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NYC Neighborhood Comparison

Gowanus vs Kensington

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

Brooklyn|Brooklyn

Gowanus

Brooklyn

Kensington

Brooklyn

How They Compare

For buyers focused on affordability, Kensington has the lower median sale price at $525K vs $535K in Gowanus.

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

Median Sale Price
$535K
$525K
Median Rent
$5K
$3K
Active Listings
22
98
Avg Days on Market
55 days
56 days
YoY Price Change
-45.4%
+3.8%
Monthly Sales Volume
1
13

Detailed Comparison

MetricGowanusKensington
Median Sale Price$535,000$525,000
Median Condo Price$535,000$415,500
Median Co-op Price$700,000$474,700
Median Rent$4,575$2,750
Active Listings2298
Rental Inventory306120
Days on Market5556
Price Cut Share22.7%14.3%
Monthly Sales Volume113
YoY Price Change-45.4%+3.8%
YoY Rent Change-0.5%-5.2%
YoY Inventory Change-29.0%+28.9%
Subway LinesN/AN/A

Year-Over-Year Price Movement

Prices in Gowanus moved -45.4% over the past year, compared to +3.8% in Kensington. Kensington is seeing price appreciation while Gowanus has softened, pointing to different supply-demand dynamics in each market.

Neighborhood Profiles

Gowanus

Gowanus features a striking mix of 19th-century brick warehouses, Greek Revival rowhouses, and new glass-and-steel condominiums rising along the canal waterfront. The F, G, R, D, and N/W trains are accessible at nearby Smith-Ninth Streets and Fourth Avenue-Ninth Street stations, with Atlantic Terminal a short walk north. Washington Park and the Old Stone House landmark anchor the neighborhood's green space, while a major rezoning is bringing thousands of new residential units and waterfront parkland to the area.

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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

Gowanus

No subway data available

Kensington

No subway data available

Active Listings

Gowanus for sale

View all Gowanus 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.

Gowanus 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. Gowanus 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 Gowanus 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)GowanusKensington
Median Sale Price$535,000$525,000
Median Rent$4,575/mo$2,750/mo
Year-over-Year Price Change-45.4%+3.8%
Average Days on Market55 days56 days
Distance to Nearest SubwayN/AN/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 Gowanus cheaper than Kensington?
Kensington is more affordable, with a median sale price of $525,000 vs $535,000 in Gowanus. Pricing can vary widely by building, floor, and unit condition, so review current listings for accurate comparisons.
Which has better transit, Gowanus or Kensington?
Transit data is not available for these neighborhoods. Check the MTA website for current service maps.
Which is better for families, Gowanus or Kensington?
This depends on what type of home fits your household. Gowanus 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 Gowanus 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 Gowanus 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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