Most New Yorkers have never been to Tottenville. If they know anything about it, they know it’s at the bottom of Staten Island — the southernmost neighborhood in all of New York City, closer to Perth Amboy, New Jersey, than to Times Square. But this quiet, tree-lined community of about 29,500 residents has its own story in 2026, and it’s worth paying attention to.
Living Breakwaters: The Coastline Gets Armor
The most significant infrastructure project affecting Tottenville isn’t a new building or a rezoning — it’s a series of offshore breakwaters sitting in Raritan Bay. The Living Breakwaters project, one of the most ambitious coastal resilience initiatives in the country, was designed to reduce erosion and storm wave damage along Tottenville’s vulnerable shoreline after Hurricane Sandy devastated the area in 2012.
The breakwaters, located offshore near Conference House Park, reached their final stages of completion in late 2024. But the project goes beyond just concrete and stone — it includes oyster restoration on the completed structures to rebuild the marine ecosystem, a one-time beach restoration near Conference House Park, and social resiliency programming for the community. For a neighborhood that watched homes get swept away by Sandy, this infrastructure represents more than engineering. It’s a promise that the city hasn’t forgotten what happened here.
Conference House Park: History Meets the Waterfront
At the very tip of the island, Conference House Park anchors Tottenville’s identity. The park’s centerpiece is the Conference House itself — a 1680 stone manor where Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge met with British Admiral Lord Howe in September 1776 in a failed attempt to negotiate peace during the Revolutionary War.
Guided tours for the 2026 season began on April 11, running every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 PM. Beyond the historic house, the park offers hiking trails, playground areas, waterfront access, and the Lenape Playground — named for the area’s original Native American inhabitants. It’s one of the most peaceful public spaces in all five boroughs, with views across Raritan Bay to the New Jersey shore.
The Real Estate Picture
Tottenville’s housing market reflects its character: stable, owner-heavy, and steadily appreciating. The median sale price over the last 12 months sits at $865,000, up about 8% from the previous year. Homes typically sell after about 62 days on the market. About 75% of residents own their homes — far above the citywide average — and the neighborhood’s average household income of $95,000 keeps it firmly in middle-class territory for the New York metro area.
New construction is present but modest. Recently renovated homes on Wood Lane and scattered infill projects keep the housing stock fresh without the kind of mega-development happening in other parts of the city. There are no 20-story towers coming to Tottenville — and residents would like to keep it that way.
A Neighborhood That Runs on Quiet
Tottenville’s appeal is inseparable from its pace. Residents consistently describe it as peaceful, safe, family-friendly, and walkable. With an average age of 50, this is a neighborhood of established families and retirees who chose it specifically because it doesn’t feel like New York City. The trade-off is real — the commute to Manhattan can exceed 90 minutes each way, and commercial options are limited. But for people who want space, quiet, and proximity to nature without leaving the five boroughs, Tottenville delivers something genuinely rare.
The recent wave of new businesses opening across Staten Island hasn’t reached Tottenville in a major way yet, and that’s fine with most of the people who live here.
What You Need to Know
- The Living Breakwaters project in Raritan Bay — a post-Sandy coastal resilience initiative — is complete, featuring offshore breakwaters, oyster restoration, and beach restoration near Conference House Park
- Conference House Park’s 2026 tour season is open: guided tours every Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 PM, at the historic 1680 manor
- Tottenville’s median home sale price is $865,000, up 8% year over year, with 75% homeownership
- The neighborhood has about 29,500 residents with an average household income of $95,000 and an average age of 50
- Tottenville is the southernmost neighborhood in New York City, closer to New Jersey than to Midtown Manhattan
Exploring Staten Island’s green spaces? Don’t miss our guide to Earth Day events and nature walks happening across NYC parks this month.
