The westernmost neighborhood in Brooklyn, Bay Ridge is a waterfront paradise facing Staten Island. Popular with just about every demographic you can think of, this neighborhood is affordable and has become the "it" spot in Brooklyn for those seeking a more quiet place to hang their hat.
Originally used for farmland by the Lenape people, Bay Ridge would keep this tradition until the late 1800’s. The Dutch who colonized this area split it into two neighborhoods that made up the western portion of the town of New Utrecht. This town would go on to survive English colonization and the American Revolution before being absorbed in the city of Brooklyn in the mid 1800’s.
In 1853, Bay Ridge got its name from the beautiful views it offered of Manhattan Bay and New York Harbor. These views made it a popular place to build second homes along the waterfront. More inland, however, the area was still isolated and rural for another few decades. By 1892, however, transportation to the area vastly improved and an organization called the Bay Ridge Improvement Company began to buy all the farmland so it could be developed.
A building frenzy then followed with thousands of people moving to the area, now filled with brownstones and mid-rise apartment complexes in the early 1900’s and 1910’s. Not even the depression could stop Bay Ridge’s growth as more and more people moved to the immensely popular area.
One of the only controversies in this area’s history happened due to the building of the Narrows Bridge, which displaced several thousand residents and destroyed several landmarks. While this would usually cause an uptick in poverty and crime, Bay Ridge seemed like the exception to that rule. Today, the neighborhood is still extremely popular with families, young professionals, and retirees.
Bay Ridge is mostly made up of flat row houses and mid-rise apartment buildings. The area is very determined to keep it that way. However, several high rises have popped up in recent years due to the magnificent views.
Bay Ridge is a neighborhood with a relaxed suburban feel. It’s a bit out of the way from everything else in the city, and that’s just how the locals like it. Quiet and peaceful, living here gives people a sense of calm that is hard to find in a city like New York.
Younger crowds have begun moving here due to the low prices. This means the night life is becoming slightly more active in recent years. That said, even the young folks who move here get what the neighborhood is about, and choose to thrive in the quiet lifestyle Bay Ridge provides.
Bay Ridge is one of the safest neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Crime is ridiculously low, and people who move here can look forward to having access to many good schools and activities. It’s a bit out of the way, but if you don’t mind a commute, then Bay Ridge is perfect for families.
The New York City subway system provides access to Bay Ridge via the N and R trains.
Biking is popular in this neighborhood. The streets are wide and easy to navigate due to light traffic. Citi Bike docking stations aren’t as plentiful in this area, but they can be found.
Driving is popular here due to the plentiful parking and light traffic.
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| Bedrooms | Rent | Rent / sqft |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,700 | N/A |
| 1 BR | $2,450 | $2.90 |
| 2 BR | $3,100 | $3.20 |
| 3 BR | $3,500 | $2.64 |
| 4+ BR | $4,500 | N/A |
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Bay Ridge is located within Kings County, New York. This area currently has 2,606,852 residents in 938,803 households. Out of the total population, 40.12% of the residents speak another language at home instead of English. The majority of the inhabitants in this county are currently unmarried and have a median age of 35.
When looking at residents older than 25, around 25.80% have graduated from high school, 20.68% have a bachelor's degree, and 13.40% have obtained their master's degree or above. Employment rate is typically around 57.8% and the median income in this county is $50,640.
At least 70.55% of those living in this county are renting their homes. Most residents will commute to work by public transportation with an average commute time of 42 minutes.
Geographically, Kings County, New York is a part of the New York - Newark, NY - NJ - CT Urban Area. This county is currently home to 18,812,161 residents, or 6,707,347 households with a median income of $68,319. the New York - Newark, NY - NJ - CT Urban Area residents have a median age of 38 and 50.07% are currently renting their homes in the area.
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