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Kew Gardens features co-ops, condos, and the Queens Boulevard commercial corridor. A diverse population with strong transit connections and a village-like feel.
Kew Gardens features co-ops, condos, and the Queens Boulevard commercial corridor. A diverse population with strong transit connections and a village-like feel.
Did you know?
Kew Gardens got its name from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in London, chosen by developer Albon Platt Man in 1910 to suggest English elegance.
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
$443 / sq ft
Commute
Weekday mornings · leaving 7:30–9:00
- FromKew Gardens
- ToNear Bryant Park
Family scores
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Trade-offs
Stands out
- Air & Child Health79/100
Cleaner air and better child-health measures
- Transit70/100
Quick weekday-morning transit to the city's main job centers
- Schools69/100
Strong results at the public and charter schools serving it
To weigh
- Family-Friendly Vibe25/100
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 Kew Gardens 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
Schools8 schools
Kew Gardens runs a deep bench of schooling options, split between zoned public schools like P.S. 99 Kew Gardens and a concentration of private yeshivas — Bais Yaakov Academy for Girls, Shaar Hatorah High School, and Tiferes Torah Institute all sit within a few blocks of Metropolitan Avenue. The public side includes a handful of daycare and pre-K centers through Sholom, while the private options lean heavily toward Jewish day schools. It's a genuinely mixed landscape that covers the full age range, though families will want to dig into specifics for elementary-level public seats.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Parks & Playgrounds1 place
For parks, you're looking at a lean lineup — just one playground on the books, Sobelsohn Park in Forest Park. But what it lacks in quantity, Forest Park makes up for in scale: it's a solid green stretch with mature canopy and enough room to feel like a real getaway when you're out with kids. That said, if you're hunting for variety beyond this one anchor, the options thin out pretty quickly in Kew Gardens.
Nearest large park: Flushing Meadows-Corona Park · ~12 min walk (0.4 mi)
Transportation29 stops
Kew Gardens punches above its weight for subway access — the E and F lines at Briarwood cover most commutes, and Jamaica-Van Wyck on the E gives you a backup when the crowds get thick. Bus service is solid along Queens Boulevard, Metropolitan Avenue and Union Turnpike, so even if the trains aren't cooperating you've got options. The catch is that Midtown is a solid 35-45 minute ride, which is fine once you're used to it but not exactly convenient if you're racing the clock.
Restaurants40 places
Kew Gardens delivers a solid mix of quick eats and ethnic carryout along Lefferts Blvd and Metropolitan Ave — Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and Mexican options form a nice lineup, with a few pizza spots and diners scattered in between. The chain presence is light (think Popeyes, Dunkin', Burger King), so you're mostly looking at independent local spots. It's more of a takeout-and-go neighborhood than a dinner-out destination, though Austin's Ale House and Village Diner give you a couple of sit-down options if you want them. Fast food density is decent, but full-service is thin.
Groceries5 places
Kew Gardens holds its own for the weekly shop — there's a decent spread of independent supermarkets along Lefferts Blvd and Metropolitan Ave, plus a CTown that anchors the east side. Fish and produce specialists fill in the gaps nicely. The selection isn't massive, but what\'s here covers the basics without needing to cross borough lines. Bigger hauls might warrant a short drive to the denser supermarket corridors in nearby Jamaica or Forest Hills.
Coffee Shops5 places
Kew Gardens keeps coffee simple — a handful of spots clustered around Austin Street and the LIRR station, mostly grab-and-go with a couple of places that invite sitting. You won't find a third-wave roaster here, but there are enough options for the morning commute and a casual afternoon cup. It's practical more than destination-worthy, which suits the neighborhood's residential pace.
Things to Do7 places
Kew Gardens offers a thin but varied mix of family-friendly options. A pair of local movie theaters handles the entertainment side, while a martial arts studio and a 24-hour gym cover active pursuits. For younger kids, there's a dog-friendly bark park and a couple of specialized therapy and developmental centers. The selection isn't deep — enrichment and athletic options are limited compared to nearby neighborhoods — but the basics are covered and the movie theaters give the area real staying power for family outings.
Daycare & informal care2 places
Kew Gardens has a modest but solid bench of childcare and Pre-K options, split between a few daycares and a handful of Pre-K programs. The list leans heavily toward religious and community-based offerings — several yeshivas and a Jewish preschool — so secular families may need to cast a slightly wider net. Morning drop-off can get tight in the Kew Gardens stretch, so families often map out their routes during the school year.
Family Resources2 places
The family resources anchor here is really Queens Borough Hall on Queens Boulevard, which hosts a pair of farmers markets — one seasonal and one year-round — drawing crowds from across the neighborhood. Beyond that, there's not much else in the way of dedicated civic or community infrastructure aimed at families. It's a thin bench for parents looking for libraries or community centers, but the market days do create a real gathering point when they're running.
Healthcare9 places
Healthcare in Kew Gardens is anchored by three solid options — Atria Kew Gardens on 84th Avenue, Kew Gardens Dialysis Center on Queens Boulevard, and New York Medical and Diagnostic Center on Kew Gardens Road — giving the neighborhood real hospital-level infrastructure. Urgent care is thin, with just CityHealth on 126th St covering those after-hours needs. The dentist bench is respectable, with a handful of practices clustered around Queens Blvd and Metropolitan Ave. One notable gap: no pediatricians appear on the current roster, which means families will likely be looking outside the neighborhood for their kids' primary care.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in Kew Gardens
Schools in Kew Gardens
8
Early education in Kew Gardens
11
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Kew Gardens a good neighborhood for families?
- Kew Gardens scores 57/100 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 Kew Gardens for families?
- For families, Kew Gardens stands out for cleaner air and better child-health measures; quick weekday-morning transit to the city's main job centers; and strong results at the public and charter schools serving it. What to weigh: 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 Kew Gardens safe?
- Kew Gardens scores 56/100 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 Kew Gardens?
- Kew Gardens has 8 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 69/100 for schools — ahead of most NYC neighborhoods.
- How do middle and high school admissions work from Kew Gardens?
- Middle school: families in Kew Gardens 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 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 Kew Gardens affordable?
- Kew Gardens scores 53/100 for affordability on Motley — mid-range on cost for the city.
- Which borough is Kew Gardens in?
- Kew Gardens is a neighborhood in Queens, New York City.
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