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Far Rockaway-Bayswater sits at the eastern end of the Rockaways with beachfront access, affordable housing, and growing development.
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.
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
$312 / sq ft
Commute
Weekday mornings · leaving 7:30–9:00
- FromFar Rockaway-Bayswater
- ToNear Bryant Park
Family scores
Show 5 moreShow fewer
Trade-offs
Stands out
- Affordability90/100
Lower costs than most
- Air & Child Health90/100
Cleaner air and better child-health measures
To weigh
- Transit3/100
Longer weekday-morning trips to the city's main job centers
- Schools25/100
Weaker results at the public and charter schools serving it, or fewer of them
- Family-Friendly Vibe37/100
Fewer families with children than most
Each score compares it with NYC's other residential neighborhoods.
What these scores don't measure: how a block feels on foot, what's changing on it, and whether a particular school suits your child. Walk it at school drop-off time, and check the zoned school for the exact address before you sign a lease.
Your family’s read
How does Far Rockaway-Bayswater 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
Schools28 schools
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.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Parks & Playgrounds9 places
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.
1 playground within a 10-min walk
Nearest large park: Rockaway Community Park · ~25 min walk (0.9 mi)
Transportation43 stops
The A train is your lifeline here — Beach 25 St, Beach 36 St, and Far Rockaway-Mott Av all run express to Manhattan without a transfer, which is a real perk for a far-flung neighborhood. Bus coverage fills in nicely along Beach Channel Drive, Cornaga Avenue, and Seagirt Boulevard, though you'll want wheels if you're heading east of the station. For a beachfront pocket, the commute is surprisingly painless.
Restaurants51 places
Far Rockaway's restaurant scene is heavily rooted in its Caribbean and Latin roots — there's a solid bench of jerk joints, Caribbean bakeries, and Latin spots like El Meson and Mi Mundo that draw crowds. The pizza situation is surprisingly robust for a neighborhood this size, with several local spots holding it down for takeout nights. It's a working-class food scene built on delis, rotisseries, and no-frills diners rather than date-night destinations, and that's exactly the point.
Groceries10 places
Far Rockaway and Bayswater offer a decent bench of grocery options for a quick weekly shop. Key Food on Beach 20th and Associated Supermarket on Mott Street anchor the main drags, while a handful of independent markets — including several along Cornaga Avenue — fill in the gaps. The selection skews toward everyday essentials rather than specialty fare. Most shops are walkable from the residential blocks, though a car helps if you're stocking up for the week.
Coffee Shops2 places
Mott Avenue has a thin but functional bench of coffee options for the morning run or laptop afternoon — a couple of no-frills, independently owned spots that do the job without much fuss. It's not a third-wave scene, but what exists covers the basics well. Don't expect specialty pour-overs or lengthy sit-down sessions, but a quick caffeine fix is easy to find along this stretch.
Things to Do14 places
Far Rockaway delivers exactly what its geography promises: a deep bench of beach access stretching along the boardwalk, with entry points scattered from 9th Street all the way up to 35th. Beyond the sand, family options thin out — a couple of community programs and a Head Start center round things out, but don't expect a robust enrichment scene. It's a summer-centric playground where the ocean is the main attraction, and that's the whole point.
Daycare & informal care2 places
Childcare here leans heavily public — the neighborhood is blanketed with Pre-K sites run by the DOE and charter schools, giving families a solid bench of free options come September. Private daycare is thinner, just a couple of standalone centers along the western fringe, so families needing year-round care or infant slots may feel the squeeze earlier. Drop-off logistics are manageable since most Pre-K sites cluster near the residential core, though the further east you go, the more you're relying on a car.
Family Resources7 places
Far Rockaway's got a solid bench of public anchors for families. The main branch on Central Avenue handles everyday needs, while the Queens Library for Teens on Cornaga gives older kids their own space — that's not something every neighborhood offers. Four playgrounds are scattered through the area, giving kids options without crossing far. A seasonal farmers market adds a nice community gathering spot when the weather cooperates. The civic infrastructure here feels rooted.
Healthcare20 places
Healthcare in Far Rockaway-Bayswater is anchored by St. John's Episcopal Hospital, which runs both its main campus and a separate ambulatory care center along Beach 20 Street. Beyond that, you have a solid bench of community health centers and school-based clinics — Joseph P Addabbo is a major presence here. Pediatric care exists but it's thin, with just a few private practices in the area. The real gap is urgent care: there's none in the neighborhood, so evenings and weekends mean heading elsewhere. Dental options are similarly sparse — just a couple of providers for the whole stretch.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in Far Rockaway-Bayswater
Schools in Far Rockaway-Bayswater
28
- Academy of Medical Technology: A College Board School
- BAIS YAAKOV ATERES MIRIAM
- BNOS BAIS YAAKOV OF FAR ROCKAWAY
- Challenge Preparatory Charter School
- CONGREGATION YMH
- Frederick Douglass Academy VI High School
- KIDS-CENTRIC, INC B'ABOVE WORLDWIDE
- KIDS-CENTRIC, INC COMM PARENT FAR RO
- Knowledge and Power Preparatory Academy VI
- Lighthouse Elementary School
- M.S. 053 Brian Piccolo
- MESIVTA SHAAREI CHAIM
- OMNI CHILDHOOD CENTER, INC.
- P.S. 043
- P.S. 104 The Bays Water
- P.S. 197 The Ocean School
- Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School
- Queens High School for Information, Research, and Technology
- Success Academy Charter School - Far Rockaway
- TALMUD TORAH SIACH YITZCHOK
- The Randolph Holder School for Social Justice
- TIEGERMAN SCHOOL - FAR ROCKAWAY
- TORAH ACADEMY FOR GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL
- TORAH ACADEMY FOR GIRLS-ELEMENTARY
- Village Academy
- Wave Preparatory Elementary School
- WORLD HARVEST DELIVERANCE CENTER
- YESHIVA OF FAR ROCKAWAY
Early education in Far Rockaway-Bayswater
21
- BAIS YAAKOV ATERES MIRIAM
- BNOS BAIS YAAKOV OF FAR ROCKAWAY
- CONGREGATION DARCHEI TORAH
- HEBREW KINDERGARTEN & INFANTS HOME, INC.
- Lighthouse Elementary School
- LITTLE FRIENDS GAN LLC
- Little Friends Gan Preschool
- P.S. 043
- P.S. 043
- P.S. 104 The Bays Water
- P.S. 197 The Ocean School
- Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School
- PENINSULA PREPARATORY ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL ANNEX
- Ralph Hirschkorn Child Care Center
- ROCKAWAY CHILD CARE CENTER
- TALMUD TORAH SIACH YITZCHOK
- The Randolph Holder School for Social Justice
- TORAH ACADEMY FOR GIRLS-ELEMENTARY
- Wave Preparatory Elementary School
- WORLD HARVEST DELIVERANCE CENTER
- Yeshiva Darchei Torah
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Far Rockaway-Bayswater a good neighborhood for families?
- Far Rockaway-Bayswater scores 49/100 for families on Motley — near the middle of the pack citywide. The Family Fit score blends six parts: how many families live there, schools, affordability, weekday-morning transit time to job centers, safety, and air quality and child health.
- What are the pros and cons of Far Rockaway-Bayswater for families?
- For families, Far Rockaway-Bayswater stands out for lower costs than most, and cleaner air and better child-health measures. What to weigh: longer weekday-morning trips to the city's main job centers; weaker results at the public and charter schools serving it, or fewer of them; and fewer families with children than most. Each score compares it with NYC's other residential neighborhoods. They don't measure how a block feels on foot or whether a particular school suits your child, so walk it before you decide.
- 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 crime complaints, pedestrian and cyclist injuries, and serious (Class C) housing violations, each counted per 1,000 residents.
- How are the schools in Far Rockaway-Bayswater?
- Far Rockaway-Bayswater has 28 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 25/100 for schools — toward the lower end citywide.
- How do middle and high school admissions work from Far Rockaway-Bayswater?
- Middle school: families in Far Rockaway-Bayswater apply in 5th grade through the citywide middle school application. District 27's 24 middle school programs admit by method: 14 zoned, 5 unscreened, 4 screened and 1 charter lottery. High school: one citywide application in 8th grade lets a family rank programs anywhere in the city, and the eight specialized high schools admit on the SHSAT alone.
- Is Far Rockaway-Bayswater affordable?
- Far Rockaway-Bayswater scores 90/100 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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