Carroll St, Crown Heights

It's not easy to rate Carroll Street because it is so long and transverses some vastly different neighborhoods. The best way to divide it up is by using Prospect Park - basically, the Carroll St on the west side of the park is magnificent, and the Carroll St on the east side of the park is less-than-savory.

On the west side, you have the Carroll Street of Park Slope - or, the Carroll Street that gets four stars. East of the park, you have the less lovable Carroll Street - the one where there isn't much to do and where I personally wouldn't love to live.

East of Prospect Park is the Crown Heights area - a neighborhood that has gotten increasingly less shady over the years, but it's not out of the dark just yet. That said, you can probably land some cheap rent over here. Just don't expect to have a lot of selection when it comes to good takeout or nightlife spots.

In Park Slope Carroll Street is a sloping lane of beautiful brownstones. Where the street intersects with 5th and 7th, there are tons of restaurants and shops. Two blocks north and parallel to the street in question is Union Street, another street literally lined with places to spend your money (suggested places to get acquainted with: Rosewater on the corner of 6th Ave and the Park Slope Food Coop between 6th and 7th Aves).

It seems like brownstones in this area are going on sale often enough, and are usually in the $500,000-to-just-under-a-million range. Lots of rather young parents live here with their rather young children, as you've probably already heard.

Carroll Street does not have a lot of stuff going on, though it does have a night club called the 249 Lounge that is the perfect place to go on a Friday or Saturday night if you feel like dancing! It is queer centered and is free before 11pm.

The rent on the street can be manageable but it depends on the cross street if it's in a safe area! There are lots of trees and quiet areas where one can go to think.

I think this area is good for raising families on a tight budget, though you lose all of the glamour of downtown living in Brooklyn. There are no fancy boutiques on this street, but there is a bodega (convenience store) or two… hundred. There is a level of convenience, but this may not be the kind of neighborhood you’re interested in living in your twenties. There are more dynamic streets in this borough.