Upper West Side Neighborhood Guide

01 / Boundaries

Where is the Upper West Side? Boundaries and ZIP codes

The Upper West Side is bounded by West 59th Street on the south, Central Park on the east, West 110th Street on the north and the Hudson River on the west. From west to east its avenues are Riverside Drive, West End Avenue, Broadway, Amsterdam Avenue, Columbus Avenue and Central Park West. The blocks from about 59th to 65th Street are often called Lincoln Square, and the area from 96th to 110th Street west of Amsterdam Avenue is sometimes still called Bloomingdale. Neighborhood boundaries in New York City aren't officially set, so listing sites may draw them differently.

The Upper West Side is in Manhattan Community District 7. Its primary ZIP codes are 10023, 10024, 10025 and 10069.

02 / History

A short history: from Bloomingdale Road to Lincoln Center

Broadway follows the old Bloomingdale Road. The Ninth Avenue elevated line arrived along what is now Columbus Avenue in the 1870s, and the 1904 opening of the city's first subway line, under Broadway, set off a building boom that lasted until about 1910. The tall apartment blocks on West End Avenue and the townhouses between Amsterdam Avenue and Riverside Drive date from the years before the Great Depression. The elevated line over Columbus Avenue closed in 1940. Urban renewal brought Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the Lincoln Towers apartments in the 1960s, and the former rail yards in the southwest corner were later replaced by the Riverside South development and a southward extension of Riverside Park.

03 / Housing

Upper West Side apartments: co-ops, condos and rentals

Prewar co-ops

Much of the apartment stock is in prewar co-op buildings along Central Park West, West End Avenue, Riverside Drive and Broadway. 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.

Brownstones and side streets

The side streets between the avenues are lined with rowhouses and brownstones, some still single-family townhouses and others divided into apartments or co-ops.

Condos, Riverside South and rentals

Condos include newer towers near Lincoln Center and Columbus Circle and along Riverside South, as well as conversions of older buildings. Rentals range from walk-ups and rental buildings to condo and co-op apartments rented by their owners, where the building's own rules apply.

04 / Market snapshot

Upper West Side 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 was between $1,677,500 and $1,775,000 from May to August 2026, and its median asking rent rose from $4,800 in May and June to $5,100 in September. Redfin's median is up 5.1% from a year earlier. Whether you're weighing Upper West Side 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 on the Upper West Side, you can request a free valuation.

05 / Subway lines

Getting around: Upper West Side subway lines

Two subway lines run the length of the neighborhood:

• Broadway (1, 2, 3): the 1 stops at 66 St–Lincoln Center, 79 St, 86 St, 103 St and Cathedral Pkwy (110 St); the 1, 2 and 3 stop at 72 St and 96 St
• Central Park West (B, C): 72 St, 81 St–Museum of Natural History, 86 St, 96 St, 103 St and Cathedral Pkwy (110 St)
• 59 St–Columbus Circle (A, B, C, D, 1), at the southern edge

The closest stop depends on the block; addresses near Riverside Drive are a longer walk to Central Park West.

06 / Parks, libraries and landmarks

Parks, libraries and landmarks

Central Park forms the eastern edge of the neighborhood, and Riverside Park runs along the Hudson on the west; the first segment of Riverside Park was acquired in 1872 and built to a design by Frederick Law Olmsted's firm, which also designed the curving Riverside Drive. The American Museum of Natural History is near the center of the neighborhood, on Central Park West, and Lincoln Center is at the southern end. The New York Public Library has several branches here, including the Library for the Performing Arts at 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, the Riverside Library at 127 Amsterdam Avenue and the St. Agnes Library at 444 Amsterdam Avenue.

07 / Public schools

Public schools

Public schools. The Upper West Side is in Community School District 3, which has many elementary school zones, so the zoned school depends on the exact address. School zones change, so confirm current zoning and school information for any address with NYC Public Schools' Find a School (opens in a new tab) search.

08 / Recently sold

Recently sold on the Upper West Side

1 Central Park West, Unit 1212

(opens on Compass in a new tab)

09 / Buying or renting with Glenn

Buying or renting the Upper West Side with Glenn

Buying on the Upper West Side comes down to understanding the building: whether it's a co-op or a condo and what the board requires, the condition of a prewar apartment or brownstone, the offering plan if it's new construction, 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

Upper West Side FAQ

What are the boundaries of the Upper West Side?

The Upper West Side runs from West 59th Street to West 110th Street, between Central Park and the Hudson River. The blocks from about 59th to 65th Street are often called Lincoln Square. Neighborhood boundaries in New York City aren't officially set, so other sources may differ.

What ZIP codes are on the Upper West Side?

The Upper West Side's primary ZIP codes are 10023, 10024, 10025 and 10069. It is in Manhattan Community District 7.

What subway lines serve the Upper West Side?

The 1, 2 and 3 run under Broadway, with the 1 making local stops and the 2 and 3 stopping at 72nd and 96th Streets. The B and C run under Central Park West, and the A, B, C, D and 1 stop at 59th Street–Columbus Circle.

What is the average rent in the Upper West Side?

StreetEasy doesn't publish an average, but its median asking rent for the Upper West Side was $5,100 a month in September 2026, up from $4,800 in May and June. 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 Upper West Side?

StreetEasy's September 2026 data shows a median asking price of $1,600,000 and a median asking rent of $5,100 a month. Redfin reports a median sale price of $1,424,601 for the three months ending September 2026. The median asking rent is the closest public measure of the average rent in the Upper West Side. Prices vary widely by building and apartment, so ask Glenn for recent comparable sales.

What kinds of apartments are on the Upper West Side?

Prewar co-ops along Central Park West, West End Avenue, Riverside Drive and Broadway, brownstones and townhouses on the side streets, and condos, including newer towers near Lincoln Center and along Riverside South.

Can Glenn Velasco help me buy or rent in the Upper West Side 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.