[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/pros-and-cons-of-living-in-queens\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/pros-and-cons-of-living-in-queens\/","headline":"Pros and Cons of Living in Queens","name":"Pros and Cons of Living in Queens","description":"Queens might not be as well-known as Manhattan or even Brooklyn, but there\u2019s a lot to love about […]","datePublished":"2024-10-31","dateModified":"2025-10-29","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/author\/kevin\/#Person","name":"Great Moving (Kevin)","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/author\/kevin\/","identifier":5,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b4997c379c86a878ffe0e2cbc54f56f2298ff0763e895fa10c13c22bfb54a237?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b4997c379c86a878ffe0e2cbc54f56f2298ff0763e895fa10c13c22bfb54a237?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NYC Great Movers","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nycgreatmovers-logo-20250918.png","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nycgreatmovers-logo-20250918.png","width":600,"height":363}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Pros-and-Cons-of-Living-in-Queens.webp","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Pros-and-Cons-of-Living-in-Queens.webp","height":1260,"width":2240},"url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/pros-and-cons-of-living-in-queens\/","about":["Moving Tips","Neighborhood Spotlights"],"wordCount":1324,"keywords":["Affordable Housing","Alley Pond Park","Astoria","Chinese immigration","Entertainment Options","Family Living","Great Food","Great Place for Families","Heavy Traffic","Jackson Heights","Living in Queens","Move to Queens","NYC Great Movers","NYC neighborhoods","Pros And Cons","Queens Subway Access","West Indian"],"articleBody":"Queens might not be as well-known as Manhattan or even Brooklyn, but there\u2019s a lot to love about it. Not only is it the largest in terms of size, it is also the most linguistically and ethnically diverse place in the world and the second most populous county in New York state, behind Kings County. Depending on what neighborhood you choose, you could enjoy a quiet suburban life or a bustling urban environment. Whatever you want, Queens has it all! But before you decide to pack your bags and move to Queens, there are some things you should know.Pros of Living in QueensPlenty of Housing OptionsUnlike Manhattan, Queens has plenty of space, and with it come easier opportunities to find an apartment or even buy a home. Of course, the more popular neighborhoods like Long Island City and Astoria tend to have much higher demand than locations like Kew Gardens due to their proximity to Manhattan and access to multiple subway lines. Still, unless you\u2019re renting a luxury apartment, you can still find apartments under $2,000 in almost every Queens neighborhood.\u00a0Speaking of housing, you can probably find yourself a house with a small yard in some parts of Queens. Of course, it might not be in the more hip locations, but if you want to own a piece of NYC real estate, there\u2019s no better place than Queens! NeighborhoodAvg. 1-Bedroom RentAvg. 2-Bedroom RentAvg. Home PriceNotesLong Island City$2,800$3,500$950,000High demand, close to ManhattanAstoria$2,400$3,000$850,000Popular among young professionalsKew Gardens$1,800$2,400$650,000More affordable, quieter areaFlushing$2,000$2,700$700,000Diverse community, great foodOzone Park$1,700$2,300$600,000Family-friendly, lower cost More AffordableWhile the cost of living in Queens is overall higher than the New York state average, it\u2019s considerably lower than in Manhattan and even in Brooklyn. Rents tend to be cheaper, as do home prices, depending on what neighborhood you decide to move to. Groceries and restaurants also trend a tad cheaper. Transportation costs might be where you end up paying more in Queens, though. Compared to other boroughs, Queens doesn\u2019t have as many subway stops, especially as you get deeper into the borough. Many residents own cars, so if you decide to move to one of these locations, be prepared to either own a car or find a place next to a subway stop or bus route.Great Place for FamiliesQueens is one of the best boroughs to raise a family. It offers lots of green spaces, including Flushing Meadows\/Corona Park, the fourth largest park in NYC, and home to the famous Unisphere. Of course, there are plenty of other smaller parks, including Alley Pond Park, the second-largest public park in Queens, which boasts beautiful woodlands and several bodies of water, including creeks, ponds, a lake, and fresh and saltwater marshes.\u00a0Besides the parks, Queens overall is significantly safer than the other NYC boroughs. Crime overall is much lower, with some neighborhoods having lower crime than the national average. The public school system is also highly ranked at 24th in the nation. The schools are known for their safety, academic performance, and quality teachers.Lots of Great FoodBeing the most diverse place in the world also means you get a very diverse food scene! You can grab a bite of almost every culture you can think of whether it\u2019s Greek or Chinese, or West Indian. You\u2019ll never run out of new things to try. Plus, local restaurant prices tend to be on the cheaper side in most Queens neighborhoods, especially the small hole-in-the-walls. While almost every neighborhood has a good mix of food options, you should go to the following places if you\u2019re hankering for a lot of options:Flushing – the current epicenter for Chinese immigration. If you\u2019re looking for some Chinese eats, walk along Roosevelt Avenue for some great options.\u00a0Jackson Heights\u00a0\u00a0– for those looking for authentic Indian food, Jackson Heights not only provides great restaurants but also a great selection of Indian spices.Richmond Hill and\/or Ozone Park – want a good roti? Then stop by one of these neighborhoods, as they are home to what people refer to as Little Guyana. While you\u2019re there, check out the many Chinese-Guyanese restaurants or the Trinidadian bakeries in the area.Astoria – if you\u2019re looking for a place that is convenient to Manhattan and has some great Greek food, then look no further than Astoria. Home to the second-largest Greek population outside of Greece, you can experience authentic Greek food from dolmas to souvlakisCons of Living in QueensLack of Subway AccessThere are a total of 81 subway stations throughout Queens. This might sound like a lot, but consider that Manhattan has 151 and Brooklyn has 170! While Queens does have more stations than the Bronx (70), the majority of stations in Queens are located on the western end of the borough. The further north and east you go, the fewer trains there are. In fact, some areas of Queens don\u2019t have any direct access to subway stations. While there are bus routes through these areas, it\u2019s not always a convenient option. Naturally, if you live in areas that do have access to the subway, you can expect to see higher rents and\/or home prices. NeighborhoodSubway AccessTraffic CongestionAverage Commute TimeNotesLong Island CityExcellentModerate30 minClose to Manhattan, many subway linesAstoriaGoodModerate35 minConvenient for Manhattan commutersFlushingLimitedHigh45 minFewer subway stops, heavy trafficKew GardensLimitedModerate40 minA bus is required for many routesFar East QueensPoorHigh50+ minLittle direct subway access, a car is often required  Heavy TrafficCompared to the rest of NYC, Queens has above-average car ownership, and almost everyone commutes to work. If you plan on doing the same, keep in mind that you\u2019ll be dealing with very heavy traffic during rush hour. The most common congestion points are the Belt Parkway, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and, of course, the Queensboro Bridge. Due to the high number of cars on the street, accident rates also tend to be higher in Queens.\u00a0Fewer Entertainment OptionsSure, Queens does have neighborhoods that offer plenty of amenities, including an active nightlife, but it\u2019s considered the suburbs of NYC for a reason. Bars and lounges tend to be much more subdued than in Manhattan, and the further east you go, the fewer options you\u2019ll have. There\u2019s also less overall entertainment to choose from, though that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t go to a movie theater or visit a local museum. Queens also has its own zoo and botanical garden, though it is much smaller than the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden.Get Ready for your Queen\u2019s Move!If you\u2019re looking to move to Queens, then you\u2019ll want to have a reliable NYC moving company to help! NYC Great Movers has moved hundreds of customers across every neighborhood in Queens. We offer basic moving services along with additional options like storage, packing, unpacking, and more! Give us a call and we\u2019ll help create a moving plan that meets your needs and budget.FAQ                    \t\t\t\tDo I need a car in Queens?                \t\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t\t\tIt depends on where you decide to move, but the further northeast you go, the fewer subway options you\u2019ll have available. If you move to Astoria or Long Island City, you can get around easily via public transportation. However, places like Pomonok only have bus routes.                                                        \t\t                    \t\t\t\tWhat is the best neighborhood to live in Queens?                \t\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t\t\tAsk yourself what you want from your neighborhood. If you\u2019re looking for short commute times to your job in Manhattan, then you\u2019ll definitely want to live in Astoria. If you\u2019re looking for a nice neighborhood to raise a family, then Forest Hills or Jackson Heights is the place to be.                                                        \t\t    {\t\t\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\t\t\"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\t\t\"mainEntity\": [\t\t\t\t{\t\t\t\t\"@type\": \"Question\",\t\t\t\t\"name\": \"Do I need a car in Queens?\",\t\t\t\t\"acceptedAnswer\": {\t\t\t\t\t\"@type\": \"Answer\",\t\t\t\t\t\"text\": \"It depends on where you decide to move, but the further northeast you go, the fewer subway options you\u2019ll have available. If you move to Astoria or Long Island City, you can get around easily via public transportation. 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