Milton Coste

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NYC Neighborhood Comparison

Hamilton Heights vs Upper West Side

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

Manhattan|Manhattan

Hamilton Heights

Manhattan

Upper West Side

Manhattan

How They Compare

For buyers focused on affordability, Hamilton Heights has the lower median sale price at $645K vs $1.2M in Upper West Side.

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

Median Sale Price
$645K
$1.2M
Median Rent
$3K
$5K
Active Listings
83
1081
Avg Days on Market
76.5 days
56 days
YoY Price Change
+20.7%
-10.9%
Monthly Sales Volume
7
131

Detailed Comparison

MetricHamilton HeightsUpper West Side
Median Sale Price$645,000$1,247,356
Median Condo Price$532,500$1,790,968.5
Median Co-op Price$400,000$847,500
Median Rent$3,000$4,750
Active Listings831081
Rental Inventory2351518
Days on Market76.556
Price Cut Share7.2%10.5%
Monthly Sales Volume7131
YoY Price Change+20.7%-10.9%
YoY Rent Change+7.1%+5.6%
YoY Inventory Change+22.1%-12.5%
Subway Lines1 A B C D1 2 3 B C

Year-Over-Year Price Movement

Prices in Hamilton Heights moved +20.7% over the past year, compared to -10.9% in Upper West Side. Hamilton Heights is seeing price appreciation while Upper West Side has softened, pointing to different supply-demand dynamics in each market.

Neighborhood Profiles

Hamilton Heights

Hamilton Heights is a historic and architecturally stunning section of Harlem, named after Alexander Hamilton. The neighborhood is famous for its grand row houses and the beautiful campus of City College. Residents enjoy proximity to Riverbank State Park and a growing number of cafes and restaurants. The real estate market features a mix of impeccably preserved historic townhouses, value-driven HDFC cooperatives, and modern boutique developments.

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Upper West Side

The 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.

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Transit Access

Hamilton Heights

1ABCD

145 St (1 A B C D) — 0.2 mi

125 St (1) — 0.7 mi

Upper West Side

123BC

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

Active Listings

Hamilton Heights for sale

View all Hamilton Heights listings

Upper West Side for sale

View all Upper West 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.

Hamilton Heights vs Upper West 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. Hamilton Heights 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.

Manhattan core neighborhoods such as Hamilton Heights and Upper West Side showed shallower price drawdowns than the metro composite. Co-op resale prices in established Manhattan submarkets typically retraced 10% to 15% from 2008 peaks, versus the wider 25% NYC metro decline, reflecting deeper buyer pools and tighter post-2010 inventory.

Source: Per Case-Shiller Home Price Index, NYC metro subset, 2008-2020, cross-referenced with StreetEasy historical price data series.

Metric (2026)Hamilton HeightsUpper West Side
Median Sale Price$645,000$1,247,356
Median Rent$3,000/mo$4,750/mo
Year-over-Year Price Change+20.7%-10.9%
Average Days on Market76.5 days56 days
Distance to Nearest Subway0.20 mi0.15 mi

Table values reflect current 2026 market conditions. Historical 2008-2020 commentary is sourced from Case-Shiller NYC metro composite and StreetEasy historical series.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hamilton Heights cheaper than Upper West Side?
Yes, Hamilton Heights has a lower median sale price at $645,000 compared to $1,247,356 in Upper West Side 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, Hamilton Heights or Upper West Side?
Both Hamilton Heights and Upper West Side are served by 5 subway lines within walking distance. The best choice depends on which specific lines serve your commute route.
Which is better for families, Hamilton Heights or Upper West Side?
This depends on what type of home fits your household. Hamilton Heights and Upper West 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 Hamilton Heights or Upper West 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 Hamilton Heights and Upper West 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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