Even in the borough that rarely sleeps, silence reigns in more homes than one might expect. 

Manhattan now claims the highest percentage of vacant residences across New York City, with an estimated 1,400 apartments — or around 1.2% of its housing inventory — lying empty, according to a third-quarter analysis by real estate data provider Attom obtained by The Real Deal. 

That figure has barely shifted from last year and closely matches the national vacancy rate of 1.3%.

Manhattan tops New York City in empty homes, with about 1,400 residences sitting vacant — a 1.2% rate that edges out The Bronx and far surpasses Brooklyn and Queens. deberarr – stock.adobe.com

While Brooklyn may appear more vacant in raw numbers — with some 29% of the city’s nearly 5,900 unoccupied units — its overall vacancy ratio aligns with the city average of 0.7%.

The Bronx follows closely behind Manhattan with a rate of 1.1%, highlighting pockets of underuse even amid New York’s broader housing crunch.

While Brooklyn holds the largest share of the city’s nearly 5,900 empty homes overall, Attom’s third-quarter analysis shows Manhattan has the highest vacancy rate of any borough, nearly matching the national figure of 1.3%. VideoFlow – stock.adobe.com

In terms of Manhattan, the contrasts between neighborhoods are stark. 

In ZIP code 10012, which includes Soho and the East Village, roughly 4.3% of residences sit empty — more than triple the borough and national norms. Both prime areas, it may seem high prices may be the cause, but there’s more than meets the eye.

“The scale of residential construction and conversions has been higher in downtown Manhattan, particularly in specific neighborhoods such as Soho and the East Village, which represent this trend,” said appraiser Jonathan Miller, of Miller Samuel.

“Coming out of the pandemic, Manhattan experienced the highest rate of population growth, particularly downtown, which was further aided by many office-to-residential conversions, with many more expected,” he added. “This has resulted in a potentially higher vacancy rate compared to other boroughs, but it’s not excessive.”

The Soho and East Village ZIP code leads the pack with 4.3% of homes unoccupied, more than triple the citywide average of 0.7%. James – stock.adobe.com

At the other extreme, vacancy rates in Staten Island’s Great Kills — seen here — and Queens’ Jackson Heights are close to zero. NYCEDC

By contrast, in Staten Island’s Great Kills and Jackson Heights in Queens, just two homes in each community were unoccupied, representing vacancy rates so low they are practically negligible.

But fear not, demand for city living is still ferocious, at least when it comes to renting. 

Manhattan recently ranked among the five most competitive rental markets in the country, with new leases in June commanding a record median rent of $4,625, The Post reported. 

About 70% of tenants renewed their leases in the first quarter of 2025, leaving slim pickings for newcomers. Apartments that did hit the market attracted an average of 11 interested renters apiece, up from seven a year earlier.