Population 2,631,580 · 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 | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.77 | 2.79 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.84 | 2.85 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.77 | 2.82 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.78 | 2.79 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | −0.00 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Brooklyn holds 2.78 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. The picture is much the same across the New York area.
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 | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.1 | 38.0 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.1 | 38.7 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.2 | 39.8 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.5 | 40.4 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.4 | +2.4 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Brooklyn is 37.5 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 35.1 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the south.
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 | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.5% | 13.1% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.2% | 12.8% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.8% | 11.4% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Brooklyn (12.5%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 4.0 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Brooklyn has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five New York cities.
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 | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 69.7% | 47.1% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 70.5% | 48.7% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 69.9% | 48.8% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 70.5% | 48.6% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Brooklyn: 70.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 45.4% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 0.8 points, as it has nationally. Only six of the 488 New York 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 | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 9.0% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 7.9% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Brooklyn as nationally: 9.1%, against 9.6%. Vacancy has edged down 0.6 points since 2006–10, as it has 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 | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1946 | 1957 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1948 | 1958 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1948 | 1959 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1953 | 1962 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Brooklyn is a place of older homes: half were built before 1953, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1946 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the west has the oldest housing.
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 | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,083 | $1,268 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,248 | $1,377 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,524 | $1,645 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,954 | $2,060 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$871 | +$792 | +$698 | +$606 |
The median renter in Brooklyn pays $1,954 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in the New York area as a whole ($2,060). Rents are up $871 a month from 2006–10, an 80% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 33.1% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.8% | 35.0% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.4% | 36.7% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.1% | 39.9% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.2% | 43.6% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.4 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Brooklyn than nationally: 40.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Still, the share is lower than in the wider New York area (43.6%). The share with a degree is up 12.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.3% | 83.7% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 78.5% | 84.6% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 81.7% | 86.2% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 83.6% | 86.9% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.3 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in Brooklyn never finished high school, well above the national share: only 83.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 6.3 points, mirroring the country. Of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people, only 36 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 | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 7.9% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 9.5% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 6.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Brooklyn runs well above the national rate: 8.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people, only 21 have higher unemployment. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
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 | 2.78 | 37.5 | 12.5% | 70.5% | 9.1% | 1953 | $1,954 | 40.2% | 83.6% | 8.3% |
| New York area | 2.79 | 40.4 | 11.6% | 48.6% | 7.9% | 1962 | $2,060 | 43.6% | 86.9% | 6.9% |
| Jersey City | 2.39 | 35.6 | 11.2% | 72.1% | 7.9% | 1971 | $2,146 | 54.8% | 90.6% | 5.9% |
| Hoboken | 2.05 | 32.3 | 5.7% | 66.2% | 8.0% | 1977 | $2,872 | 82.7% | 96.4% | 4.0% |
| Queens | 2.88 | 41.4 | 11.8% | 55.1% | 8.4% | 1955 | $2,042 | 36.1% | 82.3% | 7.2% |
| Bayonne | 2.52 | 39.7 | 14.2% | 63.8% | 6.8% | 1955 | $1,684 | 40.0% | 90.2% | 5.8% |
| Manhattan | 2.08 | 40.4 | 8.9% | 74.9% | 15.4% | 1956 | $2,383 | 64.7% | 89.9% | 8.2% |
| Weehawken | 2.04 | 40.2 | 8.0% | 69.8% | 10.8% | 1968 | $2,453 | 68.7% | 92.9% | 4.9% |
| Union City | 2.65 | 37.2 | 17.3% | 80.3% | 7.0% | 1962 | $1,550 | 27.8% | 76.6% | 9.0% |
| West New York | 2.64 | 38.2 | 14.1% | 77.6% | 6.3% | 1968 | $1,773 | 31.4% | 75.0% | 8.2% |
| Guttenberg | 2.29 | 40.4 | 10.8% | 58.3% | 5.1% | 1976 | $1,779 | 45.5% | 89.2% | 6.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: San Francisco, CA · San Mateo, CA · Seattle, WA · San Diego, CA · Santa Barbara, CA · San Angelo, TX · San Pedro, CA · Santa Maria, CA · San Ramon, CA · Scottsdale, AZ
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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