Bergen Beach is a quiet neighborhood enclave situated on the southeastern edge of Brooklyn, on a peninsula in Jamaica Bay. Once an island off Canarsie, it enjoyed a two-decade period in the late 1800s to the early 1900s as a resort destination with amusement rides and a mile-long boardwalk. In 1918, the park closed—not able to compete with nearby Coney Island—and that same year, Bergen Island was joined to the mainland with landfill. The back-to-back changes marked the beginning of the area’s transformation into the quiet residential community of Bergen Beach that it is today. The present-day neighborhood is accessible only by bus or car, with the nearest subway several miles away. “Being on a peninsula, there’s just one way in and one way out. People come to live here for the privacy,” says Jason Sciulara, co-owner of Bergen Basin Realty, who has sold property in Bergen Beach for 29 years. “It’s great for those who need the convenience of living in Brooklyn but want a more suburban life with tree-lined blocks and big backyards.”
Bergen Beach
Urban Core Neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York
Kings County 11234
Neighborhood Reviews
Single- and two-family homes predominate, with some condominium buildings in the mix
The neighborhood consists mostly of 20th-century single-family and two-family homes. Modest single-family Cape Cod houses can be had for about $800,000 while larger, fully custom homes with luxury details can fetch upwards of 1.1 million. Two-family houses start at about 1.1 million and can reach as high as 1.4 million for fully renovated properties. Three-bedroom condos range from about $500,000 to $750,000 for those in gated communities like Mill Harbor Condominiums.
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Neighborhood public schools limited to elementary and middle, with a high school in Madison
P.S. 312 Bergen Beach public pre-K and elementary school merits an A on Niche and according to state test scores, 77% of students are at least proficient in both math and reading. J.H.S. 078 Roy H. Mann is a public middle school that has a B-rating from Niche and is highly regarded for its teachers and diverse student body. There are no public high schools in Bergen Beach proper, but in nearby Madison is James Madison High School, which has a Niche score of A-minus and was awarded as a 2024 Niche Best School.
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Local parks offer recreational activities from beach volleyball to horseback riding
The sprawling McGuire Fields features a roller hockey rink, a beach volleyball court, five baseball diamonds, a football field and three tennis courts. The Bergen Beach Playground and Hickman Playground both offer handball and basketball courts in addition to children’s play equipment. Paerdegat Basin Park is a saltwater wetland area with hiking trails and kayak launches. One of the most unique places in Bergen Beach is the 50-year-old Jamaica Bay Riding Academy, an equestrian facility located within a private wildlife preserve. The park includes over 400 acres of landscaped wooded trails and three miles of beachfront for riding. With immediate access to the water, residents can take advantage of maritime activities like chartering a boat or renting a slip at DiMeglio Marina.
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The Georgetowne Shopping Center is a neighborhood hub
There is a small number of independent eateries in Bergen Beach but the neighborhood does boast a handful of popular spots like Il Posto on Avenue U. The Georgetowne shopping center hosts several chain restaurants like Five Guys and Cold Stone Creamery and a few chain stores. There is a Food Way for any grocery needs—from staples to organic produce. Additional supermarket options include a Key Food in neighboring Mill Basin.
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Residents rely on cars or buses to reach the Q and B trains at Kings Highway
While there are no subways that serve the Bergen Beach neighborhood, there is bus service. It is roughly a three-mile trip to and from the Kings Highway station where the Q and the B trains stop. Many residents rely on their cars for transportation and even have quick access to the Belt Parkway, part of which runs through the neighborhood. “Bergen Beach is really car-friendly,” says Sciulara. “There are many private driveways and parking spaces and believe it or not—no alternate side parking.”
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Risk of flooding as a consideration
Due to Bergen Beach’s location on Jamaica Bay—and being surrounded by three basins—most residences are at extreme risk from flooding. During Hurricane Sandy, over 200 properties were affected.
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Written By
Samantha Emmerling
Video By
Brandon Flash Craigie
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Danny Chung
Danny Chung
(866) 968-7198
99 Total Sales
3 in Bergen Beach
$400K - $733K Price Range
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Mitchell Feldman
Mitchell Feldman
(855) 629-2561
114 Total Sales
6 in Bergen Beach
$649K - $1.1M Price Range
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Randolph Rogers
Randolph Rogers
Responds QuicklyeXp Realty
(646) 845-7800
39 Total Sales
1 in Bergen Beach
$625,000 Price
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Daniel Belisario
Daniel Belisario
Responds QuicklyRevived Residential
(888) 604-7735
38 Total Sales
8 in Bergen Beach
$625K - $1.9M Price Range
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Margaret Gilhooly Pidala
Margaret Gilhooly Pidala
Responds QuicklyCentury 21 Milestone Team Rlty
(877) 743-0658
28 Total Sales
1 in Bergen Beach
$395,000 Price
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Barbara Labarca
Barbara Labarca
Responds QuicklyCOLDWELL BANKER LABARCA REAL ESTATE
(347) 817-1530
15 Total Sales
2 in Bergen Beach
$940K - $1.1M Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Charter
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Parks in this Area
Hickman Playground
- Basketball
- Playground
Lindower Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
Joseph T McGuire Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Football
- Tennis
Fox Playground
- Playground
Jacob Joffe Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Playground
Transit
Reviews
Niche Reviews
1/28/2024
Niche Review
It's a great suburban neighborhood, great local food shops. I would like to see an increased presence of law enforcement in the area and road infrastructure upgrades.
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Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Bergen Beach | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 2 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 2 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
| Robbery | 3 | 4 |
| Burglary | 2 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 4 |
| Larceny | 3 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Bergen Beach, Brooklyn sell after 54 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Bergen Beach, Brooklyn over the last 12 months is $766,030, up 6% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Home Trends
Median Price (12 Mo)
$793,500
Median Single Family Price
$826,000
Median Townhouse Price
$950,000
Median 2 Bedroom Price
$600,000
Median 1 Bedroom Price
$235,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$513
Number of Homes for Sale
24
Last 12 months Home Sales
68
Months of Supply
4.20
Median List Price
$791,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
8%
Home Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
570
Median Year Built
1975
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,857
On par with the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,410
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,134
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
555
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
510
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
2,613
Open Houses
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Sunday, Apr 2712:30 - 2:30pm
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Sunday, Apr 2712:30 - 2:30pm
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Sunday, Apr 2712 - 2pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Condo Buildings
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
11,372
Median Age
44
Population Density
18 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.2%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
22.1%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$94,470
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$126,698
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
90.7%
College Graduates
41.9%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
17%
On par with the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
65.8%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
43''
Average Winter Low Temperature
26°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
21''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
52
/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
56
/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
67
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Mill Basin
Suburban coastal living with all the convivences of New York City
Canarsie
Home to Canarsie Pier, Fresh Creek Preserve and suburban houses with easy parking
Flatlands
With reasonable prices, Flatlands are a buyers’ market
Marine Park
Tight-knit community bordering an expansive park
East New York
An engaged Brooklyn community seeking to revitalize, not gentrify
Gerritsen Beach
A blue-collar, waterfront neighborhood with accessible prices
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