Is DUMBO Safe? Brooklyn Livability, Crime & Rent
DUMBO scores a median 4.9/10—a commutable, stable residential enclave built for remote workers and investors, hampered by isolation from neighborhood amenities and limited green space.
DUMBO at a glance
- Borough
- Brooklyn
- Livability score
- 4.9/10
- Borough rank
- #30 of 32
- Median listing
- $1.4M
- Subway stations
- 2 (High St, York St)
- Active listings
- 40
- Data updated
- 2026-04-04
Is DUMBO Safe?
DUMBO, Brooklyn scores 4.9/10 for overall livability, ranking #30 of 32 Brooklyn neighborhoods. DUMBO scores a median 4.9/10—a commutable, stable residential enclave built for remote workers and investors, hampered by isolation from neighborhood amenities and limited green space.
This score aggregates live NYPD crime data, 311 safety complaints, shooting incidents, and building health signals within walking distance. Safety varies by block — check a specific DUMBO address below for a block-level breakdown.
Score Overview
Vertical line = borough median. Scale: 0-10.
Neighborhood Character
You'll find yourself in a neighborhood that trades density for isolation. DUMBO's converted warehouses and cobblestone streets feel deliberately separated from Brooklyn—ringed by water on two sides, anchored by the A/C and F trains, with 95 trees per 200 meters creating pockets of greenery that feel curated rather than abundant. The nearest major park, Fort Greene, sits 1.7 kilometers away, which means you're relying on Brooklyn Bridge Park for outdoor access. Walking here, you move between industrial loft conversions and new development, with the Manhattan skyline as a constant visual reference. It's a neighborhood that prioritizes views and architecture over street-level amenities.
Analysis based on 40 properties scored across 30+ data points
Livability & Restoration
Tree Canopy
95 trees
Avg within 200m | Density: 1/10
10 additional trees per block correlates with health benefits equivalent to being 7 years younger (Kardan et al., 2015)
Park Access
Fort Greene Park
Avg 1763m away | Score: 3.3/10
Living within 300m of green space associated with 30% fewer antidepressant prescriptions (Taylor et al., 2015)
Acoustic Quality
5/10
Noise proxy score (higher = quieter)
Chronic noise above 55 dB at night associated with 8% cardiovascular mortality increase (Basner et al., 2014)
Street Character
0/10
Enclosure: 0/10
What is the ART Score?
ART stands for Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989) — the framework environmental psychologists use to measure whether a place helps your brain recover from mental fatigue, or pushes it deeper into overload. Cities deplete directed attention (the effortful focus you use at work); exposure to restorative environments replenishes it.
We compute an ART score for every block by combining four signals: access to restorative zones (parks, museums, libraries), sensory load (nightlife and tourist density), street vitality (Jane Jacobs’ “eyes on the street”), and third places (Oldenburg’s informal community spaces).
Higher sensory load than the Brooklyn average — density of nightlife, traffic, or tourism typically drives this down.
What drives the score
- +Restorative zones. Museums, libraries, community gardens, and parks within walking distance. “Soft fascination” stimuli (clouds, tree branches, water) let directed attention recover without effort — the Kaplans’ core mechanism.
- −Sensory load. Bar and nightclub density (5+ within 150m), firehouse siren corridors, tourist chokepoints, and very high foot traffic push the score down by up to 8 points.
- +Street vitality (Jacobs, 1961). Permitted block parties, farmers markets, and community festivals over the past 12 months — a proxy for “eyes on the street” and the informal surveillance that makes blocks feel safe and maintained.
- +Third places (Oldenburg, 1989). Cafés, public plazas (POPS), community centers — the “anchors of community life” that buffer against social isolation. Loneliness has been linked to 29% higher incident coronary heart disease risk (Valtorta et al., 2016).
Health mechanism. Directed-attention fatigue (DAF) is linked to impaired decision-making, irritability, and elevated cortisol. A meta-analysis of 60+ studies (Ohly et al., 2016) found restorative environment exposure significantly improves attention-task performance (Hedges’ g ≈ 0.32) and reduces negative affect.
Theoretical foundations. Kaplan & Kaplan (1989), The Experience of Nature; Jacobs (1961), The Death and Life of Great American Cities; Oldenburg (1989), The Great Good Place.
Transit & Commute
Subway Stations
Commute Score
8/10
Borough median: 8/10
Walk Score Proxy
0/10
Based on street geometry analysis
Financial Landscape
Median Price
$1.4M
Price per Sq Ft
$1503
Price Distribution
Price by Building Type
Investment Indicators
Avg Unused FAR
0 sqft
Development rights potential
Unused development rights valued at $30-$80/sqft in Brooklyn (Glaeser, 2011)
Avg Days on Market
77
Market velocity signal
Multi-Family Stock
0%
2-4 family buildings
Multi-family owner-occupants build 2.4x wealth vs single-family (Herbert, 2013)
Outdoor & Green Space
Avg Tree Count
95
Within 200m radius
Canopy Density
1/10
Normalized canopy coverage
Park Network
- Fort Greene Park
Avg distance: 1763m
Outdoor Space Types
Practical Living
Building Types
Bedroom Distribution
Laundry Availability
Who DUMBO Is For
Remote workers and finance professionals
Commute score of 8/10 and median price of $1.42M attract established earners; 100% condo stock suits those avoiding landlord relationships.
Design-focused buyers
Practical score of 6.7/10 (above borough median) reflects walkable essentials, while warehouse-loft typology appeals to aesthetic priorities.
Investors seeking stability
Investment score of 5.8/10 matches borough median; low unused FAR (0 sqft) signals built-out market with limited redevelopment upside.
Pros & Cons
Strengths
Excellent commute access
Commute score of 8/10 via High St (A/C) and York St (F) lines; above borough median.
Strong financial metrics
Financial score of 5.6/10 nearly matches borough median; median price $1.42M, price/sqft $1,503.
Built-out market signals stability
Zero average unused FAR indicates limited new supply; all units are condos (100%), reducing rental market volatility.
Trade-offs
Weak livability and cultural amenities
ART/Livability score of 3.7/10 versus 5.0 borough median; neighborhood underperforms on arts, culture, and neighborhood character.
Minimal green space
Outdoor score of 2.5/10 (borough median 4.6); canopy density is only 1/10, and nearest major park is 1.7km away.
Slow sales velocity
Average 77 days on market suggests softer demand relative to other Brooklyn hotspots; no YoY appreciation data available.
Score Any Address in DUMBO
Get detailed livability scores based on building health, transit access, safety, noise levels, and 15+ NYC data sources.
Search an Address in DUMBOFrequently Asked Questions about DUMBO
1Is DUMBO safe?
DUMBO safety varies by block. DwellCheck provides detailed safety data including NYPD crime statistics, arrest data, and 311 complaints. Check the DUMBO safety page for full details.
2What is the average rent in DUMBO?
Rents in DUMBO, Brooklyn vary significantly by building and apartment type. The median listing price is $1.4M. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses.
3How is transit access in DUMBO?
DUMBO has a commute score of 8/10. 2 subway stations serve the area: High St, York St.
4What are the best streets in DUMBO?
The best streets depend on your priorities. Use DwellCheck to compare specific addresses across livability, safety, transit, and environmental factors.
5What is DUMBO known for?
DUMBO sits in Brooklyn and ranks #30 of 32 Brooklyn neighborhoods on DwellCheck's livability score (4.9/10). It's served by 2 subway stations (High St, York St), with a median listing price of $1.4M. DUMBO scores a median 4.9/10—a commutable, stable residential enclave built for remote workers and investors, hampered by isolation from neighborhood amenities and limited green space.
6What is it like to live in DUMBO?
Living in DUMBO, Brooklyn weights against six livability dimensions: practical (HPD-violation density), commute (subway proximity), arts/culture (venue density), outdoor (parks + trees), financial (price level), investment (price trend). DUMBO's composite is 4.9/10. DUMBO scores a median 4.9/10—a commutable, stable residential enclave built for remote workers and investors, hampered by isolation from neighborhood amenities and limited green space. For the block-by-block view, run any specific DUMBO address through DwellCheck.
7Is DUMBO expensive?
Median listing price in DUMBO, Brooklyn is $1.4M based on 40 active listings as of 2026-04-04. Whether that reads "expensive" depends on the comparison: it's lower than Manhattan averages and varies considerably by building. Rent-stabilized units in DUMBO can run 20-40% below the median; check DHCR rent history for any specific address to verify.
8What is the average DwellScore in DUMBO?
Median composite score is 4.9/10 (interquartile range 4.2–5.4). Commute and Practical scores anchor the neighborhood (8.0 and 6.7 respectively), while ART/Livability (3.7) and Outdoor (2.5) pull it down significantly below borough medians.
9Why is the Outdoor score so low?
Outdoor score of 2.5/10 reflects sparse tree coverage (95 trees per 200m with only 1/10 canopy density) and distance to the nearest major park—Fort Greene Park is 1.7km away. Access to Brooklyn Bridge Park mitigates this partially but doesn't offset the deficit.
10Is DUMBO a good investment?
Investment score of 5.8/10 matches borough median, indicating stable but not exceptional fundamentals. The 0 sqft average unused FAR signals the market is built out with little redevelopment potential. Median price is $1.42M at $1,503/sqft; however, 77-day market time and unavailable YoY appreciation data suggest softer momentum than other Brooklyn neighborhoods.
11What's the transit situation?
You'll find the High St (A/C) and York St (F) stations, producing an 8/10 commute score—tied with borough median. Both lines offer reliable downtown and Manhattan access, though frequency can vary by time of day.
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