Manhattan Townhouse Market Report Q3 2026: 31 Sales at a $7.4 Million Median
Manhattan townhouse sales cooled from last year's unusually strong third quarter, but the market underneath is steady. Contracts ticked up year over year, inventory tightened, and the Upper East Side, Upper West Side and Downtown are tracking right in line with 2025.
Manhattan townhouse market at a glance
Buyers closed on 31 single-family townhouses in Q3 2026, down from 44 in Q3 2025 and 34 last quarter. Several closings are still pending from last quarter's busy contract activity, so expect some of that volume to show up in Q4. Meanwhile, 19 contracts were signed, one more than the same quarter last year, and active inventory fell to 217 townhouses.
Recorded sales | Q3 2026 | Q2 2026 | Q3 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
Number of sales | 31 | 34 | 44 |
Median sale price | $7,400,000 | $6,397,500 | $8,962,500 |
Average sale price | $9,011,573 | $10,418,412 | $9,539,820 |
Average price per sq ft | $1,469 | $1,721 | $1,780 |
Average size | 5,830 sq ft | 5,571 sq ft | 5,535 sq ft |
Average discount from list | 15% | 13% | 15% |
Contracts signed | Q3 2026 | Q2 2026 | Q3 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
Number of contracts | 19 | 47 | 18 |
Median asking price | $4,798,000 | $7,950,000 | $6,247,500 |
Average asking price | $6,139,526 | $14,142,170 | $10,991,278 |
Average price per sq ft | $1,316 | $1,957 | $1,616 |
Average size | 4,734 sq ft | 6,313 sq ft | 6,540 sq ft |
Average discount | 9% | 11% | 9% |
Active inventory | Q3 2026 | Q2 2026 | Q3 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
Active listings | 217 | 220 | 236 |
Median asking price | $8,900,000 | $9,625,000 | $8,250,000 |
Average asking price | $13,258,392 | $13,312,550 | $12,989,104 |
Average price per sq ft | $2,029 | $2,080 | $2,019 |
Average size | 6,415 sq ft | 6,278 sq ft | 6,210 sq ft |
Contract prices dropped sharply from Q2, but that's about which homes traded, not a falling market. The average townhouse that went into contract this quarter was 4,734 square feet, 25% smaller than in Q2, so the mix skewed toward smaller, lower-priced homes.
Upper East Side leads Manhattan townhouse sales
The Upper East Side accounted for 35.5% of Q3 townhouse sales, 11 of the 31 closings. Downtown followed with 9 sales (29.0%) and the Upper West Side with 7 (22.6%). Together, these three classic brownstone markets made up 87% of the quarter's activity. Upper Manhattan and Midtown East each recorded 2 sales, while Midtown West and FiDi/Battery Park City had none.
Sales, contracts and inventory
Recorded sales
- Median sale price
- $7,400,000
- Average sale price
- $9,011,573
- Average price per sq ft
- $1,469
- Average discount
- 15%
Contracts
- Median ask
- $4,798,000
- vs. Q3 2025
- +5.6%
Active listings
- Median ask
- $8,900,000
- vs. Q3 2025
- −8.1%
The gap between what sellers ask and what buyers pay is the story to watch. Active listings average $2,029 per square foot, while Q3 closings averaged $1,469, about 28% lower, and the average sale closed 15% below its original list price. New listings were also down 11.8% during the quarter, so well-priced townhouses face less competition than they did a year ago.
Manhattan townhouse prices by neighborhood, year to date
Each submarket's 2026 year-to-date townhouse sales, ranked by median sale price. The bar under each one shows its median relative to the Upper East Side's. Click a neighborhood to browse townhouses for sale on Compass.
-
$8,550,000
Most salesManhattan's busiest townhouse market has already matched its 2025 year-to-date pace. The average price jumped 23.7% as buyers went bigger, with average home size up 16.5%.
-
$8,437,500
Highest price per sq ftThe West Village, Greenwich Village, Chelsea and the rest of Downtown still command the highest price per square foot in Manhattan, and sellers here gave up the smallest discounts, 12% on average vs. 15% last year.
-
$6,212,500
Best valuePrices are rising on every measure, with the median up 9.0% and price per square foot up 9.1%, yet the UWS still delivers about two-thirds more space per dollar than Downtown.
-
$5,918,750
Biggest price gainThe median rose 33.6% as larger homes traded, and the average discount narrowed from 21% to 13%. This small but improving market includes Turtle Bay, Murray Hill and Sutton Place.
-
$2,999,999
Fastest-growing salesHarlem and its neighbors have already topped all of 2025's 7 townhouse sales. At $748 per square foot, this is the most accessible way to own a single-family home in Manhattan.
What this means for Manhattan townhouse buyers and sellers
- The year is on track.The five reported submarkets have logged 106 townhouse sales so far in 2026, compared with 110 at this point in 2025, only about 4% behind despite a slower third quarter.
- Supply is tightening.Active listings are down 8.1% year over year and new listings fell 11.8% during the quarter. Buyers have fewer options, and sellers of well-located homes have less competition.
- Pricing still decides the outcome.Closed sales averaged 15% below original list, and listings are priced about 28% above what buyers actually paid per square foot. Townhouses priced right from day one avoid the long reductions.
- Fall closings could lift Q4.Q2 saw 47 townhouse contracts signed, and a number of those closings are still pending, which should support sales numbers heading into year-end.
Frequently asked questions
How many townhouses sold in Manhattan in Q3 2026?
Buyers closed on 31 single-family townhouses in Manhattan in the third quarter of 2026, down 8.8% from Q2 and 29.5% from a strong Q3 2025. Another 19 townhouses went under contract during the quarter, 5.6% more than a year earlier.
What is the median price of a Manhattan townhouse?
The median townhouse sale price in Q3 2026 was $7,400,000, up 15.7% from Q2 but down 17.4% from Q3 2025. The average sale price was $9,011,573, and active listings had a median asking price of $8,900,000.
Which Manhattan neighborhood has the most townhouse sales?
The Upper East Side led with 11 of the 31 Q3 sales (35.5%) and 37 sales year-to-date. Downtown was second with 9 Q3 sales and 34 year-to-date, followed by the Upper West Side with 7 Q3 sales and 20 year-to-date.
What is the average price per square foot for a Manhattan townhouse?
Townhouses that closed in Q3 2026 averaged $1,469 per square foot, while active listings averaged $2,029. Year-to-date, Downtown is the most expensive submarket at $2,120 per square foot, and Upper Manhattan is the most affordable at $748 per square foot.
Are Manhattan townhouses selling below asking price?
Yes. Townhouses that closed in Q3 2026 sold an average of 15% below their original list price, the same as Q3 2025. Contracts signed during the quarter showed a smaller 9% average discount.
How many townhouses are for sale in Manhattan right now?
There were 217 single-family townhouses actively listed in Q3 2026, down 1.4% from Q2 and 8.1% from a year ago. New listings also fell 11.8% during the quarter.
Is now a good time to buy a townhouse in Manhattan?
Inventory is tighter than last year, but sellers are still negotiating, with closed sales averaging 15% below original list. Buyers who know the block-by-block values tend to find the best opportunities, so reach out for a private consultation and a custom look at the neighborhoods you're considering.
Thinking about buying or selling a townhouse in Manhattan? Contact Darrell Williams for a private consultation and custom market data, or view his Compass profile and listings.
Data source: Compass Manhattan Townhouse Market Report, Q3 2026, based on REBNY RLS and ACRIS data for single-family townhouses. Current-quarter figures reflect data from July 1 through September 20, 2026, and may be updated in future reports. Contract prices reflect the latest asking price; the discount is the difference between the initial list price and the recorded sale price. Information is deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions and change without notice. All square footages are approximate.
