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Jamaica is a major transit hub and commercial center in southeast Queens. Downtown Jamaica's redevelopment brings new housing and retail alongside historic institutions.
Jamaica is a major transit hub and commercial center in southeast Queens. Downtown Jamaica's redevelopment brings new housing and retail alongside historic institutions.
Did you know?
The Jamaica LIRR station handles more daily passengers than any other commuter rail station in the Western Hemisphere.
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
$392 / sq ft
Commute
Weekday mornings · leaving 7:30–9:00
- FromJamaica
- ToNear Bryant Park
Family scores
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Trade-offs
Stands out
- Family-Friendly Vibe83/100
Many families with children, with homes and schools close by
- Transit68/100
Quick weekday-morning transit to the city's main job centers
- Air & Child Health65/100
Cleaner air and better child-health measures
To weigh
- Safety9/100
More reported crimes, traffic injuries or serious housing violations per resident
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 Jamaica 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
Schools18 schools
Jamaica's school landscape is heavily public — zoned elementary schools like P.S. 050 Talfourd Lawn and P.S. 095 Eastwood feed into a handful of middle and high schools, including the specialized Queens High School for the Sciences at York College and Young Women's Leadership School, Queens. A small cluster of Islamic schools (Al-Iman and Rising Stars) stands out for families seeking faith-based options, and there's one charter high school option. Pre-K centers and early learning programs dot the commercial corridors along Jamaica Avenue. Private school choices are thin, so most families land in the public system.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Parks & Playgrounds4 places
Jamaica's playground scene is solid if not flashy — you've got a handful of solid spots spread across the neighborhood. Harvard Playground and Rufus King Park Playground tend to get the most love from local families, with decent equipment and enough space to let kids run. Gateway Park and Howard Von Dohlen round things out. It's not a green-treasure chest, but for families these four cover the basics without too much legwork.
Nearest large park: Cunningham Park · ~42 min walk (1.6 mi)
Transportation122 stops
Jamaica is a genuine transit hub for eastern Queens — the E, F, J, and Z lines all converge here, with Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer and Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport serving as the anchors. The F line runs local through 169 St and Parsons Blvd, while the J/Z offers express service into Manhattan. With 34 bus routes threading through the neighborhood, you're never far from a connection, though rush-hour crowds on the central stations can get thick.
Restaurants100 places
Jamaica's restaurant scene runs heavy on Caribbean and South Asian flavors — you\'ll find a solid stretch of jerk spots, rotis, and Bangladeshi kitchens mixed into thedeliand Chinese takeout corridors along Hillside and Sutphin. TheLatin food presence is strong too, especially around the upper blocks. It's mostly quick-serve and takeout with very little in the way of sit-down dinner spots, though Chipotle gives the fast-casual crowd one familiar option. Coffee and sweets shops pop up frequently if you\'re Grazing between meals.
Groceries19 places
For the weekly shop, you've got a solid setup along Hillside Avenue — a couple of Key Foods and an ALDI cover the chain grocery angle, and there are several independents scattered around that handle the more specific runs. The meat and poultry options are notably strong, with a few dedicated butchers in the area. You'll likely need a car or be ready to hop on transit for the full haul, since the spread is more horizontal than concentrated. It's a working-class neighborhood with real ethnic grocers and meat markets rather than glossy options — and what locals actually eat gets stocked well.
Coffee Shops20 places
Jamaica's coffee scene runs on the familiar — a solid spread of Dunkin' locations plus a couple of Starbucks keep the morning commute caffeinated, and there's a Tim Hortons near the train station for travelers. Beyond the chains, you'll find low-key neighborhood spots where coffee comes fast and the WiFi is usually free. It's not a third-wave destination, but for a quick cup and a bagel run, you're covered.
Things to Do14 places
Jamaica's family activity scene leans heavily toward enrichment and structured kids' programs — there are a few solid options for dance and gymnastics, and the Jamaica YMCA gives families a reliable swim option. Beyond that, the pickings get thinner: a martial arts studio, one tutoring center, and a scattered mix of other kids' spots round things out. It's not a desert, but parents will find themselves traveling to neighboring neighborhoods for variety — especially if sports beyond a single indoor soccer warehouse are the goal.
Daycare & informal care1 place
Jamaica's early childhood landscape is dominated by Pre-K — there's a solid spread of free district sites scattered across the neighborhood, from P.S. 050 to stand-alone centers on Jamaica Avenue. Private daycare options are thinner, with just a couple of standalone choices. Morning drop-off is pretty manageable since most families are funneling into the same universal Pre-K locations. If you're looking for full-day daycare beyond the pre-K window, the pickings are modest.
Family Resources6 places
The Queens Library system really delivers here — Central Library on Merrick Boulevard anchors the stretch with its main branch, the Cyber Center, and the Archives all under one roof, plus a job information center if you need it. The twice-weekly farmers markets (Friday at Parsons Blvd and Saturday on Jamaica Ave) bring fresh produce and a community gathering spot when the weather cooperates. It's not flashy, but the civic infrastructure is solid for a working-class neighborhood.
Healthcare31 places
Jamaica's healthcare scene is anchored by solid institutions like Jamaica Health Center and the Community Healthcare Network, which run multiple locations across the neighborhood — that depth matters when you're trying to get a kid seen same-day. Pediatricians are thin on the ground here, just a handful of private practices scattered around Hillside and Parsons, so snagging a PCP you trust early is key. Urgent care coverage is decent with a few CityMD and MEDRITE options along Jamaica Avenue, and dentists are reasonably easy to find. The trade-off is that specialist referrals often mean heading outside the neighborhood.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in Jamaica
Schools in Jamaica
18
- AL-IMAN SCHOOL
- ALC - JAMAICA ACADEMY
- ALC - Royal 180 Academy
- ALC - Sutphin HS ALC
- District 29 Pre-K Center
- I.S. 238 - Susan B. Anthony Academy
- M.S. 358
- New Dawn Charter High School II
- P.S. 050 Talfourd Lawn Elementary School
- P.S. 095 Eastwood
- P.S. 182 Samantha Smith
- P.S./I.S. 268
- Pathways to Graduation
- Queens High School for the Sciences at York College
- Queens Satellite High School for Opportunity
- RISING STARS ISLAMIC SCHOOL
- The Queens School for Leadership and Excellence
- Young Women's Leadership School, Queens
Early education in Jamaica
23
- Al-Iman School
- AL-IMAN SCHOOL
- Concerned Parents of Jamaica Early Learning Center
- DISTRICT 29 PRE-K CENTER AT 168-42 JAMAICA AVENUE
- EARLY BIRD II DAY CARE CENTER, INC.
- Early Bird II Educational Center
- Early Bird III EC, Inc.
- EZRA JACK KEATS PRE-K CENTER AT 153-36 89TH AVENUE
- Imagine Early Learning Center
- Our Saviour Lutheran
- P.S. 050 Talfourd Lawn Elementary School
- P.S. 182 Samantha Smith
- Pathways to Graduation
- RISING STARS ISLAMIC SCHOOL
- Rising Stars Islamic School (Lcna)
- Sandra's Sunflower Child Care, Inc.
- South Jamaica Center For Children And Parents, Inc.
- Sunshine School, LLC
- SUNSHINESCHOOL, LLC
- THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR
- The Queens School for Leadership and Excellence
- Yc Child & Family Center
- YORK COLLEGE CHILD AND FAMILY CENTER, INC.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Jamaica a good neighborhood for families?
- Jamaica scores 53/100 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 Jamaica for families?
- For families, Jamaica stands out for many families with children, with homes and schools close by; quick weekday-morning transit to the city's main job centers; and cleaner air and better child-health measures. What to weigh: more reported crimes, traffic injuries or serious housing violations per resident. 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 Jamaica safe?
- Jamaica scores 9/100 on safety — toward the lower end 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 Jamaica?
- Jamaica has 18 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 44/100 for schools — near the middle of the pack citywide.
- How do middle and high school admissions work from Jamaica?
- Middle school: families in Jamaica apply in 5th grade through the citywide middle school application. District 28's 15 middle school programs admit by method: 9 unscreened, 3 charter lottery and 3 screened. District 29's 23 middle school programs admit by method: 13 unscreened, 4 charter lottery, 4 zoned and 2 screened. 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 Jamaica affordable?
- Jamaica scores 48/100 for affordability on Motley — mid-range on cost for the city.
- Which borough is Jamaica in?
- Jamaica is a neighborhood in Queens, New York City.
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