A notable migration trend has emerged as 12% of Brooklyn residents moved to Staten Island, driven by soaring real estate prices in Brooklyn. The median home price in Kings County reached $850,000 compared to Staten Island’s $708,000. A growing number of Brooklynites seek larger homes and less crowded environments. Staten Island has increasingly attracted former Brooklyn residents, with 26% of buyers in early 2020 coming from Brooklyn, peaking at 31% in 2021 and remaining high at 21% in 2025.
"Brooklyn is just super expensive," said Wallace Wong, who moved to New Dorp a month ago, leaving Bath Beach in Brooklyn after 10 years.
"I prefer the environment of Staten Island, because it feels less crowded and more rural, but it's actually very close to the city," said Wong.
More space was a big reason why Brooklynites began migrating to the island in droves during the pandemic, according to Staten Island realtor Tom Crimmins.
Out of all Staten Island home sales in the first five months of 2020, Brooklynites accounted for 26% of buyers - a share that jumped to 31% by May 2021 before gradually declining, though still remaining high at 21% during the same period in 2025.
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