Is Carroll Gardens Safe? Brooklyn Livability, Crime & Rent
Carroll Gardens scores 6.4 median (IQR 6–6.8): a walkable, green, practical neighborhood with commute trade-offs and rising noise and crime you should evaluate directly.
Is Carroll Gardens Safe?
Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn scores 6.4/10 for overall livability, ranking #8 of 19 Brooklyn neighborhoods. Carroll Gardens scores 6.4 median (IQR 6–6.8): a walkable, green, practical neighborhood with commute trade-offs and rising noise and crime you should evaluate directly.
This score aggregates live NYPD crime data, 311 safety complaints, shooting incidents, and building health signals within walking distance. Safety varies by block — check a specific Carroll Gardens address below for a block-level breakdown.
Score Overview
Vertical line = borough median. Scale: 0-10.
Neighborhood Character
You'll walk tree-lined streets where an average of 91 trees cluster within 200 meters, creating a 9.5/10 canopy density that rivals some of Brooklyn's quietest blocks—except Carroll Gardens isn't quiet. The neighborhood centers on a historic Italian-American commercial spine along Smith Street, lined with established restaurants and multi-generational shops. You're surrounded by garden apartments and walk-ups, all of them walk-ups, with direct access to Red Hook Recreation Area, Coffey Park, and Carroll Park (all averaging 263 meters away). The F and G trains hit Smith-9 Streets and Carroll Street, putting you two stops from Manhattan.
Analysis based on 5 properties scored across 30+ data points
Livability & Restoration
Tree Canopy
91 trees
Avg within 200m | Density: 9.5/10
10 additional trees per block correlates with health benefits equivalent to being 7 years younger (Kardan et al., 2015)
Park Access
Red Hook Recreation Area
Avg 263m away | Score: 2.8/10
Living within 300m of green space associated with 30% fewer antidepressant prescriptions (Taylor et al., 2015)
Acoustic Quality
10/10
Noise proxy score (higher = quieter)
Chronic noise above 55 dB at night associated with 8% cardiovascular mortality increase (Basner et al., 2014)
Street Character
0/10
Enclosure: 0/10
Transit & Commute
Subway Stations
Commute Score
5.5/10
Borough median: 6.5/10
Walk Score Proxy
0/10
Based on street geometry analysis
Financial Landscape
Median Price
$0
Price per Sq Ft
$0
Price Distribution
Price by Building Type
Investment Indicators
Avg Unused FAR
0 sqft
Development rights potential
Unused development rights valued at $30-$80/sqft in Brooklyn (Glaeser, 2011)
Avg Days on Market
0
Market velocity signal
Multi-Family Stock
0%
2-4 family buildings
Multi-family owner-occupants build 2.4x wealth vs single-family (Herbert, 2013)
Outdoor & Green Space
Avg Tree Count
91
Within 200m radius
Canopy Density
9.5/10
Normalized canopy coverage
Park Network
- Red Hook Recreation Area
- Coffey Park
- Van Voorhees Playground
- Thomas Greene Playground
- Carroll Park
Avg distance: 263m
Practical Living
Building Types
Who Carroll Gardens Is For
Families prioritizing walkability and parks
Practical score of 9 (highest in borough comparison) combined with dense tree canopy and five nearby parks make this highly functional for daily needs without a car.
People comfortable with urban noise and activity
5,626 noise complaints (very high) and a crime trend worsening by 176.7% over 12 months signal this isn't a quiet or low-crime refuge; it's dense and active.
Food-focused, neighborhood-oriented renters or buyers
Smith Street dining scene and Italian heritage create a specific cultural identity; ART/Livability score of 4.8 reflects established character rather than cutting-edge amenities.
Pros & Cons
Strengths
Exceptional tree cover and greenery
91 trees average within 200m radius with 9.5/10 canopy density—well above borough baseline.
Direct F/G train access at two nearby stations
Smith-9 Sts and Carroll St stations provide frequent service; commute score of 5.5 reflects acceptable but not exceptional connectivity.
Walkable, established neighborhood amenities
Practical score of 9 (versus borough median 5.5) indicates strong local retail, services, and daily-use infrastructure.
Multiple parks within walking distance
Red Hook Recreation Area, Coffey Park, Van Voorhees Playground, Thomas Greene Playground, and Carroll Park all average 263m away.
Trade-offs
High noise and activity levels
5,626 noise complaints (very high) reflect a busy, dense neighborhood rather than a peaceful enclave.
Worsening crime trend
Crime increased 176.7% over the past 12 months, placing the neighborhood at percentile 54 (median-range activity) with 2,941 total crimes recorded.
Weak financial and investment indicators
Financial and Investment scores both at 5.0 (neutral) suggest limited upside or stability relative to borough trends.
Below-average arts and cultural score
ART/Livability score of 4.8 versus borough median 5.0 indicates fewer galleries, venues, or emerging cultural infrastructure.
Score Any Address in Carroll Gardens
Get detailed livability scores based on building health, transit access, safety, noise levels, and 15+ NYC data sources.
Search an Address in Carroll GardensFrequently Asked Questions about Carroll Gardens
1Is Carroll Gardens safe?
Carroll Gardens safety varies by block. DwellCheck provides detailed safety data including NYPD crime statistics, arrest data, and 311 complaints. Check the Carroll Gardens safety page for full details.
2What is the average rent in Carroll Gardens?
Rents in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn vary significantly by building and apartment type. The median listing price is $0. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses.
3How is transit access in Carroll Gardens?
Carroll Gardens has a commute score of 5.5/10. 2 subway stations serve the area: Smith-9 Sts, Carroll St.
4What are the best streets in Carroll Gardens?
The best streets depend on your priorities. Use DwellCheck to compare specific addresses across livability, safety, transit, and environmental factors.
5What is the average DwellScore in Carroll Gardens?
Median composite score is 6.4 with an interquartile range of 6.0–6.8. Practical livability (9.0) drives the score up; weaker financial (5.0), art/culture (4.8), and commute (5.5) components pull it down.
6How safe is Carroll Gardens?
Crime activity is at the 54th percentile for Brooklyn (median-range). However, total crimes in the past 12 months were 2,941, and the trend is worsening (+176.7% over the period). Noise complaints are very high at 5,626.
7What's the public transit situation?
You'll find F and G train access at Smith-9 Streets and Carroll Street stations. Commute score is 5.5 (below borough median 6.5), reflecting acceptable but not exceptional regional connectivity.
8What about green space and trees?
Carroll Gardens has an average of 91 trees within 200 meters and a canopy density of 9.5/10—among the best in Brooklyn. Five parks (Red Hook Recreation Area, Coffey Park, Van Voorhees Playground, Thomas Greene Playground, Carroll Park) average 263 meters away.
9What type of buildings are in Carroll Gardens?
100% walk-up buildings. No elevators; you'll climb stairs in all tracked buildings in the neighborhood.