Brooklyn

Is Park Slope Safe? Brooklyn Livability, Crime & Rent

Park Slope delivers strong livability and transit for those who can afford the $1.45M median entry point, but financial and investment metrics suggest you're paying for established character rather than appreciation potential.

#7 of 11 in BrooklynBased on 76 active listingsUpdated 2026-04-04
5.5/ 10

Is Park Slope Safe?

Park Slope, Brooklyn scores 5.5/10 for overall livability, ranking #7 of 11 Brooklyn neighborhoods. Park Slope delivers strong livability and transit for those who can afford the $1.45M median entry point, but financial and investment metrics suggest you're paying for established character rather than appreciation potential.

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 Park Slope address below for a block-level breakdown.

Score Overview

Financial4.9 (-0.8 vs borough)
Livability (ART)7.0 (+2.0 vs borough)
Outdoor5.3 (+0.7 vs borough)
Investment5.4 (-0.4 vs borough)
Commute8.4 (+0.4 vs borough)
Practical6.4 (+0.0 vs borough)

Vertical line = borough median. Scale: 0-10.

Neighborhood Character

You'll walk tree-lined streets with an average of 232 trees within 200 meters and a canopy density of 7.5/10—the neighborhood has the visible green infrastructure to back its park-adjacent reputation. Prospect Park sits nearby, along with Green-Wood Cemetery and Fort Greene Park (all within roughly 1,375 meters on average), giving you genuine outdoor access rather than proximity claims. The building stock is predominantly condo (88%), with brownstones and townhouses filling out the remainder, creating a residential texture that feels established rather than transitional. You're also well-served by transit: the R line at Union Street, the 2/3 at Bergen Street, the B/Q/F/G at 7th Avenue, and access to Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center for the full network.

Analysis based on 76 properties scored across 30+ data points

Livability & Restoration

Tree Canopy

232 trees

Avg within 200m | Density: 7.5/10

10 additional trees per block correlates with health benefits equivalent to being 7 years younger (Kardan et al., 2015)

Park Access

Prospect Park

Avg 1375m away | Score: 5.1/10

Living within 300m of green space associated with 30% fewer antidepressant prescriptions (Taylor et al., 2015)

Acoustic Quality

5/10

Noise proxy score (higher = quieter)

Chronic noise above 55 dB at night associated with 8% cardiovascular mortality increase (Basner et al., 2014)

Street Character

10/10

Enclosure: 10/10

ART Score7/10

Transit & Commute

Subway Stations

R
Union St
2 3
Bergen St
B QF G
7 Av
2 3
Grand Army Plaza
R
Prospect Av
F G R
4 Av-9 St
F G
15 St-Prospect Park
2 3 4 5 B D N Q R
Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr

Commute Score

8.4/10

Borough median: 8/10

Walk Score Proxy

10/10

Based on street geometry analysis

Financial Landscape

Median Price

$1.4M

Price per Sq Ft

$1362

Price Distribution

$575K$2.5M
10th pctileMedian: $1.4M90th pctile

Price by Building Type

Condo
88%
2-Family
7%
Townhouse
5%

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

62

Market velocity signal

Multi-Family Stock

7%

2-4 family buildings

Multi-family owner-occupants build 2.4x wealth vs single-family (Herbert, 2013)

Investment Score5.4/10

Outdoor & Green Space

Avg Tree Count

232

Within 200m radius

Canopy Density

7.5/10

Normalized canopy coverage

Park Network

  • Prospect Park
  • Green-Wood Cemetery
  • Fort Greene Park

Avg distance: 1375m

Outdoor Space Types

Terrace
80%
Backyard
20%

Practical Living

Building Types

Condo
88%
2-Family
7%
Townhouse
5%

Bedroom Distribution

2 BR
42%
3 BR
22%
1 BR
16%
0 BR
9%
4 BR
7%
6 BR
1%
12 BR
1%
7 BR
1%

Laundry Availability

In-Unit
70%
Basement
30%

Who Park Slope Is For

Commuters prioritizing transit access

Commute score of 8.4 (above borough median of 8) with multiple subway lines means reliable connections to other parts of the city

Art and culture-focused residents

ART/Livability score of 7.0 significantly outpaces borough median of 5.0, indicating stronger cultural amenities and neighborhood character

Outdoor enthusiasts with budget constraints

Strong Outdoor score (5.3) and direct Prospect Park access, though high median price ($1.45M) and Financial score of 4.9 mean this works best for buyers with solid equity or income

Pros & Cons

Strengths

Excellent transit connectivity

Commute score of 8.4, above borough median; access to R, 2/3, B/Q/F/G lines plus Atlantic Avenue hub

Strong cultural and livability amenities

ART/Livability score of 7.0 vs. borough median of 5.0—significantly above-average neighborhood character

Substantial tree canopy and green space

Average 232 trees within 200m radius with 7.5/10 canopy density; immediate access to Prospect Park

Stable, established housing stock

88% condo buildings provide clarity on ownership structures; average 62 days on market suggests balanced, not distressed, turnover

Trade-offs

High cost of entry

Median price of $1,450,000 and $1,362/sqft reflect premium pricing; Financial score of 4.9 (below borough median) flags affordability concerns

Below-average investment metrics

Investment score of 5.4 lags borough median of 5.8; year-over-year appreciation data unavailable, suggesting limited recent momentum

No development upside

Average unused FAR of 0 sqft means no zoning capacity for new construction or significant expansion

Moderate outdoor accessibility relative to cost

Outdoor score of 5.3, only slightly above borough median of 4.6, despite premium pricing

Score Any Address in Park Slope

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Frequently Asked Questions about Park Slope

1

Is Park Slope safe?

Park Slope safety varies by block. DwellCheck provides detailed safety data including NYPD crime statistics, arrest data, and 311 complaints. Check the Park Slope safety page for full details.

2

What is the average rent in Park Slope?

Rents in Park Slope, Brooklyn vary significantly by building and apartment type. The median listing price is $1.4M. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses.

3

How is transit access in Park Slope?

Park Slope has a commute score of 8.4/10. 8 subway stations serve the area: Union St, Bergen St, 7 Av.

4

What are the best streets in Park Slope?

The best streets depend on your priorities. Use DwellCheck to compare specific addresses across livability, safety, transit, and environmental factors.

5

What is the average DwellScore in Park Slope?

Median composite score is 5.5 (interquartile range 4.8–7.1). The neighborhood excels in commute (8.4) and livability (7.0) but lags in financial viability (4.9) and investment potential (5.4), creating a split profile: excellent for living, challenging for buying as a financial asset.

6

How does Park Slope compare to the rest of Brooklyn?

It outperforms on commute (+0.4), livability (+2.0), and outdoor access (+0.7), but underperforms on financial metrics (−0.8) and investment outlook (−0.4). You're paying a premium for proximity and amenity, not for upside.

7

What's the typical price and market pace?

Median listing price is $1,450,000 ($1,362/sqft). Properties spend an average of 62 days on market, indicating stable, non-distressed turnover. Year-over-year appreciation data is not available for this dataset.

8

What transit options will I have?

You'll have access to the R (Union St, Prospect Ave), 2/3 (Bergen St, Grand Army Plaza), B/Q/F/G (7th Ave, 4th Ave–9th St, 15th St–Prospect Park), and the full network via Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center. Commute score of 8.4 reflects this redundancy.

Data from NYC Open Data & DwellScore analysis (311, DOB, HPD, NYPD, MTA, Census, Trees, PLUTO)

Not financial or real estate advice