Apartments for Rent in Queens, NY, No Fee Rentals - 850 Rentals | RentHop (2024)

Atmosphere of Queens

While Queens has been slower to gentrify than its neighbors, it’s catching up quick. New apartment complexes are popping up everywhere, especially close to Manhattan. These residences are attracting new New Yorkers and businesses to Queens like never before. This younger group of professionals, artists, and entrepreneurs are transforming Queens into the new, hip borough.

If you’re a foodie, Queens is the place to be. The borough is known for its authentic cuisines from Thai to Greek. Queens, as the most diverse urban area in the country, truly masters its food meaning it's all authentic and delicious.

Transportation Options in Queens

The public transportation system of New York City is expansive and reliable. That said, the subways in Queens don’t service the full borough. In many neighborhoods, cars are required for transportation, or a healthy patience for the bus is needed. Queens has the reputation of resembling suburbia, and when you get far enough out into the borough, you understand why.

In the outer parts of the borough, The Long Island Railroad (LIRR) is commonly used to get to Manhattan; there are 23 LIRR stations in Queens. For those close to the East River, there are a few more options, Queens Plaza (access to the E, M, and R trains) and The Jackson Heights-Roosevelt stop (access to the E, F, M, R, and 7 trains as well as busses to LaGuardia).

The last decade saw a dramatic increase in NYC support for bikers. Queens has seen countless new miles of bike lanes over the last few years. Citi Bike, however, doesn’t go too deep into Queens, mostly stopping once you hit Jackson Heights. That said, biking is still a great option if you have the means, especially when there are no direct subway lines to your destination.

Queens Safety

Queens is one of the safest places in New York City. Out of the top 20 safest neighborhoods in NYC, Queens has 9 of them, with Manhattan only having six that make the list. That said, violent crime is rare no matter where you go in The Big Apple.

Queens has a ton of Hospitals with some of the best being The Queens Hospital Center and New York Presbyterian Queens. Queens has world class facilities for any situation that might arise.

Neighborhoods in Queens

• Astoria: Known for its Greek cultural roots, this neighborhood is home to the Museum of the Moving Image.
• Jackson Heights: A multicultural wonderland and host of the Queens Pride Parade.
• Long Island City: Named a residential neighborhood in 2001, many art galleries are popping up in this area.
• Sunnyside: Home to the Thalia Hispanic Theater.
• Bayside: Known for its large homes, Bayside is considered one of the nicest neighborhoods in Queens.
• Flushing: Home to NYC’s largest Chinatown and the Queens Botanical Gardens.
• Bellerose: A neighborhood with a quiet, suburban feel.
• College Point: Known for its marina, this neighborhood is extremely family friendly.
• Douglaston/Little Neck: A quiet neighborhood that’s good for retired folks.
• Pomonok: Sports large public housing projects.
• Fresh Meadows: Affordable housing with a quiet suburban feel.
• Glen Oaks: The easternmost neighborhood in Queens.
• Whitestone: The northernmost neighborhood in Queens.
• Briarwood: One of the most popular neighborhoods in Queens due to its accessibility.
• Corona: Former home of Louis Armstrong.
• Elmhurst: One of the oldest neighborhoods in Queens with a ton of surviving architecture.
• Forest Hill: Home to Station Square, this neighborhood sports tons of clothing and factory outlets.
• Glendale: Lined with stylish houses, this neighborhood has been called a “haven from the hustle and bustle” by the New York Times.
• Kew Garden: A low-key, family friendly neighborhood.
• Maspeth: Surrounded by industrial buildings, this neighborhood feels separate from the rest of Queens.
• Middle Village: Home to the Middle Village Veterans Triangle.
• Rego Park: A quiet part of Queens with a small town feel.
• Ridgewood: A diverse, energetic area with a ton of great food.
• Woodside: A diverse community full of friendly faces.
• Hollis: Though a bit out of the way, it’s one of the nicest, more affordable places in Queens.
• Jamaica: A huge hub for commercial and retail.
• Queens Village: A quiet, diverse suburb.
• Ozone Park: Home of Resorts World Casino New York City.
• Richmond Hill: A large, bustling commercial district.
• Woodhaven: A diverse neighborhood full of single family homes.
• The Rockaways: A large beach community broken into several smaller neighborhoods and sections.

Act Like a Local in Queens

• Take the train out to Citi Field and cheer for the Mets at their stadium. Have a drink and try to catch one of those long balls!
• Check out Chinatown in Flushing and make sure to sample some amazing dumplings while you’re at it.
• MoMA PS1 always has an amazing and cutting-edge show to check out plus it’s in a beautiful Romanesque Revival style building.
• Lay out in the grass at Socrates Sculpture Park; enjoy the art and the outdoors and the incredible view of Manhattan.
• Interested in film? Check out the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria!

Fun Facts and History of Queens

Queens was established in 1683, after the English conquered the colony of New Amsterdam in 1664. One of the 12 original New York provinces, Queens is responsible for one of the first legal tolerance laws in the region, The Flushing Remonstrance of 1657, meant to voice concern over the persecution of Quakers.

In 1897, the citizens of Queens voted to become part of the greater city of New York, splitting from the eastern Nassau County in 1899, though many of the neighborhood's borders are still a bit fuzzy with their Long Island counterparts. Afterward, Queens was largely a suburban refuge in the east, an immigrant haven in the north west, and a region of industry in the south west.

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