10 NYC Neighborhoods to Watch in 2025

For the second year in a row, Ridgewood is our #1 Neighborhood to Watch in 2025. The Queens neighborhood has been gaining popularity as an alternative to Bushwick, Brooklyn, its immediate neighbor to the south. Though Ridgewood’s median asking rent of $3,250 in 2024 isn’t a huge bargain compared to $3,327 in Bushwick, renters seeking a more residential feel — or simply a change of scenery — have been flocking to the neighborhood. As one Reddit commenter put it: “Bushwick is for partying, Ridgewood is for living.” The growing buzz is reflected in Ridgewood’s 13.2% year-over-year jump in searches on StreetEasy, and its 8.3% growth in median asking rent: the second-highest increase on our list. Buyers are catching on, too, as Ridgewood also saw the largest annual rise in median asking price on this year’s list, increasing 8.4% to about $1.3M in 2024.

Though a number of new developments have been added, much of Ridgewood’s housing stock is long-established, constructed between 1905 and 1915. A densely populated neighborhood, its numerous historic rowhouses are known for their yellow brick facades. Commercial corridors lined with shops, cafes, restaurants, and other local businesses are found along major thoroughfares like Myrtle, Forest, and Metropolitan Avenues. New Yorkers from all five boroughs travel to Ridgewood for Nowadays, a year-round indoor/outdoor venue known for its cocktails, food trucks, and daytime dance parties in the summer, including Mister Sundays. Ridgewood is also well-connected by public transit: the M train runs through the heart of the neighborhood, while the L stops at the Myrtle–Wyckoff and Halsey Street stations.

2. Greenwood, Brooklyn

YoY increase in searches:
+9.0%

Median asking rent:
$3,250 (–1.1% YoY)

Median asking price:
$1.5M (–3.2% YoY)

Jumping from eighth place on last year’s list all the way to second is Greenwood, Brooklyn, also known as Greenwood Heights. Nestled between Park Slope and Sunset Park, Greenwood had a 9% rise in StreetEasy searches from 2023 to 2024. Its median asking rent of $3,250 fell 1.1% from the year before, the largest drop on the list. The neighborhood’s sales market also saw a price decline, with the median asking price falling 3.2% to $1.5M. Both buyers and renters have limited inventory to choose from, but can find homes in mostly low-rise buildings and a small number of new developments. Greenwood is known for its eponymous cemetery, which is more than just the final resting place of Leonard Bernstein, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and other local legends — providing 478 acres of hills, valleys, ponds, and paths, it’s the neighborhood’s central green space. Admission is always free, and visitors can enjoy walking and trolley tours, art installations, and seasonal events. Numerous bars, restaurants, and cafes are dotted along 4th and 5th Avenues, while the D, N, and R trains provide access to Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, and Lower Manhattan.

3. Long Island City, Queens

YoY increase in searches:
+8.5%

Median asking rent:
$4,148 (+3.7% YoY)

Median asking price:
$1.123M (–4.4% YoY)

At #3, Long Island City is perhaps the most convenient neighborhood on our list. Buyers and renters are drawn to the modern condos, waterfront location, and — most importantly — proximity to Manhattan, with a 10-minute subway commute to Midtown. Its median asking rent of $4,148 is the highest on our list, but it appears this hasn’t deterred many renters, as StreetEasy searches in Long Island City jumped 8.5% year-over-year in 2024. As hybrid work trends continue to push New Yorkers to seek comfort and convenience at home, Long Island City’s modern rental and condo buildings with sought-after amenities — outdoor space, pools, gyms, in-unit laundry, etc. — will likely bring even more interest to the neighborhood this year. In addition to popular building amenities, Gantry Plaza State Park offers a 12-acre green space and promenade along the East River with prime views of Manhattan.

Learn more about Long Island City in our Know the Neighborhood video.

4. Sunnyside, Queens

YoY increase in searches:
+7.8%

Median asking rent:
$2,500 (+4.2% YoY)

Median asking price:
$429K (+4.9% YoY)

Just east of Long Island City, Sunnyside is the most affordable option on our list for both buyers and renters and offers a relatively quick commute to Manhattan via the 7 train. In 2024, searches in Sunnyside soared 7.8% from the year before, suggesting rising demand. At just $429K, Sunnyside’s median asking price is less than half that of any other neighborhood on our list. Buyers can find co-ops with old-school New York charm, as well as single- or multi-family homes with private backyards. Despite increasing 4.2% year-over-year in 2024, the neighborhood’s $2,500 median asking rent is still well below the borough-wide median of $2,950, and $4,148 in nearby Long Island City. Beyond its affordable price point, the neighborhood is known for its scenery and green space. Skillman Avenue, a lush tree-lined street and main thoroughfare, is filled with beautiful art deco co-ops, cocktail bars, cafes, and more. Residents of Sunnyside Garden Apartments also enjoy access to the private 3.5-acre Sunnyside Gardens Park, which offers sports fields and playgrounds.

5. Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

YoY increase in searches:
+7.2%

Median asking rent:
$3,592 (+15.9% YoY)

Median asking price:
$1.29M (+3.2% YoY)

Windsor Terrace might be Brooklyn’s best-kept secret: it’s just blocks from Prospect Park, but offers lower price points than other neighborhoods surrounding the park. Its median asking price rose 3.2% to nearly $1.3M in 2024, while the median asking rent jumped a dramatic 15.9% to $3,592, highlighting the neighborhood’s rising demand from renters. Yet, these medians remain well below those in nearby Park Slope, where the median asking price was $1.75M and median asking rent was $3,950. In addition to charming rowhouses, targeted zoning reforms in small areas of Windsor Terrace have led to a handful of modern rental buildings popping up. A large portion of the units in these buildings are rent-stabilized apartments with income restrictions, expanding the neighborhood’s affordable housing options. The recent effort may be paying off, with searches in Windsor Terrace rising 7.2% from the year before, putting it in fifth place among our top Neighborhoods to Watch in 2025.

6. Fort Greene, Brooklyn

YoY increase in searches:
+7.2%

Median asking rent:
$3,950 (+3.8% YoY)

Median asking price:
$1.622M (–4.3% YoY)

A finalist in Reader’s Digest’s 2024 “nicest places in America” contest, Fort Greene comes in at #6 on our list of Neighborhoods to Watch in 2025. Wedged between Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill, and Clinton Hill, the neighborhood is equal parts serene and culturally vibrant. The focal point of the community is the 30-acre Fort Greene Park, which is the oldest park in Brooklyn and steeped in Revolutionary War history. StreetEasy searches in Fort Greene increased 7.2% in 2024, reflecting the neighborhood’s growth in popularity for its charming brownstones, artsy vibe, and central location. In addition to the park, highlights include the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Greenlight Bookstore, and Brooklyn Flea, as well as a buzzy restaurant scene. Surprisingly, Fort Greene’s median asking price fell by 4.3% between 2023 and 2024, landing at just over $1.6M. Its median asking rent in 2024 was $3,950, higher than the borough-wide median of $3,400.

7. Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

YoY increase in searches:
+6.6%

Median asking rent:
$4,055 (–0.9% YoY)

Median asking price:
$1.215M (+1.2% YoY)

Neighborhoods surrounding Prospect Park dominated our list this year, and Prospect Heights — situated north of the park — is no exception. With a median asking price of $1.2M in 2024, buyers may find Prospect Heights to be a slightly more affordable alternative to nearby Park Slope and Fort Greene. Though it fell nearly 1% last year, the neighborhood still boasts a fairly steep median asking rent of $4,055 — $655 more than the Brooklyn median. Prospect Heights is somewhat of a cultural enclave in the borough, with Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Central Library, and the Brooklyn Museum studding its borders. Architecturally, the neighborhood is quintessentially Brooklyn, offering a true mix of sprawling pre-war complexes, smaller mixed-use buildings, modern new developments, and historic brownstones. The latter has landed a section of the neighborhood, known as the Prospect Heights Historic District, on the National Register of Historic Places.

8. Crown Heights, Brooklyn

YoY increase in searches:
+6.4%

Median asking rent:
$3,150 (+3.3% YoY)

Median asking price:
$1.175M (+2.3% YoY)

East of Prospect Heights is Crown Heights, spanning a huge 55-block section of central Brooklyn across main artery Eastern Parkway. Crown Heights has been a hotbed for new developments in recent years, expanding renters’ and buyers’ options in the neighborhood. Much like Prospect Heights, Crown Heights offers a mix of historic townhomes and smaller mixed-use and multi-family buildings. While its median asking price sits just $75,000 above the Brooklyn-wide median, the neighborhood’s median asking rent falls $250 below the borough median, making Crown Heights a great option for renters seeking new buildings with amenities on a budget. Beyond its proximity to Prospect Park, Crown Heights is home to several other smaller parks, as well as the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, ensuring any nature-seeker feels right at home. Crown Heights is also a great destination for foodies, with restaurants offering tastes from around the world including Jamaica, Eastern Europe, Senegal, Spain, Nigeria, and more. On summer nights, residents can also find locally run pop-up barbecues on many street corners.

9. Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn

YoY increase in searches:
+5.9%

Median asking rent:
$2,950 (–0.5% YoY)

Median asking price:
$1.195M (+7.7% YoY)

Just south of Crown Heights along Prospect Park lies Prospect Lefferts Gardens, otherwise known as PLG to locals. With a median asking rent of just $2,950 — $450 below the borough median — PLG is an even more affordable alternative for renters than nearby Crown Heights and Prospect Heights. Its large, pre-war rental buildings offer classic charm and massive layouts, giving renters a real bang for their buck. While its nearly $1.2M median asking price is slightly above the Brooklyn median of $1.1M, and had a 7.7% increase since 2023, PLG is the perfect destination for buyers who may have been contemplating a move out of the city. Beyond its beautiful and diverse array of townhouses, PLG’s Lefferts Manor Historic District offers blocks of stunning, detached single-family homes with quaint front yards and driveways along tree-lined side streets. Meanwhile, main thoroughfares Nostrand, Rogers, and Flatbush Avenues offer a variety of coffee shops, bars, and restaurants. Of course, the main draw of the neighborhood is its proximity to Prospect Park; since PLG spans just four avenues from east to west, every resident is within a 20-minute walk to one of the park’s gates.

10. Morningside Heights, Manhattan

YoY increase in searches:
+5.8%

Median asking rent:
$4,000 (+2.1% YoY)

Median asking price:
$1.257M (+2.0% YoY)