Clinton Hill Neighborhood Review - Brooklyn Moving Guide

Explore Clinton Hill in Brooklyn: a vibrant area with homes for sale/rent, dining, nightlife, parks, and transport links. See why many choose to call it home.
Brooklyn, New York
Editors Rating (3 stars out of 5)
5.8 Overall
Average Rent Prices 4
Public transportation 6
Schools 7
Lifestyle 8
Crime 4

The beautiful historic district of Clinton Hill has benefitted from the gentrifying spillover of Fort Greene, its "sister" neighborhood, by restoring its numerous stately historic mansions and townhouses and the insurgence of great restaurants and boutique shops.

It shares a close diverse demographic with Fort Greene and the neighborhood's ambiance.

On the other hand, some of Clinton Hill's charming spillover can be seen in Bedford-Stuyvesant--especially as businesses and artisans get priced out of the neighborhood.

The grand trees, gorgeous brownstones, and small shops will make you feel like you're nowhere near Manhattan.

This Clinton Hill neighborhood review will examine public transportation, restaurants, average apartment rent, and home sale prices.

The neighborhood is littered with playgrounds making this a very kid-friendly and family-friendly area.

Clinton Hill is also the home to Pratt Institute, its sculpture park campus, which is open to the public, and St. Joseph's College.

From its position, there's easy access to Fort Greene Park and great establishments forming in the adjacent Bed-Stuy area.

Fun Fact: Late rapper Notorious B.I.G.'s old apartment in this area has been listed for $725K. The area has come a long way since his lyrics depict the neighborhood as dangerous and run-down.

Real Estate In Clinton Hill

Clinton Hill is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods to buy in Brooklyn. The neighborhood has a small enclave designated a Landmarked Historic District, full of historic townhouses, mansions, and apartment buildings.

Clinton Hill is a neighborhood in New York with a long history rooted in art, culture, and the ever-changing cityscape. The Clinton Hill neighborhood is one of Brooklyn's oldest and most diverse neighborhoods, known for its Victorian houses, tree-lined streets, and vibrant nightlife.

With high demand for housing and low supply in this area, the prices are climbing yearly. People were flocking to this area as a compromise to the more expensive Fort Greene next door.

People are still flocking, but deals are growing scarcer, and prices can be comparable to Fort Greene. The majority of properties in the neighborhood are brownstone and mansion units. However, there have been a lot of new developments opening in the area with luxury prices.

In this neighborhood, there aren't just plenty of choices to rent or buy a unit in an apartment building, but also plenty in townhouses, much of them historic.

Average Rental Prices in Clinton Hill

Studio$2,100
1 Bed$2,850
2 Beds$4,035
3 Beds$4,500
4 Beds$4,025
PropertyNest Real Estate Data As of September 2023

Average Sales Prices in Clinton Hill

Studio$1,200,000
1 Bed$739,000
2 Beds$1,195,000
3 Beds$1,345,000
4 Beds$2,250,000
PropertyNest Real Estate Data As of September 2023

Average Sales Prices in Clinton Hill

Studio$1,200,000
1 Bed$739,000
2 Beds$1,195,000
3 Beds$1,345,000
4 Beds$2,250,000
PropertyNest Real Estate Data As of September 2023

Public Transportation

The G and A/C lines run through Lafayette and Fulton Street, respectively, in Clinton Hill, with several bus lines like the B62 and B54 running through the neighborhood to destinations like DUMBO, Williamsburg, and Downtown Brooklyn.

The B69 will conveniently take you to Grand Army Plaza and Prospect Park. You also have the choice of biking, as this is a great area with lots of bike paths, including Citi-Bike stations.

Bus & Subway Lines in Clinton Hill
SubwaysG, A, C
BusesB26, B38, B48, B52, B54, B57, B62, B69

Subway lines in neighborhood

  • A C

    IND Eighth Avenue Line

  • G

    IND Crosstown Line

Restaurants & Dining in Clinton Hill

Clinton Hill is a vibrant and diverse neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. With its rich history and stunning architecture, this neighborhood is a great place to explore and relax.

Clinton Hill has a wide variety of restaurants to choose from, ranging from casual eateries to upscale fine dining spots. Whether you’re looking for an intimate dinner for two or brunch with friends, Clinton Hill has something for everyone.

To experience many of Clinton Hill's excellent restaurants, you'll need to make your way to Myrtle and Dekalb Avenues.

Other great spots are Greene Avenue, Grand Ave, and Fulton Street to get your eating and drinking fill.

You'll find the usual ethnic fare like Thai, Mexican, Japanese, and Middle Eastern, but the neighborhood offers stellar choices for modern American and modern Italian. Some places to try are:

Mekelberg's: Famous for their sandwiches and craft beers, Mekelberg's is also a specialty grocery shop and a neighborhood mainstay.

Sisters: Not just a beautiful bar and restaurant but a regular neighborhood hang-out for many. They're known for their unique cocktails and amazing small menu.

Dosa Royale: One of the few South Indian spots outside of Queens and Manhattan, this place serves up a great dosa menu and South Indian classics. If you want to try something a little out of the norm as far as Indian goes in Clinton Hill, Dosa Royale is a must.

Aita: A highly-rated Italian trattoria with a small menu that changes seasonally.

U-gu: A noteworthy affordable, and yet superb Japanese omakase can be found at U-gu, staffed by young and passionate sushi chefs.

No matter what type of food you’re craving, Clinton Hill has something that will satisfy your palate.

Public & Charter Schools in Clinton Hill

Clinton Hill falls primarily within the borders of school district 13, although a small chunk falls within District 14.

Although PS 11 is the largest of the elementary schools, it still maintains a great student-to-teacher ratio and consistently produces high test scores.

While PS 20 is technically housed in Fort Greene, it also serves some of Clinton Hill that falls within its zoning district.

Because of the small number of public schools in the area, there is a fair amount of charter schools filling the need in the neighborhood.

The newest comer is Brooklyn Prospect Charter School's Clinton Hill campus for its middle school, slated for a brand new building at 300 Fulton Street.

Schools in Clinton Hill
SchoolsNotes
Benjamin Banneker AcademyPublic - Grades 9-12919 students - 21 student/teacher
Community Partnership Charter SchoolCharter - Grades K-8403 students - 13 student/teacher
Leadership Preparatory Brownsville Charter SchoolCharter - Grades K-6571 students - Unknown student/teacher
Ps 11 Purvis J BehanPublic - Grades PK-5806 students - 14 student/teacher
Brooklyn Prospect Charter School Clinton Hill Middle SchoolCharter - Grades 6-897 students - 14 student/teacher
Ps 270 Johann DekalbPublic - Grades PK-5151 students - 13 student/teacher
Ps 56 Lewis H LatimerPublic - Grades PK-5230 students - 10 student/teacher

How Safe is the Clinton Hill Neighborhood?

Clinton Hill is home to some of the city’s most exciting restaurants, cafes, bars, and boutiques. Despite the hustle and bustle of the Clinton Hill neighborhood’s vibrant energy, it remains an incredibly safe place to live.

Clinton Hill boasts a lower crime rate than other neighborhoods in New York City.

Crime statistics

Crime rate: 6 out of 10
Approximately 25.3593 crimes (felony) per 1000 residents
Low Medium High

The Clinton Hill Neighborhood Patrol (CHNP) is a volunteer group that regularly patrols the area to maintain safety.

They are dedicated to ensuring that Clinton Hill remains a safe environment for everyone who lives there.

The CHNP also works with local businesses to create events such as block parties that bring neighbors together and promote safety in the area.

In addition to this neighborhood patrol initiative, Clinton Hill also has its own police precinct -the 88th Precinct -which maintains law enforcement throughout the area.

This precinct has worked hard over the years to reduce crime in Clinton Hill significantly.

The Clinton Hill community also takes measures to keep their streets safe by coming together as a collective whole during times of crisis or emergency situations.

For example, when Hurricane Sandy hit New York City in 2012, Clinton Hills residents banded together to help one another during this difficult time and kept their neighborhood safe from potential harm caused by flooding or power outages.

Overall, Clinton Hill is an incredibly safe place for people, both old and young alike, to call home due to its low crime rate and various initiatives to maintain safety within the community, such as the CHNP and 88th Precinct programs.

Residents of Clinton Hills can rest assured knowing that they are living in an area with excellent security measures taken seriously by both the local government and members of their community on an everyday basis.

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Ruth Shin
About the author

Ruth Shin is the Founder and CEO of PropertyNest. She shares in-depth insights on real estate, personal finance, and home improvement drawing from her experience as a licensed real estate agent, editing personal finance publications, and managing many home renovation projects. Ruth graduated with a BA from Hunter College in Writing, History, and Special Honors.