Queens Neighborhoods Where No Group Is a Majority, and the Zoned Schools Beating Their Districts
A worked example: Queens neighborhoods where no one census group makes up half the residents, more of the residents are kids than in most of the city, and the zoned school outperforms its district.
This is a worked example, not a testimonial. Plenty of families want their kids to grow up around people who aren’t all like them. “Diverse” is a slippery word, so we used a number instead, ran it across every neighborhood in Queens, and then looked at the zoned schools there.
The rule we used
- No single group is a majority.We sort residents into five census groups — Hispanic or Latino of any race, and non-Hispanic White, Black, Asian and all others — and keep neighborhoods where none of them is 50% or more. The figures come from the American Community Survey 2018–2022 (table B03002, which counts Hispanic origin; our older measure didn’t).
- More kids than most.The share of residents under 18 is at or above the typical NYC neighborhood’s (about 21%).
Fifteen Queens neighborhoods pass, more than any other borough. Then we asked a second question of each: is there a public zoned school serving it that beats its district on the New York State ELA and math tests by at least 10 points, while the city estimates that at least 60% of its students face economic hardship? Here are three where the answer is yes.
Jamaica
In Jamaica, no group is more than 34% of residents, and 22% are under 18. Median asking rent is about $2,840. P.S. 95 Eastwoodaverages 72% proficiency across the state ELA and math tests, against an average of 55% across District 29’s schools, with an Economic Need Index of about 76.
Elmhurst
Elmhurst is close to the line: its largest group is 49% of residents. 21% are under 18, and median asking rent is about $2,500. Two zoned schools there clear the bar: P.S. 7 Louis F. Simeone at 84% proficiency and P.S. 102 Bayview at 71%, against 53% across District 24.
Far Rockaway–Bayswater
Far Rockaway–Bayswater has the largest share of kids on this list, 30%, and no group above 40%. Median asking rent is about $2,630. Wave Preparatory Elementary School averages 87% proficiency against 57% across District 27, with an Economic Need Index of about 83.
What the numbers can’t say
- Five broad groups hide a lot.“Asian” covers families from dozens of countries; “Black” covers Caribbean and African American neighbors alike. A neighborhood can pass this rule and still feel very much like one community on your block.
- It says nothing about how welcoming a place is.We have no data on that, so we don’t claim it. Walk the neighborhood, visit the schools, and talk to parents at pickup.
- Your zone is set by your address. Check it before you sign a lease.
- Census figures lag.They’re averages over 2018–2022, and neighborhoods change.
Run it yourself
The full list, and the rule each place met, is on the Queens neighborhoods page, along with all 21 Queens zoned schools that beat their district while serving high-need students. Our neighborhood search can narrow Queens to neighborhoods with one of those schools, and Best fit ranks what’s left by what your family weighs most. Both are free.
Numbers as of October 2026: census figures from the American Community Survey 2018–2022, state test results from the latest New York State tests on our school pages, and asking rents from listings.
