Chelsea

Chelsea is one of the most action-packed neighborhoods in New York City. Vibrant and fast-paced, there is always a new restaurant, bar, or dance club to wander into at any time of day or night. Residents thrive on the 24/7 atmosphere.

At a Glance

If you’re looking for a staid, quiet place to live, Chelsea is not for you. Its thriving arts scene has always been a big draw for creative types. Not surprisingly, residents pay a high price to live in such a hip and happening part of Manhattan. The neighborhood has some of the most exclusive restaurants and bars in the city, and real estate prices are steep — especially for new condos along the High Line. Slip down many of the side streets, however, and you’re likely to find some beautiful and historic townhouses nestled gracefully within the neighborhood’s hustle and bustle.

The Mood

Dynamic and eclectic, Chelsea is home to a vibrant community of artists, professionals and longstanding Manhattanites.

Heart of the Neighborhood

The High Line is a huge draw for tourists and locals alike, and offers a unique vantage point on the Manhattan cityscape.

Neighborhood Quirk

The Chelsea Hotel has been home to many artists, writers, and musicians, including Patti Smith, Dylan Thomas, Andy Warhol and Allen Ginsberg.

Best Perk

Chelsea is a cultural hub of New York City, housing some of the best art galleries and performance venues in the world.

Biggest Downside

Chelsea is a geographically wide neighborhood, so depending on where you live, it can be a hike to the subways.

$1.8M

Median Sale

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$5,200

Median Rent

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The Mood

Dynamic and eclectic, Chelsea is home to a vibrant community of artists, professionals and longstanding Manhattanites.

Heart of the Neighborhood

The High Line is a huge draw for tourists and locals alike, and offers a unique vantage point on the Manhattan cityscape.

Neighborhood Quirk

The Chelsea Hotel has been home to many artists, writers, and musicians, including Patti Smith, Dylan Thomas, Andy Warhol and Allen Ginsberg.

Best Perk

Chelsea is a cultural hub of New York City, housing some of the best art galleries and performance venues in the world.

Biggest Downside

Chelsea is a geographically wide neighborhood, so depending on where you live, it can be a hike to the subways.

What’s close by

1. Greenwich Village

Median Sale: $1.5M Median Rental: $4,800

2. West Village

Median Sale: $1.4M Median Rental: $4,995

3. Murray Hill

Median Sale: $646K Median Rental: $4,387

4. Midtown

Median Sale: $1.6M Median Rental: $4,697

By the Numbers

In recent years, Chelsea has seen tons of new development, with shiny, ultra-luxury condos cropping up, especially along the High Line. But much of the neighborhood's traditional housing stock consists of prewar co-ops, which are usually listed at much lower prices.

Median Price

Price History

Neighborhood Borough Median

Median Rent

Price History

Neighborhood Borough Median

*Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 ACS

Chelsea has long been a haven for artists, although the scene these days is decidedly more upscale than it was in the 1970s and '80s.

Some of the city's best restaurants are here, and are open day and night. When they called NYC "the city that never sleeps," they were probably thinking of Chelsea.

There are quiet, peaceful scenes to be found amid the urban sizzle. Beautiful townhouses line Chelsea's side streets, and the High Line provides a bit of fresh air and sunlight above the traffic.

Although there is green space to be found in Chelsea, one is rarely alone in it. This is one of the densest residential neighborhoods in the city.

Chelsea remains a cultural hub of the city. Take in world-renowned dance at the Joyce Theater, stroll through famous art galleries, or pay a visit to the Whitney Museum in its new downtown location.