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New Yorkers never stop window-shopping for their next neighborhood—and StreetEasy just revealed where everyone’s looking. The real estate site’s new list of Neighborhoods to Watch in 2026 tracks the biggest year-over-year jumps in searches from buyers and renters and, perhaps not surprisingly, the results read a downtown love letter to downtown convenience with a dash of outer-borough value.
The Financial District topped the list, seeing searches surge nearly 47 percent. Once known mainly for suits and salad bars, FiDi’s ongoing shift toward residential life is clearly catching on. Median rents now hover around $4,690, with asking prices just under $1.2 million, making it one of the borough’s more comparatively attainable zones, at least by Manhattan standards.
Right behind it is the East Village, where interest jumped 45.8 percent as renters, in particular, leaned back into one of the city’s most storied neighborhoods. Rents climbed fast here—up more than 13 percent year over year—but the area’s mix of nightlife, culture and classic walk-ups still lures plenty in.
Brooklyn, of course, makes a strong showing with Windsor Terrace in third place. Searches there jumped almost 45 percent, thanks to its sweet spot between Prospect Park calm and Park Slope energy, just without the Park Slope prices. Carroll Gardens, Downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene also land in the top 10, showcasing how important to trifecta of space, greenery and strong transit.
Sunnyside, Queens, ranks as the most affordable neighborhood on the list, with median rents under $2,700 and asking prices below $500,000, all numbers that feel more 2010 than 2026. Ridgewood and Long Island City round out the borough’s presence, each showing steady growth in interest as New Yorkers consider the fine balance between things like price, commute time and lifestyle perks.
Taken together, the list shows exactly what New Yorkers are prioritizing right now: neighborhoods that feel lived-in, well-connected, and just flexible enough to handle whatever the city throws at them next. Whether that means brownstones near Prospect Park, prewar walk-ups by Tompkins Square or high-rise rentals by the East River, 2026’s hottest neighborhoods are all about location—with personality to match.
StreetEasy’s Neighborhoods to Watch in 2026
- Financial District, Manhattan
- East Village, Manhattan
- Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
- Lower East Side, Manhattan
- Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
- Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn
- Sunnyside, Queens
- Ridgewood, Queens
- Long Island City, Queens
- Fort Greene, Brooklyn