Long Island City

A former industrial center, Long Island City is an unusual New York City neighborhood. Once home to a lively art scene, it's now a site of major residential development and economic activity — including a future Amazon campus.

At a Glance

Once an industrial expanse of warehouses and taxi depots, Long Island City has seen remarkable change in the past two decades. Its waterfront is now lined with upscale, glassy new developments aimed at young professionals who seek luxury amenities and convenient access to Midtown. In 2018, Amazon chose this neighborhood as the site for one of its two new East Coast hubs, which means some industrial buildings and pothole-pocked streets will almost certainly give way to a gleaming new tech campus. New parks, restaurants, bars, and other amenities were already transforming this somewhat gritty area into a comfortable and scenic place to live and work — and with 25,000 new, high-paying jobs on the way, much more change is on the horizon.

The Mood

Though it's close to Manhattan, Long Island City has a feel all its own, of a new neighborhood sprung up out of an aging industrial area. With each new restaurant or bar, the vibrancy of its streets grows.

Heart of the Neighborhood

Long Island City has a robust art scene, with galleries and even some TV and movie studios, but MoMA's contemporary-focused PS1 museum is the artistic center of this community.

Neighborhood Quirk

Long Island City was once home to many bakeries and factories, including a Pepsi bottling plant whose iconic sign can be seen from Gantry Plaza State Park.

Best Perk

The views from Gantry Plaza State Park are truly unparalleled. Residents relish its acres of manicured green space and sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline.

Biggest Downside

As an industrial area converting into a residential one, Long Island City can still feel somewhat gritty. Many of its streets lack trees, and lifestyle amenities such as parks and grocery stores tend to be newer rather than well-established.

Prices shown are base rent only and don't include any fees. Visit each listing to see a complete cost breakdown.

$1.1M

Median Sale

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$4,135

Median Base Rent

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The Mood

Heart of the Neighborhood

Long Island City has a robust art scene, with galleries and even some TV and movie studios, but MoMA's contemporary-focused PS1 museum is the artistic center of this community.

Neighborhood Quirk

Long Island City was once home to many bakeries and factories, including a Pepsi bottling plant whose iconic sign can be seen from Gantry Plaza State Park.

Best Perk

The views from Gantry Plaza State Park are truly unparalleled. Residents relish its acres of manicured green space and sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline.

Biggest Downside

What’s close by

Rental prices shown are base rent only and don't include any fees.

1. Astoria

Median Sale: $900K Median Base Rent: $2,800

2. Greenpoint

Median Sale: $1.4M Median Base Rent: $4,400

3. Bushwick

Median Sale: $966K Median Base Rent: $3,350

4. Midtown

Median Sale: $1.6M Median Base Rent: $4,700

By the Numbers

Long Island City has seen extensive development along its waterfront. You'll find plenty of new condos with luxury amenities, incredible views and prices that increasingly rival Manhattan.

Sales
Rentals

Median Price

Price History

Neighborhood Borough Median

Rental prices shown are base rent only and don't include any fees.

Median Base Rent

Price History

Neighborhood Borough Median

*Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 ACS

Long Island City Running Gantry State Park

LIC has many newly renovated buildings with modern amenities that charge less than similar properties in Manhattan or Brooklyn.

The rapidly developing waterfront is perched on the Southwestern bank of Queens, just north of Greenpoint.

New restaurants and bars are moving in, although Long Island City is still building a sense of vibrancy. Its industrial roots lend its streets a quieter, more isolated feel.

The views of Manhattan from Gantry State Plaza Park are nothing short of spectacular.