As local experts in all things relocation, we understand that moving can be an intimidating process. Rest assured; we have your back every step of the way. Whether you're a long-time New Yorker or a city newcomer, our local movers team has curated the ultimate moving guide just for you.
From finding the perfect neighborhood and navigating the bustling streets to settling into your new home seamlessly, we've got you covered. Get ready to embark on this exciting journey with the assistance of knowledgeable professionals who know Brooklyn like the back of their hands.
Let us make your transition to Brooklyn a smooth and hassle-free experience. Are you ready to delve into our comprehensive moving guide from local experts? Let's get started!
Expert Advice for Moving to Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn will always be a great choice, no matter why you choose to visit. Brooklyn has a vibrant energy and several unique cultural institutions. It also offers world-class restaurants, public transportation that is second to none, and world-class transport. Brooklyn is technically a part of New York City, but it has more people and a bigger footprint than the Big Apple. It also offers a unique personality and all the amenities you could want.
Brooklyn has a rich history of ethnic diversity. It also enjoys a well-deserved image as hip` and innovative. This rich diversity is reflected in art, entertainment, and food. This is reflected by the vibrant nightlife and the many businesses that cater to young professionals. The area is also surprisingly green, with many parks and boulevards lined with trees. Welcome to Brooklyn.
Brooklyn, NY: Before You Move to Brooklyn, What Should You Know?
With its 2,533,000 people, Brooklyn would be the 4th largest city in the US without being a part of New York City. You'll be able to walk between kosher delis and Jamaican food carts. Not only will you find a variety of cuisines but also a diverse population. This will enhance your lifestyle.
Pros and Cons of Living in Brooklyn
Pros:
- Friendliness: Brooklynites are friendly, and they smile at each other.
- Diversity: Brooklyn is a melting pot of cultures and languages.
- Parks & Green Space: Brooklyn has many parks and green spaces, including waterfronts, trails, and waterfronts.
- Amazing Food: Brooklyn is a foodie's paradise.
- Entertainment: Brooklyn has much to offer in entertainment, from bars and clubs to festivals and free events.
- Walkability: Brooklyn is a walkable city. You can reach all the necessary amenities within a few minutes.
Cons:
- Cost of living: New York City is still New York City. Be prepared to pay a lot to live there.
- Commuting to Manhattan: Allow about an hour to commute each way.
- Car-Challenging: Owning a vehicle in this city can be challenging. It is a challenge, from street cleaning and paid parking to the need for more public transportation.
- Weather: Winters can be extremely cold and bitterly cold, while summers can be very hot and humid.
- Crowds: The sheer number of people can be overwhelming.
Is Brooklyn a Good Place to Live?
Brooklyn has a rich culture, beautiful green spaces, fresh air, and an amazing food scene. You'll find something for everyone in Brooklyn – from ethnic cuisines to parks and gardens that relax you. There are also huge concerts, markets with fresh produce, world-renowned architecture, and trendy hotspots. There is no better mix of neighborhoods in NYC. Brooklyn has so much to offer. Ask any New Yorker, and they will tell you it's a special place.
Tax Rates
- Property Tax: Brooklyn taxed primary residences on average at 0.52% of the assessed fair market value. The rate is derived from a complex formula, so giving a precise figure is difficult. The average Brooklyn property tax for a house with a median price of $562.400 is $2.903 per year, which is lower than the rest of New York State.
- Sales Tax: Brooklyn residents pay an 8.8% combined sales tax, compared with a US average of 7.3%.
- State Income Tax: State Income Tax. New York State income taxes start at 4% and go up to 8.82%. The first $8,499 in taxable income is taxed at the lowest rate. The highest rate applies to single taxpayers earning more than $1,077.550.
Housing Market
Brooklyn's housing is still highly competitive but is beginning to show signs of slowing down. In December 2019, the overall sales fell for the seventh consecutive quarter. This created a buyer's market. Zillow says prices will drop 1% in the coming year. But don't look for bargains. Brooklyn's median price per square foot is $747. This is higher than Manhattan's average of $647. Renters make up 70% of Brooklyn's population, and it is not surprising that this number is so high, given that the median house value in December 2019 was $699,320. The median price of homes in Brooklyn is $750,000.
Brooklyn is one of the most expensive counties in the country to rent in, despite falling home prices. Brooklyn rents are higher than the national average, but that's the price of living in New York City. The median rent in July 2019 reached a new record of $3,000 per person, and industry experts expect the rates to continue to rise. You should know that most landlords will ask you to pay upfront for three months. Even though rents are rising, you can still find a great deal in areas like Bushwick Bay Ridge Flatbush and Sunset Park.
Cost of Living
Brooklyn's cost of living index is 200.7, slightly higher than the US average. The housing costs, at 331, are the main reason for the high living expenses. Bestplaces.net bases its cost of living index on the US average of 100. Transportation is ranked 193. Healthcare costs, at 113, and utilities, cost 152, are also higher than the average.
Brooklyn's median income of $56,942 is $20,000 higher than the average national income. Economic Policy Institute calculations show that a single person can live comfortably in Brooklyn for $3,999 monthly. However, a couple living with two children would need at least $9707 a month or $116 490 a year to maintain a decent standard of living.
Weather & Natural Disasters
Brooklyn is located in a humid, subtropical climate. Winters are cold and wet, with hot, humid summers. Spring is a wonderful time, with temperatures hovering around 60 degrees and lows of 40. Flowering trees are everywhere. The summers can be hot, with temperatures reaching up to 100 degrees in some places. Autumn brings stunning leaf displays, warm sunny days, and nights with temperatures in the 50s. Winter lasts between December and March. Temperatures can range from 25 to forty degrees. In winter, snowfall is common and can sometimes reach more than a couple of inches. Winter temperatures are usually around 40 degrees, with lows in the upper 20s. The coldest month is January when the average low temperature is around 27 degrees. Snowfall can start as early as October but usually ends by March. Despite its wide temperature range, Brooklyn has more sunny days than the US average. The best months are May, June, and September.
Brooklyn is not immune to natural disasters. It's susceptible to hurricanes, coastal storms, heatwaves, tornadoes, and severe winter weather. Residents should be prepared for severe weather events. New York City Emergency Management, a branch of the city's government, has many online resources to help Brooklyn families prepare for disasters.
Economic & Job Market
Brooklyn has grown so much that it is now poised to be the innovation capital for New York and possibly the entire nation. The job market has only seen a 0.5% increase in 2019. And the unemployment rate is 4.2% which is higher than the US median of 3.9%.
Brooklyn's leading industries include fashion, graphic design, publishing, film, and TV. Healthcare, retail, restaurants, and education have also grown in the county. The most rapidly growing sectors are entertainment, architecture, sound recording, design, marketing, and tech. Manufacturing jobs have been declining in Brooklyn since 2011. American Airlines, Citigroup, Deloitte, JP Morgan Chase, and Warner Media are the largest employers.
You can find high-demand jobs in the following areas: tech, design and architecture, healthcare, film and television, education, retail, or fashion. Job-seekers can use local resources like the New York Public Library's job website or the City Government job site. Both sites have links to many resources for job-seeking. Although high-level positions are highly competitive, there are many other jobs at all levels.
Traffic and Transportation
It's not surprising that traffic in the largest city in the country is a challenge. New York City's traffic is the fourth worst in the US—the worst bottleneck in Brooklyn. During rush hour, traffic is notoriously slow at the intersection of I-278 and the Belt Parkway/Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Brooklyn Bridge traffic is notorious for its slow motion and delays. These are not only limited to cars. On pleasant days, cyclists might find it difficult to cross the Brooklyn Bridge when pedestrians are clogging the road.
Brooklyn is fortunate to have excellent public transportation. This allows most people to get around without a car. The Metropolitan Transport Authority operates the subway system and city buses. A fleet of almost 6,000 buses covers 322 routes that are designated local or express. A single ride for a standard route costs $2.75 and $6.50 for an express route. MetroCards or cash are accepted for payment.
New York City's subway system has the most stations in the world. It serves 36 lines from 472 stations. MetroCards are used for the subway. They can be purchased from ticket booths and vending machines at subway stations. The NYC Ferry is a newcomer in the public transport scene. It runs four lines between Brooklyn and Manhattan. The cost is $2.75 for a single ride on a bus or subway, but MTA does not run the service. Tickets must be purchased separately.
Most Brooklyn neighborhoods have a walk score in the 90s. Transit scores tend to be 90 or higher, with a score of 100 not uncommon. Brooklyn's bike scores hover around the mid-80s or even the 90s. Brooklyn is a cyclist, walker, and rider's dream.
What to Do in Brooklyn?
Brooklyn is known for its hipsters and cultural offerings. It also has beautiful landscapes. The borough has it all. Brooklyn has it all, from museums to fine dining and professional sports.
New York City's food scene is legendary. Brooklyn, too, has been a top food destination for the last decade. Time Out Market is the perfect place to try the best of New York City's cuisine, all in one location. Craft breweries in DUMBO are on the rise, with over 20 serving pints daily. Brooklyn, the largest borough of New York City, is also a great place to find farmers' markets. Brooklyn is home to over 30 markets, many offering year-round products. Brooklyn is a great place for foodies to enjoy delicious eats and beverages.
Brooklyn has a wealth of cultural resources, ranging from the highbrow to the lowbrow and everything in between. Brooklyn Museum is located at the edge of Prospect Park and features Egyptian art, classic modern, impressionist, and other works. Brooklyn Botanical Garden, located next to the museum and containing over 14,000 species of plants, is also nearby. Brooklyn Historical Society offers kids after-school programs and weekend activities. Its archives include historical maps and newspaper articles. Brooklyn Children's Museum has interactive exhibits for children of all ages. Coney Island's Museum and Freak Show will take you through history with its memorabilia and keep you on your feet with the modern sideshow “freak show.”
Brooklyn, a city of over 100,000 people, is home to 31% green space. Over 40 parks cover over 10,000 acres. Prospect Park, which covers 585 acres, has a lake where you can kayak, a zoo, and facilities for barbecues. There are also plenty of playgrounds and fields. Marine Park provides free urban camping through the Salt Marsh Nature Center adjacent to the park. The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is 9,000 acres and includes marsh, fields, and woods. For nature and solitude on the go, the Highland Park-Forest Park Trail is 10 miles of lush green trails.
New York City has a lot to offer sports fans. Brooklyn Nets fans can enjoy the most affordable NBA Tickets in New York City by attending the Brooklyn Nets game at Barclays Center. Hockey fans can watch the New York Islanders at Barclays Center during the National Hockey League's season from October to April. Baseball fans can visit smaller, charming ballparks to watch Brooklyn Cyclones minor-league baseball games. Fans can also visit MCU Park and watch the New York Cosmos compete in the North American Soccer League. You can also find stadiums for the Yankees or Mets and the Giants, Knicks, and Jets.
Schools and Universities
Kings County, bordered by Brooklyn, is serviced by the New York City Department of Education. Around 291,153 students attend 423 public schools in the county. The area has a graduation rate of 74.4% which is below the national average. There are many schools of varying quality in the borough. However, there are a few that stand out. Brooklyn Latin School and Brooklyn Technical High School both scored 10/10 on greatschools.org. Bedford Academy High School has a rating of 8/10. All City Leadership Secondary is also rated at 8/10. Achievement First Bushwick Charter is also rated at 8/10.
Brooklyn has several colleges and universities, including Berkley College and Brooklyn College.
Crime
Just like other large cities, Brooklyn has higher crime rates than national averages – 90% higher, to be precise. While higher than the average for violent and property crimes, Brooklyn's crime rate is still lower than that of similar communities. Brooklyn is a vast area with different crime rates in each part. Brooklyn is a large borough with varying crime rates. Some areas are very safe, while others have higher crime. It's a good idea to research before deciding which area you want to live in.
Utility Providers
Brooklyn residents depend on multiple providers for their utilities. You may be lucky enough to have your landlord include water and sewer in your rent. Here are the resources that you will need, regardless of whether you rent or buy a house:
- Electricity: Con Edison is the electricity provider Brooklynites rely on for their lights to stay on. Visit the website to start, stop or transfer service.
- Gas service: National Grid is Brooklyn's only gas provider. Visit the website or dial 1-718-643-4050 to start, stop or transfer service. Please allow at least 5-7 days' notice.
- Water: In Brooklyn, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection provides water services. It's easy to set up your account by submitting an online application.
- Trash collection and recycling service: The New York City Department of Sanitation collects and recycles trash in Brooklyn. Fill out the online form or call 1-212-788-3915 to request collection services.
- Internet and cable services: There are many internet and cable service providers, but most choose between DirecTV Spectrum and Verizon. Click on the link above to create an account.
Conclusion
Now that you've explored our comprehensive moving guide from local experts, you're ready to relocate to Brooklyn, NY. From understanding the unique neighborhoods to navigating the public transportation system, you have gained valuable insights that will make your move a breeze. As you embark on this exciting journey, having a reliable moving company in Brooklyn by your side is essential to ensure a seamless experience.
Buy The Hour Movers is the reliable choice for all your moving requirements in Brooklyn. Our team of experts is dedicated to offering top-notch service specifically catered to your needs and has a thorough understanding of the borough. Our skilled movers will take good care of your possessions, whether you need help packing, loading, or transporting.
Take the stress out of your move and entrust your relocation to Buy The Hour Movers experts. Contact us today or visit our website to request a quote and secure our exceptional moving services. Let us be your partner in making your transition to Brooklyn a seamless and enjoyable experience.
