Statistics
Population density 36,479 people per square mile
Number of schools 12
Cost of living index 180
Life expectancy 81.5 years
Livability score 79 extremely livable
Median Age: 39
Overall Safety Rank 7
General Information
This southwest Brooklyn neighborhood is a diverse melting pot of cultures with proximity to the heart of NYC with the small-town feeling at the same time. Its residents claim that they’re more community-driven than other popular Brooklyn neighborhoods. Known as a great place for raising kids, Bay Ridge offers lots of activities for children and family-friendly restaurants. But if you’re a young professional and like this neighborhood a lot, it has something to offer. Stores and restaurants stay open late, and night delivery is also available. Plus, the train runs late all week. That’s why the nabe attracts the younger crowd as well.
The Verrazano Bridge is the best place to watch the sunset. Moving to Bay Ridge, you will enjoy the breathtaking views of lower Manhattan from the 69th Street Pier. They say it’s a great place to think. Shore Road Park and Owl’s Head Park are the greenest places here with great options for outdoor activities. By the way, you can go to Owl’s Head Park for its big annual Halloween Haunted Walk & Fairytale Forest on October 31.
Going Out
Fifth and Third Avenues are flooded with bars, cafes, and restaurants. The mix of cuisines is absolutely great: Italian, Mexican, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Middle Eastern and Eastern European. Enjoy the old atmosphere of Skinflints. It’s the only old place still running in the neighborhood. When you move to Bay Ridge, find time to stop by at Little Cupcake Bakeshop, A.L.C. Italian Grocery, Cenruty21 Petit Oven, Brooklyn Beet Company, and Tanoreen.
Rental Market
Since Bay Ridge is known as one of the most family-friendly neighborhoods in NYC, single-family row houses make up the majority of the real estate market here. Moving to Bay Ridge, you will find large homes, even with multiple floors, and outdoor space among the available properties. Generally, the neighborhood offers a mix of historical and modern real estate. The housing stock includes detached single-family homes, attached one- and two-family row houses, as well as condos and co-ops. At the end of June, the search on StreetEasy showed 122 properties for sale.
The median rent in the area is $1,770 per month. Rentals for one-bedroom apartments start from $1,700. Two-bedroom apartments cost from $2,000 per month. The influx of young people changes this place: new restaurants keep opening, and rental prices keep rising.
Transportation
Planning your first visit to the neighborhood? Take the R train to 86 Street and walk west on 86th street towards Third Ave. When you move to Bay Ridge, The R train under Fourth Avenue will take you to Midtown within 45 minutes, while the trip to Union Square can take only 40 minutes.