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Chelsea
A housing market that runs the gamut
The neighborhood’s residential landscape is vast, encompassing a number of home options that include established co-op buildings, newer luxury condo towers and the landmarked townhouses of the Chelsea Historic District. It’s perhaps best known for its many remarkable residential buildings in West Chelsea, designed by some of the world’s top architects like Zaha Hadid, Jean Nouvel and Bjarke Ingels. Home prices fall along a broad spectrum and depend significantly on size, amenities and how recently a property has been renovated or built. Smaller co-ops in walk-up buildings can be had for under $500,000, while condos typically range from $750,000 to $9 million. In luxury buildings designed by top architects, condos can go for as much as $30 million. Historic Greek Revival and Italianate townhouses start at around $5 million. Chelsea also represents a diverse socio-economic landscape, with thousands of rental apartments and two large public housing complexes in the area.
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Parks and recreation are cornerstones of Chelsea living
What was once an abandoned stretch of elevated railway track, the transformed High Line park is today one of the city’s most iconic public spaces. The project highlights the neighborhood's history as a bustling connection point for goods and services. Created on tracks that were raised in the early 20th century because of too many pedestrian deaths on 10th Avenue, the nearly 1.5-mile greenway features more than 500 species of perennials, grasses, shrubs, and trees. However, residents of the area see the path as more than a place for a casual stroll. “Many residents use the High Line as a means of transportation—a way to get to school or a way to get to work,” says Johnson. The park also hosts a variety of public programs, site-specific art installations, and interactive performances throughout the year. On the neighborhood’s far west side, the family-friendly Hudson River Park offers plenty of riverfront views and places to enjoy the sunset. It also features a children’s playground with a 64-foot slide, a nature-inspired skate park and a carousel. Chelsea Piers offers a wide array of both indoor and outdoor activities, including a driving range, rock wall and year-round skating rink.
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Legendary shopping and dining options
Housed in a former biscuit factory, Chelsea Market has remained a draw for locals and visitors for over two decades. Along with gourmet bites, shoppers can find everything from fresh baked goods at Amy’s Bread to specialty grocery items from all over Asia at Pearl River Mart Foods. Trader Joe’s, Fairway Market and Whole Foods are local supermarket options. Chelsea is also known for having a robust restaurant scene. The retro-modern Empire Diner, with its craft cocktails and classic American fare, has been a neighborhood staple since 1976. It’s perhaps only overshadowed by El Quijote, the near decade-old Spanish bar and restaurant in the storied Hotel Chelsea -- once the home of Bob Dylan. For beers with a side of arcade games, residents can hit the original location of Barcade and try their hand at Ms. Pac-Man or pinball.
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West Chelsea’s art scene
While Soho has a reputation as the center of NYC's contemporary art scene, Chelsea is the place where most of galleries have moved over the past few decades. More than 200 contemporary art galleries line the neighborhood's streets, with the majority spanning the area between West 19th and 26th streets, just west of the High Line. By exploring just a few blocks, it’s easy to get a pulse on what’s current in the art world. Gallerists range from the most established, like David Zwirner, Gagosian, and Pace Gallery, to some exciting newcomers like Nicola Vassell, and there are always more to come.
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LGBTQ in Chelsea
Chelsea has long been a center of LGBTQ culture. The Church of the Holy Apostles hosted several groups that were influential in the early days of the gay rights movement in the 1960s and 1970s, and the neighborhood continues to showcase the community. The annual Pride March ends in Chelsea each year, with participants packing the streets for the entire weekend. Other events include the Chelsea Challenge, an adult hockey tournament for LGBTQ and LGBTQ-friendly players. Nightlife options are plentiful year-round, with many bars and clubs along 8th and 9th Avenues. For a quieter cocktail bar, Jungle Bird offers sophisticated mixed drinks and fancy jello shots. Residents looking to watch the game, can head to Boxers NYC or Gym Sportsbar.A number of standout schools
There are several exceptional public schools in Chelsea. Among them is P.S. 11 Sarah J. Garnet Elementary School, a pre-K and elementary school that receives an A rating on Niche. Middle and high school students can attend Quest to Learn which receives a B rating on Niche and is notable for its innovative approach to learning. Also of note for its progressive educational approach is Avenues New York, a globally focused private school for toddlers to 12th-grade students.
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Getting in and out of the area is easy—for the most part
Chelsea is accessible by several subway lines: the A, C, E and L at Eighth Avenue, the 1, 2, 3 at Seventh Avenue and the F, M and L at Sixth Avenue, with the New Jersey PATH train. Subway service extends only as far west as Eighth Avenue, but there are city buses that run crosstown to serve blocks closer to the river. Another way to get across town is to hop on a Citi Bike, with over a dozen stations throughout the neighborhood.
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Written By
Samantha Emmerling
Photography Contributed By
Joseph DiBlasi
Video By
Mallory Nolte
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Melissa Leifer
Melissa Leifer
Keller Williams NYC
(888) 504-4756
101 Total Sales
1 in Chelsea
$1,100,000 Price
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Philip Hordijk
Philip Hordijk
Leven Real Estate
(888) 504-5581
16 Total Sales
1 in Chelsea
$2,800,000 Price
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Thomas Hollingsworth
Thomas Hollingsworth
Compass
(855) 501-4226
38 Total Sales
3 in Chelsea
$555K - $1.7M Price Range
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Wesley Stanton
Wesley Stanton
Douglas Elliman Real Estate
(929) 552-0989
74 Total Sales
2 in Chelsea
$850K - $1.3M Price Range
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Sonal Patel
Sonal Patel
Elegran LLC
(877) 661-1318
8 Total Sales
1 in Chelsea
$1,155,000 Price
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Fern Hamberger
Fern Hamberger
Corcoran Group
(201) 685-3489
16 Total Sales
1 in Chelsea
$749,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 12th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Chelsea Waterside at Hudson River Park
- Basketball
- Dog Park
- Soccer
Hudson River Park
- Trails
- River
Chelsea Waterside Park
- Basketball
- Dog Park
- Soccer
Chelsea Green
- Picnic Area
- Playground
- Waterpark
Hudson River Park (Chelsea Piers)
- Basketball
- Boating
- Golf
The High Line
- Trails
- Events
- Botanical Gardens
Penn South Playground
- Basketball
- Tennis
- Playground
Pinwheel Park
- Trails
- Playground
Dr. Gertrude B. Kelly Playground
- Basketball
- Playground
Transit
Airport
Laguardia
21 min drive
Subway
14 Street (F Line)
Subway
28 Street (1,2 Line)
Subway
23 Street (A,C,E Line)
Subway
23 Street (1,2 Line)
Subway
18 Street
Subway
8 Avenue-14 Street
Bus
7 Av & W 20 St
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Chelsea | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 4 | 4 |
| Robbery | 7 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 6 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Chelsea Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Chelsea, Manhattan sell after 36 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Chelsea, Manhattan over the last 12 months is $600,000, up 22% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$610,000
Median Sale Price
$600,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$600,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$834,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
2%
Last 12 months Home Sales
515
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
22%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$224
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
5,035
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Median Year Built
1987
Months of Supply
0.10
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,257
Above the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,996
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,465
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
825
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
496
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
4,791
Open Houses
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Wednesday, Jul 305:30 - 7pm
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Wednesday, Jul 3012:30 - 1:30pm
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Wednesday, Jul 304:30 - 5:30pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Condo Buildings
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
46,815
Median Age
41
Population Density
105 ppl/acre
Population under 18
15.3%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17.9%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$110,512
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$144,103
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
94.3%
College Graduates
74.3%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
35%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
73.6%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
50''
Average Winter Low Temperature
28°F
Average Summer High Temperature
85°F
Annual Snowfall
18''
Area Factors
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
95
/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
99
/ 100
Rider's Paradise
Transit Score®
100
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk 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.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Garment District
Urban energy and history in the heart of Manhattan
Hudson Yards
Luxury high-rise living near the Hudson River
Flatiron District
Beaux-Arts buildings and a dining scene in downtown Manhattan
Midtown South
Centrally located luxury living with endless dining, shopping, and entertainment
West Village
A sought-after neighborhood with swanky homes and stylish residents
NoMad
A destination for shopping and dining near Madison Square Park
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