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Affordable & Income-Based Housing in Brooklyn

Brooklyn has one of the largest concentrations of affordable and income-based housing in New York City, with 828 properties totaling more than 72,500 units spread across neighborhoods like Bushwick, Brownsville, and East New York. Renters benefit from exceptional access to transit -- Walk Score rates Brooklyn a perfect 100 for transit and 89 for walkability -- making it easier to get around without a car. If you qualify for income-based housing here, you have a substantial number of options to explore.

500
Properties
42,346
Total units
90/100
Avg HUD score

At a glance

🏠 Affordability

Affordability

Brooklyn is one of the most competitive rental markets in the country. With 25,976 income-restricted units across 179 HUD-assisted and LIHTC properties, this inventory provides critical access to below-market housing for eligible renters.

Census ACS
🛡️ Safety

Safety

No violent crime rate figure for Brooklyn is available in our current data. When evaluating safety, we encourage renters to review local precinct-level reports from the NYPD and to visit neighborhoods at different times of day. Crime conditions can vary significantly by block and neighborhood within a large borough like Brooklyn.

FBI Crime Data Explorer
🚶 Getting around
Walk Score 89 · Very Walkable

Getting Around Brooklyn

According to Walk Score, the area around assisted properties in Brooklyn earns a Transit Score of 100 (Rider's Paradise), a Walk Score of 89 (Very Walkable), and a Bike Score of 86. These scores reflect conditions near the 179 assisted properties tracked on this page.

Walk Score
🎓 Schools
582 schools · 104 districts

Schools

According to the NCES Common Core of Data, 582 schools serve Brooklyn across 104 districts, including 306 elementary, 101 middle, and 171 high schools (plus 4 other). Ratings and quality vary by school and district, so renters should check the assigned schools for their specific address.

NCES Common Core of Data
📊 Cost of living

Cost of Living in Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn is one of the most expensive rental markets in the country. Access to income-based and HUD-assisted housing can make a significant difference for cost-burdened renters in this borough.

The 179 affordable properties listed on Lease Lantern span 25,976 units across Brooklyn's neighborhoods, offering options for renters who qualify based on income limits set by HUD or the LIHTC program.

  • Rent structure: Rents at these properties are tied to HUD income limits or area median income (AMI) thresholds, not Brooklyn's open market rates.
  • No DATA-provided median income: Brooklyn median household income figures were not included in our current dataset. Check the Census ACS 5-Year estimates at census.gov for the most up-to-date figures.
  • Transportation savings: Brooklyn scores a 100 (Rider's Paradise) for transit and 89 (Very Walkable) for walkability, according to Walk Score -- meaning many residents can reduce or eliminate car ownership costs.
BEA / BLS
🌊 Environment & risk

Flood and Environmental Exposure

All 179 HUD-assisted properties in Brooklyn have been mapped for flood risk. Of those, 7 are located in high-risk flood zones. If you are considering a property near the waterfront or in a low-lying area, it is worth asking the property manager about flood insurance requirements and any past flood history.

FEMA · EPA AirNow
HUD Inspection Scoresavg 90/100(110 of 500 scored)
90+ (83)70–89 (22)60–69 (3)<60 (2)No score (390)

Neighborhoods

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Browse all 500 affordable apartments in Brooklyn→

Your rights & resources

› How HUD & Section 8 housing works› Tenant rights in NY› Housing assistance & waitlists› Free legal aid (LawHelp)› Energy bill help (LIHEAP)

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Brooklyn Affordable Housing: What Renters Should Know

Brooklyn is one of New York City's largest boroughs and home to a substantial inventory of HUD-assisted and income-based rental housing. With 179 affordable properties and 25,976 total units tracked by Lease Lantern, renters have a wide range of options across dozens of neighborhoods.

Property Conditions at a Glance

Of the 178 Brooklyn properties with HUD inspection scores, 127 earned an Excellent rating and 44 earned a Good rating, meaning the strong majority of scored properties are in solid condition according to HUD inspection data.

Neighborhoods With the Most Options

  • Bushwick -- 21 properties
  • Brownsville -- 21 properties
  • East New York -- 17 properties
  • Crown Heights -- 17 properties
  • Flatbush -- 16 properties
  • Bedford-Stuyvesant -- 16 properties
  • Sunset Park -- 10 properties
  • Prospect Heights -- 9 properties

Getting Around

Brooklyn earns a Walker's score of 89 ("Very Walkable") and a perfect transit score of 100 ("Rider's Paradise"), both according to Walk Score. The borough also scores an 86 for bikeability, according to Walk Score.

Flood Risk

Of the 179 properties mapped for flood risk, 7 fall in a high-risk flood zone. If this is a concern for you, check the individual property page for flood zone details before applying.

Schools

Brooklyn is served by 582 public schools across 104 districts, including 306 elementary, 101 middle, and 171 high schools, according to NCES Common Core of Data.