How much of Manhattan's housing is multi-family?
Updated October 22, 2026
Short answer
About 90% of Manhattan's housing sits in multi-family buildings with 10 or more units, the highest share of any New York City borough (NY State Comptroller, 2020 U.S. Census). That density is exactly what drives Manhattan's package-theft exposure: deliveries land in shared lobbies, mailrooms and package rooms rather than on a private porch the resident can watch.
Manhattan is overwhelmingly multi-family
Manhattan has the densest housing stock in the United States. The overwhelming majority of its homes are apartments and condos in large buildings, not single-family houses, and 90% of its housing is in buildings with 10 or more units, the highest share of any NYC borough.
Manhattan housing at a glance
Metric | Figure | Source |
Housing in buildings of 10+ units | 90% | NY State Comptroller / 2020 Census |
Rank among NYC boroughs | Highest share | NY State Comptroller |
Single-family homes | Very low (low single digits) | U.S. Census ACS (B25024 / DP04) |
Why this matters for package theft
Housing type changes theft risk more than the neighborhood does. Apartment and condo residents are victimized about 3.5 times as often as single-family homeowners, because shared building access, concentrated delivery volume and low doorstep visibility all raise exposure. Because Manhattan is almost entirely multi-family, that premium applies to nearly every resident, which is why Manhattan is one of the most package-theft-prone places in the country and why a package receiving service, where a person accepts and logs every delivery, is especially valuable here.
Frequently asked questions
What share of Manhattan's housing is apartments?
About 90% of Manhattan's housing is in multi-family buildings of 10 or more units, the highest share of any New York City borough (NY State Comptroller, 2020 U.S. Census).
Does Manhattan have many single-family homes?
Very few. Single-family houses make up only a low-single-digit share of Manhattan's housing stock; it is overwhelmingly apartments and condos.
Why does Manhattan's housing type matter for package theft?
Apartment and condo residents are victimized about 3.5 times as often as single-family homeowners, mainly because of shared lobby and package-room access. With 90% of Manhattan multi-family, that exposure is nearly universal.
Sources
NY State Comptroller, Homeownership Rates in New York (citing the 2020 U.S. Census). The report states that “multi-family homes with 10 or more units comprised the greatest shares of housing stock in Manhattan (90 percent).” [primary, verified]
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Table B25024 (Units in Structure) or DP04 (Selected Housing Characteristics), New York County (Manhattan). [corroborating: the underlying data]
NYU Furman Center, NYC Neighborhood Data Profiles: Manhattan. [corroborating: rental-heavy, multi-family profile]
Part of the guide
The Complete Guide to Package Receiving Services: How They Work, Who Needs Them, and How They Help Prevent Package Theft →