Queens, NY Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Queens, NY

Is Queens, NY safe in 2026?

Queens is broadly considered one of New York City's more livable boroughs, though safety varies significantly by neighborhood. With a population of approximately 2.4 million people spread across a density of roughly 8,500 residents per square mile, Queens is one of the most densely populated urban areas in the United States. Neighborhoods like Forest Hills, Bayside, and Douglaston consistently earn strong safety grades, while areas closer to high-traffic commercial corridors tend to see elevated incident rates. The borough's overall crime profile is comparable to similarly dense urban environments — property crime accounts for the majority of reported incidents, while violent crime rates remain lower relative to population size. Checking the Queens crime map regularly gives residents and visitors the most current picture of conditions in specific ZIP codes and precincts.

What is the crime rate in Queens, NY?

Queens' crime rate, when adjusted for its population of over 2.4 million, is moderate relative to other large U.S. urban centers. Property crimes — including petit larceny, vehicle theft, and burglary — make up the largest share of reported incidents, typically accounting for well over 60% of all offenses recorded across the borough's precincts. Violent crimes such as robbery and assault represent a smaller but meaningful portion of the total, concentrated in specific high-density corridors rather than spread evenly across all 28 NYPD precincts that serve Queens. On a letter-grade scale, Queens as a whole earns roughly a C+ for overall crime relative to national urban benchmarks — better than many comparable-density cities, but with pockets that grade as low as D and standout neighborhoods that achieve an A or B. Year-over-year trends through 2025 showed modest declines in grand larceny auto and burglary, while transit-related incidents remained a focus for NYPD enforcement.

Which neighborhoods in Queens have the highest crime rates?

Crime in Queens is not evenly distributed across its more than 100 distinct neighborhoods. Areas including Jamaica, South Jamaica, Far Rockaway, and parts of Corona and Jackson Heights tend to record higher incident densities, particularly for robbery, assault, and property theft. These neighborhoods often correspond to precincts that earn a C or D grade when measured against citywide averages. High foot traffic, proximity to major transit hubs, and economic stress factors all contribute to elevated numbers in these zones. The Queens crime map allows users to filter by incident type — for example, isolating vehicle break-ins versus felony assault — so that the data is actionable rather than just alarming. If you live or work near Jamaica Center or the Rockaways, setting up precinct-level alerts through NYPD's CompStat resources is a practical step.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Queens?

Several Queens neighborhoods stand out for low crime rates and strong community cohesion. Bayside, Douglaston-Little Neck, Forest Hills, and Whitestone consistently earn A or B safety grades, with incident rates well below the borough average on both violent and property crime metrics. Flushing, while busier and more commercially dense, benefits from active community policing and earns a solid B overall — though pickpocketing and petit larceny around the Main Street corridor keep it from reaching the top tier. Fresh Meadows and Oakland Gardens are also frequently cited as family-friendly, lower-crime areas. At a population density of 8,500+ per square mile borough-wide, these neighborhoods achieve their safety grades partly through active neighborhood watch programs and relatively lower transient foot traffic compared to western Queens hubs.

How does Queens' crime rate compare to the rest of New York City?

Compared to the five boroughs, Queens generally ranks in the middle of the pack — safer than the Bronx and parts of Brooklyn on a per-capita basis, but with more crime than Staten Island and select Manhattan neighborhoods. When normalized for population density (Queens sits at approximately 8,503 people per square mile), the borough's violent crime rate earns roughly a B- relative to similarly dense national metros. Property crime, however, grades closer to a C, driven by high volumes of larceny in commercial and transit-adjacent zones. The NYPD's 109th, 112th, and 111th Precincts — covering Flushing, Forest Hills, and Bayside respectively — routinely post some of the lowest major-felony numbers in the city, while the 103rd and 113th Precincts in Jamaica and South Jamaica see higher per-capita incident counts. This precinct-level variation is exactly why a granular crime map is more useful than borough-wide averages alone.

What types of crime are most common in Queens?

Across Queens' precincts, petit larceny is consistently the single most reported offense category, reflecting the borough's dense retail corridors and busy transit network. Grand larceny — including package theft and vehicle break-ins — is the second most prevalent property crime type. Together, larceny offenses typically account for approximately 50–55% of all reported incidents in any given reporting period. Burglary and grand larceny auto each contribute roughly 8–12% of the total, with auto theft seeing fluctuations tied to keyless-entry vulnerabilities in newer vehicle models. Violent crimes — robbery, felony assault, and rape — collectively represent closer to 20–25% of reported major felonies, a share that is meaningful but lower than the property-crime majority. Fraud and identity theft, while underreported, are a growing concern particularly in neighborhoods with large senior populations such as Flushing and Bayside. Understanding this breakdown helps residents prioritize protective measures: securing vehicles and packages addresses the statistically largest risk categories in most of Queens.

Is Queens a good place to live in 2026?

For most people, yes — Queens offers a compelling combination of cultural diversity, relatively affordable housing (compared to Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn), and strong transit connectivity. The borough's population of 2.4 million across neighborhoods as distinct as Astoria, Flushing, Long Island City, and the Rockaways means there is genuine variety in lifestyle, density, and safety profile. Families prioritizing safety often gravitate toward the northeastern neighborhoods — Bayside, Douglaston, and Fresh Meadows — where crime grades hover between A- and B+. Young professionals frequently choose Astoria and Long Island City for their proximity to Manhattan, accepting a slightly lower safety grade of around B in exchange for convenience. The key is using data tools like the Queens crime map to evaluate specific blocks and precincts rather than relying on borough-wide generalizations. With informed neighborhood selection and standard urban safety habits, Queens remains a highly livable choice in 2026.