Financial District Neighborhood Guide

01 / Boundaries

Where is the Financial District? Boundaries and ZIP codes

The Financial District is bounded by the West Side Highway on the west, Chambers Street and City Hall Park on the north, the Brooklyn Bridge on the northeast, the East River on the southeast, and South Ferry and the Battery on the south. It excludes Battery Park and Battery Park City. The corner of Wall Street and Broad Street is often considered its center, and the low-rise blocks around South Street Seaport are sometimes treated as their own area. Neighborhood boundaries in New York City aren't officially set, so listing sites may draw them differently.

The Financial District is in Manhattan Community District 1. Its primary ZIP codes are 10004 (around the Battery), 10005 (around Wall Street), 10006 (around the World Trade Center), 10007 (around City Hall) and 10038 (around South Street Seaport).

02 / History

A short history: New Amsterdam to residential conversions

The Financial District roughly overlaps the boundaries of the 17th-century New Amsterdam settlement, and its street pattern predates Manhattan's grid. Federal Hall National Memorial, at Wall and Nassau Streets, stands on the site of the first U.S. capitol, where George Washington was inaugurated. For much of the 20th century it was mainly a business district. In 1995, the city's Lower Manhattan Revitalization Plan offered incentives to convert commercial buildings to residential use, and from 2013 to 2021 nearly two hundred buildings in the Financial District were converted to housing. Fulton Center, a transit hub, opened in 2014, followed by the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in 2016.

03 / Housing

Financial District apartments: co-ops, condos and rentals

Office-to-residential conversions

Much of the housing is in former office buildings converted into condos and rental apartments. Conversions often have high ceilings and large windows, but floor plans, light and amenities vary a lot from building to building, so it pays to compare layouts carefully.

New condo and rental towers

Newer residential towers add condo and rental apartments, many with amenity packages. For a new development, the offering plan sets out the building's finances and the sponsor's obligations, which is worth reading before you sign.

Co-ops and the Seaport

Some buildings are co-ops; the Liberty Tower was converted to a co-op in 1979. Co-ops require board approval and a full financial package, and many limit financing, subletting or pied-à-terre use. If you're buying from abroad, condos are usually the simpler route, because co-op boards often ask for U.S. financial history. Glenn can walk you through the difference in English, Spanish, Italian or French.

04 / Market snapshot

Financial District real estate market, September 2026

These figures come from public data sources, each measured differently, so read them as a range rather than a single price:

StreetEasy's median asking price has held between $1,195,000 and $1,250,000 since April 2026, and its median asking rent rose from $4,793 in April to $5,000 in September. Redfin's median sale price is down 15.9% from a year earlier. Whether you're weighing Financial District apartments for sale or for rent, Glenn can pull recent comparable sales and rentals for the building you have in mind. If you already own in the Financial District, you can request a free valuation.

05 / Subway lines

Getting around: Financial District subway lines

These subway stations serve the Financial District:

• Fulton St (2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J, Z), part of Fulton Center
• Wall St (2, 3), on William Street, and Wall St (4, 5), on Broadway
• Broad St (J, Z)
• Bowling Green (4, 5)
• Rector St (1) and Rector St (R, W)
• WTC Cortlandt (1) and Cortlandt St (R, W)
• South Ferry (1) and Whitehall St–South Ferry (R, W), at the southern tip

06 / Parks, libraries and landmarks

Parks, libraries and landmarks

The Battery and Bowling Green sit at the southern end of the district; Bowling Green is the starting point of ticker-tape parades up Broadway, the Canyon of Heroes. Landmarks include Trinity Church, Federal Hall, the New York Stock Exchange building, the South Street Seaport Historic District and Pier 17, and the National Museum of the American Indian. The New York Public Library's New Amsterdam Library is at 9 Murray Street, near Broadway.

07 / Public schools

Public schools

Public schools. School zones vary by address. Check any address with the NYC Department of Education's school search (opens in a new tab).

08 / Recently sold and rented

Recently sold in the Financial District

88 Greenwich Street, Unit 3003

(opens on Compass in a new tab)

Recently rented in the Financial District

75 Wall Street, Unit 30M

(opens on Compass in a new tab)

09 / Buying or renting with Glenn

Buying or renting the Financial District with Glenn

Buying or renting in the Financial District comes down to understanding the building: whether it's a conversion or new construction, a condo or a co-op, what the common charges and taxes cover, the offering plan for a new development, and how a particular apartment compares with similar ones nearby. Glenn handles that work for buyers, sellers and renters. As part of the M Team at Compass, he specializes in international buyers and investors, condos, co-ops and rentals, and he works in English, Spanish, Italian and French.

Planning a purchase? Start with the Buyer's Guide. Looking to rent? The Renter's Guide covers documents, income requirements and applications. Then contact Glenn at 929.392.3707 or glenn.velasco@compass.com.

10 / FAQ

Financial District FAQ

What are the boundaries of the Financial District?

The Financial District runs from Chambers Street and City Hall Park south to the Battery, between the West Side Highway and the East River. It excludes Battery Park and Battery Park City. Neighborhood boundaries in New York City aren't officially set, so other sources may differ.

What ZIP codes are in the Financial District?

The Financial District's primary ZIP codes are 10004, 10005, 10006, 10007 and 10038. It is in Manhattan Community District 1.

What subway lines serve the Financial District?

The 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J, Z, R and W all stop in the Financial District, at stations including Fulton Street, Wall Street, Broad Street, Bowling Green, Rector Street, Cortlandt Street and South Ferry.

What is the average rent in the Financial District?

StreetEasy doesn't publish an average, but its median asking rent for the Financial District was $5,000 a month in September 2026, up from $4,793 in April. Half of the listed apartments asked more and half asked less, and studios and larger apartments sit far apart, so the right number depends on the size and building you want.

How much does it cost to live in the Financial District?

StreetEasy's September 2026 data shows a median asking price of $1,250,000 and a median asking rent of $5,000 a month. Redfin reports a median sale price of $989,723 for the three months ending September 2026. The median asking rent is the closest public measure of the average rent in the Financial District. Prices vary widely by building and apartment, so ask Glenn for recent comparable sales.

Why are there so many converted apartments in the Financial District?

In 1995 the city's Lower Manhattan Revitalization Plan offered incentives to convert commercial buildings to residential use, and from 2013 to 2021 nearly two hundred buildings in the Financial District were converted to housing.

Can Glenn Velasco help me buy or rent in the Financial District in Spanish, Italian or French?

Yes. Glenn Velasco is a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson at Compass who works with buyers, sellers and renters in English, Spanish, Italian and French, including international buyers. Reach him at 929.392.3707 or glenn.velasco@compass.com.