Moving to Brooklyn with your kids? This New York City borough boasts some great Big Apple neighborhoods with fun hidden gems to explore together. Whether you’re renting or buying, here are some of the best neighborhoods in Brooklyn for families!
Bay Ridge
- Home Price: $879,942 median purchase price; $1,594 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 59% of New York City neighborhoods
As a safe, affordable neighborhood in Brooklyn, Bay Ridge is a great choice for families! Full of historic Victorians, Craftsman, and brownstone homes—especially in the Senator Street Historic District—it’s easy to find the charm in this kid-friendly Brooklyn neighborhood. Walking the streets of this area, you can see historic homes like the Gingerbread House of Bay Ridge—which looks like a cobblestone construction right out of a fairytale! The neighborhood is also home to multiple fun festivals in Brooklyn, including the annual Fun on 5th Festival and Viking Fest with the Norwegian Day Parade! Families have access to great schools like Bay Ridge Prep, Xaverian High School, and Fort Hamilton High School. There are plenty of parks and outdoor recreation spots to visit in your free time, including the waterfront Shore Road Park with views of Staten Island and Narrows Botanical Gardens, which has educational opportunities on the native flora and fauna. And, if you need to get anywhere else in the Big Apple, you can simply stroll down to one of the Manhattan Transit Authority (MTA) stations at Bay Ridge Ave or 77th St.
Things to Do in Bay Ridge
Hike the paths and play in the splash area, or practice tricks in the Millennium Skate Park bowl at Owl’s Head Park. Get tickets for the latest blockbuster films at the historic Bay Ridge theater, Alpine Cinema. Browse the shelves for new nonfiction books, fantasy novels, and sci-fi reads, or attend movie nights and Storytime sessions for the kids at the Brooklyn Public Library Bay Ridge Branch. Explore the intersection of biotechnology and art with exhibitions like Embodied Futures & the Ecology of Care at BioBAT Art Space. Have brunch in Brooklyn with Fluffy Scrambled Eggs, a Steak Sandwich, or French Toast at Greenhouse Cafe. Experience rustic Greek food in NYC with the Pork Souvlaki Sandwich, Keftedakia Platter, or Grilled Mix Platter from Somethinggreek. Snack on Chicken Francaise, Seafood Paella, or Skewered Kebabs at Mussels & More. Or sample Middle Eastern cuisine like Tabouleh, Baked Kibbie, and Fetti at Tanoreen.
Bedford-Stuyvesant
- Home Price: $467,116 median purchase price; $1,194 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 15% of New York City neighborhoods
Bedford-Stuyvesant—affectionately known by residents as “Bed-Stuy”—is a diverse Brooklyn neighborhood that’s great for families! This area is home to a large collection of Brooklyn black-owned local businesses, as well as the King of NY Biggie Mural—a public mural paying homage to Brooklyn native The Notorious B.I.G. With plenty of parks sprinkled throughout the neighborhood, you can play outside with your kids and family pets, including Saratoga Park and Fulton Park. Parents will appreciate the neighborhood’s wide selection of great NYC Public Schools, including P.S. 025 Eubie Blake School, P.S. 026 Jesse Owens, and P.S. 044 Marcus Garvey. There are also plenty of other schooling options, like Ember Charter Schools, Success Academy’s Bed-Stuy Elementary School, and Brooklyn Excelsior Charter School. If you’re looking for nearby things to do with kids, you can head just south of this Brooklyn neighborhood for a day at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, or spend the day walking the Pratt Institute Sculpture Park—just to the west of Bed-Stuy.
Things to Do in Bedford-Stuyvesant
Enjoy a free concert at the outdoor amphitheater, join the Herbert Von King Cultural Arts Center, or play on the playgrounds, handball courts, and baseball fields in Herbert Von King Park. Shop local along Tompkins Avenue at stores like Byas & Leon, Peace & Riot, Sincerely, Tommy, and other Tompkins Avenue Merchants. Take your younger kids to a Babies & Toddlers Class or Open Play at the music enrichment center Lavender Blues. See exhibitions like Drifting To The Mystical and Vibrations at the black-owned Brooklyn art gallery The Bishop Gallery. Start the day right with a full espresso and coffee menu sourced from local roaster Kitten Coffee, along with Texas-style kolaches made with locally sourced ingredients like the savory Chorizo Egg and Cheese Kolache or the Meyer Lemon Curd Kolache at Brooklyn Kolache. Pick up New York pizza in Brooklyn with a slice of Beef Pepperoni, Curry Chicken, or Tulum pizza from Cuts & Slices. Order a HotHouse Burger, Fried Chicken, or Fried Catfish Sandwich at Peaches HotHouse. Or, get a sitter for the kids and head out for a night of live music and a rotating lineup of craft beer, wine, and Bed-Vyne Sangria at Bed-Vyne Brew.
Cobble Hill
- Home Price: $1,715,909 median purchase price; $2,455 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 81% of New York City neighborhoods
Cobble Hill is a relaxed, “village-like” area just south of Downtown Brooklyn. This family-friendly Brooklyn neighborhood boasts great parks like the namesake Cobble Hill Park with tree-lined streets, trendy shops, and cafes. Just outside the Cobble Hill neighborhood border, you can also visit piers five and six of Brooklyn Bridge Park, with spectacular views of the New York City borough’s most iconic landmark—the Brooklyn Bridge. If you’re looking for a great school for your kids, Cobble Hill offers NYC Public School options like P.S. 029 John M. Harrigan School, charter schools like Success Academy’s Cobble Hill Elementary School, or specialty schools like Digital Arts & Cinema Technology High School. Plus, you’ll be able to get around easily via the Bergen St MTA subway station.
Things to Do in Cobble Hill
Visit a top-notch Brooklyn museum and art center where you can find art exhibitions like Wander, One, and Nesting from local artists in residence at The Invisible Dog Art Center. See new movie releases from American and international directors at Cobble Hill Cinemas. Subscribe to the Monthly Magic Book Subscription, donate to Brooklyn Book Bodega, or shop for books and merch at independent bookstore, Books Are Magic. Learn about New York’s iconic subway system in a decommissioned subway station, featuring vintage subway cars and exhibits like Steel, Stone, & Backbone: Building New York’s Subways at the New York Transit Museum. Enjoy a Mexican breakfast of Chilaquiles and Mexican Avocado Toast or get a Canyon Burger for lunch at Grand Canyon Restaurant. “Tantalize your taste buds” with Smothered Chicken, BBQ Beef Ribs, or Fried Whiting Fish at The Soul Spot. Sit down for a dinner of Fusilli Bolognese, Rosemary Lime Sumac Chicken, or Persian Kabab at Bijan’s. Or plan a date night at an elegant Italian restaurant in Brooklyn with dishes like Homemade Squid Ink Tonnarelli Allo Scoglio, Chef Pino’s Lasagna with Beef Ragu, or Siciliana Pizza at Barbalu.
Park Slope
- Home Price: $1,541,846 median purchase price; $2,452 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 67% of New York City neighborhoods
As one of the overall best family neighborhoods in New York City, Park Slope is a fantastic choice for those who want to be close to some of the best kid-friendly things to do in Brooklyn. Just across the neighborhood’s southeastern border, you’ll find the 585-acre oasis that is Prospect Park. This sprawling green space is home to some of the best Brooklyn attractions for families, including the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Prospect Park Zoo, Prospect Park Dog Beach, and Prospect Park Boathouse. There are also great community amenities within the neighborhood itself, like the Park Slope Armory YMCA—which offers family and kid-friendly events like Summer Day Camp, dance lessons, and youth sports—and the member-run Park Slope Food Coop, stocked with local organic produce. Residents can easily get around thanks to a variety of MTA subway stations in Park Slope, including Grand Army Plaza, Union St, 9th St, and 7th Ave. Plus, with great local schools like P.S. 321 William Penn, P.S. 10 Magnet School of Math, Science, and Design Technology, and Poly Prep Country Day School, families have ample access to education in this Brooklyn neighborhood.
Things to Do in Park Slope
Stop in for a weekend tour at a museum of local Brooklyn neighborhood history and the site of the 1776 Battle of Brooklyn, the Old Stone House of Brooklyn. Catch a Brooklyn Nets (NBA) game, boxing match, or concert from big names like Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, and Thirty Seconds to Mars at Barclays Center. Look through the vast collection at a Brooklyn Public Library branch that’s both a New York City Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places, Central Library. Venture just minutes outside Park Slope to view art exhibitions like Hiroshige’s 100 Famous Views of Edo and attend Gallery Tour events and Pop-Up Talks at the Brooklyn Museum. Start the day with Steak and Eggs, a Feta Omelette, or Grand Canyon Sandwich from local spot Grand Canyon Diner. Try Mediterranean options like Arni Me Orzo, Souvlaki Platter, or Solomos at Athena Mediterranean Cuisine. Order Fresh Orecchiette, Penne Peas, or Grass Fed Short Rib from the local Brooklyn Italian restaurant at Bar Toto. Or “Savor the Gnarly Greatness” with The Classic Burger, Texas Style Beef Brisket Sandwich, or Avocado BLT at Gnarly Eats.
Williamsburg
- Home Price: $1,095,912 median purchase price; $2,163 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 39% of New York City neighborhoods
Williamsburg is a large north Brooklyn neighborhood known for being an up-and-coming trendy area, with plenty of arts and entertainment! The Brooklyn Bowl, Music Hall of Williamsburg, and Warsaw are all popular Brooklyn music venues with great local shows—and Brooklyn Bowl even has open lanes for a game of bowling. If you want to get outside, you can explore the Marsha P. Johnson State Park with your kids, or head to Domino Park for a spectacular view of the Williamsburg Bridge and downtown Manhattan across the East River. Plus, schools like K449 The Brooklyn Latin School and Brooklyn Arbor Elementary offer great education opportunities. For those looking to buy a home in the Williamsburg area, you’ll find mostly Brownstone houses and rowhouse-style condos.
Things to Do in Williamsburg
Host a summer barbecue, swim in McCarren Park Pool, play on the sports fields, or take on the skate park at McCarren Park. Look at a range of New York City artifacts from all five boroughs and visit for hosted events like the Annual Panorama Challenge and Junk Craft Night at The City Reliquary Museum. Play the day away with your favorite board games or sign up for sessions of Dungeons & Dragons at Last Place on Earth. Or travel two miles outside of Williamsburg for fun ropes courses, laser tag, paintball, and bowling at Area53 Adventure Park. Order a morning coffee to go with your Taiwanese-American cuisine with sandwiches like the Veggie Milk Bun, Pastrami Beef Tongue, or Fried Chicken Milk Bun for lunch at Win Son Bakery. Grab a slice of classic New York pizza with Mike’s HH Pie, L’Industrie Pie, or Tomato Pie at L’Industrie Pizzeria. Sample appetizers like the Great Gun or Violet Cove Oysters, or the Steak Tartare and Littleneck Clam Toast at Brooklyn seafood restaurant Maison Premiere. Or make a reservation at Lilia Ristorante for Italian favorites like Mortadella and Ricotta Filled Tortelli, Mafaldini, or a Grilled Lamb Leg Steak.
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Neighborhood statistics from AreaVibes
