Queens Home Prices Rise as NYC Prices Fall
October 2026 data show Queens asking prices up 1.4% while New York City's median asking home price dropped 5.2%.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Residential
Live Poll
In your area, is housing getting more affordable or less affordable?
Queens' median asking home price rose 1.4% year-over-year to $689,000 in October 2026, while New York City's median asking home price fell 5.2% over the same period. Homes for sale in Queens climbed 5.4%, even as homes entering contract fell 8.4%.
Why it matters
The divergence between Queens and the citywide market reflects uneven conditions across boroughs, with higher mortgage rates weighing on contract activity. For New York City residents weighing a purchase, the data show buying has become less favorable relative to renting, with the breakeven period rising to 14.5 years.
Queens had 3,373 homes for sale in October 2026, up 5.4% from 3,201 a year earlier, while homes entering contract fell 8.4% to 337. Median days on market in Queens dropped from 69 to 60, and homes sold for 97.8% of their latest asking price citywide.
The details
Median asking rent in New York City reached $4,100 in October 2026, up 3.8% from a year earlier, and homes for rent fell 15.2% to 27,084. Manhattan's median asking home price fell 5.2% to $1,375,000 and Brooklyn's fell 9% to $1 million over the same period.
Timeline
October 2025: Baseline month for year-over-year housing and rental comparisons.
Summer 2026: Strong sales performance reduced available inventory.
October 2026: Current month of housing and rental market data reported.
Market Landscape
The October 2026 figures show New York City's housing market splitting by borough, with Queens asking prices rising while Manhattan and Brooklyn declined. Buy-versus-rent breakeven rising to 14.5 years signals that renting has grown relatively more attractive for city households.
Renters in Queens face a median asking rent of $3,350, up 4.7% from a year earlier, while buyers face a longer breakeven period of 14.5 years citywide. Households comparing monthly housing costs should weigh the higher rent trend against the rising time needed for purchases to pay off.
The takeaway
Homebuyers and renters in New York City are seeing diverging conditions, so local borough data matters more than citywide averages. Comparing purchase costs against rent over a multi-year horizon remains essential before committing to either.
Further reading
For broader context on borough-level shifts, explore Residential coverage across New York City.
Live Poll
In your area, is housing getting more affordable or less affordable?
