Downtown Manhattan
Downtown Manhattan, the historic heart of New York City, is a vibrant and diverse neighborhood that encompasses a rich tapestry of culture, commerce, and history. Spanning from the southern tip of the island to roughly 14th Street, this area is home to iconic landmarks, bustling streets, and a mix of residential and commercial spaces.
The Financial District, located at the southern tip of Manhattan, is the epicenter of global finance, with Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange drawing financial professionals from around the world. This district is also home to historic sites such as Trinity Church and Federal Hall, which played pivotal roles in American history.
Moving north, you'll find the revitalized South Street Seaport, a waterfront area with restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions. It's a great place to enjoy fresh seafood, stroll along the East River, and visit the South Street Seaport Museum.
Tribeca, which stands for "Triangle Below Canal Street," is known for its cobblestone streets and a mix of loft-style apartments and high-end dining. It's a hub for the arts, with many galleries and the renowned Tribeca Film Festival.
Greenwich Village, with its tree-lined streets and historic brownstones, offers a bohemian atmosphere. The neighborhood is famous for its role in the Beat Generation and folk music scenes, and it's home to Washington Square Park, NYU, and numerous restaurants and bars.
Heading east, the Lower East Side is known for its rich immigrant history and vibrant nightlife. You can explore the Tenement Museum and indulge in a wide array of culinary experiences.
Overall, downtown Manhattan is a dynamic neighborhood with a diverse population, making it a place where the old and new seamlessly blend, and history and modernity coexist.
Image Credits Photo by Andre Benz on Unsplash , Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Neighborhood Snapshot
Transit Score:
89/100
Walk Score:
88/100
Bike Score:
69/100
Commute Times
to Penn Station
16.5 min
22 min
to Grand Central Terminal
21.6 min
20.7 min
to Columbus Cir
12.1 min
11.2 min
to Financial District
34.5 min
29.4 min
to Union Square
25.1 min
28.1 min
to Downtown Brooklyn
45.4 min
30.2 min
to Long Island City
31.7 min
25.6 min
Buildings Fun Facts
Oldest Building in Downtown Manhattan
Built in 1792
273 WATER STREET
Cheapest Building in Downtown Manhattan (sold, p/sqft)
$2
60 EAST 8 STREET
Most Expensive Building in Downtown Manhattan (sold, p/sqft)
$28,433
205 3 AVENUE
Biggest Building in Downtown Manhattan (total FAR)
8,367,942 ft
240 1 AVENUE
Subway Lines
Popular Searches in Downtown Manhattan
New Developments
Popular Buildings
History of Neighborhood
The earliest history of the area begins with the arrival of Dutch settlers in the 17th century. In 1626, Peter Minuit purchased the island of Manhattan from the Lenape Native Americans, establishing New Amsterdam, which would later become New York City. The Dutch influence is still evident in place names like Wall Street, named after a protective wall built to defend the settlement.
In the late 18th century, the area around Wall Street became the financial center of the newly formed United States. In 1792, the Buttonwood Agreement was signed under a buttonwood tree on Wall Street, marking the birth of the New York Stock Exchange.
During the 19th century, the neighborhood continued to evolve, with immigration waves bringing a diverse mix of cultures to areas like the Lower East Side. This period saw the construction of iconic structures like the Brooklyn Bridge.
The 20th century witnessed significant events such as the construction of the World Trade Center, which later became tragically linked to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
In recent years, downtown Manhattan has experienced a resurgence, with many historic buildings repurposed as luxury apartments and the area becoming a thriving cultural hub.
Today, downtown Manhattan's rich history is reflected in its architecture, institutions, and the diverse blend of cultures that coexist in this dynamic neighborhood. It remains a symbol of New York City's enduring spirit and its role in shaping the nation's history.
Architectural Style
Landmarks and Cultural Institutions
Landmarks and Cultural Institutions Image Credits William Warby, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons , Carol M. Highsmith, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons , Kidfly182, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons , ThibautRe, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons , Mario Antonio Pena Zapatería from San Sebastian, Spain, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons , Kidfly182, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons , Shelley Panzarella, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons , Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Entertainment
Entertainment Image Credits Theatrical Artwork by Laura Fiorucci. Picture by Wilfredor, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons , Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons , Teylers Museum, Haarlem, the Netherlands, CC BY-SA 3.0 NL , via Wikimedia Commons , (vincent desjardins) from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Popular Restaurants
Restaurants Image Credits https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Joe%27s_Pizza_2022_jeh.jpg , City Foodsters, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons , Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Famous people connected to Downtown Manhattan
People Image Credits John Trumbull, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons , Gilbert Stuart, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons , New-York Historical Society, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons , JohnPierpontMorgan.jpgderivative work: Beao, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons , idrewuk, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons , Presidencia de la República Mexicana, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons , Eric Garcetti, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons , Cosmopolitan UK, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Movies
Wall Street
The French Connection
Friends
Godzilla (1998)
Cloverfield
I Am Legend
Movies Image Credits Dam0812, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons , 20th Century Fox (now part of Walt Disney Pictures), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons , TimeMachine, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons , TriStar Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons , M622, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons , IgorCalzone1, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Statistics for Downtown Manhattan
| Date | Unit | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 02/26/2026 | 77 Charlton Street N12A | Listed for sale at $3,398,000 |
| 02/22/2026 | 165 Christopher Street 2K | Listed for sale at $985,000 |
| 02/22/2026 | 380 Rector Place 7A | Listed for sale at $1,350,000 |
| 02/21/2026 | 215 East 19th Street 10B | Listed for sale at $4,065,000 |
| 02/20/2026 | 40 Broad Street 18E | Listed for sale at $1,195,000 |
| 02/20/2026 | 141 Attorney Street 1A | Listed for sale at $1,800,000 |
| 02/20/2026 | 21 East 22nd Street 2K | Listed for sale at $1,495,000 |
| 02/20/2026 | 77 Greenwich Street 15B | Listed for sale at $1,500,000 |
| 02/20/2026 | 500 West 18th Street EAST18B | Listed for sale at $8,015,000 |
| 02/20/2026 | 23 East 10th Street 305 | Listed for sale at $1,295,000 |
| 02/20/2026 | 347 East 19th Street | Listed for sale at $4,475,000 |
| 02/20/2026 | 450 West 23rd Street E | Listed for sale at $1,995,000 |
| 02/20/2026 | 402 West 20th Street | Listed for sale at $9,995,000 |
| 02/20/2026 | 32 East 1st Street 2C | Listed for sale at $3,500,000 |
| 02/20/2026 | 252 south st 68K | Listed for sale at $1,635,000 |
| 02/20/2026 | 377 Rector Place 7I | Listed for sale at $975,000 |
| 02/20/2026 | 77 Seventh Avenue 10N | Listed for sale at $1,175,000 |
| 02/20/2026 | 93 Worth Street 406 | Listed for sale at $899,000 |
| 02/20/2026 | 75 Wall Street 24M | Listed for sale at $1,599,000 |
| 02/20/2026 | 160 East 26th Street 2F | Listed for sale at $379,000 |
| 02/19/2026 | 261 West 25th Street 11A | Listed for sale at $5,850,000 |
| 02/19/2026 | 175 Fifth Avenue 6SOUTH | Listed for sale at $10,950,000 |
| 02/19/2026 | 115 Norfolk Street 301 | Listed for sale at $1,300,000 |
| 02/19/2026 | 815 Broadway 602 | Listed for sale at $3,125,000 |
| 02/19/2026 | 129 Fifth Avenue 601 | Listed for sale at $3,300,000 |
| 02/19/2026 | 165 Perry Street 2A | Listed for sale at $3,450,000 |
| 01/29/2026 | 101 West 12th Street 9D | Sold for $504,000 |
| 01/28/2026 | 60 East 8th Street 11D | Sold for $1,200,000 |
| 01/27/2026 | 78 EAST 1 STREET | Sold for $8,700,000 |
| 01/27/2026 | 66 Madison Avenue 2DE | Sold for $1,105,000 |
| 01/26/2026 | 219 Hudson Street 3B | Sold for $2,995,000 |
| 01/26/2026 | 53 Warren Street 4 | Sold for $2,800,000 |
| 01/23/2026 | 67 Morton Street M5C | Sold for $1,450,000 |
| 01/23/2026 | 504 Grand Street G32 | Sold for $820,000 |
| 01/22/2026 | 32 Gramercy Park South 10G | Sold for $1,230,000 |
| 01/22/2026 | 262 MOTT STREET SUB1D | Sold for $30,664,855 |
| 01/22/2026 | 262 MOTT STREET SUB3H | Sold for $30,664,855 |
| 01/22/2026 | 262 MOTT STREET SU2EF | Sold for $30,664,855 |
| 01/22/2026 | 262 MOTT STREET SUB3F | Sold for $30,664,855 |
| 01/22/2026 | 262 MOTT STREET SUB2D | Sold for $30,664,855 |
| 01/22/2026 | 262 MOTT STREET 102 | Sold for $30,664,855 |
| 01/22/2026 | 262 MOTT STREET SUB1B | Sold for $30,664,855 |
| 01/22/2026 | 163 WEST 18TH STREET S15 | Sold for $2,825,000 |
| 01/22/2026 | 262 MOTT STREET SUB2H | Sold for $30,664,855 |
| 01/22/2026 | 165 West 18th Street 1A | Sold for $2,825,000 |
| 01/22/2026 | 753 East 5th Street 1A | Sold for $950,000 |
| 01/22/2026 | 262 MOTT STREET SUB3A | Sold for $30,664,855 |
| 01/22/2026 | 262 MOTT STREET SUB1C | Sold for $30,664,855 |
| 01/22/2026 | 262 MOTT STREET SUB3G | Sold for $30,664,855 |
| 01/22/2026 | 262 MOTT STREET SUB2G | Sold for $30,664,855 |
| 01/22/2026 | 262 MOTT STREET SUB3B | Sold for $30,664,855 |
| 01/22/2026 | 262 MOTT STREET SUB1E | Sold for $30,664,855 |
| 01/22/2026 | 262 MOTT STREET SUB2C | Sold for $30,664,855 |
| 01/22/2026 | 262 MOTT STREET SUB1F | Sold for $30,664,855 |
| 01/22/2026 | 250 Mercer Street B906 | Sold for $2,205,000 |
| 01/22/2026 | 75 Wall Street 21N/O | Sold for $2,750,000 |
| 06/23/2025 | 76 Madison Avenue 8C | Listed for sale at $1,299,000 |
| 10/30/2024 | 458 West 20th Street 1D | Listed for sale at $550,000 |
| 10/15/2024 | 125 Greenwich Street 62C | Listed for sale at $1,360,000 |
| 01/27/2024 | 111 Murray Street 12C | Listed for sale at $2,400,000 |
| 01/05/2022 | 450 West 17th Street 2108 | Listed for sale at $3,295,000 |
| 10/03/2021 | 252 South Street 17N | Listed for sale at $1,290,000 |
| 10/07/2020 | 88 Greenwich Street 529 | Listed for sale at $585,000 |
| 08/11/2020 | 515 West 18th Street 811 | Listed for sale at $2,595,000 |
| 09/21/2018 | 11 East 29th Street 48B | Listed for sale at $1,800,000 |
| 07/28/2016 | 400 Park Avenue South 29E | Listed for sale at $1,824,990 |
| 11/12/2015 | 225 Rector Place 6P | Listed for sale at $948,000 |
| 10/06/2015 | 88 Greenwich Street 608 | Listed for sale at $950,000 |
| 10/25/2014 | 5 Beekman Street 27A | Listed for sale at $2,925,000 |
| 03/19/2014 | 25 West 13th Street 1HN | Listed for sale at $499,000 |