A data-driven comparison of prices, neighborhoods, and what your budget actually buys in each borough
The median co-op price in Queens is $370,000. In Brooklyn, it is $580,000. That $210,000 gap is where the decision starts; commute, building types, and appreciation decide the rest.
Brooklyn is more expensive than Queens across every property type. The question is whether the premium is worth it for you.
| Metric | Brooklyn | Queens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median sale price (all types) | $780K | $585K | Queens 25% less |
| Median co-op price | $580K | $370K | Queens 36% less |
| Median condo price | $850K | $590K | Queens 31% less |
| Price per sq ft | $750-$1,100 | $500-$800 | Queens 30% less |
In practical terms: a 1-bedroom co-op that costs $475,000 in Park Slope or Prospect Heights buys a comparable or larger unit in Astoria, Sunnyside, or Forest Hills for $310,000-$370,000. That $100,000+ difference is roughly $650/month in lower mortgage payments at current rates.
| Neighborhood | Median Price | Property Types | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Ridge | $580K | Co-ops, 1-3 family | R train (45 min to Midtown) |
| Sunset Park | $520K | Co-ops, condos | D/N/R (30 min to Midtown) |
| Flatbush | $450K | Co-ops, prewar | B/Q (35 min to Midtown) |
| Canarsie | $410K | 1-3 family, co-ops | L train (50 min to Midtown) |
| East New York | $350K | 1-3 family, new condos | A/C/L (45 min to Midtown) |
| Neighborhood | Median Price | Property Types | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Heights | $370K | Co-ops (prewar, garden-style) | 7/E/F/M/R (25 min to Midtown) |
| Woodside | $380K | Co-ops, 1-2 family | 7 train (20 min to Midtown) |
| Sunnyside | $400K | Co-ops, Sunnyside Gardens | 7 train (18 min to Midtown) |
| Flushing | $420K | Condos, co-ops | 7 train (35 min to Midtown) |
| Ridgewood | $390K | 1-3 family, co-ops | M/L (30 min to Midtown) |
Queens neighborhoods with express service to Midtown (Sunnyside at 18 minutes, Woodside at 20, Jackson Heights at 25) offer faster commutes than many Brooklyn neighborhoods at lower prices.
Commute times to a Midtown office, fastest options first:
Queens wins the commute comparison in the $350K-$500K range. The 7 train runs from Flushing through Jackson Heights, Woodside, and Sunnyside with 15-25 minute rides to Times Square. Brooklyn's budget neighborhoods (Bay Ridge, Canarsie, East New York) sit further from express service.
Properties under $600K across both boroughs
155-01 90th Avenue #3-A
Jamaica
275 Webster Avenue #3G
Kensington
Listing information provided courtesy of the Real Estate Board of New York's Residential Listing Service (RLS). Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Sale listings verified. ©2026 REBNY. RLS data displayed by Keller Williams NYC.
Brooklyn briefly crossed the $1 million median sale price mark in Q3 2025 before settling to $990,000 in Q4. Queens hit a record median of $739,053 in Q4 2025, with asking prices jumping 12% year-over-year.
Queens: +12.3% YoY. Strongest in Astoria (+14.1%), Long Island City (+11.8%), Jackson Heights (+10.2%)
Brooklyn: +8.7% YoY. Strongest in Bed-Stuy (+11.4%), Crown Heights (+9.8%), Sunset Park (+8.1%)
One stat that stands out: Queens has higher monthly sales volume (650 transactions vs. Brooklyn's 496) despite lower inventory, and days on market dropped 22% year-over-year while Brooklyn's held flat. Queens is absorbing inventory faster, which signals growing buyer demand.
Brooklyn has brownstone townhouses, prewar walk-up co-ops, and new-construction condos in neighborhoods like Williamsburg and Downtown Brooklyn. At $400K-$600K, inventory is mostly prewar co-ops, with older building systems that may need updating.
Queens offers more variety at lower price points: prewar co-ops (Jackson Heights is famous for its 1920s-1940s garden apartments), postwar high-rise co-ops (Rego Park, Forest Hills), new-construction condos (Long Island City, Astoria), and 1-3 family attached homes (Ridgewood, Woodside).
Choose Brooklyn if: You want walkability and restaurant density, proximity to Prospect Park or the Brooklyn waterfront, or a commute to Lower Manhattan or Downtown Brooklyn.
Choose Queens if: You want more apartment for less money, commute to Midtown on the 7 train, or want a wider range of building types and price points. Queens also offers room to grow into a 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom without leaving the borough.
After 25+ years working both boroughs, the biggest mistake I see is limiting the search to one before running the numbers: $450,000 can buy a larger unit in Queens with a shorter commute, and some Brooklyn neighborhoods are within reach of a Queens budget. Search both and compare actual units.
Properties under $600K across both boroughs
21-67 33RD Street #5E
Ditmars Steinway
901 Ave H #5-C
Ocean Parkway
Listing information provided courtesy of the Real Estate Board of New York's Residential Listing Service (RLS). Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Sale listings verified. ©2026 REBNY. RLS data displayed by Keller Williams NYC.
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Disclaimer: All information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice.
Listing data sourced from the REBNY Residential Listing Service (RLS). Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Milton Coste is a Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker affiliated with Keller Williams NYC,
360 Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10017. License No. 10301213304.
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Milton Coste
Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker · Keller Williams NYC
License No. 10301213304 · 360 Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10017
