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Ocean Hill features strong community organizations and affordable housing. Improving retail and parks serve a predominantly Black and Latino population.
Ocean Hill features strong community organizations and affordable housing. Improving retail and parks serve a predominantly Black and Latino population.
Did you know?
Ocean Hill was the site of the 1968 school decentralization crisis, one of the most significant battles over community control of public schools in American history.
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
$486 / sq ft
Commute
Weekday mornings · leaving 7:30–9:00
- FromOcean Hill
- ToNear Bryant Park
Family scores
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Trade-offs
Stands out
- Schools76/100
Strong results at the public and charter schools serving it
- Transit72/100
Quick weekday-morning transit to the city's main job centers
To weigh
- Safety17/100
More reported crimes, traffic injuries or serious housing violations per resident
- Air & Child Health26/100
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 Ocean Hill 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
Schools11 schools
Ocean Hill runs a solid mix of public and charter schools — ten zoned publics alongside two charter networks, which is more choice than some neighboring blocks. Eagle Academy for Young Men II on Herkimer Street and Achievement First Brownsville Charter anchor the roster, and there's a decent spread of P.S. and I.S. options for elementary and middle schoolers. The charter presence gives families alternatives to the standard public track, though high school options thin out a bit. For a working-class neighborhood with this density, it's a respectable bench.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Parks & Playgrounds8 places
Ocean Hill's playground scene is surprisingly solid — eight scattered playscapes including the namesake Ocean Hill Playground, the well-used Fish Playground near the border, and Weeksville Playground up north. The city has clearly invested in these over the years, giving the neighborhood a dependable roster of spots for kids to burn off energy. They're neighborhood-level rather than destination parks, but that's exactly what works when you just need a quick, reliable place to play.
6 playgrounds within a 10-min walk
Nearest large park: Lincoln Terrace Park · ~22 min walk (0.8 mi)
Transportation56 stops
Ocean Hill punches above its weight for subway access — Broadway Junction is a legitimate hub where the A, C, J and Z lines converge, making a Manhattan commute doable without feeling stranded. Chauncey St on the J/Z and the Ralph Av and Rockaway Av C stops add options along the eastern edge. The bus network is dense too, with heavy coverage on Fulton St, Broadway and the north-south avenues — you're never far from a ride.
Restaurants34 places
Ocean Hill runs on delis, fried chicken joints, and no-frills takeout — the kind of place where you grab a patty on your way to the bus or settle into a diner for a long breakfast. There's a decent Caribbean presence threading through the food scene, plus a few Chinese spots keeping the neighborhood fed. Chain-wise, Chipotle is about the only national player making a stand here. It's not a destination for date night or ambitious dinners, but for everyday eats within a few blocks, you've got options — particularly along Atlantic Avenue and Fulton Street where the density thickens.
Groceries6 places
Ocean Hill keeps things simple on the grocery front — there's a Food Bazaar on Saint Johns Place for your bigger weekly hauls, but otherwise the options are mostly small delis, corner stores, and a couple of specialty markets along Atlantic Avenue and Broadway. For a full supermarket run, most families will want a car or be ready to hop on the train. The selection covers the basics, though if you're hunting for specialty international ingredients, the Afrikan market on Broadway is worth knowing about.
Coffee Shops6 places
Ocean Hill's coffee scene is functional rather than destination-focused. A Dunkin' on Broadway handles the reliable morning run, while a small handful of straightforward cafes along Fulton and Atlantic serve simple, no-frills cups. There's no third-wave cluster to speak of, but what's here covers the basics.
Things to Do5 places
Ocean Hill keeps things focused for families looking to get kids moving and creating. There's a solid dance scene — a couple of studios near each other in the Herkimer Street corridor — plus a municipal pool for lap swim and open hours. A karate dojo and a small enrichment spot (the sign museum is a quirky one for curious kids) round out the options. It's not a deep bench, but what's here covers the basics well.
Daycare & informal care8 places
Families in Ocean Hill have a solid mix of daycare and Pre-K options to work with — eight licensed daycares spread across the neighborhood, plus eight Pre-K sites that include both school-based programs and dedicated centers. The Pre-K lineup leans heavily into public options through the city's UPK program, which helps with cost. Morning drop-off is fairly straightforward in this part of Brooklyn, with locations concentrated along the main commercial corridors. That said, the daycare scene here is mostly smaller, independent operations rather than chain centers — which means consistency can vary, so visiting ahead of time is worth it.
Family Resources10 places
Ocean Hill delivers when it comes to playgrounds — Fish Playground, Hilltop Playground, Ocean Hill Playground, and Weeksville Playground give kids room to run without going far. The civic anchor scene is thinner though: there's just one library serving the whole neighborhood, the Saratoga Library on Saratoga Avenue. Farmers markets pop up along Fulton Street and Dean Street in warmer months, which helps with fresh food access, but families looking for dedicated community centers or bigger civic gathering spots often cast a wider net across neighboring blocks.
Healthcare6 places
Ocean Hill has a handful of health facilities anchored by places like Ralph Avenue Health Center and the Brookdale Family Care Center, but the family-specific options thin out quickly — there's just one pediatric provider listed locally (Brooklyn Children's Center), zero urgent care clinics, and no stand-alone dentists in the immediate area. For anything beyond routine pediatric visits, many families head to neighboring Bed-Stuy or Crown Heights. The hospital-level care covers basics, but expect to travel for specialized pediatric needs or after-hours care.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in Ocean Hill
Schools in Ocean Hill
11
- Achievement First Brownsville Charter School
- Brooklyn Collegiate: A College Board School
- Brooklyn Environmental Exploration School (BEES)
- Brooklyn Landmark Elementary School
- Dr. Jacqueline Peek-Davis School
- Eagle Academy for Young Men II
- P.S. 137 Rachel Jean Mitchell
- P.S. 178 Saint Clair Mckelway
- P.S./ I.S. 155 Nicholas Herkimer
- Ronald Edmonds Learning Center II
- Uncommon Crown Heights Charter School NYC
Early education in Ocean Hill
9
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Ocean Hill a good neighborhood for families?
- Ocean Hill scores 49/100 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 Ocean Hill for families?
- For families, Ocean Hill stands out for strong results at the public and charter schools serving it, and quick weekday-morning transit to the city's main job centers. What to weigh: more reported crimes, traffic injuries or serious housing violations per resident, and 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 Ocean Hill safe?
- Ocean Hill scores 17/100 on safety — toward the lower end 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 Ocean Hill?
- Ocean Hill has 11 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 76/100 for schools — ahead of most NYC neighborhoods.
- How do middle and high school admissions work from Ocean Hill?
- Middle school: families in Ocean Hill apply in 5th grade through the citywide middle school application. District 16's 11 middle school programs admit by method: 6 unscreened, 3 charter lottery, 1 screened and 1 zoned. District 23's 17 middle school programs admit by method: 11 unscreened, 3 charter lottery and 3 screened. 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 Ocean Hill affordable?
- Ocean Hill scores 48/100 for affordability on Motley — mid-range on cost for the city.
- Which borough is Ocean Hill in?
- Ocean Hill is a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City.
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