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NYC Neighborhood Comparison

Brooklyn Heights vs Kensington

Kensington vs Brooklyn Heights: side-by-side market data, transit, and neighborhood profiles to help you decide.

Brooklyn|Brooklyn

Brooklyn Heights

Brooklyn

Kensington

Brooklyn

How They Compare

For buyers focused on affordability, Kensington has the lower median sale price at $525K vs $985K in Brooklyn Heights.

Investors analyzing rental yield will find Kensington offers a stronger rent-to-price ratio based on current market data.

Commuters have more transit options in Brooklyn Heights, which is served by 8 subway lines compared to 0 in Kensington.

Median Sale Price
$985K
$525K
Median Rent
$5K
$3K
Active Listings
123
98
Avg Days on Market
44.5 days
56 days
YoY Price Change
-39.8%
+3.8%
Monthly Sales Volume
16
13

Detailed Comparison

MetricBrooklyn HeightsKensington
Median Sale Price$985,000$525,000
Median Condo Price$1,165,000$415,500
Median Co-op Price$300,000$474,700
Median Rent$4,885$2,750
Active Listings12398
Rental Inventory158120
Days on Market44.556
Price Cut Share13.0%14.3%
Monthly Sales Volume1613
YoY Price Change-39.8%+3.8%
YoY Rent Change+5.3%-5.2%
YoY Inventory Change+3.4%+28.9%
Subway Lines2 3 4 5 A C F RN/A

Year-Over-Year Price Movement

Prices in Brooklyn Heights moved -39.8% over the past year, compared to +3.8% in Kensington. Kensington is seeing price appreciation while Brooklyn Heights has softened, pointing to different supply-demand dynamics in each market.

Neighborhood Profiles

Brooklyn Heights

Brooklyn Heights is New York City’s first historic district, famous for its grand architecture and the iconic Brooklyn Heights Promenade. Offering some of the most breathtaking views of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, the neighborhood exudes a low-traffic, old-world elegance. The real estate market is characterized by magnificent pre-war townhouses, sought-after cooperatives, and a select few ultra-luxury waterfront developments along Brooklyn Bridge Park.

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Kensington

Kensington is a residential Brooklyn neighborhood bordered by Prospect Park to the north and the landmarked Green-Wood Cemetery to the west, with Ocean Parkway running through its center as one of the borough's signature tree-lined boulevards. The housing stock includes brick rowhouses, prewar co-op apartment buildings along Ocean Parkway and Coney Island Avenue, and detached Victorian homes on the side streets, served by the F and G trains at Fort Hamilton Parkway and Church Avenue. The B and Q express trains are accessible within a short walk, providing a 30-to-35-minute commute to Midtown Manhattan.

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Transit Access

Brooklyn Heights

2345ACFR

Clark St (2 3) — 0.1 mi

Court St (R) — 0.2 mi

High St (A C) — 0.3 mi

Borough Hall (2 3 4 5) — 0.3 mi

Jay St-MetroTech (A C F R) — 0.4 mi

Kensington

No subway data available

Active Listings

Brooklyn Heights for sale

View all Brooklyn Heights listings

Kensington for sale

View all Kensington listings

Listing data is derived in whole or in part from the RLS at REBNY (Real Estate Board of New York) Internet Data Exchange (IDX) database. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Milton Coste | Keller Williams NYC are marked with the RLS logo. The information provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data is refreshed every 15 minutes per REBNY IDX requirements.

Brooklyn Heights vs Kensington: Home Price Resilience 2008-2020

From the 2008 financial crisis through the 2020 pandemic, the NYC metro Case-Shiller composite fell about 25% peak-to-trough between 2007 and 2012, then fully recovered by 2017 and gained another 15% through Q1 2020. Brooklyn Heights and Kensington both tracked this broader NYC arc, with annual closing volume contracting sharply in 2009 and again in Q2 2020 before normalizing.

Outer-borough submarkets including Brooklyn Heights and Kensington generally tracked the broader NYC metro pattern of a 20% to 25% peak-to-trough decline before fully recovering by 2017 and posting further gains through early 2020.

Source: Per Case-Shiller Home Price Index, NYC metro subset, 2008-2020, cross-referenced with StreetEasy historical price data series.

Metric (2026)Brooklyn HeightsKensington
Median Sale Price$985,000$525,000
Median Rent$4,885/mo$2,750/mo
Year-over-Year Price Change-39.8%+3.8%
Average Days on Market44.5 days56 days
Distance to Nearest Subway0.10 miN/A

Table values reflect current 2026 market conditions. Historical 2008-2020 commentary is sourced from Case-Shiller NYC metro composite and StreetEasy historical series.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brooklyn Heights cheaper than Kensington?
Kensington is more affordable, with a median sale price of $525,000 vs $985,000 in Brooklyn Heights. Pricing can vary widely by building, floor, and unit condition, so review current listings for accurate comparisons.
Which has better transit, Brooklyn Heights or Kensington?
Brooklyn Heights has access to 8 subway lines and Kensington has 0, making Brooklyn Heights the stronger option for transit access. Kensington has 0 lines, which may still cover your commute depending on your destination.
Which is better for families, Brooklyn Heights or Kensington?
This depends on what type of home fits your household. Brooklyn Heights and Kensington both offer a mix of apartment and multi-room units in co-ops, condos, and townhouses. Larger 3- and 4-bedroom units, including townhouses and multi-family properties, tend to be more available in lower-density areas. Reviewing active listings filtered by bedroom count is the most reliable way to see what each neighborhood currently offers for larger households. A licensed broker can pull current inventory by bedroom count across both areas for a direct comparison.
Should I buy in Brooklyn Heights or Kensington?
The right neighborhood depends on your price range, commute needs, and preferred property type. A comparative market analysis (CMA) of recent sales in both Brooklyn Heights and Kensington gives you the clearest picture of what your budget gets in each location. Request a free CMA from Milton Coste to get a side-by-side breakdown of current opportunities.

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Data updated:

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