Milton Coste

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NYC Neighborhood Comparison

Long Island City vs Soho

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

Queens|Manhattan

Long Island City

Queens

Soho

Manhattan

How They Compare

For buyers focused on affordability, Long Island City has the lower median sale price at $1.2M vs $3.8M in Soho.

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

Commuters have more transit options in Soho, which is served by 11 subway lines compared to 7 in Long Island City.

Median Sale Price
$1.2M
$3.8M
Median Rent
$5K
$8K
Active Listings
252
145
Avg Days on Market
104.5 days
72 days
YoY Price Change
+38.6%
+25.5%
Monthly Sales Volume
8
12

Detailed Comparison

MetricLong Island CitySoho
Median Sale Price$1,237,500$3,805,000
Median Condo Price$1,124,830$3,049,999.5
Median Co-op PriceN/A$3,675,000
Median Rent$4,500$8,495
Active Listings252145
Rental Inventory942147
Days on Market104.572
Price Cut Share7.5%12.4%
Monthly Sales Volume812
YoY Price Change+38.6%+25.5%
YoY Rent Change+3.4%+14.0%
YoY Inventory Change+56.5%+0.7%
Subway Lines7 E G M N R W1 6 A C E J N Q R W Z

Year-Over-Year Price Movement

Prices in Long Island City moved +38.6% over the past year, compared to +25.5% in Soho. The +38.6% gain in Long Island City reflects stronger buyer demand relative to available inventory in that market.

Neighborhood Profiles

Long Island City

Long Island City sits directly across the East River from Midtown Manhattan, reachable in one stop on the 7 train. LIC has added more than 12,000 residential units since 2015, transforming former industrial blocks into a corridor of glass-tower condos, converted loft co-ops, and rental high-rises along the waterfront. Gantry Plaza State Park, MoMA PS1, and the Hunters Point Library anchor the neighborhood’s cultural identity. Median condo prices run roughly 30-40% below comparable Manhattan waterfront units, drawing both first-time buyers and investors looking for appreciation in one of the city’s highest-growth zip codes.

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Soho

SoHo contains the world's largest concentration of cast-iron architecture, with approximately 250 landmarked buildings within the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District. The housing stock centers on spacious loft conversions with high ceilings and oversized windows, alongside luxury condominiums and pre-war walk-ups, served by the C, E, N, Q, R, W, 1, 4, and 6 trains. The cobblestone streets and commercial corridors along Broadway, West Broadway, and Prince Street define one of Manhattan's most architecturally distinctive neighborhoods.

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Transit Access

Long Island City

7EGMNRW

Hunters Point Av (7) — 0.2 mi

Court Sq (7 E G M) — 0.2 mi

Long Island City (E G M R) — 0.6 mi

Queensboro Plaza (7 N W) — 0.6 mi

Soho

16ACEJNQRWZ

Canal St (1 6 A C E J N Q R W Z) — 0.1 mi

Spring St (6 C E) — 0.2 mi

Prince St (N R W) — 0.3 mi

Franklin St (1) — 0.3 mi

Bowery (J Z) — 0.5 mi

Active Listings

Long Island City for sale

View all Long Island City listings

Soho for sale

View all Soho 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.

Long Island City vs Soho: 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. Long Island City and Soho both tracked this broader NYC arc, with annual closing volume contracting sharply in 2009 and again in Q2 2020 before normalizing.

Soho tracked the more resilient Manhattan price path with a 10% to 15% peak-to-trough decline, while Long Island City 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)Long Island CitySoho
Median Sale Price$1,237,500$3,805,000
Median Rent$4,500/mo$8,495/mo
Year-over-Year Price Change+38.6%+25.5%
Average Days on Market104.5 days72 days
Distance to Nearest Subway0.17 mi0.14 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 Long Island City cheaper than Soho?
Yes, Long Island City has a lower median sale price at $1,237,500 compared to $3,805,000 in Soho 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, Long Island City or Soho?
Long Island City has access to 7 subway lines and Soho has 11, making Soho the stronger option for transit access. Long Island City has 7 lines, which may still cover your commute depending on your destination.
Which is better for families, Long Island City or Soho?
This depends on what type of home fits your household. Long Island City and Soho 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 Long Island City or Soho?
The right neighborhood depends on your price range, commute needs, and preferred property type. A comparative market analysis (CMA) of recent sales in both Long Island City and Soho 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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