Upper West Side Real Estate & Homes for Sale
The Upper West Side runs roughly from West 59th Street to West 110th Street, between Central Park and the Hudson River. It sits between two of the city's great parks, Central Park on one side and Riverside Park on the other, and it is one of Manhattan's most established residential neighborhoods. Lisa Maysonet of Team Maysonet at Sotheby's International Realty works with buyers and sellers here, with 40 years in the Manhattan market and more than $1 billion in transactions.
The housing stock
Most Upper West Side apartments are in co-op buildings, and many of them are prewar. The grandest line Central Park West, Riverside Drive and West End Avenue, including famous addresses such as the Dakota, the San Remo and the Beresford. The side streets between the avenues are lined with brownstones and townhouses, many of them inside landmark districts such as the Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic District and the Riverside-West End Historic District. Newer condo towers stand in Lincoln Square near Lincoln Center and along Broadway, for buyers who want full service and fewer board rules.
Schools
The neighborhood is served by the public schools of Community School District 3, and it is home to several well-known private schools, including Trinity School and Collegiate School. Families should check school zones building by building, because zone lines can split a single avenue.
Getting around
The 1, 2 and 3 trains run along Broadway, and the B and C trains run along Central Park West. Columbus Circle, at the southern edge, connects to the A and D trains. Crosstown buses link the West Side to the Upper East Side through Central Park.
What it is like to live here
Daily life centers on the two parks, Lincoln Center, the American Museum of Natural History and the shops and food markets of Broadway, Columbus Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue. The pace is residential and the blocks are full of families, long-time owners and people who work in culture, medicine and law.
Buying or selling on the Upper West Side
On the Upper West Side, as on the Upper East Side, the co-op board is often the hardest part of a deal. Boards look at cash left after closing, debt compared with income and how complete the application is, and each building sets its own rules. Lisa Maysonet learns what a building's board expects before a buyer makes an offer, builds the board package with the buyer and prepares them for the interview. For sellers, she prices the apartment against the building's own recent sales and brings buyers who are ready for the board. Through Sotheby's International Realty, listings reach buyers in New York and around the world. Contact Lisa to talk about buying or selling on the Upper West Side, or read her insider's guide to Upper West Side real estate.
Upper West Side FAQs
What are the boundaries of the Upper West Side?
The Upper West Side runs roughly from West 59th Street to West 110th Street, between Central Park West and the Hudson River. Lincoln Square forms its southern end, near Lincoln Center.
What is the Upper West Side known for?
It is known for prewar co-op buildings on Central Park West and Riverside Drive, brownstone side streets, Lincoln Center, the American Museum of Natural History, and its location between Central Park and Riverside Park.
Is the Upper West Side a good neighborhood for families?
Many families choose it for the two parks, the museums, District 3 public schools and well-known private schools, and its quieter residential blocks.
What types of homes are for sale on the Upper West Side?
Mostly co-op apartments, many in prewar buildings, along with brownstones and townhouses on the side streets and newer condos in Lincoln Square and along Broadway. Co-ops require board approval; condos usually have far fewer approval rules.
