10 Safest Brooklyn Neighborhoods for Families

In September of 1984, The Huxtables, an upper-middle class African American family, moved into a beautiful brownstone townhouse in Brooklyn Heights, one of the safest Brooklyn neighborhoods for families.  A paragon of the model American family, the two parents and their five children graced US television screens for nearly a decade with episodes that dealt with a smattering of themes that families across the nation confronted on a daily basis.  It was perhaps their abode, though, that tied everything together during the show’s eight seasons.  Nestled in a quiet, tree-lined Brooklyn neighborhood, the Huxtable home gave viewers something to which to aspire.  A house in a neighborhood that afforded its inhabitants safety and peace of mind without compromising aesthetic value or nearness to the buzz of inner-city life for which so many residents seem to clamor.  

Today, neighborhoods such as the one that NBC’s fictional model family called home are experiencing demand the likes of which many have never witnessed before.  Without question, the regal condominiums, townhouses, and apartments stand as relics of a bygone era of classical architecture.  However, what’s really drawing in would-be dwellers in droves is the safety that neighborhoods such as these and others throughout Brooklyn ensure their residents.  The uncertainty of the world in which we live today has created a burgeoning market for living spaces that can delicately balance the allure of being close to all of the action without jeopardizing the well-being of those who live in them.

With this in mind, we wondered which of the neighborhoods within the Big Apple’s Brooklyn borough were the safest, and thereby likely to be most sought after by potential homeowners.  To investigate this, we looked at crime statistics in a collection of neighborhoods throughout Brooklyn–from Flatbush to Williamsburg–over the past year, to get an idea of which areas are more or less crime-free, and which ones still have little ways to go.  If you, like us, find yourself in search of the safest Brooklyn neighborhoods for families, we encourage you to go forth and check out the list we’ve concocted.  On the other hand, if you’re not quite sure about the ideal neighborhood for you and your loved ones, perhaps you might start by checking out a list of Neighborhoods to Avoid in Brooklyn.  Either way, we think that the information here will shine some light into a few of Brooklyn’s gems, and help you find the place best matches your needs. And now, let’s check out our list of safest Brooklyn neighborhoods for families.

10. Avenue L & East 32nd Street

Neighborhood Size: 108,646

Total Crimes:1,097

Crimes per 1000 Residents: 10.1

Composed largely of upper-middle class educated executives, this south Brooklyn enclave is characterized by its row house-lined streets and its highly walkable ambient.  Much of the charm in this neighborhood comes from its aged buildings, with nearly 60% of all structures having been built prior to 1939.  With an eclectic mix of Eastern Europeans, Puerto Ricans, Asians, Italians, and African Americans, the Avenue L neighborhood offers a bit of everything for everyone in an excellent location.

9. Avenue L & Bedford Avenue

Neighborhood Size: 160664

Total Crimes: 1538

Crimes per 1000 residents:9.6

For families looking to own a space in this area, get ready to shell out some serious cash.  The median real estate price in the area that ranks 9th in our list of safest Brooklyn neighborhoods for families is $1,052,705, and even renters are feeling the squeeze with rental prices north of $4,000 per month.  Perhaps the soaring property price tags in this reason are indicative of consumer demand, as real estate vacancies are at 4.8%.  Aesthetically, the neighborhood serves as a nod to an earlier time with a smattering of Victorian properties as well as a majority of buildings constructed prior to 1939.  Composed of a fascinating mix of Russian and Arab-Americans, the neighborhood owns a unique cultural identity that few other areas are capable of matching.

8. Avenue U/ E. 28th Street

Neighborhood Size: 159,528

Total Crimes: 1,266

Crimes per 1000 residents: 7.94

Just a stone’s throw from Brooklyn’s Sheepshead Bay and Madison areas, and a mere five blocks from the Marine Park is the Avenue U and E. 28th Street neighborhood. Despite its comparatively lower average monthly rental prices ($1,324), this Brooklyn enclave maintains its status as a sought after residential location, as its current vacancy rate remains at a low 3.1%, lower than 87% of all neighborhoods in the US.  From a real estate perspective, the neighborhood is unique in its abundance of row houses that line the assorted blocks of which the area is composed.  With a higher percentage of foreign-born inhabitants than native-born residents, this neighborhood stands out for its vibe as a diverse and international cross-section of Brooklyn.

7. Oriental Blvd & Ocean Ave.

Neighborhood Size: 159,528

Total Crimes: 1,266

Crimes per 1000 residents: 7.94

Perhaps as a result of its more upmarket prices (rentals go for over $2,200 per month), the Oriental Blvd & Ocean Avenue area, part of the same precinct as the Avenue U & E. 28th Street area, has one of the higher vacancy rates (19.1%) among the safest Brooklyn neighborhoods for families.  Despite this, the neighborhood has much to offer.  With its enviable bayside location, the neighborhood affords its residents excellent shoreline walking areas as well as water transport via ferry for those that prefer such modes of transport.

6. Avenue S & E. 24th st.

Neighborhood Size: 159,528

Total Crimes: 1,266

Crimes per 1000 residents: 7.94

This eight block plot carved out of Brooklyn’s lower portion is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in all of New York.  At $2,945 per month in average monthly rental prices, the neighborhood’s historic homes certainly pander to a very specific socio-economic profile in its residents.  This is particularly true given that most residents don’t rent–little renting options are available in the neighborhood at all.  There is, however, a high ownership rate within this area, indicative of high stability, low-turnover, and thus, a stronger community bond.

5. 12th Avenue & 82nd Street

Neighborhood Size: 124,491

Total Crimes: 888

Crimes per 1000 residents: 7.13

Situated on the border of Dyker Beach Park and the Dyker Beach Golf Course, the 12th Avenue & 82nd Street neighborhood is a bit more upscale than comparable Brooklyn neighborhoods, as average rent prices are currently well north of $2,500 per month for medium to large-sized townhomes and single-family homes.  Given their proximity to the water, residents of this neighborhood typically opt for the ferry as their preferred mode of transportation in commuting to and from work.  On the weekends, residents of the neighborhood, classified as “urban sophisticates,” have been known to partake in various cultural offerings ranging from museum visits and attending of different shows to boutiquing and fine dining.  An upper-middle class neighborhood chocked full of highly educated executives, the 12th Avenue & 82nd Street neighborhood makes for a great option among the safest Brooklyn neighborhoods for families.

4. 16th Avenue & 86th Street

Neighborhood Size: 181,981

Total Crimes: 1218

Crimes per 1000 residents: 6.7

We are continuing our list of safest Brooklyn neighborhoods for families with the 16th Avenue and 86th street neighborhood in Brooklyn, that is composed of a combination of duplex, triple-decker, and Victorian homes that have been divided into apartments.  It is one of the most in-demand neighborhoods, not only in Brooklyn, or in New York, but in the entirety of the United States, with a vacancy rate of only 1.1%.  In terms of ethnic makeup, 48% of the neighborhood’s residents have Asian ancestry, while 21% are of Italian descent.  This diversity translates linguistically as well, as 47% of residents over the age of five speak Chinese at home.  In terms of getting around, many residents ultimately opt for public transportation, as 48.4% of the neighborhood’s inhabitants end up riding the train to work each day–a commute that typically takes over an hour each way.

3. 19th Ave/ 47th Street

Neighborhood Size: 191,382

Total Crimes: 1,129

Crimes per 1000 residents: 5.9

Located adjacent to the 18th avenue metro station, the Brooklyn neighborhood of 19th Avenue and 47th Street that ranks 3rd in our list of safest Brooklyn neighborhoods for families is characterized by a “densely urban” population, with 45,580 people per square mile.  As a result of this, buildings in the neighborhood are primarily either medium-sized (three to four bedroom) or large-sized (five to six bedroom) apartments, as well as high-rise structures, with average rents of roughly $1,500 per month.  The neighborhood is renowned for its eastern European inhabitants, included large swathes of Polish, Hungarian, and Romanian residents.  Among other unique curios the neighborhood offers up, more people in this area opt to walk to work each day (36%) than nearly any other neighborhood in the United States.  This makes for a fit population that is eager to get out and move around.  As a low-middle income neighborhood represented by a diverse cross-section of residents, the 19th Avenue/47th Street neighborhood truly reflects a working class iteration of Brooklynites.  

2. Rabbinical College of Ch’san Sofer New York/ 19th Ave

Neighborhood Size: 191,382

Total Crimes: 1,129

Crimes per 1000 residents: 5.89

With 37% of this neighborhood’s residents opting to walk to and from work each day, the Rabbinical College/ 19th Ave neighborhood that ranks second in our list of safest Brooklyn neighborhoods for families, is one of the more active areas of Brooklyn.  Composed largely of younger, college-aged inhabitants and residents of eastern European backgrounds, the neighborhood offers an eclectic mix of dwellers at a relatively affordable price point ($1,800 per month).  An attention-grabbing mix of cornerstore bodegas, mixed-use buildings, and triple-decker residences characterizes this neighborhood, making it unique from many of its Brooklyn counterparts.

1. 18th Avenue & 51st St.

Neighborhood Size: 191,382

Total Crimes: 1,129

Crimes per 1000 residents: 5.89

When your neighborhood borders the precinct police department, it’s a bit difficult for crime to go wholly unchecked.  Such is the case for the 18th Avenue & 51st Street neighborhood of Brooklyn, as it boasts one of the lowest crime rates per thousand residents of any area in the Borough.  With average rental prices just under $2,000 per month, the neighborhood is home to a pretty balanced mixture of renters and owners, giving potential credence to beliefs that the neighborhood may be a bit more stable than majority renter neighborhoods.  One interestingly unique aspect of this particular neighborhood is the modes of transport elected by its inhabitants.  39% of residents walk to work while 17% utilize the train.  Interestingly enough, however, 12% don’t use transportation at all–the 18th Avenue &51st Street neighborhood has one of the largest work from home populations in all of NY.  This then contributes to the surprisingly high rate of neighborhood dwellers that don’t own cars (31.5%), and makes for a much more active overall atmosphere for individual tenants as well as those looking for the safest Brooklyn neighborhoods for families.