The 16th district includes a small portion of the northern Bronx (specifically the neighborhood of Wakefield) and the southern half of Westchester County, including the suburban cities of White Plains, Mount Vernon, Yonkers, New Rochelle, and Rye.

From 2003 to 2013, the district included the neighborhoods of Bedford Park, East Tremont, Fordham, Hunts Point, Melrose, Highbridge, Morrisania, Mott Haven and University Heights.

Yankee Stadium, Fordham University and the Bronx Zoo were located within the district.

Before redistricting, the 2010 census found that approximately 38% of constituents in New York's 16th lived at or below the federal poverty line, the highest poverty rate of any congressional district in the nation.

Certain parties will invariably endorse either the Republican or Democratic candidate for every office, hence the state electoral results contain both the party votes, and the final candidate votes (Listed as "Recap").