Milton Coste

Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker

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NYC Neighborhood Comparison

Melrose vs Upper East Side

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

Bronx|Manhattan

Melrose

Bronx

Upper East Side

Manhattan

How They Compare

Commuters have more transit options in Upper East Side, which is served by 3 subway lines compared to 0 in Melrose.

Median Sale Price
$0
$1.3M
Median Rent
$2K
$4K
Active Listings
4
1593
Avg Days on Market
0 days
59 days
YoY Price Change
0.0%
+31.0%
Monthly Sales Volume
1
170

Detailed Comparison

MetricMelroseUpper East Side
Median Sale Price$0$1,332,500
Median Condo PriceN/A$1,800,000
Median Co-op PriceN/A$1,167,500
Median Rent$2,322.5$4,270
Active Listings41593
Rental Inventory81686
Days on Market059
Price Cut Share0.0%13.1%
Monthly Sales Volume1170
YoY Price Change0.0%+31.0%
YoY Rent Change0.0%+6.9%
YoY Inventory Change0.0%-3.7%
Subway LinesN/A4 5 6

Year-Over-Year Price Movement

Prices in Melrose moved 0.0% over the past year, compared to +31.0% in Upper East Side. The +31.0% gain in Upper East Side reflects stronger buyer demand relative to available inventory in that market.

Neighborhood Profiles

Melrose

Melrose features 19th-century brownstones, neo-Renaissance apartment houses, and modern LEED-certified developments like Via Verde, all anchored by the commercial corridors along Third Avenue and Melrose Avenue. The 2 and 5 trains stop at East 149th Street, the 4 train serves nearby stations, and St. Mary's Park provides 35 acres of green space on the neighborhood's edge.

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Upper East Side

The Upper East Side remains the gold standard for classic New York elegance. Known for 'Museum Mile' and its low-traffic, tree-lined streets, the neighborhood offers a refined lifestyle away from the midtown bustle. While famous for its historic cooperatives, the area has seen a recent surge in ultra-luxury new construction condos, particularly along the Second Avenue Subway corridor, making it a top choice for both traditionalists and modern buyers.

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Transit Access

Melrose

No subway data available

Upper East Side

456

77 St (6) — 0.2 mi

86 St (4 5 6) — 0.4 mi

68 St-Hunter College (6) — 0.5 mi

Active Listings

Melrose for sale

View all Melrose listings

Upper East Side for sale

View all Upper East Side 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.

Melrose vs Upper East Side: 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. Melrose and Upper East Side both tracked this broader NYC arc, with annual closing volume contracting sharply in 2009 and again in Q2 2020 before normalizing.

Upper East Side tracked the more resilient Manhattan price path with a 10% to 15% peak-to-trough decline, while Melrose 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)MelroseUpper East Side
Median Sale Price$0$1,332,500
Median Rent$2,322.5/mo$4,270/mo
Year-over-Year Price Change0.0%+31.0%
Average Days on Market0 days59 days
Distance to Nearest SubwayN/A0.17 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 Melrose cheaper than Upper East Side?
Median sale price data is not yet available for one or both neighborhoods. Contact Milton for a current market analysis.
Which has better transit, Melrose or Upper East Side?
Melrose has access to 0 subway lines and Upper East Side has 3, making Upper East Side the stronger option for transit access. Melrose has 0 lines, which may still cover your commute depending on your destination.
Which is better for families, Melrose or Upper East Side?
This depends on what type of home fits your household. Melrose and Upper East Side 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 Melrose or Upper East Side?
The right neighborhood depends on your price range, commute needs, and preferred property type. A comparative market analysis (CMA) of recent sales in both Melrose and Upper East Side 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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Need Help Choosing?

With 25+ years of experience across all five boroughs, I can help you find the right neighborhood for your lifestyle and budget.

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