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NYC Neighborhood Comparison
Side-by-side market data, transit, and neighborhood profiles to help you decide.
Queens
Manhattan
For buyers focused on affordability, Long Island City has the lower median sale price at $1.2M vs $1.2M in Upper West Side.
Investors analyzing rental yield will find Upper West Side offers a stronger rent-to-price ratio based on current market data.
Commuters have more transit options in Long Island City, which is served by 7 subway lines compared to 5 in Upper West Side.
| Metric | Long Island City | Upper West Side |
|---|---|---|
| Median Sale Price | $1,237,500 | $1,247,356 |
| Median Condo Price | $1,124,830 | $1,790,968.5 |
| Median Co-op Price | N/A | $847,500 |
| Median Rent | $4,500 | $4,750 |
| Active Listings | 252 | 1081 |
| Rental Inventory | 942 | 1518 |
| Days on Market | 104.5 | 56 |
| Price Cut Share | 7.5% | 10.5% |
| Monthly Sales Volume | 8 | 131 |
| YoY Price Change | +38.6% | -10.9% |
| YoY Rent Change | +3.4% | +5.6% |
| YoY Inventory Change | +56.5% | -12.5% |
| Subway Lines | 7 E G M N R W | 1 2 3 B C |
Prices in Long Island City moved +38.6% over the past year, compared to -10.9% in Upper West Side. Long Island City is seeing price appreciation while Upper West Side has softened, pointing to different supply-demand dynamics in each market.
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.
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 ReportHunters 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
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. Long Island City 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 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 City | Upper West Side |
|---|---|---|
| Median Sale Price | $1,237,500 | $1,247,356 |
| Median Rent | $4,500/mo | $4,750/mo |
| Year-over-Year Price Change | +38.6% | -10.9% |
| Average Days on Market | 104.5 days | 56 days |
| Distance to Nearest Subway | 0.17 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.
With 25+ years of experience across all five boroughs, I can help you find the right neighborhood for your lifestyle and budget.
Data updated:
