Motley
Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn

Brooklyn Heights

At A Glance

Brooklyn Heights features historic brownstones, the Promenade with Manhattan views, and Brooklyn Bridge Park. One of Brooklyn's most established and sought-after family neighborhoods.

Did you know?

Brooklyn Heights was designated as New York City's first historic district in 1965, saving its Federal-style rowhouses from Robert Moses' planned expressway.

Neighborhood Stats

10
Schools
3
Parks
3
Subway
62
Dining
9
Groceries
24
Coffee

Who’s your neighbor?

$179KMedian Income
17%Under 18
85%College+
46%Own Their Home

Housing cost

Avg Rent
$4,500per month
Avg Sale Price
$1.30Mmedian sale

Family scores

49
/100
Family Fit
How well the area suits families overall.
39
/100
Safety
Local crime and street-safety signals.
95
/100
Schools
Quality and choice of nearby schools.
8
/100
Affordability
Cost of living — higher is more affordable.
Show 5 more
72
/100
Family-Friendly Vibe
How many families with kids live nearby.
10
/100
Neighborhood Character
Settled, long-term residents and housing.
62
/100
Transit
Subway and bus access for getting around.
35
/100
Air & Water
Air quality and environmental health.
88
/100
Things to Do
Restaurants, shops, and activities nearby.
Lower
050100
Higher

What families should know

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Living here

3 playgrounds within a 10-min walkNearest large park: Prospect Park · ~53 min walk (2 mi)

Brooklyn Heights keeps a tight but solid roster of playgrounds — you get Adam Yauch Park down by the Promenade, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Zone 6 near the piers, and Harry Chapin Playground on the interior blocks. It's not a neighborhood drowning in play space, but what they have is well-tended and well-placed, with the waterfront park giving families that rare combo of green and skyline. The tradeoff is you're often sharing the grass with adults reading or jogging — this is a quiet crowd.

Schools & early education

Brooklyn Heights runs heavy on private schools — nine of the thirteen options are private, with Packer Collegiate Institute anchoring the historic Joralemon Street campus and Mary McDowell Friends serving students with learning differences on Sidney Place. The public side is thinner but real: The Emily Warren Roebling School on Hicks Street and Imagine Brooklyn Heights near Monroe Place offer zoned spots, though demand can be competitive given the neighborhood's modest family population.

Compare with nearby neighborhoods

Best schools in Brooklyn Heights

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brooklyn Heights a good neighborhood for families?
Brooklyn Heights scores 49/100 for families on Motley — near the middle of the pack citywide. The Family Fit score blends safety, schools, parks, cost of living, and community.
Is Brooklyn Heights safe?
Brooklyn Heights scores 39/100 on safety — toward the lower end citywide. We build the score from NYPD complaint data, normalized by population.
How are the schools in Brooklyn Heights?
Brooklyn Heights has 10 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 95/100 for schools — ahead of most NYC neighborhoods.
Is Brooklyn Heights affordable?
Brooklyn Heights scores 8/100 for affordability on Motley — among the pricier parts of the city.
Which borough is Brooklyn Heights in?
Brooklyn Heights is a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City.

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