When people think about NYC, usually, they don’t think about affordability. And for a good reason: living almost anywhere in NYC is quite expensive, whether you rent or buy. However, the dream of living in an affordable home or apartment in NYC isn’t impossible. Some neighborhoods are pretty reasonable, and most of them can be found in Queens. You can find an inexpensive place to live, even in NYC, if you know where to look. To help you out with this, we have decided to put together a list of the six most affordable Queens neighborhoods to move to, and we hope you find it helpful.
1. Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens is a small gem in the middle of Queens. Unlike most places in NYC, Kew Gardens has a small-town feel. It is home to plenty of lush greenery, and the apartment buildings here blend perfectly with the surrounding houses. When it comes to local attractions, Kew Gardens has Forest Park and the only “working bridge” in NYC. This bridge is home to dozens of small mom-and-pop shops and eateries, many of which have worked on the bridge for decades. The median home price in Kew Gardens is $368,000, while the median rent price is $1,999 per month. Kew Gardens is a great place to settle down if you want to live affordably and enjoy some nature while you’re at it. Although, if you plan to buy a home here, you should also consider what to buy first for your home and everything else you will need later.
2. Briarwood
Briarwood, another quiet Queens neighborhood on the list, has a distinct, suburban feel, despite being bordered by Van Wyck Expressway and Grand Central Parkway. You can find standalone houses and duplexes alongside large apartment complexes built on tree-lined streets. If you’re looking for a peaceful environment, you can’t go wrong with Briarwood. When it comes to affordability, Briarwood is even cheaper than Kew Gardens. The median house price is $310,999, and the median rent is $1,785. Still, if you plan to move here, remember to look for reliable local movers to help you get there easily. Local movers can make sure your belongings arrive safe and on time without issues.
3. Flushing
Flushing is probably the most interesting of affordable Queens neighborhoods if we’re talking about local attractions. This neighborhood is home to the Queens Botanical Garden, Flushing Town Hall, Citi Field, Queens Historical Society, and Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The Flushing Meadows Corona Park is one of the biggest parks in the city, and it boasts two lakes within it. And for music lovers, the Flushing Town Hall holds concerts relatively often. Price-wise, the median home price in Flushing is $373,000, while the median rent is $1,950 monthly, making renting much more desirable here. While nowhere near as expensive as the rest of NYC, housing in Flushing tends to be more on the expensive side, which is overall one of the reasons why two-thirds of New Yorkers rent.
4. Rego Park
Rego Park is one of the more expensive neighborhoods on this list, but it still made it. When going down Queens Boulevard, you might think that Massive shopping centers dominate Rego Park, and to an extent, this is true. This neighborhood has some of the best shopping options in Queens. However, this neighborhood is pretty peaceful away from the main commercial strip. In addition, recent development efforts in the area have led to many new apartment buildings. Price-wise, the median home price in Rego Park is $381,750, while the median rent is $2,200. So, while not as cheap as other neighborhoods on this list, it’s still reasonably affordable compared to the rest of NYC. Also, finding reliable movers can take a while, so start your search early.
5. Forest Hills
As a community that has fostered some great talents through its existence, it might be a surprise that Forest Hills is on a list of the most affordable Queen’s neighborhoods. From Forest Hills, we got great artists such as Simon & Garfunkel, the Ramones, and fashion designer Donna Karan to name only a few. Meanwhile, Forest Hills is also full of great shops and eateries, and all the while, it remains a very affordable neighborhood. The median home price here is $389,000, and the median rent is $2,100 monthly. You might have to give up some decorations for your apartment and embrace minimalist design ideas, but it’s still not very expensive compared to most other neighborhoods in NYC.
6. Ridgewood
Ridge is, by far, the most expensive neighborhood on this list. However, this is for a good reason, as it is an excellent comparison to what Park Slope was like before the prices skyrocketed. And even though it’s the most expensive neighborhood on this list, it’s still half as expensive as most other places in NYC. There is a very diverse range of shops and eateries in Ridgewood, and it is home to several historical landmarks such as the Vander Ende-Onderdonk House. Here, the median home price is $619,000, while the monthly median rent is $2,546, making it somewhat expensive but still reasonable for NYC.
6 most affordable Queens neighborhoods to move to – conclusion
NYC isn’t the city that pops into mind when we mention living affordably. And yet, there are some neighborhoods where you can live comfortably and affordably. Many of these places are in Queens, and they are very accessible to almost anyone. We hope you found this list of the most affordable Queens neighborhoods to move to helpful, and we wish you luck with finding your new place.