Is Kensington, Brooklyn Safe in 2026?
Based on 1,100 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 0 shooting incidents, and 3,929 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Kensington is below the Brooklyn average for crime with stable incident levels year-over-year.
Kensington is considered much safer than average, ranking safer than 83% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 1,100 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
1,100
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
0
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
155
381 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↔ 1.5%
No significant change
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 230 | 20.9% |
| harrassment 2 | 177 | 16.1% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 120 | 10.9% |
| grand larceny | 80 | 7.3% |
| grand larceny of motor vehicle | 79 | 7.2% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 76 | 6.9% |
| vehicle and traffic laws | 57 | 5.2% |
| felony assault | 54 | 4.9% |
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
1,865
53.3 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
179
5.1 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Sanitation Issues
332
9.5 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Heat/Hot Water
1,553
44.4 per 1,000 residents
Very 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
230
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
98
43% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
127
55% of total
How Safe Is Kensington 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 (this page) | 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 | 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 Kensington.
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 Kensington 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 Kensington Safety
Is Kensington safe?
Kensington is rated "Much Safer Than Average" — Top 25% safest in the borough. Over the past 12 months, 1,100 crime incidents were recorded, including 0 shooting incidents. Kensington is considered much safer than average, ranking safer than 83% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 1,100 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Kensington?
The most common crimes in Kensington are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (230 incidents, 20.9% of total); 2. HARRASSMENT 2 (177 incidents, 16.1% of total); 3. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (120 incidents, 10.9% of total).
Is Kensington safer than the Brooklyn average?
Kensington is safer than 83% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. It had 66% fewer incidents than the borough average (1,100 vs. a borough average of 3,200).
How has crime changed in Kensington?
Crime in Kensington has remained stable year-over-year (1,117 vs 1,100 incidents). The trend is classified as "stable."
What do 311 complaints say about Kensington?
311 data shows 1,865 Very High complaints, 179 Moderate complaints, and 332 Moderate complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Kensington safe at night?
Night safety in Kensington varies by block. About 41.4% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Kensington recorded 0 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Kensington safe for families?
For families considering Kensington: the neighborhood recorded 1,865 noise complaints (very high for Brooklyn) and 179 rodent reports. It ranks safer than 83% of Brooklyn neighborhoods, which is above average. 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. Kensington ranks at the 83th percentile with 1,100 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 Kensington at night?
Kensington is classified as "Much Safer Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 0 shooting incidents and 1,100 total crime incidents — 66% fewer 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 Kensington dangerous?
By NYPD data, Kensington is rated "Much Safer Than Average" — safer than 83% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. 1,100 crime incidents over 12 months, remained stable year-over-year (1,117 vs 1,100 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 Kensington 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 Kensington a good place to live?
Kensington scores in the 83th percentile for safety in Brooklyn. Kensington is considered much safer than average, ranking safer than 83% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 1,100 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 Kensington to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Kensington
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Kensington.
Search an Address in Kensington