Population 18,423 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Brooklyn
Household size in Brooklyn
| Period | Brooklyn | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.88 | 2.61 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.75 | 2.65 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.83 | 2.65 | 2.74 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.48 | 2.59 | 2.68 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.39 | −0.02 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Brooklyn has 2.48 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.88, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Brooklyn
| Period | Brooklyn | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.6 | 38.7 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 31.6 | 39.5 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 31.7 | 40.2 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 31.4 | 40.3 | 40.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +1.6 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 31.4, Brooklyn is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has climbed from 29.6 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only four of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Brooklyn
| Period | Brooklyn | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.3% | 12.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.5% | 12.3% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 26.1% | 11.6% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 26.4% | 11.5% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −7.9 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over a quarter of households in Brooklyn (26.4%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 7.9 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. No other Maryland city with 5,000+ people has a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Brooklyn
Renters in Brooklyn
| Period | Brooklyn | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 71.4% | 32.0% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 74.6% | 33.5% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 72.6% | 33.5% | 33.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 73.5% | 33.1% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +1.1 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Brooklyn: 73.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Nearly half of owners (47.2%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.1 points, in line with the national trend. Only two of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Brooklyn
| Period | Brooklyn | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.7% | 9.3% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.9% | 9.3% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.3% | 9.4% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 7.2% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.0 pts | −2.1 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Brooklyn: 11.7% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has fallen 7.0 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Brooklyn
| Period | Brooklyn | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1950 | 1971 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1949 | 1972 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1948 | 1973 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1955 | 1975 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Brooklyn is a place of older homes: half were built before 1955, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center has the oldest housing. Only one other Maryland city with 5,000+ people has older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Brooklyn
| Period | Brooklyn | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $667 | $1,179 | $1,249 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $752 | $1,293 | $1,363 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $864 | $1,477 | $1,576 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,050 | $1,778 | $1,869 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$383 | +$599 | +$620 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Brooklyn costs $1,050 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $383 a month from 2006–10, a 57% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 32.2% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the south; the most affordable are in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Brooklyn
Bachelor's degrees in Brooklyn
| Period | Brooklyn | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 35.6% | 36.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 37.3% | 37.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.3% | 40.8% | 40.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 44.1% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +8.5 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Brooklyn have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 12.6%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 5.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only three of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Brooklyn
| Period | Brooklyn | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 69.1% | 87.8% | 88.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 70.5% | 89.5% | 89.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 76.3% | 91.1% | 90.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 74.6% | 92.1% | 90.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +4.3 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
About a quarter of adults in Brooklyn never finished high school, well above the national share: only 74.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.5 points, as it has nationally. Of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people, only six have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Brooklyn
| Period | Brooklyn | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 6.6% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 20.4% | 8.3% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.5% | 5.2% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.9 pts | −1.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Brooklyn: 10.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people, only three have higher unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 7.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Brooklyn compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn | 2.48 | 31.4 | 26.4% | 73.5% | 11.7% | 1955 | $1,050 | 12.6% | 74.6% | 10.2% |
| Brooklyn Park | 2.90 | 38.6 | 12.3% | 20.2% | 12.0% | 1956 | $1,425 | 20.4% | 83.3% | 4.6% |
| Baltimore Highlands | 2.84 | 38.4 | 9.8% | 46.0% | 8.9% | 1958 | $1,447 | 17.3% | 72.5% | 6.5% |
| Lansdowne | 2.71 | 38.3 | 16.5% | 43.0% | 9.1% | 1961 | $1,204 | 12.5% | 75.3% | 1.6% |
| Linthicum | 2.59 | 38.8 | 5.0% | 21.2% | 8.5% | 1964 | $1,991 | 44.1% | 93.5% | 3.0% |
| Ferndale | 2.70 | 35.8 | 11.3% | 32.5% | 2.9% | 1969 | $2,147 | 22.0% | 87.5% | 4.9% |
| Halethorpe | 2.49 | 42.0 | 13.6% | 34.3% | 5.7% | 1958 | $1,415 | 30.4% | 84.1% | 2.9% |
| Linthicum Heights | 2.04 | 36.6 | 2.9% | 49.2% | 13.1% | 2002 | $2,515 | 43.9% | 95.5% | 4.5% |
| Curtis Bay | 2.62 | 33.9 | 11.8% | 31.0% | 7.3% | 1987 | $1,819 | 40.0% | 88.0% | 6.0% |
| Arbutus | 2.68 | 34.7 | 9.3% | 25.3% | 4.1% | 1958 | $1,652 | 43.4% | 93.0% | 3.2% |
| Baltimore area | 2.59 | 40.3 | 11.5% | 33.1% | 7.2% | 1975 | $1,778 | 44.1% | 92.1% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Maryland City, MD · Newburyport, MA · Brookfield, CT · Barrington, RI · Barceloneta, PR · Baker, LA · North Vernon, IN · Mckinleyville, CA · Aurora, OH · White Oak, OH
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Brooklyn. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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