8.6 out of 10

Clinton Hill

Ranked 1st best neighborhood in Brooklyn
40.6895717866793 -73.9637260007207
Great for
  • Eating Out
  • Parking
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Public Transport
  • Peace & Quiet
Not great for
  • No ratings yet
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Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Students

Reviews

5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 5/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
2yrs+

"An Excellent Neighborhood!"

Clinton Hill is a wealthy Brooklyn neighborhood that in recent years has attracted upper middle income single professionals and young families. Crime is very low, with many luxury apartment buildings being built and high end cafes/restaurants having moved into the neighborhood. The area is serviced by the C and G trains, with Barclays Center a ten minute walk away with over nine subway trains to get you anywhere throughout the city. Myrtle Avenue, Fulton Avenue and DeKalb Avenue has many quaint restaurants and bars. Lafayette Avenue is a big tree lined street, which the New York City marathon uses as its annual route.
Pros
  • Farmer in the Deli
  • close to Pratt
  • cool nearby bar scene
  • Spacious, affordable appartments
  • Growth of trendy shops & restaurants
  • Hot Bird
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Tourists
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 5/5
  • Parking 5/5
  • Cost of Living 5/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Clinton Hill - A Reminder of Olde Brooklyn"

Clinton HIll, ah, what a destination! With its grand, late 1900 brownstones and townhouses, and brilliant mansions on Clinton Avenue, this neighborhood is great. It is hip, but not a hipster mall in the same sense Williamsburg is. It has a strong sense of community without having the overbearing structure of Park Slope. It's close to, even bordering Bedford-Stuyvesant, but its overall feeling is much more different. If I could compare it to any Brooklyn neighborhood other than it's sister, Fort Greene, Boerum Hill would seem like the obvious choice.
Pros
  • Hip, while being developed
  • Architecture - Stunning
  • close to Pratt
  • cool nearby bar scene
  • Growth of trendy shops & restaurants
Cons
  • Mediocre schools
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 2/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Up & coming town in Brooklyn"

Located in Central Brooklyn, Clinton Hill has been experiencing tremendous growth and change during the past few years. While the town was once known for being poor and run down, the residents of this lovely town have worked with the city to bring culture and businesses here to spark growth and attract more residents. Home to the Pratt Institute, Clinton Hill has a wide variety of housing options. There are buildings in almost every imaginable style and there are gorgeous mansions that add to the neighborhood's elegance. As a result of all of the improvements in the neighborhood, developers have been investing in Clinton Hill as well. New housing developments offer modern affordable housing. Residents have a lot of reasons for choosing to live in Clinton Hill. There are plenty of shops and restaurants on Myrtle Avenue, the town's main artery. There are numerous and diverse choices on other streets as well. A food co-op for residents has been planned and many residents work together on a community garden. There is a community organization that gives legal assistance to residents. That isn't to say that this is a perfect neighborhood; it still has quite a way to go. The town's public schools are barely mediocre and there are still a lot of robberies. The transportation options are inconvenient, making it a poor choice for people who have to commute to Manhattan every day.
Pros
  • Growth of trendy shops & restaurants
  • Developing neighborhood
  • Spacious, affordable appartments
  • close to Pratt
  • cool nearby bar scene
Cons
  • Inconvenient transportation
  • Mediocre schools
  • Robberies
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Students
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
2yrs+

"The good is very good and the rest is in-between"

This neighborhood has become very gentrified in the past few years, thanks in part to neighboring Pratt. The Brooklyn flea is in this neighborhood on Saturdays, and on weekends the area around Atlantic Ave is busy with shoppers and brunch goers. This neighborhood is much nicer in the areas that border Prospect Heights and Fort Greene - over by Bed-Stuy is not where I would want to be living or hanging out.

I checked out this neighborhood in my recent search for a new apartment and found that there were a lot of newly renovated apartments on slightly questionable blocks. These apartments tended to be overpriced - after all, this neighborhood is still being gentrified. While there are a lot of trendy restaurants opening up in Clinton Hill, the neighborhood still shows signs of its old wear-and-tear.

Of course, there are exceptions - real estate closer to Atlantic Ave, especially in the western portion of the neighborhood is much nicer and perhaps worth paying higher mortgages and rents. In addition to having prettier apartment buildings, the nicer part of Clinton Hill is lined with tall trees and close to some really cool places on Atlantic Ave.

Highlights of Clinton Hill proper include Urban Vintage, a coffee shop with a really unique atmosphere, and Pilar Cuban Eatery, an inexpensive cafe offering some real deal Cuban cuisine.
Pros
  • Spacious, affordable appartments
  • Hot Bird
Cons
  • Near a still-gentrifying neighborhood
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Students
SanjiD
SanjiD Not sure that the gentrification of Clinton Hill has anything to do with Pratt (they've been there since 1887), but has more to do with the affordability, larger living spaces and proximity to Manhattan post 9/11. Now in 2016, the nabe is unaffordable for most of the long time older residents who are being displaced at an alarming rate. It's great for property values and finding great places to eat and drink, but the losses (small mom and pop stores, parking spaces, general friendliness, ethnic diversity, etc. ) are heartbreaking. And with all the high rise construction going up on every brownstone block, we are super crowded together on narrow streets that were never designed for thousands of people. We have also lost the views of the Manhattan skyline and, more importantly, THE SUN! One silver lining in all this is that many of the original owners have not sold and are renting their property at those exhorbitant rates to those who can afford it (thanks to help from Mom and Dad!) and have purchased nicer homes in warmer states. I used to say I would never leave Brooklyn, but that was before it turned into Manhattan.
2yrs+
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4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
2yrs+

"A hospitable BK neighborhood"

Clinton Hill is an extremely hospitable Brooklyn neighborhood. Places like Soda Bar offer brunch, and there are plenty of shops, restaurants and the like around to keep locals occupied.

Actual living space in the neighborhood seems to be of a higher standard than surrounding areas; I have a few friends who live down there and their apartments are every bit as spacious as a Brooklyn living space should be. (My Bushwick apartment, on the other hand, would fit nicely into a former LES tenement building.)

The neighborhood encompasses the Pratt Institute, so there are a lot of students in the area. But the rents are what you would expect from such picturesque neighborhood - not very low, yet still affordable.
Pros
  • close to Pratt
  • cool nearby bar scene
  • Spacious, affordable appartments
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
3/5
2yrs+

"Nothing out of the ordinary, just an average neighborhood"

Clinton Hill is located in northwestern Brooklyn. The neighborhood overlooks Wallabout Bay and is centrally located at the Pratt Institute. Surrounding neighborhoods include Bedford-Stuyvesant, Prospect Heights, and Fort Greene.

The neighborhood prides itself with its shingled, clapboard, brick, limestone, and brownstone houses and the restoration of townhouses seems to be the areas prime hobby. There are a several interspersed framed houses among the mansions predating the Civil War. Condos and co-ops average about $500 per square foot in the neighborhood, while double duplex brownstones an average $1.2 million - $3 million, depending on the structures condition.

The C and G subway lines service the area and both stop on Washington Avenue, while the G line also stops at Classon Avenue. There are also several bus lines that service the neighborhood.

Several schools are found within the community of Clinton Hill, including Public School 11, Purvis J. Behan (elementary), Satellite Three on Gates Avenue (middle school), and Benjamin Banneker Academy (high school). All schools have been reported to meet and exceed statewide standards.

Clinton Hill offers many attractions and things to do on the weekends. The Brooklyn Academy of Musics Afro-Punk music festival is a fun summer event to attend. The area is known for its churches along Vanderbilt Avenue and the local branch of the Brooklyn Public Library is on Washington Avenue.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5
2yrs+

"Clinton Hill, a desirable neighborhood in Brooklyn"

Clinton Hill area has always been a desirable neighborhood, due to its beautiful architecture and proximity to transportation. Fort Greene is located minutes away from the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, making it an easy commute to Manhattan.

Real Estate in Clinton Hill is amongst the most beautiful as its opulent brownstones line the streets with a distinctive flare. Many of the brownstones have been refurbished and are a coveted nesting spot for flighting Manhattanites as well as those new to the city. The spacious provide privacy while still offerring a uniquely NYC feel. Houses in the Clinton Hill neighborhood generally sell for $350,000 at the least, with some large and extensively renovated homes selling for well over $2 million. Renting and subletting in this neighborhood is extremely possibly, and can be done for as inexpensively as $1,000.

Public transportation is expansive and with subway lines (2, 3, 4, 5, A, B, C, D, F, G, M, N, Q, and R), about 20 bus lines, and the LIRR, Clinton Hill is arguably the best connected neighborhood in Brooklyn.

Clinton Hill features several attractions. Firstly, dining and entertainment are a must in this neighborhood, as the proximity to Manhattan keeps this section Brooklyn extremely chic and hip. Several eateries as well as cool shops and stores are speckled throughout the neighborhood making this a wonderful place to live or to visit on a night out in Brooklyn.

Other sights include the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge. Walking on the Bridge is a must do when visiting New York, as the views from the Bridge of the Manhattan skyline are one of the most popular polaroids taken on a visit to the city.

Despite its somewhat touristy nature, Clinton Hill is still wonderful place for families, with great schools, both private and public offered throughout the neighborhood, not to mention institutions of higher learning including the prestigious Brooklyn Law School. Clinton Hill is a wonderful parallel of the city and a wonderful place to raise a family in a cultured area, while still able to maintain some of the comforts of living in a smaller community. Clinton Hill is a comfortable home to many and for good reason.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
3/5
2yrs+

"Not really for me, but you might like it if you never plan on ever leaving"

This neighborhood is an actual hill of sorts and its also the highest point in Brooklyn, if you wanted to know. Clinton Hill may border on less splendid neighborhoods, but dont let that deter you from taking a peak. No one really keeps late hours here you might find the public transportation a little lacking with only one train line after hours so this is a great neighborhood for retirees or families. There are a couple of neighborhood icons: the Royal Castle apartment buildings (of the Beaux-Arts style) and the Roman Catholic Queen of All Saints Church (a grand Gothic building). Tourists, beware, though like I said before, this place is a pretty residential spot.

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Best Streets in Clinton Hill

1

Clinton Ave

4.5/5
"I love this place!"
40.6902794232494 -73.968243254368
2

Classon Ave

4.5/5
"Best street in NYC"
40.6872697273417 -73.9596860612023
3

St James Pl

3/5
"St. James"
40.6853543513074 -73.9641707137772
4

Myrtle Ave

2.5/5
"A truly mixed bag"
40.693515207066 -73.9649918677646
5

Putnam Ave

2/5
"Way better than before"
40.6828598471895 -73.9602180108743
6

Waverly Ave

1.5/5
"On Waverly Street"
40.6968455001363 -73.9685614975526

Unranked Streets in Clinton Hill

Hall St

3.5/5
"On Hall Street"
40.6967410001497 -73.9665659975351

Ryerson St

2.5/5
"Nice Place To Settle Down"
40.6967885001284 -73.965603997836

Steuben St

2.5/5
"On Steuben Street"
40.6972410000944 -73.9637994986201

Cambridge Pl

3.5/5
"Perfectly Located Street "
40.6847813108285 -73.9630710642981

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