Categories
Quick searches
Laurelton features attractive single-family homes and a stable residential community in southeastern Queens. The LIRR Laurelton station provides Manhattan access.
Laurelton features attractive single-family homes and a stable residential community in southeastern Queens. The LIRR Laurelton station provides Manhattan access.
Did you know?
Laurelton's tree-lined streets were developed in the 1920s as "Laurelton Estates" — the neighborhood was marketed as having "country living with city convenience."
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
$531 / sq ft
Commute
Weekday mornings · leaving 7:30–9:00
- FromLaurelton
- ToNear Bryant Park
Family scores
Show 5 moreShow fewer
Trade-offs
Stands out
- Affordability95/100
Lower costs than most
- Air & Child Health84/100
Cleaner air and better child-health measures
- Safety70/100
Fewer reported crimes, traffic injuries and serious housing violations per resident
To weigh
- Family-Friendly Vibe9/100
Fewer families with children than most
- Transit9/100
Longer weekday-morning trips to the city's main job centers
- Schools19/100
Weaker results at the public and charter schools serving it, or fewer of them
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 Laurelton 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
Schools6 schools
Laurelton's school scene leans young — there's a solid mix of early childhood options like Kidz World Early Childhood Center and Middleton's Early Learning Center alongside traditional public elementary schools including P.S. 156 Laurelton. For families seeking alternatives to zoned public schools, Merrick Academy operates as the neighborhood's sole charter option, while Linden SDA Elementary provides a private religious education path. The mix covers grades K-8, though high school options require stepping outside the immediate area.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Parks & Playgrounds1 place
Laurelton's park scene is lean — Montbellier Park serves as the neighborhood's primary green space with a playground, but dedicated park options are sparse. The residential blocks feature tree-lined streets that make for pleasant walks, though families seeking more variety may need to look slightly beyond the immediate area. What's there is functional, though the park density reflects Laurelton's more residential character rather than a playground-heavy pocket.
Nearest large park: Cunningham Park · ~92 min walk (3.5 mi)
Transportation27 stops
There's no subway in Laurelton, so your commute to Manhattan is a two-step dance — the bus first, then a transfer. Merrick Boulevard and Springfield Boulevard are the spines of the local network, with stops like Merrick Blvd/233rd St and Springfield Blvd/130th Avenue feeding into routes that connect to the Jamaica transit hub. It's a car-friendly corner of Queens, and the bus coverage is dense enough that you won't be stranded, but you're definitely building extra travel time into any Manhattan-bound trip.
Restaurants40 places
Laurelton's restaurant scene is unmistakably Caribbean-forward — Jamaican spots and Caribbean kitchens line Merrick Blvd with real depth, from grab-and-go rotis to sit-down soul food. There's a solid Chinese presence too, plus a few delis and bakeries that anchor the eating options. Fast-foodwise, you've got the usual Dunkin' and Burger King outposts. It's not a dinner-date destination, but for takeout, home-cooked feel, and quick eats, the neighborhood delivers without needing to leave the block.
Groceries5 places
Key Food anchors the Merrick Boulevard stretch, giving families a solid anchor for the weekly shop. That said, you'll need a car for the full haul — the supermarket options thin out beyond that, and while the seasonal farmers market brings fresh produce, daily top-ups are limited. A wholesale club nearby helps with bulk buying, but for quick runs you're mostly looking at what's along Merrick. If transit is your thing, it's doable but plan for one big weekly trip rather than quick stops.
Things to Do2 places
Laurelton's family activity scene is thin but concentrated — a couple of specialized options cover martial arts and dance, giving families a starting point rather than a full bench. The martial arts offering skews traditional, while the dance program leans creative and enrichment-focused. For broader recreational needs, most families venture into neighboring Springfield Gardens or toward the more populated corridors of southeastern Queens, where community centers and larger venues add variety.
Daycare & informal care1 place
Laurelton's got a solid roster of Pre-K sites — twelve of them scattered across the residential blocks, with only one dedicated daycare center in the mix. That heavy Pre-K lean means most families are anchoring to their zoned elementary schools for early education, which keeps drop-off routes pretty straightforward. The tradeoff? If you're looking for full-day daycare beyond the Pre-K years, the options thin out quickly. Most families here plan around the school-based programs.
Family Resources4 places
Laurelton's civic anchors are thin but the library is a real workhorse. The LAURELTON branch at 134-26 225 Street holds story hours, computer access, and serves as the neighborhood's most reliable public resource. The farmers markets — Sovereign Markets at the LIRR station and the seasonal operation on 241st Street — bring weekend gathering spots during warmer months, though they're not year-round infrastructure. Families will find one solid public anchor here, with civic density remaining light compared to busier Queens corridors.
Healthcare3 places
Healthcare options in Laurelton are thin but functional. The neighborhood's anchor hospital is Springfield Dialysis Center on Springfield Boulevard — a critical resource for residents needing specialized care. For everyday non-emergencies, there's one urgent care facility and a single dentist serving the area. The gap worth flagging: pediatric care is absent within Laurelton itself, so families with young children will typically look to nearby Springfield Gardens or Rosedale for a pediatrician — not a dealbreaker, but an extra errand to plan for.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in Laurelton
Schools in Laurelton
6
Early education in Laurelton
14
- Kidz World Early Childhood Center
- KIDZ WORLD EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER INC.
- LAURELTON CHILD CARE INC.
- Laurelton Masion Day Care, Inc.
- LINDEN SDA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
- Little People Day Care of Ny
- LITTLE PEOPLE DAYCARE CENTER OF NEW YORK
- Middleton's Early Learning Center
- Nicky's Little Sprouts, D. C. Inc.
- P.S. 132 Ralph Bunche
- P.S. 156 Laurelton
- The Gordon Parks School
- THE LAUGH & LEARN PLACE INC.
- Tigers Group Family Daycare
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Laurelton a good neighborhood for families?
- Laurelton scores 47/100 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 Laurelton for families?
- For families, Laurelton stands out for lower costs than most; cleaner air and better child-health measures; and fewer reported crimes, traffic injuries and serious housing violations per resident. What to weigh: fewer families with children than most; longer weekday-morning trips to the city's main job centers; and weaker results at the public and charter schools serving it, or fewer of them. 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 Laurelton safe?
- Laurelton scores 70/100 on safety — ahead of most NYC neighborhoods. 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 Laurelton?
- Laurelton has 6 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 19/100 for schools — toward the lower end citywide.
- How do middle and high school admissions work from Laurelton?
- Middle school: families in Laurelton apply in 5th grade through the citywide middle school application. 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 Laurelton affordable?
- Laurelton scores 95/100 for affordability on Motley — more affordable than most NYC neighborhoods.
- Which borough is Laurelton in?
- Laurelton is a neighborhood in Queens, 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.