Here's Who Might Be Moving to NYC in 2025
These are the top metro areas across the country that searched for homes in the NYC area last yearKey Takeaways:We analyzed Zillow® search data to find the 10 metro areas with the most residents looking for homes in the New York metro area, as well as the 10 metros where the most New Yorkers are searching for homes to buy.Seven metro areas, including two in Florida, made both the inbound and outbound lists this year.Tampa, Dallas, and Atlanta are three new additions to this year's inbound list.Philadelphia topped the list with the most residents looking for homes in the NYC area, and also took the top spot on the outbound list.Bright lights and big cities may not be for everyone, but according to a new analysis of Zillow® search data, there are plenty of people across the country spending their nights dreaming of a move to the city that never sleeps. Read on, New Yorkers, to find out where your soon-to-be new neighbors might be hailing from - plus, discover the top destinations for those considering a move out of the NYC area.Thinking about moving to the Big Apple yourself? Check out the StreetEasy® guide to moving to NYC for everything you need to know about choosing a neighborhood, finding a home, and more.10. Tampa, FLNew to the inbound list this year is Tampa, which previously ranked in the top five locations New Yorkers were considering a move to in 2023. Perhaps it's a sign that life in the Sunshine State isn't all it's cracked up to be after all.9. San Francisco, CAWith NYC emerging as a burgeoning market for the tech industry in recent years, it's no wonder that San Francisco has made an appearance on this list yet again. But while these West Coasters may be forever looking east, it seems their tickets are only one-way: San Francisco has never cracked the top destinations where New Yorkers are looking for homes in the three times we've run this analysis.8. Dallas, TXNew residential construction may be booming in Texas' most populous metro area, but it looks like Dallas residents are too busy daydreaming of a move up north to notice. While these Texans might feel that Dallas has prepared them for life in a big city, they'll soon realize that - unlike in the Lone Star State - there's nowhere to feel alone in a city as dense as NYC. 7. Chicago, ILEven more Chicago residents are considering a move east than before, bumping the Windy City up two spots to number seven. However, some might be reconsidering now that their city is finally getting a real slice of pizza. 6. Atlanta, GAAnother metro new to this year's inbound list is Atlanta, which previously came in as the number four spot New Yorkers wanted to relocate to in 2023. Whether or not those former New Yorkers passed their driver tests, it's understandable that in Georgia's sprawling, car-centric city, they might find themselves pining for the MTA.5. Los Angeles, CALike San Francisco, Los Angeles is another California regular on the list of metros whose residents are looking at homes in New York City. And for good reason: those lengthy bicoastal flights provide the perfect opportunity to do some Zillowing and daydream of canceling your return flight home.4. Boston, MAUp three spots from last year's inbound list is Boston. As the nation's only other city where broker fees may still be considered the norm, it's understandable that the passage of the FARE Act by the New York City Council in late 2024 - and the anticipated savings in upfront moving costs that come with it - had even more Bostonians wondering if now might be the time to move to NYC.3. Miami, FLThough it fell two spots from its previous number one ranking on the inbound list, it appears plenty of Miamians are still willing to trade the Florida sand for the New York snow. As we pointed out last year, the door between NYC and the Sunshine State continues to be a revolving one - Tampa and Miami made this year's inbound list, but along with Orlando, also made this year's outbound list.2. Washington, D.C.An onslaught of D.C. residents were considering their next move during an election year - perhaps wanting to make a career move from public to private sector, too. Or maybe they're just looking for a shorter commute? Whatever the reason, NYC has plenty of cherry blossoms to offer a taste of home each spring.1. Philadelphia, PAComing in at number one is Philly, unseating Miami as both the top metro searching for homes in the NYC area and the top metro where New Yorkers are searching for homes. Maybe it's the Amtrak delays or the anticipation of another Super Bowl evening of greased pole climbers on Broad Street, but there's something about the City of Brotherly Love that has its residents looking to trade their big city for an even bigger one. Though we have to admit, as the number one destination where New Yorkers are searching (and one of Zillow's hottest markets of 2025), Philly must have some great things to offer - primarily its $1,700 typical asking rent and $256,000 median asking price.Where are New Yorkers looking?One in three New Yorkers considering buying a home in NYC are also contemplating a move out of the city at the same time. But after reviewing the list above, maybe they'll see that the grass isn't always greener. This year, seven of the top 10 metros where New Yorkers are looking for homes also happen to be top metros whose residents are looking for homes in the NYC area.The top 10 metros - excluding the New York metro area itself - where New Yorkers are looking for homes are:Houston, TXCharlotte, NCLos Angeles, CAOrlando, FLWashington, D.C.Tampa, FLBoston, MAAtlanta, GAMiami, FLPhiladelphia, PA Moving to NYC?StreetEasy is your go-to destination for all things NYC real estate, whether you're buying, selling, or renting. See our comprehensive guide to moving to NYC for advice on selecting a neighborhood, logistics, managing costs, and more. Thinking about making a more permanent move to one of the five boroughs? Check out our first-time buyer guide for tips on purchasing your first property in NYC, and get matched with a StreetEasy Expert agent to take the next step toward unlocking your dream home.MethodologyWe tallied up Zillow pageviews of for-sale home listings from January through December 2024, grouped by the metropolitan statistical area of the listing, and the apparent location (also estimated at the metropolitan area level) of the user, whether on Zillow apps or websites.StreetEasy is an assumed name of Zillow, Inc. which has a real estate brokerage license in all 50 states and D.C. See real estate licenses. StreetEasy does not intend to interfere with any agency agreement you may have with a real estate professional or solicit your business if you are already under contract to purchase or sell property. All data for uncited sources in this presentation has been sourced from Zillow data. Copyright © 2025 by Zillow, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
10 NYC Neighborhoods to Watch in 2025
As New Yorkers increasingly look across the East River for housing, Brooklyn and Queens will emerge as dominant markets in New York City in 2025. Both buyers and renters are prioritizing home amenities more and more, suggesting demand is likely to rise in neighborhoods where new developments are abundant but offered at lower price points than in Manhattan. We define our top 10 NYC Neighborhoods to Watch in 2025 as those that saw the greatest increase in searches on StreetEasy® among buyers and renters from 2023 to 2024. Six of the 10 neighborhoods are in Brooklyn. Three neighborhoods in Queens scored a spot, a decline from five last year, with the final spot going to Manhattan.1. Ridgewood, Queens2. Greenwood, Brooklyn3. Long Island City, Queens4. Sunnyside, Queens5. Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn6. Fort Greene, Brooklyn7. Prospect Heights, Brooklyn8. Crown Heights, Brooklyn9. Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn10. Morningside Heights, Manhattan1. Ridgewood, QueensYoY increase in searches:+13.2%Median asking rent:$3,250 (+8.3% YoY)Median asking price:$1.295M (+8.4% YoY)Search homes for rent →Search homes for sale →For the second year in a row, Ridgewood is our #1 Neighborhood to Watch in 2025. The Queens neighborhood has been gaining popularity as an alternative to Bushwick, Brooklyn, its immediate neighbor to the south. Though Ridgewood's median asking rent of $3,250 in 2024 isn't a huge bargain compared to $3,327 in Bushwick, renters seeking a more residential feel - or simply a change of scenery - have been flocking to the neighborhood. As one Reddit commenter put it: "Bushwick is for partying, Ridgewood is for living." The growing buzz is reflected in Ridgewood's 13.2% year-over-year jump in searches on StreetEasy, and its 8.3% growth in median asking rent: the second-highest increase on our list. Buyers are catching on, too, as Ridgewood also saw the largest annual rise in median asking price on this year's list, increasing 8.4% to about $1.3M in 2024.Though a number of new developments have been added, much of Ridgewood's housing stock is long-established, constructed between 1905 and 1915. A densely populated neighborhood, its numerous historic rowhouses are known for their yellow brick facades. Commercial corridors lined with shops, cafes, restaurants, and other local businesses are found along major thoroughfares like Myrtle, Forest, and Metropolitan Avenues. New Yorkers from all five boroughs travel to Ridgewood for Nowadays, a year-round indoor/outdoor venue known for its cocktails, food trucks, and daytime dance parties in the summer, including Mister Sundays. Ridgewood is also well-connected by public transit: the M train runs through the heart of the neighborhood, while the L stops at the Myrtle–Wyckoff and Halsey Street stations.2. Greenwood, BrooklynYoY increase in searches:+9.0%Median asking rent:$3,250 (–1.1% YoY)Median asking price:$1.5M (–3.2% YoY)Search homes for rent →Search homes for sale →Jumping from eighth place on last year's list all the way to second is Greenwood, Brooklyn, also known as Greenwood Heights. Nestled between Park Slope and Sunset Park, Greenwood had a 9% rise in StreetEasy searches from 2023 to 2024. Its median asking rent of $3,250 fell 1.1% from the year before, the largest drop on the list. The neighborhood's sales market also saw a price decline, with the median asking price falling 3.2% to $1.5M. Both buyers and renters have limited inventory to choose from, but can find homes in mostly low-rise buildings and a small number of new developments. Greenwood is known for its eponymous cemetery, which is more than just the final resting place of Leonard Bernstein, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and other local legends - providing 478 acres of hills, valleys, ponds, and paths, it's the neighborhood's central green space. Admission is always free, and visitors can enjoy walking and trolley tours, art installations, and seasonal events. Numerous bars, restaurants, and cafes are dotted along 4th and 5th Avenues, while the D, N, and R trains provide access to Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, and Lower Manhattan.3. Long Island City, QueensYoY increase in searches:+8.5%Median asking rent:$4,148 (+3.7% YoY)Median asking price:$1.123M (–4.4% YoY)Neighborhood guide →Search homes for rent →Search homes for sale →At #3, Long Island City is perhaps the most convenient neighborhood on our list. Buyers and renters are drawn to the modern condos, waterfront location, and - most importantly - proximity to Manhattan, with a 10-minute subway commute to Midtown. Its median asking rent of $4,148 is the highest on our list, but it appears this hasn't deterred many renters, as StreetEasy searches in Long Island City jumped 8.5% year-over-year in 2024. As hybrid work trends continue to push New Yorkers to seek comfort and convenience at home, Long Island City's modern rental and condo buildings with sought-after amenities - outdoor space, pools, gyms, in-unit laundry, etc. - will likely bring even more interest to the neighborhood this year. In addition to popular building amenities, Gantry Plaza State Park offers a 12-acre green space and promenade along the East River with prime views of Manhattan.Learn more about Long Island City in our Know the Neighborhood feature.4. Sunnyside, QueensYoY increase in searches:+7.8%Median asking rent:$2,500 (+4.2% YoY)Median asking price:$429K (+4.9% YoY)Neighborhood guide →Search homes for rent →Search homes for sale →Just east of Long Island City, Sunnyside is the most affordable option on our list for both buyers and renters, and offers a relatively quick commute to Manhattan via the 7 train. In 2024, searches in Sunnyside soared 7.8% from the year before, suggesting rising demand. At just $429K, Sunnyside's median asking price is less than half that of any other neighborhood on our list. Buyers can find co-ops with old-school New York charm, as well as single- or multi-family homes with private backyards. Despite increasing 4.2% year-over-year in 2024, the neighborhood's $2,500 median asking rent is still well below the borough-wide median of $2,950, and $4,148 in nearby Long Island City. Beyond its affordable price point, the neighborhood is known for its scenery and green space. Skillman Avenue, a lush tree-lined street and main thoroughfare, is filled with beautiful art deco co-ops, cocktail bars, cafes, and more. Residents of Sunnyside Garden Apartments also enjoy access to the private 3.5-acre Sunnyside Gardens Park, which offers sports fields and playgrounds.5. Windsor Terrace, BrooklynYoY increase in searches:+7.2%Median asking rent:$3,592 (+15.9% YoY)Median asking price:$1.29M (+3.2% YoY)Search homes for rent →Search homes for sale →Windsor Terrace might be Brooklyn's best-kept secret: it's just blocks from Prospect Park, but offers lower price points than other neighborhoods surrounding the park. Its median asking price rose 3.2% to nearly $1.3M in 2024, while the median asking rent jumped a dramatic 15.9% to $3,592, highlighting the neighborhood's rising demand from renters. Yet, these medians remain well below those in nearby Park Slope, where the median asking price was $1.75M and median asking rent was $3,950. In addition to charming rowhouses, targeted zoning reforms in small areas of Windsor Terrace have led to a handful of modern rental buildings popping up. A large portion of the units in these buildings are rent-stabilized apartments with income restrictions, expanding the neighborhood's affordable housing options. The recent effort may be paying off, with searches in Windsor Terrace rising 7.2% from the year before, putting it in fifth place among our top Neighborhoods to Watch in 2025.6. Fort Greene, BrooklynYoY increase in searches:+7.2%Median asking rent:$3,950 (+3.8% YoY)Median asking price:$1.622M (–4.3% YoY)Neighborhood guide →Search homes for rent →Search homes for sale →A finalist in Reader's Digest's 2024 “nicest places in America” contest, Fort Greene comes in at #6 on our list of Neighborhoods to Watch in 2025. Wedged between Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill, and Clinton Hill, the neighborhood is equal parts serene and culturally vibrant. The focal point of the community is the 30-acre Fort Greene Park, which is the oldest park in Brooklyn and steeped in Revolutionary War history. StreetEasy searches in Fort Greene increased 7.2% in 2024, reflecting the neighborhood's growth in popularity for its charming brownstones, artsy vibe, and central location. In addition to the park, highlights include the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Greenlight Bookstore, and Brooklyn Flea, as well as a buzzy restaurant scene. Surprisingly, Fort Greene's median asking price fell by 4.3% between 2023 and 2024, landing at just over $1.6M. Its median asking rent in 2024 was $3,950, higher than the borough-wide median of $3,400.7. Prospect Heights, BrooklynYoY increase in searches:+6.6%Median asking rent:$4,055 (–0.9% YoY)Median asking price:$1.215M (+1.2% YoY)Neighborhood guide →Search homes for rent →Search homes for sale →Neighborhoods surrounding Prospect Park dominated our list this year, and Prospect Heights - situated north of the park - is no exception. With a median asking price of $1.2M in 2024, buyers may find Prospect Heights to be a slightly more affordable alternative to nearby Park Slope and Fort Greene. Though it fell nearly 1% last year, the neighborhood still boasts a fairly steep median asking rent of $4,055 - $655 more than the Brooklyn median. Prospect Heights is somewhat of a cultural enclave in the borough, with Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Central Library, and the Brooklyn Museum studding its borders. Architecturally, the neighborhood is quintessentially Brooklyn, offering a true mix of sprawling pre-war complexes, smaller mixed-use buildings, modern new developments, and historic brownstones. The latter has landed a section of the neighborhood, known as the Prospect Heights Historic District, on the National Register of Historic Places.8. Crown Heights, BrooklynYoY increase in searches:+6.4%Median asking rent:$3,150 (+3.3% YoY)Median asking price:$1.175M (+2.3% YoY)Neighborhood guide →Search homes for rent →Search homes for sale →East of Prospect Heights is Crown Heights, spanning a huge 55-block section of central Brooklyn across main artery Eastern Parkway. Crown Heights has been a hotbed for new developments in recent years, expanding renters' and buyers' options in the neighborhood. Much like Prospect Heights, Crown Heights offers a mix of historic townhomes and smaller mixed-use and multi-family buildings. While its median asking price sits just $75,000 above the Brooklyn-wide median, the neighborhood's median asking rent falls $250 below the borough median, making Crown Heights a great option for renters seeking new buildings with amenities on a budget. Beyond its proximity to Prospect Park, Crown Heights is home to several other smaller parks, as well as the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, ensuring any nature-seeker feels right at home. Crown Heights is also a great destination for foodies, with restaurants offering tastes from around the world including Jamaica, Eastern Europe, Senegal, Spain, Nigeria, and more. On summer nights, residents can also find locally run pop-up barbecues on many street corners.9. Prospect Lefferts Gardens, BrooklynYoY increase in searches:+5.9%Median asking rent:$2,950 (–0.5% YoY)Median asking price:$1.195M (+7.7% YoY)Search homes for rent →Search homes for sale →Just south of Crown Heights along Prospect Park lies Prospect Lefferts Gardens, otherwise known as PLG to locals. With a median asking rent of just $2,950 - $450 below the borough median - PLG is an even more affordable alternative for renters than nearby Crown Heights and Prospect Heights. Its large, pre-war rental buildings offer classic charm and massive layouts, giving renters a real bang for their buck. While its nearly $1.2M median asking price is slightly above the Brooklyn median of $1.1M, and had a 7.7% increase since 2023, PLG is the perfect destination for buyers who may have been contemplating a move out of the city. Beyond its beautiful and diverse array of townhouses, PLG's Lefferts Manor Historic District offers blocks of stunning, detached single-family homes with quaint front yards and driveways along tree-lined side streets. Meanwhile, main thoroughfares Nostrand, Rogers, and Flatbush Avenues offer a variety of coffee shops, bars, and restaurants. Of course, the main draw of the neighborhood is its proximity to Prospect Park; since PLG spans just four avenues from east to west, every resident is within a 20-minute walk to one of the park's gates.10. Morningside Heights, ManhattanYoY increase in searches:+5.8%Median asking rent:$4,000 (+2.1% YoY)Median asking price:$1.257M (+2.0% YoY)Neighborhood guide →Search homes for rent →Search homes for sale →Located in Upper Manhattan, between the Upper West Side and 125th Street, Morningside Heights is a lively, charming neighborhood with a balanced mix of quiet residential streets and bustling commercial blocks. It's home to several academic institutions including Columbia University, Barnard College, and the Manhattan School of Music, and with them comes a plethora of fast casual restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, and bars. Popular businesses include the longstanding Hungarian Pastry Shop, Book Culture, board game cafe Hex & Co, and Tom's Restaurant, whose facade you may recognize from Seinfeld. Perhaps the most appealing part of the neighborhood is its abundant green space. If the 30-acre Morningside Park isn't enough, residents also have easy access to Riverside Park, the northern section of Central Park, and the Columbia University quads. The 2024 median asking price in Morningside Heights was about $1.3M, and the neighborhood saw a 5.8% increase in searches on StreetEasy, drawing home shoppers as a slightly less expensive alternative to the Upper West Side, where the median asking price was almost $1.6M.MethodologyWe identified our 10 NYC Neighborhoods to Watch in 2025 by ranking the neighborhoods by annual changes in user searches on StreetEasy from 2023 to 2024. For robustness, we only considered neighborhoods that were within the top 30% by search volume and had at least 100 for-sale and 100 for-rent listings on StreetEasy in 2024. Interested in buying a home in NYC? Get in touch with our complimentary StreetEasy Concierge to learn about the NYC buying market and more.CONNECT NOW StreetEasy is an assumed name of Zillow, Inc. which has a real estate brokerage license in all 50 states and D.C. See real estate licenses. StreetEasy does not intend to interfere with any agency agreement you may have with a real estate professional or solicit your business if you are already under contract to purchase or sell property. All data for uncited sources in this presentation has been sourced from Zillow data. Copyright © 2025 by Zillow, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Michelle Williams' House Drops Asking Rent to $22K/Month
Golden Globe Award-winning actress Michelle Williams is no stranger to Brooklyn real estate — she’s scooped up plenty of amazing properties in the borough over the years. Undeniably one of her most impressive properties is the “Tara of Prospect Park,” a 1910-built home that was in much disarray when she bought it in 2015 for $2.5 million. Often called the Gone with the Wind house, 1440 Albemarle Road is a staple of the Prospect Park South Historic District. The massive 8-bedroom, 9-bathroom home features several decks and patios, huge columns, bay windows, and even an inground swimming pool.The home first went on the rental market in September 2024 with an original asking rent of $35,000/month. In late December, that price dropped by $13K a month to a cool $22K. Here’s everything to know about the home. 1440 Albemarle Road Price $22,000 Space 8 beds, 7 baths Neighborhood Prospect Park South Borough Brooklyn Check out the rental listing for this one-of-a-kind home. View Listing The DetailsMeasuring in at over 6,500 square feet, this home boasts 8 bedrooms, 6 full bathrooms, and 3 half-bathrooms. But the impressive numbers don’t stop there: it also has two libraries, two laundry rooms, two dishwashers, and six(!!!) decks. Located on an oversized corner lot, the home was designed by architects Robert Bryson and Carroll Pratt more than 100 years ago, and has since been meticulously renovated by Matiz Architecture and Workstead Design. It certainly looks different compared to when Williams bought it in 2015! Both the interior and exterior have been restored and designed with beautiful colors, finishes, and fixtures.A Peek Inside the HomeEnter the home through a grand foyer with a curved staircase, hardwood floors with inlays, a gorgeous chandelier, and ornate molding. These details are just a preview of what you’ll find throughout the house, which has maintained many of its original details. Located off the foyer is a library with floor-to-ceiling, built-in bookshelves, currently painted all over with a beautiful blue. The library leads into the living room, which features a wood-burning fireplace with a decorative mantle, followed by the dining room, anchored by a wall of bay windows with a built-in window seat.Equally impressive is the huge kitchen, complete with radiant heated floors, custom cabinetry, and top-of-the-line appliances, like a 6-burner stove with a pot filler. Also of note is the rounded breakfast nook built into a corner of the house, offering a sunny and cozy place to eat a meal. There’s also a huge marble island with additional storage, a sink, and barstool seating. Upstairs, the top of the stairway is illuminated by a one-of-a-kind skylight with intricate stained glass details. On this floor you’ll find yet another library, plus the house’s primary suite, which features a dressing room, private office, and en-suite bath. The bathroom offers spa-level relaxation with a clawfoot tub and two pedestal sinks, plus an infrared sauna and huge glass-walled shower! What’s more, the suite has direct access to one of the home’s six decks. This floor includes three more bedroom suites, each with its own en-suite bath, plus a laundry room. The top floor has three more bedrooms, a full bathroom, a gym, and yet another deck. These bedrooms are just as beautiful as the rest, many offering bay windows, decorative fireplaces, and other stylish elements.There’s even more to see in the cellar, which houses a 1-bed, 1-bath apartment unit, an art studio, a fitness area, and another laundry room with additional storage. It’s essentially a whole second residence!Exploring the Exterior In addition to the attached decks on each floor in the front of the house, and the private decks off some of the bedrooms, there’s also a side deck off the kitchen leading to the private, inground saltwater pool — certainly not something you see every day in New York City! A brick patio surrounds the pool and is the perfect place for lounge furniture. But that’s not all: there’s also an enclosed garden with hedges and fountains. The oversized lot also includes a garage, but with a location just two blocks south of Prospect Park and one avenue from the B/Q express trains, a car is hardly necessary. Regardless, the future renter has room for two!Check out the listing at 1440 Albemarle Road, listed by Laura Rozos of Compass.
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