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 |
|---|---|---|
| 01/05/2026 | 16 West 18th Street 6 | Listed for sale at $3,300,000 |
| 01/05/2026 | 301 East 22nd Street 8B | Listed for sale at $399,000 |
| 01/05/2026 | 105 Fifth Avenue 4B | Listed for sale at $2,995,000 |
| 01/05/2026 | 2 Grove Street 5B | Listed for sale at $675,000 |
| 01/05/2026 | 178 East 2nd Street 1B | Listed for sale at $799,000 |
| 01/05/2026 | 350 Bleecker Street 2N | Listed for sale at $1,199,000 |
| 01/05/2026 | 145 East 15th Street 7E | Listed for sale at $660,000 |
| 01/05/2026 | 151 West 21st Street 3D | Listed for sale at $1,300,000 |
| 01/05/2026 | 527 Hudson Street PH3 | Listed for sale at $4,995,000 |
| 01/05/2026 | 1 Manhattan Square 77J | Listed for sale at $6,950,000 |
| 01/05/2026 | 130 Barrow Street PH20 | Listed for sale at $3,300,000 |
| 01/05/2026 | 17 West 17th Street 2 | Listed for sale at $3,499,000 |
| 01/05/2026 | 15 Broad Street 1224 | Listed for sale at $1,175,000 |
| 01/05/2026 | 24 Cornelia Street 2 | Listed for sale at $499,000 |
| 01/05/2026 | 344 West 23rd Street GLE | Listed for sale at $2,695,000 |
| 01/05/2026 | 222 Park Avenue South 8D | Listed for sale at $2,750,000 |
| 01/05/2026 | 295 Greenwich Street 4N | Listed for sale at $710,000 |
| 01/04/2026 | 77 Greenwich Street 36C | Listed for sale at $3,050,000 |
| 01/03/2026 | 25 Broad Street 19J | Listed for sale at $1,520,000 |
| 01/03/2026 | 25 Broad Street 5G | Listed for sale at $895,000 |
| 01/03/2026 | 25 Broad Street 12I | Listed for sale at $1,955,000 |
| 01/02/2026 | 385 First Avenue 18H | Listed for sale at $1,100,000 |
| 01/02/2026 | 201 East 25th Street 15J | Listed for sale at $665,000 |
| 01/01/2026 | 216 East 7th Street 6 | Listed for sale at $699,000 |
| 01/01/2026 | 148 East 19th Street 2D | Listed for sale at $775,000 |
| 12/31/2025 | 219 Hudson Street 6D | Listed for sale at $2,495,000 |
| 12/31/2025 | 44 Gramercy Park North 8B | Listed for sale at $1,395,000 |
| 11/25/2025 | 81 Irving Place 10D | Sold for $825,000 |
| 11/24/2025 | 11 Fifth Avenue 3L | Sold for $1,850,000 |
| 11/24/2025 | 125 West 21st Street 12A | Sold for $2,149,000 |
| 11/24/2025 | 2 Fifth Avenue 2E | Sold for $805,000 |
| 11/24/2025 | 101 West 12th Street 3Z | Sold for $400,000 |
| 11/21/2025 | 140 WEST 23RD STREET DPH | Sold for $2,025,000 |
| 11/21/2025 | 15 Mercer Street 4 | Sold for $6,100,000 |
| 11/21/2025 | 50 LEXINGTON AVENUE 8D | Sold for $1,095,000 |
| 11/21/2025 | 520 West 28th Street PH37 | Sold for $26,500,000 |
| 11/21/2025 | 555 West 22nd Street 16AW | Sold for $11,254,250 |
| 11/21/2025 | 468 West 23rd Street 1A | Sold for $780,000 |
| 11/20/2025 | 50 West Street 25A | Sold for $2,749,275 |
| 11/20/2025 | 155 West 11th Street 5M | Sold for $3,200,000 |
| 11/20/2025 | 160 Leroy Street 8CN | Sold for $5,190,000 |
| 11/19/2025 | 250 East 21st Street 10A | Sold for $4,995,000 |
| 11/19/2025 | 445 Lafayette Street 12C | Sold for $2,730,000 |
| 11/19/2025 | 86 Horatio Street 1B | Sold for $470,250 |
| 11/19/2025 | 170 Second Avenue 5C | Sold for $875,000 |
| 11/19/2025 | 225 Fifth Avenue 7K | Sold for $3,800,000 |
| 11/19/2025 | 2 Fifth Avenue 18C | Sold for $2,214,397 |
| 11/19/2025 | 256 West 10th Street 5A | Sold for $2,675,000 |
| 11/19/2025 | 1 Wall Street 1108 | Sold for $1,380,000 |
| 11/18/2025 | 20 West Street 18F | Sold for $999,000 |
| 11/18/2025 | 252 West 30th Street 12 | Sold for $1,825,000 |
| 11/18/2025 | 458 West 20th Street 2A | Sold for $389,000 |
| 11/18/2025 | 552 Laguardia place 6 | Sold for $2,450,000 |
| 11/18/2025 | 128 East 19th Street | Sold for $6,250,000 |
| 11/17/2025 | 101 West 12th Street 7L | Sold for $580,000 |
| 11/17/2025 | 235 East 22nd Street 9V | Sold for $419,000 |
| 11/17/2025 | 8 Thomas Street 2 | Sold for $2,400,000 |
| 11/03/2025 | 249 Eldridge Street 4 | Listed for sale at $600,000 |
| 09/09/2025 | 304 West 10th Street 4B | Listed for sale at $485,000 |
| 01/19/2023 | 200 Chambers Street 16F | Listed for sale at $1,575,000 |
| 02/02/2022 | 25 Broad Street 14L | Listed for sale at $875,000 |
| 10/15/2021 | 445 West 19th Street PHF | Listed for sale at $1,750,000 |
| 03/14/2021 | 175 West 12th Street 15N | Listed for sale at $750,000 |
| 07/11/2018 | 444 West 19th Street 403 | Listed for sale at $1,325,000 |
| 12/11/2017 | 91 Leonard Street 8D | Listed for sale at $915,000 |
| 05/29/2017 | 160 West 11th Street 1 | Listed for sale at $1,500,000 |
| 03/18/2016 | 313 West 22nd Street 2C | Listed for sale at $2,000,000 |
| 09/08/2015 | 79 Laight Street 3C | Listed for sale at $4,695,000 |
| 01/12/2014 | 133 West 22nd Street 3A | Listed for sale at $950,000 |
| 09/20/2006 | 450 West 17th Street 1014 | Listed for sale at $790,000 |