Categories
Non-residential. Rikers Island is NYC's main jail complex in the East River between Queens and the Bronx. The city plans to close the facility.
Non-residential. Rikers Island is NYC's main jail complex in the East River between Queens and the Bronx. The city plans to close the facility.
Did you know?
Rikers Island was expanded from 87 acres to over 400 acres using landfill — much of the fill came from excavating the subway tunnels in the early 1900s.
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
Family scores
Not scored. Fewer than 1,000 people live here, so we don't rank it against residential neighborhoods.
How this is scored→Your family’s read
How does Rikers Island fit your family?
An agentic read of this neighborhood — including safety and cost of living — tailored to your priorities, family size, budget, and commute.
Analyze for My FamilySchools & early education
Schools1 school
Rikers Island runs lean on traditional schooling — there's just one option here, East River Academy, which serves the island's detained population. For families with school-age children looking in this direction, the borough's other neighborhoods offer a much deeper bench of public, charter, and private options. This isn't the spot for picking a school zone.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Transportation1 stop
Rikers Island has virtually no transit to speak of — a single bus stop at Rikers Island Rdwy is your only link to the outside world, and there are no subway stations within anything like a reasonable distance. Getting to Manhattan means a lengthy multi-leg journey involving that bus plus transfers. This is less a commuter's neighborhood and more an institutional island, so transit access really isn't the point here.
Restaurants2 places
Dining options on Rikers Island itself are essentially nonexistent — this is a corrections facility, not a residential commercial district. The nearest restaurant scene is across the water in East Elmhurst, where you'll find a small cluster of casual spots. For any real restaurant variety, you'd need to head deeper into the Bronx or across to Jackson Heights in Queens, which offers a much stronger food scene.
Schools in Rikers Island
1
Early education in Rikers Island
1
Frequently Asked Questions
- How are the schools in Rikers Island?
- Rikers Island has 1 school mapped inside its boundary.
- Which borough is Rikers Island in?
- Rikers Island is a neighborhood in Bronx, New York City.
Want personalized insights for your family?
Sign in to get an agentic neighborhood analysis — including safety and cost of living — tailored to your priorities, family size, budget, and commute.