If you’re looking for a new place to call home, you might want to hop on over to Borough Park in Brooklyn, New York. The neighborhood, also known as Boro Park, is actually home to the largest Orthodox Jewish communities outside of Israel. Wow! It used to be a small village called Blythebourne until more land was incorporated into the area. Adding this area to your list? Here’s a handy guide with all the practical info you need, from the average rent and finding rooms for rent in Borough Park to parks and restaurants in Borough Park. You’re welcome!

Where is Borough Park?

Borough Park is located in southwest Brooklyn, surrounded by the neighborhoods of Flatbush, Midwood, Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, and Bay Ridge. Fun fact: In 2000, it was named New York City’s “baby boom capital” because of its high birth rate! The number of babies born at Borough Park’s Maimonides Medical Center also surpasses that of every other hospital in New York.

Find rooms for rent in Borough Park, Brooklyn

If you’ve already been to Borough Park, then you’ve probably noticed a lot of the male residents wearing long black coats and black hats. That’s because the neighborhood has a predominant Hasidic Jewish population. Italian and Irish families, along with Eastern European immigrants, were among the first settlers in Borough Park in the early 1900s.

As you search for rooms for rent in Borough Park, expect to choose among large brick multi-family homes and a number of detached single-family homes. Residents typically live a few minutes away from grocery stores, banks, and more. How convenient!

Related: Things To Do In Brooklyn With Your Roommates!

Average rent in Borough Park

Ask any of the Jewish residents and they will tell you how their lives revolve around family. Just walking down the street, you’ll see moms pushing baby carriages and kids playing, all adding to the community’s charm. They also treat their neighbors just like extended family.

With the neighborhood’s sheer number of young families, the area’s considered to be extremely family-friendly. Because of this, there’s also been an increase in construction and home expansion projects over the last two decades. While you look for rooms for rent in Borough Park, you’re likely to end up in a house or in one of the many low-rise apartment buildings in the area.

Ready to start looking? Here’s a snapshot of the average rent in Borough Park, depending on the number of bedrooms.

Rooms For Rent In Borough ParkAverage Rent
1 Bedroom Apartment For Rent In Borough Park$986
2 Bedroom Apartment For Rent In Borough Park$1,742
3 Bedroom Apartment For Rent In Borough Park$2,511

Is Borough Park safe?

Super safe! You’ll be happy to know that Borough Park is one of the safest neighborhoods in New York. It’s got lots of volunteer groups that can respond to emergencies in minutes—less than two minutes, to be exact! As you look for rooms for rent in Borough Park, how can you tell your preferred neighborhood is safe? Below are some helpful tools so you can learn more about the specific neighborhood you’re eyeing:

  • AreaVibes: AreaVibes generates a livability score based on a one-of-a-kind algorithm that takes into account a specific location’s qualities. These include data such as its amenities, cost of living, employment rate, safety rate, and schools in the area, among other factors. It’s a helpful site to bookmark as you find rooms for rent in Borough Park.
  • AroundMe: AroundMe is an app that lets you look for the nearest bank, gas station, hotel, or restaurant. It’s a navigation tool that allows you to easily search for relevant establishments in the area.
  • Niche: Niche helps connect people to neighborhoods and workplaces. It also has a profile on each college and school in the U.S., making it a go-to resource for families and students.
  • Hotline Numbers: If you feel you are in danger, call 911 or the local emergency number immediately. Some examples of emergencies are a car crash, a crime, a fire, or a medical emergency. For non-emergencies, such as complaints, reporting graffiti or road damage, or simply making an inquiry about a service, call 311.

Public transit in Borough Park

1. Walkability

As you find rooms for rent in Borough Park, you’ll love that it’s New York‘s 77th most walkable neighborhood. With a Walk Score of 93, daily errands usually don’t require a car and are accessible by foot.

2. Roads & traffic

While Borough Park has many residents commuting to work in northern Brooklyn or Manhattan, many also work in the neighborhood. Borough Park’s busiest roads are its 13th, 16th, and 18th avenues, where major shopping districts are located. Expect heavy traffic throughout the day in the center of the neighborhood.

3. Nearby train stations

Naturally, as you find rooms for rent in Borough Park, you’ll want to know how to get around New York. Two of New York City’s subway systems pass through Borough Park: the BMT West End Line and the IND Culver Line. The closest train stations to Borough Park include F Train Bay Parkway, Bay Ridge Avenue Station, and Avenue M Station.

4. Nearby bus stops

Commuters can take the B8, B9, B11, B16, and B35 New York City bus routes which serve Borough Park. There’s also the private B110 bus route which passes through the area.

Restaurants in Borough Park

Because of the predominantly Jewish population in Borough Park, you can sample amazing kosher food almost anywhere in the neighborhood. Here are some great restaurants to check out.

Sushi Meshuna

Asian food has gained popularity in Borough Park, and kosher sushi by Sushi Meshuna is a definite crowd favorite. Customers can choose from cooked rolls, vegetarian rolls, tempura rolls, and more. How about a Lemon Drop Roll, a Rainbow Roll, or a Bonsai Tree Roll?

Mendelsohn’s Pizza

Mendelsohn’s is one of the most prominent restaurants in Borough Park, considered a landmark among residents. It’s best known for its Italian kosher pizza—basically a cheese pizza with different vegetable toppings. Customers swear they’re even better than any other pizza they’ve had in New York City. You could buy a couple of slices and enjoy them in the many playgrounds and parks in Borough Park.

Sesame

Sesame in Borough Park offers Danishes, bagels, baguettes, salads, donuts, and kosher pastries like rugelach and challah. It’s also popular for its hamantashen, a triangle-shaped kosher pocket cookie typically sold days before the Jewish holiday of Purim. Hamantashen are filled with an assortment of jams and jellies—a hit among kids!

Parks in Borough Park

Visiting Parks in Borough Park is a great way to enjoy a picnic with family, breathe in the fresh air, or just simply bask in the sun. Here are some spots to add to your list!

  • Sunset Park: Brooklyn’s Sunset Park provides a refreshing dose of the outdoors for Borough Park residents. It has a playground, a pool, and a recreation center.
  • Gravesend Park: While the origin of its name is unclear, Gravesend was the first English settlement in New York City. Gravesend Park has baseball fields, basketball courts, playgrounds, and even Wi-Fi hotspots.
  • Dome Playground: This park sits on the corner of Dahill Road and 38 Street, named after community activists Charles and Jessie Dome. It features basketball courts and handball courts.

Universities in Borough Park

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn College is one of, if not the oldest educational institutions in New York. It offers 175 undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, certificate degrees, and advanced certificate and diploma programs.

Touro College

Touro College, established in 1970, is America’s largest private educational institution under Jewish auspices. It provides higher education for the Jewish community. The college offers courses in business, education, health sciences, Jewish studies, law, liberal arts, and technology, among others.

Daemen College

Daemen College, whose main branch is in Amherst, New York, established its Brooklyn center—now branch campus—in 2003. The Brooklyn campus offers dual certification master’s degrees in early childhood as well as in childhood education and special education.

We hope this guide gives you everything you need to know before settling in Borough Park. Happy moving and good luck!

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