NY Home Guides

Iris Jiao · Brokered byeXp Realty

Manhattan, NYC

Discover
Kips Bay

Manhattan, NYC — postwar co-ops and condos, waterfront esplanade, and east-side value

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The Numbers That Matter

Kips Bay pairs full-service postwar towers and the NYU Langone medical hub with a $850K median sale price — one of Manhattan's genuine relative-value pockets, minutes from Grand Central.

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Median sale price
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Walk Score
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to Midtown
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Price / sq ft ($)

District 2 With a Zoned Elementary

Kips Bay is served by NYC Geographic District 2. School zones in New York City are address-specific, so buyers should verify the zoned school for any individual building before bidding.

The northern/Murray Hill edge is zoned to P.S. 116 Mary Lindley Murray, a well-regarded District 2 elementary. School zones are address-specific, so verify the zoned school for any individual building before bidding.

P.S. 116 zoned demand
Selected nearby public schools
P.S. 116 Mary Lindley Murray
8/10
P.S. 40 Augustus Saint-Gaudens
M.S. 104 Simon Baruch
7/10

Find Your Corner of Kips Bay

Each pocket has a different buyer profile. Use this as a starting map, then verify building-specific taxes, reserves, assessments, and school zoning.

First & Second Ave Towers

~$573K+ co-op median
Kips Bay's residential backbone of full-service doorman towers.

Mid-century brick towers and postwar co-ops line First and Second Avenues, offering doorman buildings with elevators and laundry at Manhattan's more accessible price points. This is where the neighborhood's relative affordability lives, especially in the larger co-op complexes.

~$573K+ co-op medianpostwar co-op / condo

Rose Hill

~$1.1M+ condo median
The polished, boutique-condo edge toward Third and Lexington.

West and northwest of Kips Bay, Rose Hill mixes newer condo development with restaurants and retail. It carries a slightly higher price and a more curated, Gramercy-adjacent feel.

~$1.1M+ condo medianboutique condo

Medical Corridor

~$900K–$1.2M median
Steps from NYU Langone and Bellevue along First Avenue.

Anchored by NYU Langone and Bellevue, this eastern strip runs 24 hours and draws doctors, nurses, and researchers. Buildings here trade convenience-to-work and East River views for the institutional hum.

~$900K–$1.2M mediancondo / co-op mix

Murray Hill Edge

~$750K+ median
The northern border blends into Murray Hill's transit and dining.

Around 34th Street the neighborhood shades into Murray Hill, with easier access to the 6, Q/N/R, and Grand Central. A practical pick for commuters who still want Kips Bay pricing.

~$750K+ medianco-op / condo

Find Your Best-Fit Pocket

Answer five quick questions to see which part of the neighborhood fits your buying style.

Step 1 of 5

What matters most in your day-to-day setting?

Which home type feels right?

Where do you commute most often?

What does a good weekend look like?

Which trade-off is easiest to accept?

What Your Money Gets You

Drag the slider to explore what homes look like at every price point.

$1,700,000
$400K$3M
$1.5M – $3M+
River-View Condo

New / luxury condo

Higher-floor, East River-view condos in newer full-amenity towers — Kips Bay's ceiling, still below comparable Gramercy or Midtown East luxury.

Typical size1,300 – 2,000+ sq ft
Bedrooms2 – 3 BR
NeighborhoodsWaterfront towers
Property tax est.Common charges $2,000–$3,500+/mo + taxes

Kips Bay Commute Reality

Subway and LIRR times vary by exact station, time of day, and transfer wait. These are practical planning ranges for buyer comparisons.

Going to

28th St / 33rd St (6)

6 on Park Ave South; Q/N/R a short walk west at 34th–Herald Sq; M15/M34 buses

~5 min

Grand Central

Midtown • 6 to Grand Central

Primary Line

6 · buses
The 6 is the only line inside Kips Bay; Q/N/R are a walk west.

Weekly Fare Cap

~$35/wk
OMNY caps subway and bus spend after $35 in seven days.

Parking

$500–$700+/mo
Street parking is scarce; most residents are car-free.

How Other Towns Reach Midtown

LocationTo MidtownTransitMonthly Pass
Kips Bay~5 min6 · M15~$35/wk
Midtown East~3 min6 · E/M~$35/wk
Murray Hill~4 min6 · 4/5/7/S~$35/wk
NoMad~5 minN/Q/R/W · 6~$35/wk
Gramercy~8 min6 · L · N/Q/R~$35/wk

Kips Bay vs. the Alternatives

Pick a nearby alternative to see the practical trade-offs in price, transit, housing stock, and daily life.

Compare with
Murray Hill has denser transit and a livelier dining strip near Grand Central; Kips Bay trades a bit of that connectivity for the East River esplanade, the medical hub, and slightly lower prices.
CategoryThis AreaMurray Hill
Median Sale Price$850K$750K
To Midtown~5 min~4 min
Transit6 (main)6 · 4/5/7/S
WaterfrontEast River esplanadeNone
FeelResidential, medicalCommuter, dining
Gold dot indicates the better value

Transparent Numbers

An honest look at what it costs to live in Kips Bay — because smart buyers start with real data.

Monthly Breakdown
Median Sale Price$850K
Price per Sq Ft~$1,200
Co-op Maintenance~$1,000–$2,000/mo
Weekly Transit Cap~$35
Monthly Garage Parking$500–$700+
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Walk Score — a Walker's Paradise
$250K+
rough income often needed for a 1–2BR condo purchase

Things Worth Knowing

No town is perfect. Here are the trade-offs — and why most buyers decide they're worth it.

Thinner Subway Access

Only the 6 runs through Kips Bay.
The express and west-side lines are a 5–10 minute walk, so it feels less connected than Murray Hill or Union Square. Test the walk to the Q/N/R at rush hour.

Quieter Nightlife

This is a residential, medical-anchored district.
The bar and restaurant scene is limited versus Gramercy or the East Village. Great for calm, less so for going out at your door.

Big-Tower Feel

Large postwar and modern towers dominate some blocks.
Parts of the area feel institutional and less charming than the low-rise brownstone pockets nearby. Walk the exact block before committing.

Beyond the Numbers

The character, culture, and daily rhythm that make Kips Bay more than a commuter suburb.

River

East River Esplanade

A walking-and-cycling path with skyline views of Brooklyn and Queens — a rare 'embrace the water' pocket of Manhattan.

Shop

Everyday Retail

Kips Bay Plaza brings Trader Joe's, Fairway, a pharmacy, and fitness together — plus the longtime AMC Kips Bay 15 movie theater.

Calm

Relative Safety & Calm

Consistently among Manhattan's safer neighborhoods, aided by well-lit avenues and round-the-clock institutional presence.

Ready to Explore Kips Bay?

Tell us your budget, commute target, school needs, and home type. We will help you narrow the search to the buildings and blocks that fit.

Office
Manhattan, NY 10016