Is Prospect Heights, Brooklyn Safe in 2026?
Based on 876 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 2 shooting incidents, and 5,397 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Prospect Heights is below the Brooklyn average for crime and trending safer (8.8% fewer incidents year-over-year).
Prospect Heights is considered much safer than average, ranking safer than 86% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 876 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
876
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
2
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
148
274 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↓ 8.8%
8.8% fewer incidents
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 154 | 17.6% |
| harrassment 2 | 118 | 13.5% |
| grand larceny | 88 | 10.0% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 80 | 9.1% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 57 | 6.5% |
| sex crimes | 55 | 6.3% |
| vehicle and traffic laws | 50 | 5.7% |
| off. agnst pub ord sensblty & | 40 | 4.6% |
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
3,916
111.9 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
163
4.7 per 1,000 residents
Low
Sanitation Issues
231
6.6 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Heat/Hot Water
1,087
31.1 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
677
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
287
42% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
342
51% of total
How Safe Is Prospect Heights Compared to Other Brooklyn Neighborhoods?
Brooklyn Neighborhood Safety Comparison
| Neighborhood | Crime Incidents | Shootings | Verdict | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windsor Terrace | 433 | 0 | Exceptionally Safe | 93% |
| Prospect Heights (this page) | 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 | 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 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 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 Prospect Heights Safety
Is Prospect Heights safe?
Prospect Heights is rated "Much Safer Than Average" — Top 25% safest in the borough. Over the past 12 months, 876 crime incidents were recorded, including 2 shooting incidents. Prospect Heights is considered much safer than average, ranking safer than 86% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 876 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Prospect Heights?
The most common crimes in Prospect Heights are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (154 incidents, 17.6% of total); 2. HARRASSMENT 2 (118 incidents, 13.5% of total); 3. GRAND LARCENY (88 incidents, 10% of total).
Is Prospect Heights safer than the Brooklyn average?
Prospect Heights is safer than 86% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. It had 73% fewer incidents than the borough average (876 vs. a borough average of 3,200).
How has crime changed in Prospect Heights?
Crime in Prospect Heights has improved by 8.8% year-over-year, dropping from 961 to 876 incidents. The trend is classified as "improving."
What do 311 complaints say about Prospect Heights?
311 data shows 3,916 Very High complaints, 163 Low complaints, and 231 Moderate complaints. 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 34.6% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Prospect Heights recorded 2 shooting incidents 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 3,916 noise complaints (very high for Brooklyn) and 163 rodent reports. It ranks safer than 86% 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. Prospect Heights ranks at the 86th percentile with 876 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 Prospect Heights at night?
Prospect Heights is classified as "Much Safer Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 2 shooting incidents and 876 total crime incidents — 73% 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" — safer than 86% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. 876 crime incidents over 12 months, improved by 8.8% year-over-year, dropping from 961 to 876 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 Prospect Heights 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 Prospect Heights a good place to live?
Prospect Heights scores in the 86th percentile for safety in Brooklyn. Prospect Heights is considered much safer than average, ranking safer than 86% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 876 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 Heights