sale price at $830K vs $1.2M in Upper West Side.
Investors analyzing rental yield will find Downtown Brooklyn offers a stronger rent-to-price ratio based on current market data.
Commuters have more transit options in Downtown Brooklyn, which is served by 8 subway lines compared to 5 in Upper West Side.
| Metric | Downtown Brooklyn | Upper West Side |
|---|---|---|
| Median Sale Price | $830,000 | $1,247,356 |
| Median Condo Price | $1,395,000 | $1,790,968.5 |
| Median Co-op Price | $877,953 | $847,500 |
| Median Rent | $4,780 | $4,750 |
| Active Listings | 129 | 1081 |
| Rental Inventory | 688 | 1518 |
| Days on Market | 46 | 56 |
| Price Cut Share | 10.1% | 10.5% |
| Monthly Sales Volume | 11 | 131 |
| YoY Price Change | -9.5% | -10.9% |
| YoY Rent Change | +8.4% | +5.6% |
| YoY Inventory Change | +38.7% | -12.5% |
| Subway Lines | 2 3 4 5 A C F R | 1 2 3 B C |
Prices in Downtown Brooklyn moved -9.5% over the past year, compared to -10.9% in Upper West Side. Both markets have seen price softening, with Upper West Side declining more sharply over the measured period.
Downtown Brooklyn features a mixture of historic brownstones and modern high-rise architecture. The area is built around major transit hubs, including LIRR access and multiple subway lines. Residents benefit from green space in Brooklyn Bridge Park and prominent local landmarks.
View Full Market ReportThe Upper West Side (UWS) is celebrated for its cultural richness and architectural grandeur. Set between Central Park and Riverside Park, the neighborhood provides direct access to green space within the urban grid. Residents enjoy easy access to Lincoln Center, the American Museum of Natural History, and a popular culinary scene. The real estate landscape is famous for its historic brownstones and iconic 'white-glove' apartment buildings along Central Park West and Riverside Drive.
View Full Market ReportCourt St (R) — 0.1 mi
Borough Hall (2 3 4 5) — 0.1 mi
Jay St-MetroTech (A C F R) — 0.2 mi
Clark St (2 3) — 0.3 mi
High St (A C) — 0.4 mi
86 St (1 B C) — 0.2 mi
79 St (1) — 0.3 mi
81 St-Museum of Natural History (B C) — 0.4 mi
96 St (1 2 3 B C) — 0.5 mi
72 St (1 2 3) — 0.7 mi
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.
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. Downtown Brooklyn and Upper West Side both tracked this broader NYC arc, with annual closing volume contracting sharply in 2009 and again in Q2 2020 before normalizing.
Upper West Side tracked the more resilient Manhattan price path with a 10% to 15% peak-to-trough decline, while Downtown Brooklyn 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) | Downtown Brooklyn | Upper West Side |
|---|---|---|
| Median Sale Price | $830,000 | $1,247,356 |
| Median Rent | $4,780/mo | $4,750/mo |
| Year-over-Year Price Change | -9.5% | -10.9% |
| Average Days on Market | 46 days | 56 days |
| Distance to Nearest Subway | 0.07 mi | 0.15 mi |
Table values reflect current 2026 market conditions. Historical 2008-2020 commentary is sourced from Case-Shiller NYC metro composite and StreetEasy historical series.
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Data updated: