N
YC homeowners keep their houses for roughly 11 years on average, but the pattern varies sharply by borough. Staten Island leads the city’s fastest turnover, with owners selling after only 6.5 years—half the tenure seen in The Bronx and Queens, where ownership stretches approach 13 years.

    The borough’s market is dominated by single‑family and small multifamily homes that attract first‑time buyers drawn by affordability and easy Manhattan access. These properties are often viewed as transitional; families outgrow them quickly and move to larger homes in New Jersey or Long Island. Investors and short‑term buyers also contribute to the rapid cycle, with many flips and LLC transfers counted as brief ownership periods by PropertyShark.

    Nine of the ten fastest‑moving neighborhoods are on Staten Island, led by Grasmere (4.6 years) and Elm Park (4.7 years). Arlington, New Brighton, and St. George follow closely. The borough’s mix of rising prices, improving neighborhoods, and active investor interest fuels this churn.

    In contrast, Queens’ Neponsit boasts the city’s longest tenure at 20.5 years, a beachside enclave where multigenerational ownership is common. Brooklyn’s Marine Park comes close at nearly 19 years. Other long‑holding pockets include Fresh Meadows and Hollis Hills in Queens, and Dyker Heights in Brooklyn—all known for single‑family homes, stable schools, and strong community ties.

    Manhattan’s overall average is about 10.5 years, but micro‑markets differ. Manhattan Valley and Kips Bay top the borough with over 13 years of ownership, while Midtown, the Lower East Side, and Financial District show shorter cycles due to condo‑heavy housing that turns over more quickly. Two Bridges, a redeveloped Lower Manhattan area, has the city’s shortest tenure at roughly four years, reflecting rapid transitions in that neighborhood.

    Property type and price also shape turnover. Single‑family homes hold longest citywide, averaging nearly 13 years, whereas condos rotate faster. Homes priced between $500,000 and $1 million move the slowest; luxury properties above $3 million sell in under ten years.

    Overall, Staten Island’s unique blend of affordable single‑family homes, commuter appeal, and investor activity creates a market that turns over much faster than the rest of the city, while neighborhoods like Neponsit and Marine Park illustrate the opposite trend of long‑term, stable ownership.