Long recognized for its Greek tavernas, Astoria has a thriving food scene with influences from the Middle East to Italy. There’s also plenty of beer at New York’s oldest beer garden and newer craft breweries. The Socrates Sculpture Park, the nearby Noguchi Museum, and the Museum of the Moving Image are formidable cultural destinations. The neighborhood’s Astoria Park is a green riverside oasis that includes a skate park and an enormous (free!) outdoor pool. All of this and a quick commute to Manhattan entice young professionals to this waterfront enclave.

Located Northeast of Downtown Jamaica, Cunningham Heights is situated in a unique, suburban area of Queens. The peaceful surrounding neighborhood, which boasts walkable streets lined with towering trees, allowing for a beautiful family-friendly atmosphere.

Everyone knows Flushing as home to the New York Mets and host of the U.S. Open. But dig a little deeper and there’s way more to this Queens neighborhood. Its cultural attractions alone include Queens Botanical Garden, the Queens Museum, the Queens Zoo, the New York Hall of Science, and the historic music venue of Flushing Town Hall. And foodies from near and far flock here for an explosion of cuisines from throughout China (the largest Chinatown in New York City is here) and beyond. For locals, there’s undoubtedly plenty to do, but you’ll also find numerous housing options, big-box retailers and small shops, and an easy commute around the city. 

Forest Hills, a leafy residential neighborhood in central Queens, has the feel of suburbia. Families have long fallen for its Tudor-style houses, particularly those in Forest Hills Gardens, the country’s first planned garden community. But the neighborhood offers a range of diverse housing options, in addition to green space, recreational pursuits, retail chains and local shops along Queens Boulevard, schools, and public transportation. Forest Hills Stadium, located at the beloved West Side Tennis Club, is a top venue for concerts and entertainment. 

Although Jackson Heights began as a private community for upper-middle-class Manhattanites, this north-central Queens neighborhood is now hailed as a multicultural mecca. Roosevelt Avenue’s vibrant food-truck scene even lured chef Anthony Bourdain to film an episode of his television show here. The fact that buildings are no higher than six stories further enhances the intimate feel of this global mosaic. While Jackson Heights feels a world away from Midtown, numerous train lines service the neighborhood and can deliver you into Manhattan within 20 minutes. 

Although it’s only 20 minutes from Midtown Manhattan, Kew Gardens has the essence of a village, complete with winding roads and hiking paths. The early 20^th century developers of this planned garden community intended just that. Today, coveted Tudor-style single-family homes mingle with apartment and condominium buildings, while local businesses and restaurants line a number of thoroughfares. Kew Gardens is situated between LaGuardia Airport and Kennedy International Airport, making it popular with frequent travelers. 

Longtime musical collaborators Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel grew up in brick rowhouses four blocks apart in Kew Gardens Hills. Musician Bob Dylan once lived here too. Home to Queens College (of which Jerry Seinfeld is an alum), the dense neighborhood attracts students as well as employees of the college and the businesses serving it. Kew Gardens Hills’ proximity to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park—with its green space, lakes, and cultural institutions such as the Queens Museum and the Queens Zoo—lends further desirability to this diverse residential neighborhood in central Queens. 

Over the past few decades, Long Island City, once an industrial center, has become one of New York’s most dynamic neighborhoods. Located just over the Queensboro Bridge—merely a walk, bike ride, or single train stop from Midtown East—it offers not only an easy commute, but also stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. But who needs Manhattan when you can stroll the riverfront’s Gantry Plaza State Park (home to the iconic Pepsi-Cola sign), visit MoMa PS1, check out the hip microbreweries, and eat at the many trendy restaurants. Proximity to Manhattan beckons lots of young professionals to the area, but its parks and cultural attractions make it a great place for families too. 

Like many residential neighborhoods in Queens, Rego Park has plenty of single-family homes, especially in the suburban-like Crescents area, as well as numerous apartment buildings. Local businesses dot 108th Street, while Rego Center, a quintessential mall, brings in shoppers from neighborhoods throughout central Queens and offers endless conveniences for locals. 

In the latter part of the nineteenth century, affluent Manhattanites flocked to Richmond Hill to live in Queen Anne-style Victorians in pastel hues. Families today still adore the homes’ preserved wraparound porches, pointy turrets, and pretty paint jobs. Forest Park’s forested trails, playgrounds, sports fields, sports courts, and dog runs are also a major draws. Plus, the neighborhood also hosts numerous multicultural festivals, especially in summertime.

Laidback Sunnyside, just a 15-minute subway ride from midtown Manhattan, is a favorite neighborhood for family-friendly living. You’ll know you’re there when you step off the No. 7 train at 46th Street and look up at the Art Deco-style Sunnyside Arch. Locals love the Sunnyside Greenmarket, while connoisseurs of Latinx culture appreciate the bilingual Thalia Spanish Theatre. A slew of residential amenities, lots of restaurants on Queens Boulevard and lively Skillman Avenue, and a small-town vibe make this western Queens neighborhood one of the borough’s most beloved.

Woodhaven offers a low-key lifestyle without sacrificing any of the benefits of its New York City location. With Forest Park and Forest Park Golf Course spanning its northern side and the Cypress Hills Cemetery at its northwest corner, the neighborhood has ample green space and recreational perks, including hiking trails, a running track, tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds, and dog runs. There is also an historic carousel in Forest Park as well as a bandshell. The diverse southwestern Queens neighborhood offers easy subway access, lively retail streets, and several schools.