Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
About Bushwick, Brooklyn
Bushwick's real estate market is in transition—it used to be a manufacturing hub and home to large Puerto Rican and Dominican communities, but now it has become a more popular neighborhood for newcomers to NYC.
Many of the old warehouses around Bushwick have been converted into art spaces, lofts, breweries, and nightclubs. The neighborhood has also seen a lot of new construction in recent years, which you can expect to continue for the foreseeable future.
The History of Bushwick
The area known as Bushwick was first settled by European colonists in 1638 as the Dutch village of Boswijck. It remained relatively rural until the 1860s, when Bushwick became famous for its sugar and chemical factories. The area continued to grow throughout the early 20th century, and thousands of working class Puerto Rican and Caribbean families flocked to Bushwick for stable jobs and affordable housing. The 1970s saw a decline in manufacturing jobs across NYC, and Bushwick was hit particularly hard. The City began to reinvest in the neighborhood in the mid 2000s in the hopes of attracting more middle income families, and today Bushwick is fast becoming one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Brooklyn.
Bushwick Demographics
As of 2018 there were over 113,000 people living in Bushwick. True to its reputation the population here skews young - most people are between 20 and 35 years old and have never been married, but you can still find plenty of families with young children. There are large Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Ecuadorian communities here and most people identify as Hispanic, although this is changing rapidly - the neighborhood was almost twenty percent white in 2018 as opposed to under ten percent back in 2010. The median household income is substantially lower in Bushwick than it is in other neighborhoods.
Transportation in Bushwick
Bushwick is well served by the subway and most homes are within a 15-minute walk of a station. The J, M, and L trains can all get you to Manhattan in under a half hour, and local buses along Gates, Myrtle, and DeKalb avenues can bring you to Downtown Brooklyn in about 35 minutes.
Housing in Bushwick
Bushwick’s housing stock is very diverse. Most buildings here consist of pre-war walk ups with under 10 units, and you can find plenty of iconic Brooklyn row houses along quiet side streets. Western Bushwick used to be very industrial, but many warehouses have been converted into sought-after loft apartments. Bushwick has experienced a surge in new development since 2016 and dozens of glassy new apartment buildings have been cropping up along Broadway and Myrtle Ave.
Neighborhood Life in Bushwick
Bushwick is a large, diverse neighborhood and your experience here will largely depend on where you live. Western Bushwick feels like an extension of East Williamsburg with its palatial warehouses, colorful murals, hip watering holes, and pulsating nightclubs. The rest of the neighborhood is a little more family oriented, and you’ll find excellent mom and pop restaurants catering the local Puerto Rican and Mexican communities. Bushwick also boasts a beloved collection of small community parks, such as Irving Square Park and Maria Hernandez Park. Most apartment buildings here have roof access around here, so summer rooftop parties are a must!
Similar Neighborhoods to Bushwick, Brooklyn
Bushwick Real Estate Trends
Bushwick’s home values have spiked by 20 percent in the last five years, making it one of the hotter markets in NYC. The prices are still cheaper than nearby Williamsburg but still substantially more expensive than the citywide average. With hundreds of new units in the pipeline, expect home values to continue to soar.
Bushwick Median Sale Price (USD):
1bd 550,000
Bushwick Median Rent Price (USD):
1bd 2,300
2bd 2,600
3bd 2,900
4bd 3,500
The Truth You Should Know About Bushwick, Brooklyn
How Safe is Bushwick?
The crime rate in Bushwick is slightly above average. Broadway and Bushwick Ave. are both high speed thoroughfares with high collision rates so pedestrians may want to exercise caution when crossing these busy streets.
Are the Schools in Bushwick Good?
The schools in Bushwick are rated about average but include the well regarded All City Leadership Secondary School.
Popular Eateries in Bushwick?
Bushwick is home to many beloved establishments that reflect both its immigrant heritage and hip, happening present.
What to Do in Bushwick?
Visit the Bushwick Collective, an outdoor art gallery featuring hundreds of colorful murals.
Take your kids to the colorful playground at Maria Hernandez Park.
Flex your green thumb at Known Waste Lands, a community garden on Myrtle Ave.
Whittle away your weekend at all the unique bars, galleries, music venues near Broadway and Myrtle.
Visit the Vande-Ende Onderdonk House, the oldest remaining Dutch colonial house in the entire state.
Is Bushwick Dog Friendly?
Not particularly. Dog ownership rates are low and there is only one dog park at Maria Hernandez Park, however there are several lovely community parks that are great for a quick evening stroll. Most older rental units don’t allow pets, but newer construction tends to be more pet-friendly.
Is Bushwick Good for Cycling?
Yes! Bushwick has a very strong cycling community and dozens of well-marked bike lanes, including one on Knickerbocker Ave. that connects to the Grand St. bikeway for safe trips across the Williamsburg Bridge. There are several charming bike shops throughout the neighborhood and over 25 bikeshare stations.
4 Things to Know Before Moving to Bushwick, Brooklyn
Bushwick has been experiencing rapid change and it remains ground zero for conversations about displacement in NYC. Community groups have been vocal in demanding more affordable housing to serve its vibrant immigrant population.
A former factory at Cooper & Irving has been flagged by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for having trace elements to radioactive waste. Officials say the site does not pose a danger to nearby homes and cleanup efforts are currently underway.
There are two major hospitals in western Bushwick, so expect constant sirens around here.
The Bushwick Community Plan would address the need for more housing in the neighborhood by allowing large residential buildings with mandated affordable units along Broadway, Myrtle, and Wyckoff.