Is Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn Safe in 2026?
Based on 6,295 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 4 shooting incidents, and 8,011 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Downtown Brooklyn is above the Brooklyn average for crime and trending safer (5.6% fewer incidents year-over-year).
Downtown Brooklyn is considered a high-activity area, ranking safer than 2% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 6,295 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
Data covers December 2024 – December 2025 (12 months) · Source: NYPD CompStat & NYC 311 via NYC Open Data · Updated April 18, 2026
Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
6,295
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
4
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
1,116
1,890 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↓ 5.6%
5.6% fewer incidents
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 1,507 | 23.9% |
| harrassment 2 | 935 | 14.9% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 544 | 8.6% |
| grand larceny | 537 | 8.5% |
| felony assault | 380 | 6.0% |
| other offenses related to theft | 298 | 4.7% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 281 | 4.5% |
| miscellaneous penal law | 225 | 3.6% |
Severity Distribution
Where Crimes Occur
Quality of Life Indicators
311 complaints reveal patterns about daily quality of life that crime statistics alone do not capture. These are resident-reported issues from the past 12 months.
Noise Complaints
7,045
201.3 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
86
2.5 per 1,000 residents
Low
Sanitation Issues
279
8.0 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Heat/Hot Water
601
17.2 per 1,000 residents
High
Arrest Activity
Arrest data reflects law enforcement activity in the area. High arrest counts relative to crime can indicate active policing; low counts may reflect under-enforcement or lower crime.
Total Arrests
3,858
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
1,600
41% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
2,031
53% of total
How Safe Is Downtown Brooklyn Compared to Other Brooklyn Neighborhoods?
Brooklyn Neighborhood Safety Comparison
| Neighborhood | Crime Incidents | Shootings | Verdict | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windsor Terrace | 433 | 0 | Exceptionally Safe | 93% |
| Prospect Heights | 876 | 2 | Much Safer Than Average | 86% |
| Brooklyn Heights | 989 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 85% |
| Kensington | 1,100 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 83% |
| Brighton Beach | 1,272 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 80% |
| Midwood | 1,414 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 78% |
| Clinton Hill | 1,338 | 3 | Safer Than Average | 74% |
| Ditmas Park | 1,648 | 1 | Safer Than Average | 74% |
| Greenpoint | 1,925 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 70% |
| Marine Park | 1,908 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 70% |
| Park Slope | 2,290 | 2 | Safer Than Average | 64% |
| Bay Ridge | 3,295 | 0 | Average | 49% |
| Williamsburg | 3,515 | 1 | Average | 45% |
| Fort Greene | 3,321 | 6 | Higher Than Average | 44% |
| Sunset Park | 3,565 | 4 | Higher Than Average | 44% |
| Sheepshead Bay | 2,604 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 44% |
| East Flatbush | 11,900 | 29 | Higher Than Average | 44% |
| Prospect Lefferts Gardens | 3,045 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 44% |
| Carroll Gardens | 3,958 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 38% |
| Canarsie | 3,962 | 12 | Higher Than Average | 38% |
| Flatbush | 4,068 | 7 | Higher Than Average | 36% |
| Bushwick | 8,439 | 12 | Higher Than Average | 34% |
| East New York | 13,735 | 27 | Higher Than Average | 28% |
| Crown Heights | 9,739 | 19 | Much Higher Than Average | 24% |
| Coney Island | 5,745 | 9 | Much Higher Than Average | 10% |
| Downtown Brooklyn (this page) | 6,295 | 4 | High Activity Area | 2% |
| Bed-Stuy | 13,299 | 28 | High Activity Area | 0% |
Understanding This Data
All crime statistics on this page are sourced directly from the NYPD CompStat database via NYC Open Data. Incidents are mapped to neighborhood boundaries using the NYC Department of City Planning Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (NTAs) — the same geographic units used in official census reporting. Each safety score reflects the cumulative activity within the NTA boundaries assigned to Downtown Brooklyn.
NTA boundaries are drawn to maintain population comparability across census tracts, which means they may not perfectly align with what residents consider their "neighborhood." In some cases, a single NTA spans areas with different character. The percentile ranking compares Downtown Brooklyn only against other NTAs within Brooklyn, so scores are borough-relative rather than city-wide.
Safety conditions vary significantly block by block. Neighborhood-level statistics provide important context but should not substitute for address-level research. Use DwellCheck to analyze a specific address and understand the precise safety environment within walking distance of where you plan to live.
Frequently Asked Questions about Downtown Brooklyn Safety
Is Downtown Brooklyn safe?
Downtown Brooklyn is rated "High Activity Area" — Among the highest activity areas. Over the past 12 months, 6,295 crime incidents were recorded, including 4 shooting incidents. Downtown Brooklyn is considered a high-activity area, ranking safer than 2% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 6,295 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Downtown Brooklyn?
The most common crimes in Downtown Brooklyn are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (1,507 incidents, 23.9% of total); 2. HARRASSMENT 2 (935 incidents, 14.9% of total); 3. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (544 incidents, 8.6% of total).
Is Downtown Brooklyn safer than the Brooklyn average?
Downtown Brooklyn is safer than 2% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. It had 97% more incidents than the borough average (6,295 vs. a borough average of 3,200).
How has crime changed in Downtown Brooklyn?
Crime in Downtown Brooklyn has improved by 5.6% year-over-year, dropping from 6,666 to 6,295 incidents. The trend is classified as "improving."
What do 311 complaints say about Downtown Brooklyn?
311 data shows 7,045 Very High complaints, 86 Low complaints, and 279 Moderate complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Downtown Brooklyn safe at night?
Night safety in Downtown Brooklyn varies by block. About 19.8% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Downtown Brooklyn recorded 4 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Downtown Brooklyn safe for families?
For families considering Downtown Brooklyn: the neighborhood recorded 7,045 noise complaints (very high for Brooklyn) and 86 rodent reports. It ranks in the 2th percentile for safety in Brooklyn. Family-friendliness also depends on schools, parks, and building quality — use DwellCheck to evaluate a specific address.
What is the safest neighborhood in Brooklyn?
Safety varies across Brooklyn neighborhoods. Downtown Brooklyn ranks at the 2th percentile with 6,295 incidents. Compare all Brooklyn neighborhoods in the comparison table above to see how each ranks by total crime, shootings, and borough percentile. All data is sourced from NYPD CompStat.
Can you walk around Downtown Brooklyn at night?
Downtown Brooklyn is classified as "High Activity Area" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 4 shooting incidents and 6,295 total crime incidents — 97% more incidents than the borough average. Walking at night carries the same risk profile as anywhere in NYC: stay on commercial corridors with foot traffic, avoid empty side streets after midnight, and prefer subway lines that run 24/7.
Is Downtown Brooklyn dangerous?
By NYPD data, Downtown Brooklyn is rated "High Activity Area" — safer than 2% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. 6,295 crime incidents over 12 months, improved by 5.6% year-over-year, dropping from 6,666 to 6,295 incidents. Block-level risk varies; check our address-level safety score for any specific street or building to weight NYPD incidents within a 250-meter radius.
What parts of Downtown Brooklyn should I avoid?
NYPD CompStat reports incidents at the precinct level, not block-by-block, so a granular "avoid this street" answer isn't possible from public data alone. The most reliable signal at the block level is DwellCheck's address-level safety score, which weights NYPD incidents within a 250m radius of a specific building. As a general rule across all NYC neighborhoods: industrial blocks with no foot traffic are higher-risk than residential blocks; subway-station-adjacent commercial corridors are lowest-risk.
Is Downtown Brooklyn a good place to live?
Downtown Brooklyn scores in the 2th percentile for safety in Brooklyn. Downtown Brooklyn is considered a high-activity area, ranking safer than 2% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 6,295 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months. Whether it's a good fit depends on what you weight: families, solo renters, and remote workers prioritize different factors (noise, transit access, parks, building quality). Use DwellCheck's full livability page for Downtown Brooklyn to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Downtown Brooklyn
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Downtown Brooklyn.
Search an Address in Downtown Brooklyn