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Queens, NY Homes for Sale

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3873 homes found
39-55 51 Street, Queens, New York

$380,000

1 bed
Co-op
39-55 51 street, #5C, woodside, NY 11377
3 min to dog park
Bike-friendly
Hardwood floors
Garage parking
Parking
Laundry in building
Listing courtesy of Welcome Home Real Estate

Queens, New York

About Queens

Queens is a large, diverse borough stretching from the East River to the Rockaway shores to the edge of suburban Long Island. It is the second most populous and geographically largest borough. In Queens, low rise buildings, rowhouses, and standalone homes are more common than in Manhattan or Brooklyn.

The sprawling borough is made up of tight-knit neighborhoods home to an array of immigrant communities. Queens is the most culturally diverse place in the world, with more than 160 languages (and maybe as many as 800) spoken. Nearly half of Queens residents were born outside the United States.

The History of Queens

The area was long inhabited by Lenape Native Americans. European settlement began in 1635; Flushing was founded by Dutch colonists in 1645. The area was conquered by the English and Queens was established as one of the original counties of the New York colony 1683. Queens remained mostly rural until it was incorporated into greater New York City in 1898. The population grew rapidly in the early 20th century after the Queensboro Bridge opened in 1909 and the first rail tunnels connecting Queens to Manhattan were completed in 1910. A World’s Fair held in Flushing Meadows in 1939 drew international attention to the area and spurred development in central Queens. The borough was built out mostly with dense, low-rise homes and apartments, but in the past two decades more high rise residential buildings have popped up in Long Island City, Flushing, and other areas.

Queens Demographics

Queens, the second-most-populous New York City borough, is home to 2.3 million residents. Queens has a diverse immigrant population. Nearly half of residents are migrants who were born outside of the United States and more than half speak a language other than English at home. Approximately one-quarter of Queens residents are Non-Hispanic White, a quarter are Hispanic or Latino, a quarter are Asian, and a quarter are Black.

How is Transportation in Queens?

Many neighborhoods in Queens are connected by Subway with the rest of the city. However, compared to Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, subway coverage is this in Queens and many parts of the borough do not have subway access. The borough has extensive local and express bus service and several LIRR stations. In outer sections of the borough, it is more common for residentes to drive. Several (traffic-snarled) parkways and expressways connect the borough to other parts of the city.

Is Queens Bike-Friendly?

Overall, Queens is somewhat less bike-friendly than Manhattan or Brooklyn. There are few bike lanes and long distances between neighborhoods in the sprawling borough can make cycling more challenging. However, several of the densest neighborhoods, closest to Manhattan, offer good cycling routes. Some of the bike friendly neighborhoods include:

Common Housing Types and Architecture You’ll Find in Queens

Queens features more low-rise homes compared to Manhattan and much of Brooklyn. Rowhouses, duplexes, single-family homes, garden apartments, and low-rise buildings are all more common across the borough. Queens buildings are typically less ornate on the outside, but more spacious inside than their Brooklyn comparators. Driveways, garages, or alleys are more common in Queens.

Queens Real Estate Trends

Median home prices across the borough ticked steadily upward before leveling off in 2019, mirroring the citywide trend. The borough median home value, about $530,000, is considerably lower than the city average. In part this is because more modest homes in less pricey locales are more common in this more-spread-out borough.

Median Listing Price in Queens:

1 Bedroom:  $332,500

2 Bedroom:  $475,000

3 Bedroom:  $749,000

Median Listing Rent in Queens:

Studio:  $1,800

1 Bedroom:  $2,000

2 Bedroom:  $2,415

3 Bedroom:  $2,700

Most EXPENSIVE Neighborhoods to BUY in Queens:

Tiny Malba, an exclusive enclave of oversized homes, claims the mantle of most expensive in Queens. Other top neighborhoods are in denser sections of western Queens and around Flushing. The highest median sale prices are in:

Most AFFORDABLE Neighborhoods to BUY in Queens:

Queens’ most affordable neighborhoods are in areas with more modest housing at the eastern and southern corners of the borough. The neighborhoods with the lowest median sale price are:

Most EXPENSIVE Neighborhoods to RENT in Queens:

Long Island City, with its supply of luxury new buildings and proximity to Manhattan, claims the highest rents. Popular Astoria and Flushing follow. The borough’s highest rents for 1-bedroom units are in:

Most AFFORDABLE Neighborhoods to RENT in Queens:

Relatively affordable rentals are available across several Queens neighborhoods. The lowest prices for 1-bedroom rentals are in:

How Safe is Queens?

Crime rates have fallen dramatically over the past several decades and Queens now rates as one of the safest urban areas in the country. Lower-density Queens sees even fewer reported crimes than Manhattan. Keep in mind that the level of policing and number of arrests vary in different New York City neighborhoods (and Black and Hispanic New Yorkers are disproportionately likely to face arrest). The number of reported crime incidents may not equate to the level of danger felt by residents in a neighborhood.

Safest Neighborhoods in Queens:

The lowest number of crimes reported per neighborhood population are in:

Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Queens:

The highest number of crimes reported per neighborhood population are in:

What are the Best Schools in Queens?

Queens boasts a number of excellent public schools. Many elementary schools across the borough score top marks for student achievement and progress.

Top 10 Elementary Schools in Queens:

  1. P.S. 41 Crocheron, 214-43 35th Ave, Bayside, NY 11361

  2. P.S. 79 Francis Lewis, 147-27 15th Dr, Whitestone, NY 11357

  3. P.S. 94 David D Porter, 41-77 Little Neck Pkwy, Little Neck, NY 11363

  4. P.S. 184 Flushing Manor, 163-15 21st Rd, Whitestone, NY 11357

  5. P.S. 186 Castlewood, 2252-12 72nd Ave, Jamaica, NY 11426

  6. P.S. 193 Alfred J Kennedy, 152-20 11th Ave, Whitestone, NY 11357

  7. P.S. 196 Grand Central Parkway, 71-25 113th St, Flushing, NY 11375

  8. P.S. 203 Oakland Gardens, 53-11 Springfield Blvd, Flushing, NY 11364

  9. P.S. 205 Alexander Graham Bell, 75-25 Bell Blvd, Oakland Gardens, NY 11364

  10. P.S. 221 The North Hills School, 57-40 Marathon Parkway, Flushing, NY 11362

Top 5 High Schools in Queens:

  1. Townsend Harris High School, 149-11 Melbourne Ave, Flushing, NY 11367

  2. Queens High School For The Sciences At York College, 94-50 159th St, Jamaica, NY 11451

  3. Scholars Academy, 320 Beach 104th St, Rockaway Park, NY 11694

  4. Baccalaureate School for Global Education, 34-12 36th Ave, Astoria, NY 11106

  5. Bard High School Early College Queens, 30-20 Thomson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101

Top 3 School Districts Queens:

  1. District #26 - Bayside/Little Neck/Fresh Meadows, Queens

  2. District #25 - Flushing/College Point/Murray Hill/Whitestone/Kew Gardens Hills, Queens

  3. District #30 - Long Island City/Astoria/Woodside/Jackson Heights/East Elmhurst, Queens

What are the Most Popular Areas in Queens?

Wide-ranging Queens has a number of top destinations. Residents head to the East River waterfront to Astoria Park, Hunters Point South, or Gantry State Park for views of Manhattan and recreation space. Queens has miles of pristine beaches along Rockaway point; favorite spots are around Rockaway Park and Jacob Riis Park. Excellent food is easy to find across the diverse borough. Jackson Heights, Flushing, and Elmhurst are popular spots to visit the best local restaurants.

Popular Neighborhoods in Queens:

Queens is not known for its attractions, but rather for its neighborhood unique enclaves and communities. The borough’s neighborhoods have distinctive vibes, ranging from the glossy new towers of Long Island City to the cozier and tight-knit communities of central and eastern Queens. Some popular neighborhoods include:

What Are the Best Parks in Queens

Queens contains a number of large parks and recreation areas, including several public golf courses and a long stretch of wild beach. Some popular parks include:

  • Rockaway Beach

  • Forest Park

  • Astoria Park

  • Flushing Meadows Corona Park

  • Kissena Park

  • Alley Pond Park

Popular Neighborhoods
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