NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE · WILLIAMSBURG
Last updated: November 2, 2026
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Williamsburg at a glance
Williamsburg was once known for its creative energy. Today it's more about restaurants, nightlife and destination shopping (Hermès opened a store on North 6th Street this fall). It's also one of Brooklyn's biggest condo markets, from waterfront towers with Manhattan views to loft conversions in old factories.
Known for: restaurants and nightlife · destination shopping · Domino Park and the waterfront · waterfront condos
Is Williamsburg a good place to live?
For a lot of buyers, yes: the L to Manhattan in minutes, a long waterfront with Domino Park and Marsha P. Johnson State Park, and a huge choice of condos. The trade-offs are a busy pace, a crowded L at rush hour, and tax abatements on many condos that will eventually expire.
Why people love it
Domino Park and walking along the waterfront, plus a million options for your day or night.
The L at Bedford Avenue, the J and M, the G, and two NYC Ferry stops.
Choice: 436 condo sales so far this year, from loft conversions to new waterfront towers.
Trade-offs to know
It's busy, especially on weekends along Bedford Avenue and the waterfront.
Many waterfront condos have 421-a tax abatements, which keep taxes low for now; check when a building's abatement ends before you buy.
The median townhouse rose 11% this year to $2,742,500, and townhouses are a small part of the market.
Williamsburg home prices in 2026
Williamsburg condo prices eased a little in 2026: the median 2-bedroom condo is down 4%, while townhouses rose 11% and rents rose 6% to 11%. More homes are for sale than last year, so buyers have more to choose from.
| Metric | Williamsburg | vs. last year |
|---|---|---|
| Median 2-bedroom condo | $1,816,000 | -4% |
| Median townhouse | $2,742,500 | +11% |
| Price per square foot (all apartments) | $1,527 | +4% |
| Median days on market (apartments) | 55 days | 50 days |
| Median rent: 1BR / 2BR / 3BR | $4,935 / $5,624 / $6,750 | +6% / +7% / +11% |
Source: RealPlus closed sales and rentals, Jan 1 to Oct 31, 2026, compared with Jan 1 to Oct 31, 2025. 455 apartment sales, 72 townhouse sales and 4372 rentals; medians. Methodology: see the Best Neighborhoods guide.
Condo or townhouse: what your budget buys in Williamsburg
Williamsburg is one of Brooklyn's biggest condo markets: 436 condo sales this year, from waterfront towers to loft conversions. Townhouses are fewer (72 sales) and cost almost twice the median condo, and co-ops are rare.
Condos
$1,450,000
median sale · 436 sales
Price per sq ft: $1,528
2-bed common charges and taxes: about $2,000/mo
Median days on market: 51
Townhouses
$2,742,500
median sale · 72 sales
Price per sq ft: $1,175
Median days on market: 60
Mostly pre-war rowhouses
Source: RealPlus closed sales by property type, Jan 1 to Oct 31, 2026, all bedroom counts. Monthly costs are medians for 2-bedroom sales with charges on record (156 condos).
How Williamsburg prices have changed over 10 years
The median 2-bedroom apartment is up about 39% since 2016, from $1,282,942 to $1,780,000, while the median townhouse is up about 61%.
Source: RealPlus closed sales, median by year. 2026 is Jan 1 to Oct 31, 2026.
What kind of homes are in Williamsburg?
25%
of this year's apartment sales were in pre-war buildings
4% / 83% / 14%
co-op / condo / townhouse share of sales
2005
the year the waterfront rezoning opened the way for high-rise condos and a waterfront esplanade
Williamsburg's condo market grew out of the 2005 waterfront rezoning, which brought high-rise condos and rentals along Kent Avenue and required a continuous public esplanade along the water. Loft conversions are the other big category, like the Austin Nichols House at 184 Kent Avenue, a Cass Gilbert warehouse, and The Gretsch at 60 Broadway, a former instrument factory. Newer projects include One Williamsburg Wharf at 482 Kent Avenue (22 stories, 89 condos) and the redevelopment of the Domino Sugar site. Inland, the side streets are mostly older walk-ups and rowhouses. The numbers in this guide combine the North Side and South Side and don't include East Williamsburg.
Source: RealPlus closed sales, Jan 1 to Oct 31, 2026 (527 sales).
What it costs to own vs. rent in Williamsburg
$11,900/mo
to own a median 2-bedroom condo (20% down, mortgage plus common charges and taxes)
$5,624/mo
median rent for a 2-bedroom
$6,300/mo
the ownership premium
That premium buys you agency over your housing: no renewal surprises, and the freedom to renovate, stay put and make the space your own. It is also a long-term play. The median 2-bedroom here is up about 39% since 2016, from $1,282,942 to $1,780,000, so if you plan to stay, the equity you build can make the higher monthly cost worth it.
Source: RealPlus closed sales and rentals, Jan 1 to Oct 31, 2026. Median 2-bedroom condo $1,816,000 with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.24% (Freddie Mac weekly average, Oct 29, 2026), plus about $2,000 common charges and taxes. Does not include closing costs or tax benefits. Past price growth does not guarantee future gains.
New developments in Williamsburg
The newest Williamsburg projects I'm tracking, from offering plan filings to sales launches.
Getting around Williamsburg
The L runs along the north side, with stops at Bedford Avenue and Lorimer Street, the J and M run along the south side, and the G connects to Greenpoint and Downtown Brooklyn. The NYC Ferry stops at North and South Williamsburg.
L: Bedford Avenue, Lorimer Street, Graham Avenue, Grand Street and Montrose Avenue
J, M: Marcy Avenue, Hewes Street and Lorimer Street, along Broadway
G: Metropolitan Avenue (transfer to the L at Lorimer Street) and Broadway
NYC Ferry: North Williamsburg and South Williamsburg, on the East River route
Buses: B44 SBS (Bedford Ave), B32 (Kent and Wythe Avenues), B39 (Williamsburg Bridge to the Lower East Side), B62, B24
Bikes: the protected path on Kent Avenue, part of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway
Commute: about 23 minutes to FiDi and 21 minutes to Midtown.
Life in Williamsburg: my favorites
Parks and playgrounds: Domino Park, 6 acres on the waterfront that opened in 2018; Marsha P. Johnson State Park; McCarren Park, shared with Greenpoint; Grand Ferry Park; and Bushwick Inlet Park. See my Best Brooklyn Playgrounds guide.
Culture: In Williamsburg, culture is mostly a variation of nightlife. I love The Gutter (200 N 14th St), a bowling alley and bar, and the other classic spots, or dinner and a movie at Nitehawk Cinema (136 Metropolitan Ave).
Indoor play: see my Indoor Playgrounds by Neighborhood guide.
Weekly rituals: Smorgasburg at Marsha P. Johnson State Park on Saturdays from April to October, and the McCarren Park Greenmarket on Saturdays, year-round.
My favorite restaurants
Motorino (139 Broadway): still one of my favorite pizza places.
Lilia (567 Union Ave): as good as they say.
Peter Luger Steak House (178 Broadway): I don't think it lives up to the hype, but if you want to try it, go for lunch.
Santa Fe BK (178 N 8th St): one of my favorite affordable options.
Bread & Spread (485 Lorimer St): sandwiches, and my other favorite affordable option.
Williamsburg homes for sale
How Williamsburg compares
| Metric | Williamsburg | Greenpoint | Dumbo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median 2-bedroom apartment | $1,780,000 | $1,675,000 | $1,993,000 |
| Median 2-bedroom rent | $5,624 | $5,480 | $7,550 |
| Commute to Midtown | 21 min | 19 min | 30 min |
Source: RealPlus closed sales and rentals, Jan 1 to Oct 31, 2026; commutes from the Best Neighborhoods guide.
Read the Greenpoint guide · the Dumbo guide · or see where Williamsburg ranks among 14 Brooklyn neighborhoods
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Williamsburg is a busy neighborhood on the East River in north Brooklyn, known for its restaurants, nightlife, destination shopping, waterfront parks and condo towers. Most homes for sale are condos, from loft conversions to new waterfront buildings, and the L, J, M and G trains and the NYC Ferry serve the neighborhood.
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From January through October 2026, the median 2-bedroom condo in Williamsburg sold for $1,816,000, based on RealPlus closed sales; co-ops are rare. The median 2-bedroom rent was $5,624 a month. See the full price table.
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Greenpoint, just to the north, is quieter, with more row houses inland and a slower pace, while Williamsburg is busier, with more condo buildings and more nightlife. Prices are close (a $1,780,000 median 2-bedroom in Williamsburg vs. $1,675,000 in Greenpoint this year) and so are rents ($5,624 vs. $5,480). Williamsburg has the L into Manhattan; Greenpoint relies on the G and the ferry.
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About 21 minutes to Midtown and 23 minutes to the Financial District by subway. The L runs from Bedford Avenue to 14th Street, the J and M cross the Williamsburg Bridge to Lower Manhattan, and the NYC Ferry stops at North and South Williamsburg.
Get the full Williamsburg market report
Tell me what you’re looking for and I’ll send you a free report with block-by-block sales, what’s coming to market, and what your budget buys in Williamsburg right now. Rather talk it through? Book a call with me.
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