With so many different types of neighborhoods in New York, there’s one in particular that many people overlook as a place to live: Midtown. Yes, the area is familiar to locals as a home to many offices — not to mention Times Square and Grand Central Terminal. But it is so much more than that. Kips Bay, Hudson Yards, Sutton Place, Beekman, and Murray Hill make Midtown Manhattan a very desirable place to live.
According to the StreetEasy Data Dashboard, the median asking sale price is higher in Midtown compared to the rest of Manhattan ($2.3 million versus $1.5 million as of December 2021), and the same is true with the median rent ($4,750 compared to $3,500 a month). But, of course, there are many units for less than the area’s medians. Just check out the listings throughout this post. Here’s what you need to know about living in Midtown, Manhattan.
Midtown Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Kips Bay
331 East 33rd Street
$2,800No Fee
1 |
1
Turtle Bay
225 East 46th Street
$2,500No Fee
Studio |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
448 West 54th Street
$2,550No Fee
1 |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
353 West 44th Street
$2,492No Fee
Studio |
1
Turtle Bay
132 East 45th Street
$3,000No Fee
Studio |
1
Kips Bay
250 East 30th Street
$3,000No Fee
Studio |
1
Murray Hill
647 Second Avenue
$2,495No Fee
1 |
1
Turtle Bay
303 East 46th Street
$2,900No Fee
1 |
1
Kips Bay
326 East 25th Street
$2,600No Fee
Studio |
1
Kips Bay
208 East 28th Street
$2,650No Fee
Studio |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
539 West 49th Street
$2,750No Fee
1 |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
539 West 49th Street
$2,650No Fee
1 |
1
Where Is Midtown?
Midtown takes up a massive portion of Manhattan. It stretches from 34th Street to 59th Street and spans the entire island from the Hudson River to the East River. And unlike other smaller neighborhoods with distinct personalities, Midtown is so large that it has a variety of vibes between Midtown East and Midtown West.
On the east side, you’ll get a more classic NYC experience with access to some of the city’s most storied institutions. Meanwhile, the west side is filled with newer developments like Manhattan West and is home to a more bustling nightlife scene. So no matter what you like doing, you can find options on both ends of the spectrum in Midtown.
Midtown Homes Under $750K on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Kips Bay
229 East 29th Street
$380,000
Studio |
1
Turtle Bay
321 East 48th Street
$445,000
Studio |
1
Sutton Place
420 East 55th Street
$645,000
1 |
1
Kips Bay
229 East 28th Street
$379,000
Studio |
1
Murray Hill
320 East 42nd Street
$339,000
Studio |
1
Murray Hill
305 East 40th Street
$499,000
Studio |
1
Murray Hill
210 East 36th Street
$395,000
Studio |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
348 West 56th Street
$579,000
1 |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
349 West 44th Street
$450,000
1 |
1
Kips Bay
245 East 24th Street
$690,000
1 |
1
Kips Bay
229 East 28th Street
$425,000
Studio |
1
Kips Bay
350 East 30th Street
$669,000
1 |
1
What Are the Housing Options in Midtown?
The housing stock in Midtown is similarly diverse. Apartments come in all shapes and sizes, from studios to palatial dwellings with 20 or more rooms. There are co-ops, rentals, condominiums, and brownstones, two-and three-story walk-ups, and 80-story apartment towers loaded with amenities.
And though Midtown seems packed to the brim with housing already, new buildings and options continue to pop up, such as the renovated Waldorf Astoria, 45-story Rose Hill, Central Park Tower — the tallest residential building in the city — and The Centrale, a 71-story residential structure with expansive views.
“You can live in a charming pre-war building, or you can live in a super tall new building on Billionaire’s Row,” said Sheila Trichter, a broker for Warburg Realty. “The prices vary as well, some are reasonable, and some are not.”
Midtown East Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below
Kips Bay
331 East 33rd Street
$2,800No Fee
1 |
1
Turtle Bay
225 East 46th Street
$2,500No Fee
Studio |
1
Turtle Bay
132 East 45th Street
$3,000No Fee
Studio |
1
Kips Bay
250 East 30th Street
$3,000No Fee
Studio |
1
Murray Hill
647 Second Avenue
$2,495No Fee
1 |
1
Turtle Bay
303 East 46th Street
$2,900No Fee
1 |
1
Kips Bay
326 East 25th Street
$2,600No Fee
Studio |
1
Kips Bay
208 East 28th Street
$2,650No Fee
Studio |
1
Murray Hill
140 East 40th Street
$2,800No Fee
Studio |
1
Murray Hill
647 Second Avenue
$2,370No Fee
1 |
1
Kips Bay
160 East 27th Street
$2,800No Fee
Studio |
1
Murray Hill
243 East 39th Street
$2,400No Fee
1 |
1
Parks and Green Spaces in Midtown
While it’s true Midtown is filled with many skyscrapers and office buildings, it also contains some of the most coveted green spaces in the city. The neighborhood is home to the picturesque Bryant Park, which hosts events year-round, including a free ice-skating rink at its Winter Village from November to March, and a film series and musical and theatrical performances in the warmer months.
The neighborhood abuts the southern border of Central Park, with nearby features of the green space including the Central Park Zoo, Heckscher Playground, and Wollman Rink.
Hudson River Park borders Midtown to the west. The park is home to manicured jogging and biking paths, playgrounds, as well as numerous piers with kayaking available.
Midtown West Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Hell’s Kitchen
448 West 54th Street
$2,550No Fee
1 |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
353 West 44th Street
$2,492No Fee
Studio |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
539 West 49th Street
$2,750No Fee
1 |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
539 West 49th Street
$2,650No Fee
1 |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
408 West 48th Street
$2,550No Fee
1 |
1
Hudson Yards
506 Ninth Avenue
$2,599No Fee
1 |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
301 West 45th Street
$3,000No Fee
Studio |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
393 West 49th Street
$2,950No Fee
Studio |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
451 West 44th Street
$3,000No Fee
2 |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
705 Ninth Avenue
$2,800No Fee
1 |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
447 West 43rd Street
$2,200No Fee
Studio |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
657 Tenth Avenue
$2,300No Fee
Studio |
1
Transportation Options in Midtown
Midtown living provides easy access to some of the largest transit hubs in the world, including Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station, and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The neighborhood is served by virtually every train line, making travel within Manhattan and to the other boroughs relatively easy.
The commuter lines of the Long Island Railroad, Metro-North, New Jersey Transit, and the PATH depart from Midtown, providing access to areas north and south of the city, and Amtrak trains traveling throughout the country leave from the newly-built Moynihan Train Hall across from Penn Station.
Kips Bay Homes Under $750K on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Kips Bay
229 East 29th Street
$380,000
Studio |
1
Kips Bay
229 East 28th Street
$379,000
Studio |
1
Kips Bay
245 East 24th Street
$690,000
1 |
1
Kips Bay
229 East 28th Street
$425,000
Studio |
1
Kips Bay
350 East 30th Street
$669,000
1 |
1
Kips Bay
343 East 30th Street
$675,000
Studio |
1
Kips Bay
305 East 24th Street
$539,000
1 |
1
Kips Bay
201 East 25th Street
$475,000
Studio |
1
Kips Bay
133 East 30th Street
$619,000
1 |
1
Kips Bay
215 East 24th Street
$595,000
1 |
1
Kips Bay
200 East 24th Street
$535,000
1 |
1
Kips Bay
215 East 29th Street
$389,000
Studio |
1
What To Do & Eat In Midtown
There are countless indoor and outdoor activities to choose from in Midtown. While there are lots of tourist attractions, Midtown also houses some of the city’s top restaurants, shops, and nightlife that locals love.
“Midtown is recognized for luxury shopping, world-class restaurants, and a plethora of historical landmarks such as the Chrysler Building, Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center, the Plaza Hotel, and Billionaire Row on 57th Street,” said Karen Kostiw, an agent for Warburg Realty. “It’s also the heart of the Theater District, including Carnegie Hall and other music venues such as Madison Square Garden and Radio Music Hall. Plus, there are several cultural spots such as the Museum of Modern Art and the main branch of the NYC Public Library.”
Eating in Midtown
Covering such a wide swath of Manhattan, Midtown can provide anything you want, food-wise. It is, of course, filled with plentiful fine dining experiences that will also cost you: Le Bernardin, Marea, and STK Steakhouse NYC come to mind.
But there are innumerable options including casual spots (PJ Clarke’s, Pio Pio, Tacombi), international fare (Totto Ramen, Tempura Matsui, and Spice Symphony), and fantastic places to grab a quick bite and go (Ess-a-Bagel, UrbanSpace Vanderbilt, and Little Beet).
Shopping in Midtown
When it comes to shopping, your options are similarly varied, skewing towards big brands and luxury. Choices include Macy’s flagship store at 34th Street, the luxury mall of Hudson Yards far west, the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle, as well as Bloomingdale’s, Rockefeller Center shops, and places for bargain hunters like TJ Maxx. Midtown is also where you’ll find interesting specialty districts such as the Garment District and the Diamond District.