City Island

The City Island Yacht Club and crossing the bridge to Pelham Bay Park
Small, sandy beaches pop up around City Island in private backyards and at the end of residential blocks. While many boaters are the happy owners of backyard docks, a lack of waterfront property is not a barrier to getting out on the Long Island Sound. Businesses like the Harlem and City Island yacht clubs offer dock slips, and motorboats, sailboats and kayaks can all be seen exploring the water and nearby Pelham Islands. Racing crews meet up at City Island Yacht Club before regattas on Wednesday nights from May through September. Ambrosini Field positions baseball diamonds and a playground on the waterfront. Hawkins Park is a pocket of shady trees, benches and marine animal sculptures off City Island Avenue. Across the City Island Bridge, residents can find the largest park in New York City, Pelham Bay Park. Classic community park amenities like playgrounds and tennis courts attract many visitors, while the more niche benefits of horseback riding trails and the crescent-shaped Orchard Beach call to others.Diverse single-family homes and condos in City Island.
The homes that fill City Island’s residential blocks create a far from cookie-cutter streetscape, ranging from small cottages, bungalows and national homes that have been standing since the prewar era to classic midcentury ranch-style homes that popped up through the 1960s. “It’s a really eclectic mix of housing. On King Avenue, there’s some really nice waterfront houses that are 3,500, 4,000 square feet,” says Sona Davidian, an associate real estate broker with Compass Greater New York who has more than 30 years of experience from City Island to lower Westchester County. “That being said, some homes are updated, some not so much. It depends on the owner. Houses in better condition will have higher prices.” Single-family homes sell for $615,000 to $1.6 million depending on square footage and proximity to the water. Condos in a handful of complexes like the Sailmaker sell for $380,000 to $830,000. Sidewalks connect densely plotted streets from one side of the island to the other. City Island has a CAP Index crime score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.Shopping and dining along City Island Avenue
City Island Avenue runs the length of the island, housing dozens of restaurants and small boutique shopping locales on the main drag and quieter offshoots. The City Island Lobster House is the first restaurant off the bridge, serving dozens of seafood dishes to patrons in a cozy diner interior and out on a dockside patio. “The Black Whale is more of a local spot. Different people have owned it, but always someone local. It’s been there forever,” Giudice says. Seafood dominates the dining scene, but small bars and delis pop up along sidewalks between main street-style businesses like the local hardware store, small art galleries and post office. Dominick’s Market is the island’s grocery store. A handful of houses of worship hold services across the island, including St. Mary Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church and Temple Beth El of City Island.Craft festivals and chowder competitions in City Island
The City Island Chamber of Commerce is one of several civic organizations that helps put on events throughout the year, most notably two street arts and craft fairs in early and late summer. Dozens of vendors pop up booths along City Island Avenue as musicians perform in Hawkins Park during both festivals, but competitive chowder crafting fires up samplers and participating chefs alike during the September weekend. “Politicians stop by and all the local restaurants participate, they judge both the red and the white chowders. You can just keep on tasting. That’s a nice day out,” Giudice says.P.S. 175 City Island and applying to mainland high schools
Students attend kindergarten through eighth grades on the island at P.S. 175 City Island which earns a B-minus from Niche. For high school, kids will need to apply to private schools or for seats at nearby public schools. Harry S. Truman High School is about 5 miles away in Co-op City and earns a B, known for allowing students to take astronomy classes in the Northeast Bronx Planetarium. “Believe it or not, some people will leave City Island while their kids are in high school and then move back,” Giudice says.Local buses and crossing the City Island Bridge
Outside of sailing away, the City Island Bridge is the only way to leave City Island. “In summer, traffic is horrendous with all the people coming to eat. There's only one way in or out,” Davidian says. “You can cross right into the Bronx, but it’s not the most convenient place to live if you’re commuting to Manhattan.” The BxM8 is an express bus that offers an hour and 25-minute ride to Manhattan, while the B29 can take riders to the Pelham Bay Park Station for a 50-minute trip on the 6 train to Grand Central Station. Manhattan is a roughly 18-mile drive away, and LaGuardia Airport is about 15 miles away. Jacobi Medical Center supplies medical care 5 miles from home.Limited flood zones on the City Island waterfront
While City Island is ringed by higher-risk flood zones that plague many waterfront communities, risk is not universally high. “We don’t have too many raised homes. The only time flooding is really bad is during once-in-a-century storms like Sandy, normal rain storms don’t flood City Island,” Giudice says, about Hurricane Sandy in 2012. “Not every waterfront property requires flood insurance, it depends on elevation.” Buyers can get an idea of flood insurance needs by consulting FEMA maps.


Agents Specializing in this Area
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Michael Ciofalo
Keller Williams NY Realty
(914) 491-3910
37 Total Sales
1 in City Island
$580,000 Price
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Kevin Lang
Compass Greater NY, LLC
(845) 403-0750
71 Total Sales
2 in City Island
$470K - $580K Price Range
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Bernadette Massa
Keller Williams Realty Group
(866) 758-4490
31 Total Sales
1 in City Island
$699,000 Price
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Lisa Emanuele
Responds QuicklyERA Insite Realty Services
(914) 444-1859
32 Total Sales
1 in City Island
$800,000 Price
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Anthony Marciano
Century 21 Marciano
(914) 491-5254
18 Total Sales
1 in City Island
$1,150,000 Price
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Victor Germano
Motivated Access Realty Corp.
(855) 427-2138
14 Total Sales
1 in City Island
$623,000 Price
Schools
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Transit
Reviews
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | City Island | US |
---|---|---|
Homicide | 2 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 2 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
Robbery | 3 | 4 |
Burglary | 2 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 4 |
Larceny | 3 | 4 |
Crime Score | 2 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
City Island Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in City Island, Bronx sell after 100 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in City Island, Bronx over the last 12 months is $289,995, down 10% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
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Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
Some Transit
Transit Score®
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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