Is Prospect Heights, Brooklyn Safe? Crime Rate & NYPD Data (2026)
Prospect Heights has a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Brooklyn neighborhoods, or 34.7 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the safer half of Brooklyn. DwellCheck rates it "Much Safer Than Average" — top 25% safest in the borough — from 816 NYPD complaint records and 1 shooting incident over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents are down 13.4% year-over-year. Safety varies block by block, so read this as neighborhood context rather than a verdict on any single street.
Over the same 12 months, 311 logged 6,063 quality-of-life complaints in Prospect Heights. Prospect Heights is considered much safer than average, with a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. Incidents are trending down with 816 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
Data covers June 2025 – June 2026 (12 months) · Source: NYPD Complaint, Shooting & Arrest Data and NYC 311 via NYC Open Data · Updated September 14, 2026
What Is the Crime Rate in Prospect Heights?
Prospect Heights recorded 816 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (23,515 residents) that is 34.7 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. Of those, 264 were felonies and 62 were violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery or felony assault). Crimes are counted where they were reported, so commercial and nightlife blocks push the rate up in districts with few residents.
Prospect Heights Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
816
Past 12 months · 34.7 per 1,000 residents
Shooting Incidents
1
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
62
Murder, rape, robbery, felony assault
Year-over-Year Trend
↓ 13.4%
13.4% fewer incidents
* Borough rate: the borough's count per resident across the neighborhoods we track, applied to this neighborhood's 23,515 residents (2020 Census).
Most Common Crimes in Prospect Heights
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 141 | 17.3% |
| harrassment 2 | 111 | 13.6% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 73 | 8.9% |
| grand larceny | 71 | 8.7% |
| sex crimes | 67 | 8.2% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 60 | 7.4% |
| vehicle and traffic laws | 43 | 5.3% |
| felony assault | 36 | 4.4% |
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. Rates use the 2020 Census population (23,515 residents). Labels compare each rate with the other NYC neighborhoods we track: Low is the bottom quarter, Moderate the middle half, High the next 15%, and Very High the top 10%.
Noise Complaints
4,093
174.1 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
175
7.4 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Sanitation Issues
308
13.1 per 1,000 residents
High
Heat/Hot Water
1,487
63.2 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
437
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
190
43% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
220
50% of total
How Safe Is Prospect Heights Compared to Other Brooklyn Neighborhoods?
Brooklyn Neighborhood Safety Comparison
| Neighborhood | Crime Incidents | Per 1,000 Residents | Shootings | Verdict | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borough Park | 1,399 | 14.9 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 100% |
| Windsor Terrace | 384 | 16.3 | 0 | Exceptionally Safe | 97% |
| Kensington | 1,048 | 25.1 | 0 | Exceptionally Safe | 94% |
| Dyker Heights | 1,206 | 25.8 | 0 | Exceptionally Safe | 92% |
| Midwood | 1,489 | 28.2 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 89% |
| Bensonhurst | 3,309 | 31.5 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 86% |
| Gravesend | 4,874 | 33.9 | 6 | Higher Than Average | 83% |
| Prospect Heights (this page) | 816 | 34.7 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 81% |
| Sheepshead Bay | 2,435 | 35.2 | 7 | Higher Than Average | 78% |
| Brooklyn Heights | 909 | 36.2 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 75% |
| Bay Ridge | 3,279 | 37.8 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 72% |
| Ditmas Park | 1,633 | 38 | 1 | Safer Than Average | 69% |
| Marine Park | 1,875 | 39.9 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 67% |
| Clinton Hill | 1,149 | 40.1 | 1 | Safer Than Average | 64% |
| Brighton Beach | 1,400 | 41.7 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 61% |
| Greenpoint | 1,714 | 44 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 58% |
| Bath Beach | 1,598 | 48.3 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 56% |
| Canarsie | 4,361 | 48.5 | 4 | Average | 53% |
| Flatlands | 3,268 | 48.7 | 3 | Average | 50% |
| Park Slope | 2,806 | 48.9 | 2 | Average | 47% |
| Cypress Hills | 2,378 | 55 | 9 | Higher Than Average | 44% |
| Williamsburg | 3,619 | 56.2 | 2 | Higher Than Average | 42% |
| Prospect Lefferts Gardens | 3,093 | 62.5 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 39% |
| Flatbush | 4,256 | 64 | 7 | Higher Than Average | 36% |
| Carroll Gardens | 3,893 | 65.8 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 33% |
| Sunset Park | 3,719 | 68.3 | 8 | Higher Than Average | 31% |
| Bushwick | 8,494 | 70.3 | 6 | Higher Than Average | 28% |
| East Flatbush | 11,757 | 71.7 | 19 | Higher Than Average | 25% |
| Crown Heights | 9,905 | 72.9 | 22 | Much Higher Than Average | 22% |
| Bed-Stuy | 13,309 | 76.6 | 24 | Much Higher Than Average | 19% |
| Fort Greene | 3,170 | 96.2 | 3 | Much Higher Than Average | 17% |
| East New York | 14,110 | 99.8 | 28 | Much Higher Than Average | 14% |
| Starrett City | 1,749 | 102.7 | 3 | Much Higher Than Average | 11% |
| Coney Island | 5,510 | 111.3 | 9 | High Activity Area | 8% |
| Brownsville | 7,041 | 116.4 | 17 | High Activity Area | 6% |
| Ocean Hill | 4,506 | 118.7 | 10 | High Activity Area | 3% |
| Downtown Brooklyn | 6,502 | 158.7 | 4 | High Activity Area | 0% |
Understanding This Data
All crime statistics on this page come from NYPD Complaint Data, Shooting Incident Data and Arrest Data published on NYC Open Data, refreshed periodically. 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 Prospect Heights.
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 Prospect Heights's reported crimes per resident (its NTAs' 2020 Census population, 23,515) only against the other neighborhoods we track in Brooklyn, so it is borough-relative rather than city-wide. Crimes are counted where they were reported, so commercial and nightlife districts with few residents rank high. The borough averages on this page apply the borough's crimes per resident to Prospect Heights's population.
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 Prospect Heights Safety
Is Prospect Heights safe?
Prospect Heights has a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Brooklyn neighborhoods, or 34.7 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the safer half of Brooklyn. DwellCheck rates it "Much Safer Than Average" — top 25% safest in the borough — from 816 NYPD complaint records and 1 shooting incident over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents are down 13.4% year-over-year. Safety varies block by block, so read this as neighborhood context rather than a verdict on any single street.
What is the crime rate in Prospect Heights?
Prospect Heights recorded 816 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (23,515 residents) that is 34.7 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. Of those, 264 were felonies and 62 were violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery or felony assault). Crimes are counted where they were reported, so commercial and nightlife blocks push the rate up in districts with few residents.
What are the most common crimes in Prospect Heights?
The most common crimes in Prospect Heights are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (141 incidents, 17.3% of total); 2. HARRASSMENT 2 (111 incidents, 13.6% of total); 3. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (73 incidents, 8.9% of total).
Is Prospect Heights safer than the Brooklyn average?
Prospect Heights has a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. It had 42% fewer incidents than the borough average (816 vs. a borough average of 1,413 for a neighborhood of the same population, 23,515 residents in the 2020 Census). That is 34.7 reported crimes per 1,000 residents.
How has crime changed in Prospect Heights?
Crime in Prospect Heights has improved by 13.4% year-over-year, dropping from 942 to 816 incidents. The trend is classified as "improving."
What do 311 complaints say about Prospect Heights?
Over the past 12 months, 311 recorded 4,093 noise complaints (very high per resident), 175 rodent complaints (very high) and 308 sanitation complaints (high). Each label compares the rate per resident (2020 Census) with the other NYC neighborhoods we track. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Prospect Heights safe at night?
Night safety in Prospect Heights varies by block. About 34.7% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Prospect Heights recorded 1 shooting incident in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Prospect Heights safe for families?
For families considering Prospect Heights: the neighborhood recorded 4,093 noise complaints (very high per resident among the NYC neighborhoods we track) and 175 rodent reports. It has a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. 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. Prospect Heights has a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Brooklyn neighborhoods, with 816 incidents. Compare all Brooklyn neighborhoods in the comparison table above to see each one's crimes per 1,000 residents, shootings, and borough percentile. Crime data is NYPD Complaint Data via NYC Open Data.
Can you walk around Prospect Heights at night?
Prospect Heights is classified as "Much Safer Than Average" by NYPD complaint data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 1 shooting incident and 816 total crime incidents — 42% 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 Prospect Heights dangerous?
By NYPD data, Prospect Heights is rated "Much Safer Than Average", with a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. 816 crime incidents over 12 months, improved by 13.4% year-over-year, dropping from 942 to 816 incidents. Block-level risk varies; check our address-level safety score for any specific street or building, which counts NYPD complaints within a 300-meter radius.
What parts of Prospect Heights should I avoid?
NYPD complaint records carry approximate incident coordinates, but a neighborhood total can't tell you which blocks drive it, so we don't publish an "avoid this street" list. For a specific block, use DwellCheck's address-level safety score, which counts NYPD complaint records within a 300m 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 Prospect Heights a good place to live?
Prospect Heights is considered much safer than average, with a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. Incidents are trending down with 816 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 Prospect Heights to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Prospect Heights
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Prospect Heights.
Search an Address in Prospect HeightsCompare Prospect Heights with Nearby Brooklyn Crime Rates
The Brooklyn neighborhoods whose crime rate per resident is closest to Prospect Heights's.