Rent-Stabilized Apartments • Lincoln Square, Manhattan
Rent-Stabilized Apartments in Lincoln Square, Manhattan (2026)
The 2023 NYC Housing and Vacancy Survey (NYC HPD and U.S. Census Bureau, initial findings released February 2024) counted 996,600 rent-stabilized apartments, 41% of the city's rental units. The Rent Guidelines Board's maximum renewal increases are 3% for 1-year leases and 4.5% for 2-year leases beginning October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (RGB Order #57); 0% for 1-year leases and 0% for 2-year leases beginning October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027 (RGB Order #58). Lincoln Square scores 6.5/10 on DwellCheck's livability index (#9 of 33 Manhattan neighborhoods scored from NYC Open Data), with 3 subway stations inside the neighborhood's boundaries.
Lincoln Square at a glance
Lincoln Square scores 6.5—a neighborhood where green space and few housing violations compensate for noise, best suited to professionals and arts workers.
What to look for in a rent-stabilized apartment in Lincoln Square
Lincoln Square has a specific housing profile that affects your rent-stabilized search. Its practical score is 7/10 (HPD housing violations per residential lot, higher = fewer), and the most common residential building class is walk-up apartments (51% of residential tax lots in NYC's PLUTO data). These are the considerations that matter most here:
- •Buildings with 6+ units built before 1974 are commonly stabilized
- •J-51 and 421-a tax abatements create newer rent-stabilized units
- •Preferential rent is locked in for your entire tenancy under HSTPA 2019
- •DHCR rent history is the only authoritative source for verification
- •Stabilized tenants have guaranteed lease renewal rights
How to verify a rent-stabilized listing
Listings often over-promise on amenities. Before you sign a lease for a claimed rent-stabilized apartment in Lincoln Square, run through this verification checklist:
- ✓Request a free DHCR rent history at hcr.ny.gov
- ✓Check for a rent stabilization rider in your lease — required by law
- ✓Verify the building was built before 1974 via NYC Open Data PLUTO records
- ✓Look up J-51 or 421-a status on NYC Department of Finance property records
- ✓Ask the landlord directly and get the answer in writing
Want a deeper dive? Read our full Is My NYC Apartment Rent Stabilized? guide.
About Lincoln Square, Manhattan
Lincoln Square feels like the Upper West Side's more purposeful cousin—tree-lined blocks where you're as likely to pass someone in rehearsal clothes heading to Lincoln Center as you are a parent with a stroller. The neighborhood clusters around the performing arts complex, which shapes everything, and its tracked buildings are all high-rise. Building character skews toward high-rise residential complexes, creating a neighborhood that feels simultaneously established and still settling into its own identity.
Lincoln Square scores 6.5/10 overall on DwellCheck's livability index, ranking #9 of 33 Manhattan neighborhoods scored from NYC Open Data. Rent prices in Lincoln Square vary widely; check specific listings for current market rates. DwellCheck lists 3 subway stations inside the neighborhood's boundaries for Lincoln Square, including 72 St, 59 St-Columbus Circle, 66 St-Lincoln Center.
A typical 200m circle in Lincoln Square holds about 221 trees in NYC Parks' tree inventory (street and park trees), a tree density of 8.5/10 on a citywide percentile scale. Largest parks in or near Lincoln Square: Lincoln Center Plaza, Damrosch Park, Matthew P. Sapolin Playground. Nearest to the neighborhood's center: Samuel N. Bennerson 2nd Playground, about 141m.
Subway stations in Lincoln Square
Who Lincoln Square is best for
Commute score of 7/10 and seven subway lines (1, 2, 3, A, B, C, D) at three stations give you access downtown, midtown, and across the city without relying on a single line
Living steps from Lincoln Center, Juilliard, and the performing arts infrastructure means your workplace is your neighborhood
221 trees within 200m and the 3 nearest parks averaging 222m from the neighborhood's center provide outdoor access
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I know about finding a rent-stabilized place in Lincoln Square?
Lincoln Square pricing varies by block and building. Lincoln Square ranks #9 of 33 Manhattan neighborhoods scored from NYC Open Data on livability (6.5/10). Known for lincoln center and met opera, Lincoln Square has a rental market where rent-stabilized options depend heavily on building era and management. Lincoln Square scores 6.5—a neighborhood where green space and few housing violations compensate for noise, best suited to professionals and arts workers.
How much should I expect to pay in Lincoln Square?
Pricing in Lincoln Square varies widely by block, building age, and floor. Manhattan is a large borough with significant rent variation — always compare at least 3-4 listings before committing.
Is Lincoln Square actually a good fit for someone looking for a rent-stabilized apartment?
Depends on your priorities. Lincoln Square scores 7/10 on practical (HPD housing violations per residential lot, higher = fewer) and 7/10 on commute (subway stations and lines inside the neighborhood). It tends to work best for professionals with manhattan-wide commutes. The rent-stabilized inventory specifically depends on building stock, which you can verify address by address.
How do I get around from Lincoln Square?
DwellCheck lists 3 subway stations inside the neighborhood's boundaries, including 72 St (1/2/3/B/C) and 59 St-Columbus Circle (1/A/B/C/D). The commute score is 7/10 (subway stations and lines inside the neighborhood); it is not a travel time, so check the trip to your own destination.
What about safety in Lincoln Square?
Block-by-block variation is significant — two addresses a quarter mile apart can have very different safety profiles. Manhattan averages 696.5 reported incidents per 300m radius and 1.3 shooting incidents per 500m. The only way to know for a specific address is to check the NYPD data within a walking radius.
Are there parks or green space near Lincoln Square?
A typical 200m circle in Lincoln Square holds about 221 trees in NYC Parks' tree inventory (street and park trees), a tree density of 8.5/10 on a citywide percentile scale. Largest parks in or near Lincoln Square: Lincoln Center Plaza, Damrosch Park, Matthew P. Sapolin Playground. Nearest to the neighborhood's center: Samuel N. Bennerson 2nd Playground, about 141m. The outdoor score is 7.3/10. Green space access is a genuine strength here.
What ZIP code covers Lincoln Square?
Lincoln Square falls in 10023 (Upper West Side / Lincoln Square).
Rent-Stabilized Apartments in other Manhattan neighborhoods
Check a specific Lincoln Square address
Neighborhood averages are a starting point. Every NYC apartment building has unique violations, complaint history, and livability characteristics. Enter any address for a block-level analysis.
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