The Safest Neighborhoods In Brooklyn: 2022's Ultimate List

Brooklyn is a perfect area for residents in New York that want to avoid the craziness of Manhattan. You get the benefit of a short commute without the exorbitant costs and rampant crime. So, what are the safest neighborhoods in Brooklyn?

Kensington, Borough Park, Bensonhurst, and Sheepshead Bay are the safest neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Neighborhoods like Flatlands, Park Slope, Bay Ridge, and Sunset Park are safer than the average Brooklyn neighborhood. The crime rates in Canarsie and Carroll Park are below the national average and the average in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn is safer than other boroughs such as Manhattan as a whole. However, not every neighborhood in Brooklyn is safe, and that’s why it is important to exercise caution before you settle on a new place. Follow along as we explore the safest neighborhoods in Manhattan.

Although the crime rate in Brooklyn is significantly higher than the national average, when compared to other communities of a similar population, Brooklyn’s crime rate is lower than average. The higher than the national average crime rate is not to say that there aren’t neighborhoods within Brooklyn that are safe. In fact, most of the violent crime in Brooklyn occurs in small concentrated pockets, as opposed to across the whole borough.

For both buyers and renters, finding a safe neighborhood for you and your family to call home is absolutely vital. While you can seek advice from current Brooklyn residents as to which neighborhoods are the safest, the best way to draw a conclusion is by examining published data.

In order to come up with our list of the safest neighborhoods in Brooklyn, we examined and compared estimated property crime, violent crime, and population across the borough. The neighborhoods with the lowest overall crime made our list of the ten safest neighborhoods in New York City’s Brooklyn borough.

Kensington is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in New York City and also tops our list for the safest in Brooklyn. It has long-landed at the top of numerous published safety reports for the borough. There are only 1,176 residents in Kensington, and the neighborhood is one of the quietest communities in Brooklyn.

You can find Kensington in central Brooklyn near Prospect Park South and Flatbush. The old Victorian homes and quiet streets make Kensington a comfortable neighborhood. In between, you’ll find schools, several parks, and a variety of businesses that are slowly evolving.

The architecture and slower pace of Kensington offers quite the contrast to many other areas in New York City. There are only 49 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in Kensington. Property crime is also uncommon and only affects 202 Kensington residents.

Also spelled ‘Boro Park,’ this neighborhood is located in the southwestern part of Brooklyn. Borough Park spans 225 blocks of residential streets and a few parks.

In the early nineteenth century, this area was the site of commercial nurseries. Borough Park is known as “the baby boom capital” of New York City, because of its high birth rate and the fact that more babies are delivered at the local hospital, Maimonides Medical Center, than any other in the city.

Both violent and property crimes are uncommon in Borough Park. There are 155,256 residents in Borough Park, and there are only 200 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

The Bensonhurst neighborhood is situated in the southwestern section of Brooklyn. This area contains many major ethnic enclaves. It has a reputation for being a Little Italy of Brooklyn because of its large Italian-American population. Bensonhurst also includes the largest population of people born in Hong Kong and China of any other neighborhood in New York City and now houses Brooklyn’s second Chinatown.

It is one of the most integrated neighborhoods of New York City, with over half of its population being born outside of the United States. Often deemed the working-class portion of Brooklyn, Bensonhurst still gives off that old Brooklyn ambiance. You likely won’t find any fancy high-rise condos or hordes of hipsters in this area (yet, anyway).

Bensonhurst ranks number three on our list of the safest neighborhoods in Brooklyn. It has a violent crime rate per 100K people of 252 and the property crime rate is 766.

Sheepshead Bay is located in southern Brooklyn and gets its name from the bay that divides Coney Island and Brooklyn. Crime is uncommon in Sheepshead Bay, and violent crimes like robbery or assault only affect 263 per 100,000 residents. You may know Sheepshead Bay for Emmons Avenue which overlooks the waterfront.

This neighborhood is a perfect blend of classic New York City and a conventional American neighborhood. Sheepshead Bay is known by locals as the capital of roast beef in the city, and there is some dispute as to whether Roll-N-Roaster or Brennan & Carr have the best beef.

Initially an independent town, Flatlands become a part of the City of Brooklyn in 1896. It is located in the southeast section of Brooklyn and is one of the safest neighborhoods in the borough. In the last decade, this neighborhood has experienced sweeping demographic changes. An area that was once predominately Jewish, is now home to many Haitians and immigrants from other Caribbean countries.

The residents of Flatlands are mostly families that desire a rural-like area but are also attracted to the city life. Moving to Flatlands comes with cheaper prices on homes and apartments, along with the character of row homes with porches, gardens, and friendly neighbors.

According to our calculations, Flatlands is the fifth safest neighborhood in Brooklyn. Its’ violent crime rate per 100K people is 304 and the property crime for the area is 973.

Park Slope is one of the safest neighborhoods in Brooklyn, and it dates back to the 17th century. Brooklyn residents know Park Slope for the iconic architecture and greenery that lines the streets. Crime rates are low in Park Slope, and the neighborhood is much quieter than busier boroughs like Manhattan.

The suburban vibe in Park Slope is because the neighborhood is more developed than other areas in Brooklyn. Residents enjoy tree-lined sidewalks, well-maintained stoop-front gardens, and all share a general love for greenery and outdoor gathering spots

The violent crime rate per 100K people in the area is 207, while property crime per capita is 1,205. Park Slope is safer than the average Brooklyn neighborhood and stands out as one of the safest neighborhoods in New York.

You can find Bay Ridge along the waterfront in southwestern Brooklyn. Bay Ridge has a wild history that includes the American Revolution in 1812, but now it is much quieter. This ocean-side community has limited violent crime, and property crimes only affect 1,214 per 100,000 residents.

Because of the relatively long commute into Manhattan, Bay Ridge hasn’t seen quite the gentrification that other parts of Brooklyn have. That explains why rent is cheaper than in similar communities, such as Williamsburg.

Violent crimes such as robbery and assault only affect 276 per 100,000 residents in Bay Ridge. There is no such thing as a perfect neighborhood, but Bay Ridge is safer than the majority of neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

Sunset Park is located in Southwestern Brooklyn, and it feels like a city despite the calm vibe. You can find beautiful waterfront views in Sunset Park as well as modern city flares such as its own Chinatown. The neighborhood is named after the iconic Sunset Park within its limits that is home to great views and a calm vibe.

Luckily, you can take the ferry from Sunset Park to other areas and boroughs in New York. There are only 480 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Property crime is slightly more common and affects 1,090 per 100,000 residents in Sunset Park. Sunset Park is home to 130,783 residents, but it is spread out enough that it never feels cramped.

Located in the southeastern section of Brooklyn, Canarsie is one of the most peaceful and safest neighborhoods in the borough. Violent crime and property crime in the area is much lower when compared to the national average. Canarsie was named after the Canarsee tribe, an Algonquin people whose main villages and last settlement were once located in the area.

Nowadays, the community offers a residential feel with a few green spaces, hiking paths, beautiful views, and the nearby Canarsie pier which is perfect for fishing. It is considered a working- to middle-class neighborhood and is predominantly Afro-Caribbean.

Based on our calculations, Canarsie is the ninth safest neighborhood in Brooklyn. The violent crime per 100K people comes in at 417, while the property crime in the area is 1,232.

Caroll Gardens is among the safest neighborhoods in Brooklyn, and it spans 40 city blocks. You can find restaurants and stores that date back 40 years or more alongside brand new businesses. There are 25,576 residents in Carroll Gardens, but the neighborhood is spread out enough that it isn’t cramped.

This area offers diverse shopping and dining options, scenic strolls, gathering spots, parks, and many cultural opportunities. As opposed to the types of shops you’d find in downtown Manhattan, Carroll Gardens features artisanal food shops and inviting boutiques.

Carroll Gardens is one of the safest neighborhoods in Brooklyn with a violent crime rate per 100K people of 270 and property crime sitting at 1,687.