Is Brooklyn Heights, NY Safe? Crime Rates for 2026

Brooklyn Heights, NY commands a premium right now – median sale price sits at roughly $1,949,000, and homes are averaging just 35 days on the market. If you’re weighing the pros and cons of living in Brooklyn Heights, NY and are drawn here by the historic rowhouses and the waterfront, that’s understandable. But before you commit to a number that size, you want to know what the safety picture looks like, not just what it feels like on a Sunday afternoon walk.

That means going past assumptions and looking at precinct-level data, national crime indexes, and the environmental realities that come with buying near the East River. Here’s what the concrete numbers show.

Examining the Overall Crime Data

CrimeGrade assigns Brooklyn Heights an overall B- grade for safety. The neighborhood’s crime rate comes in at 34.06 incidents per 1,000 residents in a typical year, which puts it in the 55th percentile for safety nationally – meaning it reports fewer incidents than roughly half of all United States neighborhoods.

Those are neighborhood-wide aggregates, not block-by-block numbers. Brooklyn Heights sees heavy daily foot traffic from tourists and commuters, and per-capita crime rates often capture incidents involving non-residents. The overall grade tells you something, but the breakdown by category tells you more.

Violent and Property Crime Rates

According to CrimeGrade’s dedicated violent crime report, the violent crime rate sits at 3.958 per 1,000 residents in a typical year – that earns a B- grade. Property crime is a different story. CrimeGrade puts the property crime rate at 23.55 per 1,000 residents, which earns a C grade and places the neighborhood in the 45th percentile nationally for property-related offenses. Higher property crime relative to violent crime is common in dense urban areas with significant visitor traffic, but it’s the number you’ll want to think about for your day-to-day routines.

Recent Trends from the 84th Precinct

The NYPD tracks local crime through its CompStat system, and the 84th Precinct covers Brooklyn Heights. Their data from a tracking period in late 2025 shows total major crime complaints reached 1,404, compared to 1,401 during the same period the prior year – a marginal 0.21% increase. Within that essentially flat overall number, the categories moved differently. Felony assaults rose 15.9% during that timeframe, while burglary, robbery, and grand larceny auto showed mixed, smaller changes.

Pull back to a longer view and the picture shifts considerably: overall crime in the precinct is down roughly 61.8% compared to 32 years prior.

Public Safety and Emergency Services

Brooklyn Heights falls under the jurisdiction of the NYPD’s 84th Precinct, whose officers handle regular patrols, traffic control, and emergency response throughout the neighborhood – including the major transit hubs and commercial corridors mixed in among the residential streets.

Fire and medical emergencies are covered by FDNY Engine Company 205 and Ladder Company 118, both operating out of their shared headquarters at 74 Middagh Street. Having a firehouse inside the neighborhood’s own boundaries matters for response times on structural fires and medical calls. For emergencies, you dial 911; for non-emergency police matters, you go through the city’s 311 system.

Environmental and Natural Hazards

Crime statistics aren’t the whole safety conversation when you’re buying on the waterfront. The western edge of Brooklyn Heights runs along the East River, bordered by Brooklyn Bridge Park, and that geography introduces a separate set of factors you need to account for.

The East River is a tidal waterway – active commercial marine traffic, strong currents. If you’re thinking about water activities along the shoreline, check official city postings for access and water quality conditions before you make plans.

Coastal storms and heavy rainfall can affect the low-lying areas closest to the water. If you’re looking at a property right on the waterfront, pull the current flood maps and find out whether flood insurance is required for that specific location. Properties higher up on the neighborhood’s namesake elevation sit on different drainage conditions than those at water level, so the answer isn’t the same for every address.

What Living in Brooklyn Heights Is Like

The day-to-day experience here is shaped by the historic streetscapes, the Manhattan skyline views, and the two major public spaces that define the neighborhood’s edge. The Brooklyn Promenade runs as a raised pedestrian walkway overlooking the harbor; Brooklyn Bridge Park stretches along the water below it. Both draw locals and visitors year-round.

For commuters, the transit access is a genuine practical asset. Multiple subway lines converge in and around the neighborhood with direct routes into Manhattan and across the city, which means a personal vehicle isn’t a necessity for most households.

On the market side: about 45 active listings right now, and properties have been selling at an average of 100.19% of list price. This is a competitive environment. Factor that into your budget alongside local property taxes and any homeowners association fees attached to condo or co-op buildings you’re considering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brooklyn Heights, NY safe?

CrimeGrade assigns Brooklyn Heights an overall B- grade for safety. The neighborhood ranks in the 55th percentile nationally, meaning it has fewer reported incidents than about half of all U.S. neighborhoods.

What is the crime rate in Brooklyn Heights, NY?

The overall crime rate is 34.06 incidents per 1,000 residents in a typical year. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 3.958 per 1,000 residents and a property crime rate of 23.55 per 1,000 residents.

How does Brooklyn Heights’s crime rate compare to the NY and national average?

Brooklyn Heights sits in the 55th percentile for safety nationally. Its property crime rate places it in the 45th percentile nationally, while overall crime complaints in the local precinct have dropped roughly 61.8% over the past 32 years.

Which police precincts and emergency services cover Brooklyn Heights?

The NYPD’s 84th Precinct handles police coverage. Fire and medical emergencies are the responsibility of FDNY Engine Company 205 and Ladder Company 118, located at 74 Middagh Street.

Is it safe to swim in the East River near Brooklyn Heights?

The East River is an active tidal waterway with strong currents and commercial traffic. Check city water quality postings and official advisories before considering any recreational water activities there.

What natural hazards should Brooklyn Heights residents plan for?

The proximity to the East River means you’ll want to monitor coastal storms and heavy rainfall. If you’re looking at a waterfront property specifically, check current flood maps to determine whether your location requires flood insurance.

What is Brooklyn Heights, NY like to live in?

Historic architecture, multiple subway lines, and major recreational spaces – including Brooklyn Bridge Park – define the neighborhood’s character. The housing market is competitive: homes are averaging 35 days on the market and recently selling slightly above list price.