Is Bensonhurst safe?
Brooklyn, New York · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Bensonhurst as “Go”.
What makes up this score?Recent news
Gogo's take on Bensonhurst
“Go. Bensonhurst is one of the safest and most culturally rich residential neighborhoods in South Brooklyn, offering exceptional authentic dining and a bustling community feel. Visitors can explore vibrant commercial corridors with standard urban situational awareness.”
About the area
Bensonhurst is a diverse, densely populated enclave historically known as Brooklyn's Little Italy and now thriving alongside one of New York City's largest Chinatowns. The neighborhood features bustling commercial avenues beneath elevated train tracks alongside quiet, tree-lined residential side streets filled with multi-family homes.
- Family-Friendly
- Foodie Hub
- Multi-Ethnic
- Bustling Commercial Avenues
Walking and biking in Bensonhurst
Walk score: 93/100 · Bike score: 74/100
Citi Bike docking stations are available throughout the neighborhood, and riders have convenient access to the Shore Parkway Greenway along Gravesend Bay a short distance to the south.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rate compared to New York City averages, served by the 62nd Precinct
- Dense commercial avenues on 86th Street and 18th Avenue filled with vibrant bakeries, markets, and eateries
- High rates of residential stability, multi-generational family households, and low housing vacancy
Cons
- Elevated subway lines create constant overhead noise and darker corridors along 86th Street and New Utrecht Avenue
- Occasional property offenses such as catalytic converter theft and package theft from stoops
- Pedestrian congestion and heavy vehicle traffic create crosswalk navigation hazards along major avenues
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal throughout Bensonhurst, with occasional individuals seeking shelter near elevated subway mezzanine stations along 86th Street, but there are no substantial encampments.
What Bensonhurst is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active and safe as commuters head to elevated train stations and local markets open for early shoppers.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Lively and crowded with families, seniors, and school kids patronizing local shops and bakeries.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Vibrant and busy along restaurant corridors with steady foot traffic and well-lit storefronts.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet on residential side streets and subdued under the train tracks, remaining generally safe though basic late-night awareness is advisable.
Transit, parking and getting around
MTA New York City Subway provides direct service via the D train along 86th Street and the N train along 63rd Street/Avenue P, alongside extensive local bus routes including the B1, B4, B6, and B82.
Street parking is notoriously difficult to find due to dense multi-family housing, with tight alternate-side parking rules and metered commercial strips, while public parking garages are rare.
Things to do in Bensonhurst
- Sample legendary thin-crust square pies and Italian spumoni at L&B Spumoni Gardens
- Stroll along 86th Street to explore authentic Cantonese bakeries, dim sum parlors, and specialty grocery markets
- Walk the scenic shoreline promenade at nearby Milestone Park or the waterfront of Gravesend Bay
Local favorites
- L&B Spumoni Gardens · Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria · 4.5★ (11200)Historic outdoor patio serving iconic Sicilian square pies and traditional spumoni ices since 1939.
- Villabate Alba · Bakery · 4.6★ (3400)Celebrated Sicilian pastry shop famous for fresh-filled cannoli, marzipan fruits, and espresso.
- Hand-Pulled Noodle · Chinese Restaurant · 4.4★ (480)Bustling local spot serving freshly pulled Lanzhou noodles, dumplings, and savory broths.
Neighborhoods near Bensonhurst
Common questions about Bensonhurst
Is Bensonhurst safe to walk at night?
Generally yes — use the same awareness you would anywhere after dark.
Is Bensonhurst a good place to live?
On safety, Bensonhurst scores 84/100 — safer than most of the areas we score, which is a good start for anyone looking to live here.
How walkable is Bensonhurst?
Walk score 93/100 and bike score 74/100. Most errands can be done on foot.
Which areas near Bensonhurst are safer?
Dyker Heights (87), Borough Park (85) score higher nearby.
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