Thinking about moving to Queens? With over 2 million people in one of the largest NYC boroughs geographically, Queens is a diverse place to live and experience a variety of cuisines, cultural celebrations, and more. Explore the pros and cons of living in Queens, NY!
Pros of Living in Queens
If you love big city hustle with friendly neighborhood vibes, Queens is your kind of borough! Here are the best parts about living in Queens.
Pro: Many Job Opportunities
With an unemployment rate of 4.4%, Queens has a lively job market filled with a wide range of industries to choose from, including healthcare, education, and transportation. Care for your community at Jamaica or Long Island City Community Healthcare locations as a nurse practitioner, medical assistant, or care manager. Provide quality home healthcare for as a registered nurse, home health aide, or personal assistant with Quality Healthcare. Teach in Queens schools when you work for New York City Public Schools. Explore job fields in transportation, like engineering and architecture, information technology, project management, and more, with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Find a career with one of the largest airlines in the U.S., JetBlue, which is headquartered in Queens. Find your niche in environmental and energy programs, engineering, maintenance, and more at the JFK and LaGuardia airports. Or start your own business after applying for the Queens Tech + Innovation Challenge, presented by the Queens Economic Development Corporation, which provides online workshops, networking events, and a chance to receive a grant to fund your startup.
Pro: Diverse Community
People from all over the world have found their way to this eclectic NYC borough—this ethnic and social diversity has earned Queens a reputation as one of the most most ethnically diverse urban areas in the world. Stroll down Steinway Street or Astoria Boulevard to see an international array of enticing restaurants, interesting shops, and annual events like NYC Small Business Month, Steinway Street Art Walk, and NYC Open Culture “Spring Fling,” sponsored by the NYC Open Culture Program. Explore a melting pot of food vendors, artisans, and performers at the Queens Night Market. Looking for festivals in Queens? Watch over 40 Indian Nations participate in dance competitions, explore the market of authentic Native American food, art, jewelry, and more, and attend evening bonfires during the Annual Thunderbird American Indian Powwow. Celebrate the traditional Hindu Holi, or Festival of Colors, with dancing, live music, and more at the Phagwah Parade in Richmond Hill. Or attend the New Queens Pride Parade and Multicultural Festival, the second oldest and second largest pride parade in New York City, and to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
Pro: Great Schools in Queens
Parents can send their teens to some of the best high schools in Queens, like Townsend Harris High School, Queens High School For The Sciences At York College, or Bard High School Early College Queens. And older residents can find several colleges in Queens! Prepare for a career in high-demand sectors like technology, education, and healthcare at LaGuardia Community College, located in popular Queens neighborhood, Long Island City. Explore over 60 undergraduate majors, including biology, social work, and business, at York College. Choose from accredited programs for music, international studies, engineering science, and more at Queensborough Community College. Look into careers as a nurse, dental assistant, or medical assistant at St. Paul’s School of Nursing. Look to the wide range of majors at Queens College in Kew Gardens Hills, like earth and environmental studies, anthropology, and film studies. Or experience private education at the tranquil, nearly 102-acre Queens Campus of St. John’s University while studying journalism, data science, business law, and more.
Pro: Home to the NY Mets, NY Islanders, & More
Queens is home to the New York Mets (MLB), the baseball team New Yorkers either love or love to hate. If you catch a game while living in Queens, give yourself an extra hour to tour the Mets Hall of Fame and Museum, located within Citi Field. Cheer on the Queens College Knights (NCAA D-II) men’s and women’s basketball teams during games in the South Gym of Fitzgerald Gymnasium. Watch the New York Islanders (NHL) score hat tricks and dominate power plays at the UBS Arena. If tennis is more your thing, you’ll appreciate the proximity to the Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the U.S. Open. Or munch on authentic traditional Chinese food while participating in activities including dragon boat racing during the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, one of the largest dragon boat festivals in the U.S., in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Pro: Lush Outdoor Recreation
From sprawling green parks to lively waterfronts, you can escape the Concrete Jungle while living in Queens! Enjoy waterfront views of the East River while skating or cooling off in the splash pads at Astoria Park. Looking to go surfing in NYC? Head to Rockaway Beach, the only legal surfing spot in the Big Apple. Test your strength while rope-climbing, zip-lining, and bouldering at Alley Pond Park Adventure Course. Play a game of basketball, watch baseball, take in views of Little Neck Bay, or let your furry friend play with other pups at Crocheron Park. Go fishing, picnic under the shade of weeping willows and dozens of other exotic tree species, or play a round of golf on the Kissena Golf Course at Kissena Park. Or go horseback riding, play handball, or catch a live performance at the George Seuffert, Sr Bandshell in the 506-acre Forest Park.
Pro: Inviting Museums
Looking for things to do in Queens? Peruse art exhibitions like the World’s Fair Collection, The Panorama of the City of New York, and more, and attend events like ArtAccess Open Studios or monthly family days at the Queens Museum. View works of local and rotating artists through exhibits like The Fault of Formation, Teen Art Salon: A Protospective, and more at MoMA PS 1. Try out The Big Bubble Experiment, discover how energy is generated, and more at the New York Hall of Science. Stroll through the Sculpture Garden and learn about the works of Isamu Noguchi at the Noguchi Museum. Visit the home of jazz music’s most revered son, and learn about his influence on music and his home life at the Louis Armstrong House Museum. Or catch sight of the Chewbacca mask at the historic television and film studio, Museum of the Moving Image.
Pro: Family-Friendly Borough
A popular NYC borough, Queens provides plenty to do for kids and families looking for entertainment. Catch jazz in Queens when you take the kids to the Thursday Night Jazz Series, or attend the annual Queens International Children’s Festival, hosted by the Jamaica Performing Arts Center. Find year-round fun with attractions like the Bloom Festival, Queens County Fair, the Pumpkin Patch, and more at Queens County Farm Museum. Cool off under the spray shower jets, play a match of tennis, or picnic on the greens at Astoria Heights Playground. Stroll through Queens Zoo to catch the Andean bear playing, sea lion feedings, or to sign your kids up for the Little Explorers Program. Let the kids test out the Corona Cobra Coaster, Twirling Teacups, and more amusement rides at Fantasy Forest. Or take the kids for a stroll along Hunters Point South Park to admire NYC’s skyline and waterfront, play on the playgrounds, and rest in the 13,000-square-foot pavilion.
Pro: Distinct Dining Options
With diverse populations come a variety of places to eat in Queens! Attend the annual Taste of Sunnyside festival to sample food from various Queens restaurants, and take pics at the photo booth, listen to live entertainment, or check out the art fair during the simultaneous block party. Share an order of Calamar Frito, Salmon al Horno, Bandera, and more traditional Ecuadorian cuisine at Rincon Melania. Savor Carne Empanadas, Bife Caballo, and other Paraguayan dishes at I Love Paraguay. Get your seafood fix with Grilled Seasoned Bronzini, Hamido Seafood Pizza, Tiger Shrimp, and other Mediterranean-inspired dishes from the family-owned Hamido Seafood. Try Ginisang Mungo, Beef Tapa, Lechon Kawali, and more home-style Filipino bites from Renee’s Kitchenette & Grill. Fill up on Mango Sticky Rice, Southern Jungle Curry, Herbal Spicy Chicken, and other comforting Thai plates at Khao Kang. Or grab an order of Fried Momo, Thenthuk, or Shogo Khatsa from the popular Tibetan eatery Phayul.
Cons of Living in Queens
Though this NYC borough is packed with pros, there are still some downsides to moving to Queens. Here are the cons of living in Queens.
Con: High Cost of Living
If you’re planning on moving to Queens from states where the cost of living is lower than most areas, you’re going to experience higher prices. The cost of living in New York is 30% higher than the national average, and this NYC borough is no exception. The cost of living in Queens is higher than the national average by 41%, with housing costs playing a key factor. However, Queens is still significantly less expensive to live in than Manhattan or Brooklyn, while still offering a prime location among the hustle and bustle of NYC.
Con: Heavy Traffic
Queens has above-average car ownership and people who commute to work, meaning you’ll be faced with a lot of traffic while living in Queens. Belt Parkway traffic can set you back, especially during rush hours, and you’ll want to be cautious as 29% of NYC traffic accidents happen in Queens. On the bright side, there are plenty of expressways to pick from, like I-678 running north and south and I-495 running east and west. While traffic can be unpleasant, it’s common for big cities, and the trade off is having tons to do within reach.
Con: Spotty Public Transit
While a majority of Queens is connected with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), you’ll find fewer stops and longer commutes in Queens’ northeastern neighborhoods. If you’re living in Queens and plan to commute to other NYC boroughs for work or school, choose a neighborhood with more accessible public transportation. However, if you find a spot along a bus route, you can enjoy an easy commute in NYC. Additionally, Queens residents can get around without driving or taking public transit. Rent a bike from the Citi Bike Share program, or get your steps in and enjoy Queens’ walkability.
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This post was originally published 07/30/2020 and last revised on 02/20/2024 with updated information.
