Queens is the largest borough in New York City by area and the most diverse county in the United States, home to roughly 2.4 million people across neighborhoods that share a name and almost nothing else. A waterfront block of single-family homes in Bayside and a dense commercial corridor in Long Island City both count as “Queens,” which is why asking “is Queens safe?” gets you an answer that’s useless in practice.
This guide breaks down the safest neighborhoods in Queens for 2026, using NYPD crime data and neighborhood-level statistics rather than reputation, rent, or which areas happen to be trending. BSS is a security company that has spent four decades securing residential and commercial buildings across the borough.
Alongside the rankings, you’ll find a practical look at what actually makes a neighborhood safe, and what residents, property owners, and businesses can do about it. If you want the other side of the picture, our companion guide covers the most dangerous neighborhoods in NYC.
And if you’re comparing across the city, we’ve mapped the safest neighborhoods in Brooklyn and the safest neighborhoods in the Bronx as well.
How We Measure Queens Safety
“Safe” is only meaningful when it’s tied to data. For this guide, neighborhood rankings draw on two sources: NYPD CompStat figures, which track major crimes by police precinct, and neighborhood-level crime rates expressed per 1,000 residents so areas of different sizes can be compared fairly.
Across Queens as a whole, the crime rate sits at roughly 23.39 incidents per 1,000 residents in a typical year, earning the borough a C+ safety grade and a spot near the middle of the pack nationally (CrimeGrade.org). But a borough-wide number hides enormous variation. Geography is the clearest divide: the northeast section of Queens reports the fewest crimes of any part of the borough, around 2,795 a year, while the northwest reports the most, roughly 14,283 (CrimeGrade.org). The safest neighborhoods cluster in the east and northeast, where density is lower and owner-occupied housing is more common.
Key stat: The northeast section of Queens reports about 2,795 crimes a year, roughly one-fifth the total of the northwest’s 14,283, the single clearest reason the safest neighborhoods concentrate in the east of the borough (CrimeGrade.org).
A few caveats worth keeping in mind as you read. Crime data is a lagging indicator. It tells you what already happened, which is not the same as what comes next. Numbers also shift block by block; the safest stretch of a neighborhood can sit a few avenues from its roughest. And reported crime undercounts total crime. Treat the rankings below as a starting point, not a guarantee.
“People ask me which Queens neighborhood is safest, and my honest answer is that the question is too broad. Safety is hyper-local. Two buildings on the same block can have completely different risk profiles depending on access control, lighting, and whether anyone is actually watching the front door. The data points you to the right neighborhoods. The building itself does the rest.” – Craig Battle, NY Branch Manager, Building Security Services
The 9 Safest Neighborhoods in Queens (2026)
These neighborhoods consistently rank at the top across NYPD precinct data and independent crime-grading sources. They cluster in northeast and southeast Queens, areas with lower density, more owner-occupied housing, and a stronger community presence. Where it helps, we’ve noted the NYPD precinct that covers each one, since precinct-level CompStat data is the most direct way to compare them.
1. Bayside
The borough’s safety benchmark. Bayside pairs waterfront single-family homes, strong schools, and a settled residential core with some of the lowest violent-crime numbers in all of New York City. Covered by the NYPD’s 111th Precinct, one of the lowest-crime precincts in the city, it’s the neighborhood most consistently named at the top of Queens safety rankings and a perennial favorite with families.
2. Douglaston
Tucked into the far northeast corner of Queens, Douglaston is a low-density enclave of detached homes, mature trees, and quiet, winding streets. Also under the 111th Precinct, it posts some of the highest safety scores in the borough, helped by high owner occupancy and a residential layout that keeps through-traffic and transient foot traffic low.
3. Little Neck
Adjacent to Douglaston and cut from the same cloth, Little Neck sits on the Nassau County line and feels closer to suburban Long Island than to the rest of the city. Its single-family homes, low density, and long-tenured community keep crime among the lowest in Queens, and it shares the 111th Precinct’s strong safety record.
4. Forest Hills
The safe neighborhood at the borough’s center. Forest Hills, and especially the planned garden community of Forest Hills Gardens developed in 1909, combines Tudor architecture, winding tree-lined streets, and a low transient population that keeps opportunistic crime down. Covered by the 112th Precinct, it has been a top-five entry in Queens safety rankings for years while staying genuinely lively and walkable.
5. Auburndale
Wedged between Flushing and Bayside, Auburndale is a quiet residential neighborhood known for its excellent public schools and family appeal. It falls under the 111th Precinct alongside Bayside and Douglaston, and it reports crime well below the borough average, which is why it shows up on nearly every safest-in-Queens list.
6. Fresh Meadows
A planned residential neighborhood in east-central Queens, Fresh Meadows offers garden apartments, single-family homes, and a suburban feel inside the city. Covered by the 107th Precinct, it combines low density with a stable, long-settled population, and it consistently grades among the safest pockets of the borough.
7. Whitestone
A waterfront neighborhood in the borough’s north, Whitestone is dominated by single-family homes, high owner occupancy, and quiet residential blocks. Under the 109th Precinct, its low-density layout and settled community keep crime volume among the lowest in northern Queens.
8. Laurelton
The safe anchor of southeast Queens. Laurelton is a residential neighborhood of detached homes and deep-rooted homeownership, with a tight, long-tenured community that keeps blocks familiar and turnover low. It falls under the NYPD’s 116th Precinct, the department’s newest command, opened in late 2024 to serve southeast Queens, and it consistently ranks among the safest neighborhoods in that part of the borough.
9. Bellerose
On the Queens–Nassau border, Bellerose is a small, suburban-feeling neighborhood of single-family homes and manicured blocks. Also under the 105th Precinct, its low density, high owner occupancy, and quiet streets land it on safest-neighborhood lists year after year.
Safest Queens Neighborhoods at a Glance
| Neighborhood | Area of Queens | NYPD Precinct | Standout safety signal | Relative affordability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayside | Northeast | 111th | Among lowest violent crime in NYC | Moderate |
| Douglaston | Northeast | 111th | Top borough safety scores | Higher |
| Little Neck | Northeast | 111th | Low-density, suburban feel | Moderate |
| Forest Hills | Central | 112th | Low transient population | Higher |
| Auburndale | Northeast | 111th | Below-average crime, top schools | Moderate |
| Fresh Meadows | East-central | 107th | Planned, stable community | Moderate |
| Whitestone | North | 109th | High owner occupancy | Higher |
| Laurelton | Southeast | 116th | Safest anchor of SE Queens | Lower |
| Bellerose | East (border) | 105th | Low-density, suburban feel | Moderate |
What About Astoria and Sunnyside?
Two neighborhoods come up constantly in “safest Queens” lists that don’t appear in ours: Astoria and Sunnyside. Both are popular, walkable, and feel safe day to day, and they’re genuinely good places to live. But on the numbers, they land mid-pack, not at the top. Both sit in the northwest section of Queens, the part of the borough that reports the most crime overall (CrimeGrade.org).
That gap between “feels safe and is trendy” and “posts the lowest crime numbers” is exactly why we rank on data rather than popularity. If lowest measured crime is your priority, the northeast and southeast neighborhoods above outperform them.
What Actually Makes a Queens Neighborhood Safe
Crime statistics describe the outcome. They don’t explain the cause. After four decades protecting buildings across Queens, we see the same factors separate safe blocks from struggling ones, and most of them have little to do with the neighborhood’s reputation.
- Density and “eyes on the street.” Neighborhoods where residents know each other and use the sidewalks tend to deter opportunistic crime. Isolation and vacancy do the opposite.
- Owner occupancy. Areas with more owner-occupied homes, like Douglaston, Little Neck, and Bellerose, tend to have residents personally invested in the block’s condition.
- Access control at the building level. A secured entrance, a staffed front desk, and a clear policy on who gets in matter more to a resident’s day-to-day safety than the borough-wide crime rate.
- Lighting and visibility. Well-lit entrances, lobbies, and parking areas remove the cover that opportunistic crime depends on.
- Active presence. A visible security or doorman presence is one of the most reliable deterrents there is, and it’s the single factor a building can change fastest.
- Package handling. Porch piracy is now one of the most common property crimes in safe neighborhoods, where unattended deliveries pile up in lobbies and entryways. A secured vestibule, a package room, or a front-desk attendant who signs for deliveries removes the easiest target on the block.
“The neighborhoods at the top of these lists didn’t get there by accident, and they don’t stay there passively. The buildings invest in it: controlled access, professional front-desk staff, real lighting, patrols that actually patrol. Safety is something you maintain, not something you inherit from your zip code.” – Amanda DeAlmeida, Executive VP, Building Security Services
Safety for Residents, Property Owners, and Businesses
Whether you’re choosing where to rent, managing a residential building, or running a business in Queens, “the neighborhood is safe” is only the first layer. Here’s how to think about the layers you control.
If you’re renting or buying
Look past the listicle ranking and evaluate the building itself. Is the entrance secured? Is there a doorman or front-desk presence? Where do deliveries go, and can anyone walk in off the street and take them? Are common areas, hallways, and parking well lit? Visit after dark. A safe neighborhood with a poorly secured building still leaves you exposed.
If you own or manage property
Building security is both a safety measure and a leasing advantage, since tenants increasingly expect controlled access and a professional presence. Depending on the property, that can mean residential security services, a residential security patrol, or a staffed doorman service. For commercial buildings, the calculus is similar but the stakes (liability, foot traffic, after-hours access) are higher; see our commercial security services.
If you run a business
Retail, healthcare, and mixed-use operators in Queens face their own risk profile, and a safe neighborhood doesn’t eliminate the need for coverage during open hours, deliveries, and closing. Options range from on-site guards to mobile patrol for properties that don’t need a full-time post.
“We’ve been securing buildings in Queens and across New York for more than 40 years. What’s changed is the expectation. Residents and tenants now treat professional security as a baseline, not a luxury. The neighborhoods that feel safest are usually the ones where the buildings took that seriously a long time ago.” — Joseph Ferdinando, Founder, Building Security Services
BSS provides security personnel across Queens and the wider city. If you’re weighing options for a specific building or block, our Queens security services page lays out coverage, and you can see borough-wide crime context on our NYC crime statistics page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the safest neighborhood in Queens?
Bayside is consistently ranked among the safest neighborhoods in Queens, with some of the lowest violent-crime numbers in New York City. Douglaston, Little Neck, and Forest Hills also rank near the top. The northeast section of Queens, covered largely by the NYPD’s 111th Precinct, is generally the safest part of the borough.
Is Queens safe to live in?
Parts of Queens are very safe, and parts are not. Queens’ borough-wide crime rate is roughly middle-of-the-pack nationally, but it varies widely by area. Northeast and southeast neighborhoods like Bayside, Douglaston, Fresh Meadows, and Laurelton post crime rates well below the borough average and are popular with families and professionals.
What is the safest and most affordable Queens neighborhood?
Laurelton and Auburndale tend to offer the best balance of safety and affordability. Both report below-average crime while costing considerably less than higher-end neighborhoods like Forest Hills, Douglaston, and Whitestone.
Which part of Queens has the lowest crime?
The northeast section of Queens is generally the safest, reporting the fewest crimes of any part of the borough, roughly one-fifth the total of the northwest. The southeast neighborhoods around Laurelton and Bellerose are also among the lowest-crime areas in Queens.
Is Astoria one of the safest neighborhoods in Queens?
Astoria is popular and feels safe day to day, but on the numbers it lands mid-pack rather than at the top. It sits in the northwest section of Queens, which reports the most crime in the borough overall. Neighborhoods in the northeast and southeast post lower measured crime rates.
Does a safe neighborhood mean I don’t need building security?
No. Neighborhood-level safety and building-level safety are different things. A low-crime neighborhood reduces risk, but controlled access, lighting, and a professional security or front-desk presence are what protect residents and tenants day to day. A safe area with a poorly secured building still leaves people exposed.
The Bottom Line
Queens is too varied to sum up in one number. Neighborhoods like Bayside, Douglaston, and Little Neck anchor the safe northeast, Forest Hills leads the borough’s center, and the southeast enclaves of Laurelton and Bellerose offer suburban calm inside the city. The data points you to the right neighborhoods. The building you live in, manage, or operate is where safety is actually won or lost.
Building Security Services has protected residential and commercial properties across Queens for more than 40 years. If you’re a property owner, manager, or business deciding how to secure a building in the borough, request a free quote and we’ll help you put the right coverage in place.
