Residents of Brooklyn are increasingly finding new homes on Staten Island.
According to a PropertyShark analysis, 12% of Brooklyn buyers opted for properties in this often-overlooked borough.
Out of 2,669 Brooklyn residents who purchased properties from January 1 to May 31, 315—about 12%—made the move to Staten Island. This shift is largely attributed to high property prices in Brooklyn, where the median price reached $850,000 in the early months of 2025. That’s 17% more than the median for Staten Island homes, which averaged $708,000 during the same period, noted report author Eliza Tayce.
Meanwhile, 6% of Brooklynites who bought homes in Queens ended up in Manhattan. On the other hand, the majority of residents from Manhattan (94%), Queens (95%), Staten Island (97%), and the Bronx (94%) stayed within their respective boroughs.
“Brooklyn is really expensive,” said Wallace Wong, who relocated to Staten Island about a month ago after a decade in Bath Beach.
For just over $1 million, Wong and his wife secured a four-bedroom detached house with a private backyard—quite a difference from their previous three-bedroom semi-detached home in Kings County, which they bought nearly a decade ago for $760,000 and are currently renting out.
“I like the atmosphere in Staten Island; it feels both rural and crowded but is still really close to the city,” Wong commented.
Real estate agent Tom Crimins highlighted the community aspect of Staten Island, stating, “You have beautiful tree-lined streets and a fantastic community—something for everyone.” He noted that many Brooklyn residents sought more space after the pandemic began. In the first five months of 2020, Brooklyn homeowners made up 26% of Staten Island buyers, reaching 31% by May 2021. Although this percentage has declined, it remained at 21% in the same period of 2025.
“People wanted more space and privacy, especially those living in apartments without backyards,” Crimins added. He remarked that once people experience Staten Island, many choose to stay, realizing the borough’s appeal.
For families needing more room, homes here often outperform those in Brooklyn in terms of size and affordability. Many former Brooklyn residents are aiming for homes near the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, which makes up nearly 25% of 2025 sales. In fact, 52% of those relocating from Brooklyn this year hailed from specific areas: Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, Bola Park, and Bay Ridge.
“It seems that loyalty to one’s borough has been a significant factor,” concluded Tayce.
