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Cypress Hills sits at the eastern edge of Brooklyn with affordable housing and strong community ties. Highland Park and the J/Z trains provide green space and Manhattan access.
Cypress Hills sits at the eastern edge of Brooklyn with affordable housing and strong community ties. Highland Park and the J/Z trains provide green space and Manhattan access.
Did you know?
Highland Park's Ridgewood Reservoir, shared with Queens, was part of Brooklyn's water supply system from 1858 until 1959 and is now a wetland nature preserve.
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
$403 / sq ft
Commute
Weekday mornings · leaving 7:30–9:00
- FromCypress Hills
- ToNear Bryant Park
Family scores
Show 5 moreShow fewer
Trade-offs
Stands out
- Affordability67/100
Lower costs than most
- Family-Friendly Vibe61/100
Many families with children, with homes and schools close by
To weigh
- Air & Child Health27/100
More air pollution, childhood lead or asthma ER visits than most
Each score compares it with NYC's other residential neighborhoods.
What these scores don't measure: how a block feels on foot, what's changing on it, and whether a particular school suits your child. Walk it at school drop-off time, and check the zoned school for the exact address before you sign a lease.
Your family’s read
How does Cypress Hills fit your family?
An agentic read of this neighborhood — including safety and cost of living — tailored to your priorities, family size, budget, and commute.
Analyze for My FamilySchools & early education
Schools14 schools
Cypress Hills offers a deep bench of public options alongside a couple of charter and parochial alternatives. P.S. 007 Abraham Lincoln and P.S. 108 Sal Abbracciamento anchor the elementary landscape, while I.S. 171 Abraham Lincoln serves middle schoolers at the Ridgewood Avenue campus. The mix includes two charter schools — Achievement First Apollo and East Brooklyn Ascend — plus Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy for families seeking private education. It's a solid range, though transfer options beyond the zoned defaults require legwork.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Parks & Playgrounds3 places
For a neighborhood of this size, Cypress Hills doesn't offer a deep bench of parks — you've basically got George Walker Jr. Park and Sperandeo Brothers Playground. They're the kind of neighborhood staples that do the job for everyday play, though neither is particularly flashy. Bigger green space adventures usually mean heading to Highland Park just over the border.
2 playgrounds within a 10-min walk
Nearest large park: Highland Park-Cypress Hills Cemeteries (South) · ~4 min walk (0.2 mi)
Transportation46 stops
Cypress Hills gives you solid options for getting into the city without a car. The J line runs through the neighborhood with stops at Cypress Hills, Crescent St and Norwood Av — and you can catch the L at Broadway Junction just to the west. The bus network along Atlantic Ave and Jamaica Ave fills in the gaps nicely. For a working-class pocket of Brooklyn, the commute into Manhattan is refreshingly direct — no transfers to stress about on most runs.
Restaurants56 places
Cypress Hills runs on takeout and quick bites — the dining scene here is relentlessly practical, which is exactly what a working-class neighborhood needs. There's a thick cluster of Caribbean spots along Fulton Street, from Puerto Plata to El Nuevo Marcorix, plus a string of fried chicken places that stay busy on weekends. Pizza is well-represented too, and the handful of chains — a few Baskin-Robbins, a McDonald's, a Popeyes — fill the familiar gaps. It's not a date-night destination, but the depth of Caribbean and Latin options (pupuserias, chimi trucks, seafood) gives this stretch real flavor.
Groceries14 places
Fulton Street and Jamaica Ave anchor a deep bench of groceries — you've got your Key Food co-op on Crescent, a couple of CTowns scattered around, and an Associated Supermarket serving the Arlington corner. The stretch holds a mix of independents and ethnic grocers that keep things interesting, and there's a Western Beef if you need a backup. For a full weekly shop, a car helps but isn't strictly necessary — transit riders can make it work with good bags.
Coffee Shops6 places
Dunkin' has a real foothold here — three locations along Fulton Street and Jamaica Ave means you've always got a familiar option for a quick grab-and-go. Beyond the chain, it's a mix of small, no-nonsense spots where coffee comes alongside empanadas or a plate of rice and beans. You're not going to find a third-wave pour-over shop, but for a morning caffeine hit or an afternoon jolt, the coverage is solid.
Things to Do6 places
Cypress Hills keeps things practical when it comes to kids' activities, with tutoring centers forming the backbone of what's available. A music studio, a dance studio, and a karate dojo add some variety for families looking to sprinkle in arts or martial arts. There's also a youth center doing community work in the neighborhood. It's a thin but honest spread — you won't find a massive playground of options, but the basics are covered and families can build from there without crossing borough lines.
Daycare & informal care4 places
Cypress Hills offers a deep bench of early childhood options — nine Pre-K sites anchored by the local public schools (P.S. 007, 089, 108, and 065 all run their own programs) plus a handful of neighborhood daycares handling the younger set. The public Pre-K seats fill up fast come spring, so getting on the waitlist early is key. Private daycares like Angela's and New Age Family pick up the slack for families needing year-round coverage, though spots can be competitive.
Family Resources4 places
Cypress Hills keeps it simple on the civic front — Arlington Library on Jamaica Avenue is the neighborhood's anchor for story hours and homework help, and Sperandeo Brothers Playground on Cleveland Street gives kids a solid spot to burn off energy. The two seasonal youthmarkets at Fulton and Van Sinderen and at Fulton and Richmond bring fresh produce through summer and fall, which matters when the grocery landscape nearby can feel thin. It's a lean setup, but what exists serves daily life well.
Healthcare3 places
Healthcare Choices NY on Jamaica Avenue and Medisys Family Care in East New York provide the neighborhood's hospital backbone, both offering emergency and inpatient services. For immediate, non-emergency needs, there's one urgent care option locally — a thin bench, but something is there when you need it. The real gap for families: pediatric and dental care require stepping outside Cypress Hills, as neither has a meaningful local presence. For routine adult care and true emergencies, you're reasonably covered within the neighborhood.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in Cypress Hills
Schools in Cypress Hills
14
- Achievement First Apollo Charter School
- BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC ACADEMY
- East Brooklyn Ascend Charter School
- FOLLOWERS OF JESUS SCHOOL
- Highland Park Community School
- I.S. 171 Abraham Lincoln
- Liberty Avenue Middle School
- M.S. 935
- P.S. 007 Abraham Lincoln
- P.S. 065
- P.S. 089 Cypress Hills
- P.S. 108 Sal Abbracciamento
- P.S. 938
- Vista Academy
Early education in Cypress Hills
14
- BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC ACADEMY
- Cypress Hills Ccc
- FOLLOWERS OF JESUS SCHOOL
- I Love Me Early Childhood Center
- I LOVE ME EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER INC. DBA SIMFRAN ACADEMY
- P.S. 007 Abraham Lincoln
- P.S. 065
- P.S. 089 Cypress Hills
- P.S. 108 Sal Abbracciamento
- P.S. 938
- P.S. 938
- PS. 065
- St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church
- ST. PETER'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN, CITY OF NEW YORK
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Cypress Hills a good neighborhood for families?
- Cypress Hills scores 54/100 for families on Motley — near the middle of the pack citywide. The Family Fit score blends six parts: how many families live there, schools, affordability, weekday-morning transit time to job centers, safety, and air quality and child health.
- What are the pros and cons of Cypress Hills for families?
- For families, Cypress Hills stands out for lower costs than most, and many families with children, with homes and schools close by. What to weigh: more air pollution, childhood lead or asthma ER visits than most. Each score compares it with NYC's other residential neighborhoods. They don't measure how a block feels on foot or whether a particular school suits your child, so walk it before you decide.
- Is Cypress Hills safe?
- Cypress Hills scores 55/100 on safety — near the middle of the pack citywide. We build the score from NYPD crime complaints, pedestrian and cyclist injuries, and serious (Class C) housing violations, each counted per 1,000 residents.
- How are the schools in Cypress Hills?
- Cypress Hills has 14 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 57/100 for schools — near the middle of the pack citywide.
- How do middle and high school admissions work from Cypress Hills?
- Middle school: families in Cypress Hills apply in 5th grade through the citywide middle school application. District 19's 26 middle school programs admit by method: 10 unscreened, 7 charter lottery, 7 screened and 2 zoned. High school: one citywide application in 8th grade lets a family rank programs anywhere in the city, and the eight specialized high schools admit on the SHSAT alone.
- Is Cypress Hills affordable?
- Cypress Hills scores 67/100 for affordability on Motley — more affordable than most NYC neighborhoods.
- Which borough is Cypress Hills in?
- Cypress Hills is a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City.
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