Besides a handful of neighborhoods in Brooklyn, many people who visited NYC in the late 80s and 90s wouldn’t venture to the borough because it was deemed unsafe. Nowadays, Brooklyn has become the most popular borough for young professionals to move to, and as such, many places have become a lot safer. Still, there are pockets that are still dangerous, so if you are looking for a safe Brooklyn neighborhood, consider one of the locations below.
Park Slope
Located to the west of Prospect Park, designed by the same people who did Central Park, Park Slope is one of the safest neighborhoods in Brooklyn. The only thing you’ll need to dodge are strollers and dogs. When it comes to safety, Park Slope has a lower crime rate than NYC overall, with low rates of property crime and robberies.
Park Slope is often compared to the West Village due to its beautiful brownstone buildings, amazing restaurants, great nightlife options, and more. Enjoy a night out at Union Hall, a 5,000 square foot bar complete with bookshelves, bocce ball, live music, and more. Or take a stroll in Prospect Park, where you can take your family on a picnic or enjoy the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Then go shopping at the Park Slope Food Co-op, one of the oldest and largest active food co-ops in the United States. Of course, living here comes at a price. The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is around $3,800, so make sure you can afford to live here before you fall in love with the neighborhood!
Rent Prices by Neighborhood (1-Bedroom, 2025)
| Neighborhood | Median Rent (1-Bedroom, 2025) |
Comparison to NYC Average |
|---|---|---|
| Park Slope | $3,800 | ⬆ Above Avg. |
| Borough Park | $2,600 | ⬇ Below Avg. |
| Carroll Gardens | $4,500 | ⬆ Above Avg. |
| Bath Beach | $1,600 | ⬇ Well Below Avg. |
| Cobble Hill | $4,800 | ⬆ Well Above Avg. |
| NYC Average | $3,200 | — |
Borough Park
Located between Bensonhurst and Dyker Heights, Borough Park might not be on many people’s radar, but it is one of the safest places to live in Brooklyn. In fact, crime rates are significantly lower than both the national and NYC averages.
The area provides a good mix of a quiet suburban neighborhood with the conveniences of living in a busy city. If you need to go shopping for anything, head over to 13th Avenue, which is Borough Park’s commercial district. Along this avenue, you’ll be able to find everything from grocery stores to restaurants to specialty shops that you can find anywhere else. And if you’re Orthodox Jewish, this is a great place to move as it is home to one of the largest communities outside of Israel and one of the largest concentrations of Jewish people in the United States. While not as expensive as Park Slope, it’s certainly not as cheap, as the median rent for a bedroom is around $2,600.
Carroll Gardens
Sure, Park Slope might be a popular place for families, but for those who want a quieter neighborhood then Carroll Gardens might be the perfect spot. More importantly, Carroll Gardens is one of the safest neighborhoods in NYC, with crime rates lower than the national and NYC averages.
Commute Times to Manhattan from Each Neighborhood
| Neighborhood | Avg. Commute to Midtown (min) |
Avg. Commute to Financial District (min) |
Express Train Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park Slope | 30 | 25 | ✅ Yes (D, N, R, F) |
| Borough Park | 45 | 40 | ✅ Yes (D, N) |
| Carroll Gardens | 25 | 20 | ✅ Yes (F, G) |
| Bath Beach | 55 | 50 | ✅ Yes (D, N) |
| Cobble Hill | 20 | 15 | ✅ Yes (A, C, F, G) |
| NYC Average | 38 | 32 | — |
This quaint neighborhood offers beautiful brownstones and tree-lined streets. A rectangular area bounded by Carroll, President, Smith, and Hoyt street make up the Carroll Gardens Historic District, which features some of the finest examples of brownstones with gardens. Besides admiring the houses, there are plenty of restaurants and boutique shops for you to enjoy. And if you need some more excitement, you can hop on the F or G train to travel to Manhattan or other areas of Queens and Brooklyn. As one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in NYC, expect to pay around $4,500 for a one-bedroom.
Bath Beach
This predominantly residential area offers beautiful views of the water and the Verrazano Bridge, as well as low crime. Its low crime rates stem from the area’s strong sense of community, so as long as you are friendly to your neighbors, they’ll look out for you. Crime rates here are slightly lower than the national and NYC averages.
Although Bath Beach might be predominantly residential, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. Enjoy a walk along the water at Calvert Vaux Park or enjoy Bensonhurst Park, which, despite the name, is not in Bensonhurst. If you want a bigger park, head a bit north to Dyker Beach Park, which acts as the northern border between Dyker Heights and Bath Beach. If you want to do some shopping, head over to 86th Street and enjoy some local shops and restaurants. Due to its distance from Manhattan, Bath Beach tends to be on the cheaper side when it comes to rent. The median rent for a one-bedroom is around $1,600.
Cobble Hill
Located next to downtown Brooklyn, this picturesque neighborhood is one of the most sought-after due to its beautiful brownstones, cobblestone streets, and charming cafes and stores. Not only that, it offers some of the best schools in NYC and easy access to NYC and other attractions. Plus, it’s incredibly safe with crime rates below both the national and NYC average.
Crime Rate Comparison by Neighborhood (Brooklyn, 2025)
| Neighborhood | Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) |
Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) |
Comparison to NYC Avg. |
Comparison to U.S. Avg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Slope | 2.1 | 12.5 | ⬇ Lower | ≈ Same |
| Borough Park | 1.6 | 11.2 | ⬇ Lower | ⬇ Lower |
| Carroll Gardens | 1.9 | 13.0 | ⬇ Lower | ≈ Same |
| Bath Beach | 1.4 | 10.8 | ⬇ Lower | ⬇ Lower |
| Cobble Hill | 1.7 | 11.5 | ⬇ Lower | ⬇ Lower |
| NYC Average | 3.2 | 15.8 | — | ⬆ Higher |
| U.S. Average | 2.0 | 12.0 | ⬇ Lower | — |
Compared to some of the other Brooklyn neighborhoods, Cobble Hill is quite small, comprising only 40 blocks. Still, there’s a lot of history in the neighborhood, with Cobble Hill Park being the main attraction. This small park offers a perfect resting place for residents and also serves as the location for local events like live music, plays, and more. Much of the neighborhood is included in the Cobble Hill Historic District, as it has one of the city’s finest collections of 19th-century homes. If history isn’t your thing, check Cobble Hills Cinemas, where you can watch first-run, independent, and foreign films. Rents are not cheap here. You can expect to pay around $4,800 for a one-bedroom.
Move to Brooklyn
Whichever neighborhood in Brooklyn you move to, make sure to give NYC Great Movers a call. We have thousands of satisfied customers and know every inch of Brooklyn like the back of our hand. Whether you’re making a commercial or residential move, we can help. All you need to do is reach out, and we’ll help you create a customized moving plan.
