Motley
Far Rockaway-Bayswater, Queens

Far Rockaway-Bayswater

At A Glance

Far Rockaway-Bayswater sits at the eastern end of the Rockaways with beachfront access, affordable housing, and growing development.

Did you know?

Far Rockaway's Beach Channel Drive was originally a railroad trestle built in 1880 — the street literally sits on the old rail bed.

Neighborhood Stats

29
Schools
8
Parks
3
Subway
51
Dining
10
Groceries
2
Coffee

Who’s your neighbor?

$68KMedian Income
30%Under 18
26%College+
29%Own Their Home

Housing cost

Avg Rent
$2,495per month
Avg Sale Price
$729Kmedian sale

$312 / sq ft

Family scores

54
/100
Family Fit
How well the area suits families overall.
42
/100
Safety
Local crime and street-safety signals.
38
/100
Schools
Quality and choice of nearby schools.
75
/100
Affordability
Cost of living — higher is more affordable.
Show 5 more
51
/100
Family-Friendly Vibe
How many families with kids live nearby.
53
/100
Neighborhood Character
Settled, long-term residents and housing.
24
/100
Transit
Subway and bus access for getting around.
90
/100
Air & Water
Air quality and environmental health.
48
/100
Things to Do
Restaurants, shops, and activities nearby.
Lower
050100
Higher

What families should know

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Living here

1 playground within a 10-min walkNearest large park: Rockaway Community Park · ~25 min walk (0.9 mi)

Far Rockaway keeps a solid bench of playgrounds scattered through the residential streets — Redfern Playground and Grassmere Playground anchor the interior blocks nicely, while the Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk stretches offer serious waterfront space when the weather warms. Bayswater Playground serves the eastern side well. The tree canopy is thinner than you'd find further inland, but the beach access more than makes up for it when the heat calls for open sky and sand.

Schools & early education

The school landscape here is genuinely diverse — a mix of zoned public schools like P.S. 104 The Bays Water and P.S. 197 The Ocean School sitting alongside a robust cluster of private and religious institutions, plus a few charters picking up the slack. You've got sixteen public options, thirteen private schools (many with single-sex religious programming), and three charters in the mix. It's not a place where every family will find their match on the first try, but the range is there — and the density means you're likely to find something that fits without crossing borough lines.

Compare with nearby neighborhoods

Best schools in Far Rockaway-Bayswater

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Far Rockaway-Bayswater a good neighborhood for families?
Far Rockaway-Bayswater scores 54/100 for families on Motley — near the middle of the pack citywide. The Family Fit score blends safety, schools, parks, cost of living, and community.
Is Far Rockaway-Bayswater safe?
Far Rockaway-Bayswater scores 42/100 on safety — near the middle of the pack citywide. We build the score from NYPD complaint data, normalized by population.
How are the schools in Far Rockaway-Bayswater?
Far Rockaway-Bayswater has 29 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 38/100 for schools — toward the lower end citywide.
Is Far Rockaway-Bayswater affordable?
Far Rockaway-Bayswater scores 75/100 for affordability on Motley — more affordable than most NYC neighborhoods.
Which borough is Far Rockaway-Bayswater in?
Far Rockaway-Bayswater is a neighborhood in Queens, New York City.

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