Milton Coste

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NYC Neighborhood Comparison

Jamaica Estates vs Manhattan

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

Queens|Manhattan

Jamaica Estates

Queens

Manhattan

Manhattan

How They Compare

For buyers focused on affordability, Jamaica Estates has the lower median sale price at $1.1M vs $1.1M in Manhattan.

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

Commuters have more transit options in Manhattan, which is served by 5 subway lines compared to 0 in Jamaica Estates.

Median Sale Price
$1.1M
$1.1M
Median Rent
$2K
$5K
Active Listings
19
7987
Avg Days on Market
67 days
64 days
YoY Price Change
-9.3%
+2.7%
Monthly Sales Volume
5
758

Detailed Comparison

MetricJamaica EstatesManhattan
Median Sale Price$1,095,000$1,129,900
Median Condo PriceN/A$1,550,000
Median Co-op Price$186,000$865,000
Median Rent$2,250$4,750
Active Listings197987
Rental Inventory2113608
Days on Market6764
Price Cut Share21.1%11.7%
Monthly Sales Volume5758
YoY Price Change-9.3%+2.7%
YoY Rent Change-11.8%+7.5%
YoY Inventory Change+35.7%-0.5%
Subway LinesN/A1 2 3 B C

Year-Over-Year Price Movement

Prices in Jamaica Estates moved -9.3% over the past year, compared to +2.7% in Manhattan. Manhattan is seeing price appreciation while Jamaica Estates has softened, pointing to different supply-demand dynamics in each market.

Neighborhood Profiles

Jamaica Estates

Jamaica Estates is a residential Queens neighborhood of large Tudor, Colonial, and Mediterranean-style homes on winding tree-lined streets along the hills of the terminal moraine. The F train at Hillside Avenue and the LIRR at Jamaica station are accessible by bus. The Grand Central Parkway borders the neighborhood to the north, providing highway access to Manhattan and Long Island.

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Manhattan

Manhattan is the most densely built borough in New York City, stretching 13 miles from Battery Park to Inwood and encompassing over 70 distinct neighborhoods. The housing stock ranges from prewar co-ops on the Upper East Side to luxury glass-tower condominiums in Hudson Yards, from cast-iron loft conversions in SoHo to brownstone townhouses in Harlem. Fourteen subway lines, the PATH train, and multiple ferry routes provide extensive transit coverage.

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Transit Access

Jamaica Estates

No subway data available

Manhattan

123BC

81 St-Museum of Natural History (B C) — 0.1 mi

86 St (1 B C) — 0.2 mi

79 St (1) — 0.5 mi

72 St (1 2 3 B C) — 0.5 mi

96 St (1 2 3 B C) — 0.7 mi

Active Listings

Jamaica Estates for sale

View all Jamaica Estates listings

Manhattan for sale

View all Manhattan 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.

Jamaica Estates vs Manhattan: 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. Jamaica Estates and Manhattan both tracked this broader NYC arc, with annual closing volume contracting sharply in 2009 and again in Q2 2020 before normalizing.

Manhattan tracked the more resilient Manhattan price path with a 10% to 15% peak-to-trough decline, while Jamaica Estates 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)Jamaica EstatesManhattan
Median Sale Price$1,095,000$1,129,900
Median Rent$2,250/mo$4,750/mo
Year-over-Year Price Change-9.3%+2.7%
Average Days on Market67 days64 days
Distance to Nearest SubwayN/A0.14 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 Jamaica Estates cheaper than Manhattan?
Yes, Jamaica Estates has a lower median sale price at $1,095,000 compared to $1,129,900 in Manhattan 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, Jamaica Estates or Manhattan?
Jamaica Estates has access to 0 subway lines and Manhattan has 5, making Manhattan the stronger option for transit access. Jamaica Estates has 0 lines, which may still cover your commute depending on your destination.
Which is better for families, Jamaica Estates or Manhattan?
This depends on what type of home fits your household. Jamaica Estates and Manhattan 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 Jamaica Estates or Manhattan?
The right neighborhood depends on your price range, commute needs, and preferred property type. A comparative market analysis (CMA) of recent sales in both Jamaica Estates and Manhattan 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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