Streeteasy defines their top 10 NYC neighborhoods to watch in 2026 as those that saw the greatest increases in searches on StreetEasy among buyers and renters from 2024 to 2025. This year, four Brooklyn neighborhoods made it into the top 10 including Windsor Terrace #3, Carroll Gardens #5, Downtown Brooklyn #6 and Fort Greene #10.
Windsor Terrace came in third with a 44.9% year-over-year jump in searches, the largest increase among Brooklyn neighborhoods. Bordered by Park Slope to the north and Prospect Park to the east, Windsor Terrace can be seen as a more affordable alternative to its northern neighbor, with a median asking price of $1.125M compared to Park Slope’s $1.723M. Moreover, at 12.8%, Windsor Terrace had the steepest annual decline in median asking price by more than double. On the rental side, the 7.2% rise in median asking rent to $3,800 puts the neighborhood slightly above the Brooklyn median of $3,600.
Tucked between Cobble Hill and Red Hook, Carroll Gardens is known for its tree-lined blocks, distinctive brownstones, and easy access to a wide range of local shops and restaurants. One of the neighborhood’s biggest draws is its thriving food scene, from long-established bakeries to destination restaurants, paired with easy access to nearby waterfront parks and green spaces. Searches for Carroll Gardens jumped 44.4% in 2025, marking the second largest increase in search volume for Brooklyn. The median asking rent rose modestly to $4,500 (+2.3% YoY), while the median asking price dipped 3% to $2.595M: the highest on the list.
As rental inventory continues to fall in Manhattan and renters look to the outer boroughs for more options, Manhattanites may find they feel right at home in Downtown Brooklyn, just two subway stops from FiDi. At a median asking price of $1.15M, the neighborhood is slightly more expensive than Brooklyn overall ($1.1M), but significantly more affordable than Manhattan at $1.35M. Meanwhile, the median asking rent in Downtown Brooklyn remains relatively on par with Manhattan’s at $4,448, but well above Brooklyn’s median of $3,600.
Rounding out the 10 Neighborhoods to Watch in 2026 is Fort Greene, Brooklyn, located just east of another neighborhood on our list, Downtown Brooklyn. Fort Greene remains true to its name, offering residents plenty of green space between its 30-acre namesake park, Commodore Barry Park further north, and the smaller block-wide parks and playgrounds that dot the neighborhood. Fort Greene’s combination of tranquil greenery and historic charm have made the neighborhood a muse to countless artists, writers, and musicians over the years. As searches for Fort Greene rose in 2025, so did housing prices. The neighborhood’s median asking rent and median asking price are both up 13% from the previous year — and at $4,500 and $1.863M, respectively, they remain far above the borough-wide medians. While historic brownstones and rowhouses make up much of the real estate in Fort Greene, rezonings have led to more new developments in recent years, particularly along Fulton Street and Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues.