Milton Coste

Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker

(917) 416-7433

NYC Neighborhood Comparison

Brooklyn vs Long Island City

Long Island City vs Brooklyn: side-by-side market data, transit, and neighborhood profiles to help you decide.

Brooklyn|Queens

Brooklyn

Brooklyn

Long Island City

Queens

How They Compare

For buyers focused on affordability, Brooklyn has the lower median sale price at $1.1M vs $1.3M in Long Island City.

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

Commuters have more transit options in Long Island City, which is served by 7 subway lines compared to 0 in Brooklyn.

Median Sale Price
$1.1M
$1.3M
Median Rent
$4K
$5K
Active Listings
4630
301
Avg Days on Market
52 days
61 days
YoY Price Change
+10.3%
+40.4%
Monthly Sales Volume
578
14

Detailed Comparison

MetricBrooklynLong Island City
Median Sale Price$1,075,000$1,330,000
Median Condo Price$1,275,000$1,260,000
Median Co-op Price$420,000$460,000
Median Rent$3,900$4,500
Active Listings4630301
Rental Inventory134911117
Days on Market5261
Price Cut Share12.4%12.0%
Monthly Sales Volume57814
YoY Price Change+10.3%+40.4%
YoY Rent Change+4.0%+0.1%
YoY Inventory Change+3.1%+42.7%
Subway LinesN/A7 E G M N R W

Year-Over-Year Price Movement

Prices in Brooklyn moved +10.3% over the past year, compared to +40.4% in Long Island City. The +40.4% gain in Long Island City reflects stronger buyer demand relative to available inventory in that market.

Neighborhood Profiles

Brooklyn

Brooklyn showcases a mix of historic brownstones, pre-war apartment buildings, and modern high-rises. The neighborhood is crisscrossed by multiple subway lines, offering direct access to major transit hubs. Residents can enjoy proximity to expansive green spaces, including notable local parks and cultural landmarks.

View Full Market Report

Long Island City

Long Island City sits directly across the East River from Midtown Manhattan, reachable in one stop on the 7 train. LIC has added more than 12,000 residential units since 2015, transforming former industrial blocks into a corridor of glass-tower condos, converted loft co-ops, and rental high-rises along the waterfront. Gantry Plaza State Park, MoMA PS1, and the Hunters Point Library anchor the neighborhood’s cultural identity. Median condo prices run roughly 30-40% below comparable Manhattan waterfront units, drawing both first-time buyers and investors looking for appreciation in one of the city’s highest-growth zip codes.

View Full Market Report

Transit Access

Brooklyn

No subway data available

Long Island City

7EGMNRW

Hunters Point Av (7) — 0.2 mi

Court Sq (7 E G M) — 0.2 mi

Long Island City (E G M R) — 0.6 mi

Queensboro Plaza (7 N W) — 0.6 mi

Active Listings

Brooklyn for sale

View all Brooklyn listings

Long Island City for sale

View all Long Island City 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 vs Long Island City: 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 and Long Island City 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 and Long Island City 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)BrooklynLong Island City
Median Sale Price$1,075,000$1,330,000
Median Rent$3,900/mo$4,500/mo
Year-over-Year Price Change+10.3%+40.4%
Average Days on Market52 days61 days
Distance to Nearest SubwayN/A0.17 mi

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 cheaper than Long Island City?
Yes, Brooklyn has a lower median sale price at $1,075,000 compared to $1,330,000 in Long Island City as of the most recent market data. Co-op and condo prices within each neighborhood can vary significantly, so the right fit depends on property type and building.
Which has better transit, Brooklyn or Long Island City?
Brooklyn has access to 0 subway lines and Long Island City has 7, making Long Island City the stronger option for transit access. Brooklyn has 0 lines, which may still cover your commute depending on your destination.
Which is better for families, Brooklyn or Long Island City?
This depends on what type of home fits your household. Brooklyn and Long Island City 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 or Long Island City?
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 and Long Island City 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.

More Comparisons

Need Help Choosing?

With 25+ years of experience across all five boroughs, I can help you find the right neighborhood for your lifestyle and budget.

Data updated:

Call Text Valuation