Brooklyn
RANK #332 / 996 NAT · #21 / 45 NY · POP 2,679,620
1YR FORECAST: +2.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +28%
Kings County, coextensive with the New York City borough of Brooklyn, offers a distinctive urban experience. Brooklyn Heights, with its historic brownstones and promenade, provides views of the Manhattan skyline. Located on the southwestern end of Long Island, Brooklyn is separated from Manhattan by the East River, connected by bridges and subway lines. Commute times to Midtown Manhattan can range from 15 to 25 minutes from neighborhoods like Downtown Brooklyn or Williamsburg via subway. The borough features extensive waterfront areas, including Brooklyn Bridge Park and Prospect Park, offering green spaces and outdoor recreation.
Life in Kings County is characterized by diverse communities and a range of lifestyles, attracting families, young professionals, and artists. Public schools in Kings County are part of the New York City Department of Education, with many schools ranking above average. The local economy has seen growth in sectors such as healthcare and social assistance, which is the largest industry for employment. There has also been an increase in new businesses, particularly very small businesses, and growth in the tech and creative industries.
Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 20.2x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Empire Wind 1 Offshore Wind Farm
Equinor
|
$900M | Under Construction |
|
Kingsboro Psychiatric Center Campus Redevelopment
Breaking Ground
|
$400M | Under Construction |
|
Kings County Hospital Center Redevelopment (Phases II-V)
Kings County Hospital Center
|
$100M | Under Construction |
|
DataVerge Brooklyn Interconnected Hub
DataVerge Data Centers
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 66/100, Kings County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +6.0%, and median household income stands at $74,692 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in NY.
Affordability is a real challenge in Kings County. The median home is valued at $865,300 — with an income-to-home-value ratio of just 0.09, that's significantly harder to afford than in most U.S. counties. Median rent runs $1,715/month.
It's a mixed picture in Kings County. The population is declining (-1.2% YoY), but employers are actually hiring — job growth is at +6.0%. Home values moved +5.1% in the last year. That tension between shrinking population and expanding employment often signals a county in transition.
Not particularly — 1.9% of Kings County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.
Home values climbed +5.1% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Kings County is now valued at $865,300. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.