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Long Island City-Hunters Point has rapidly transformed with waterfront towers and cultural institutions like MoMA PS1. Strong Manhattan access via multiple subway lines.
Long Island City-Hunters Point has rapidly transformed with waterfront towers and cultural institutions like MoMA PS1. Strong Manhattan access via multiple subway lines.
Did you know?
Long Island City's Pepsi-Cola sign, a 120-foot neon landmark on the East River since 1936, was saved by preservationists when the bottling plant was demolished.
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
Commute
Weekday mornings · leaving 7:30–9:00
- FromLong Island City-Hunters Point
- ToNear Bryant Park
Family scores
Show 5 moreShow fewer
Trade-offs
Stands out
- Transit92/100
Quick weekday-morning transit to the city's main job centers
- Schools72/100
Strong results at the public and charter schools serving it
- Air & Child Health67/100
Cleaner air and better child-health measures
To weigh
- Affordability15/100
Higher costs than most
- Family-Friendly Vibe24/100
Fewer families with children than most
- Safety39/100
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 Long Island City-Hunters Point 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
Schools here run the full gamut from zoned public elementaries to specialty high schools. Hunters Point Elementary and P.S./I.S. 78Q anchor the public side, while the Academy for Careers in Television and Film pulls students from across the district for its media program. Three private options — including Birch Family and Gantry View — add some variety for families seeking alternatives. Early childhood centers are well-represented along the main strips, making this a solid spot for families cycling through the preschool years.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Parks & Playgrounds5 places
Long Island City-Hunters Point sits right on the East River, and the waterfront parks here are a genuine amenity. Hunter's Point South Park stretches along the shore with solid playground setup, while Murray Playground and Andrews Grove serve the inland blocks. It's a moderate bench of options — not overwhelming but enough for everyday play, and the river views don't hurt. Families here get a good green space-to-density ratio compared to most of Queens.
3 playgrounds within a 10-min walk
Nearest large park: Central Park · ~48 min walk (1.8 mi)
Transportation52 stops
Long Island City punches above its weight for Manhattan-bound commutes. The 7 train runs through the heart of the neighborhood with stops at Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av and Hunters Point Av, getting you to Times Square in about 20 minutes. Court Sq throws in the E and F for extra flexibility, while the G line at 21st St covers north-south Brooklyn runs. Bus coverage is dense — 34 stops across the grid — but honestly, you won't need them much when the subway is this accessible. The trade-off? No direct path to Penn Station, so Midtown transfers are part of the routine.
Restaurants100 places
LIC's restaurant scene punches well above its weight for a neighborhood this size — a deep bench of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Mexican options clustered along Vernon Boulevard and the side streets off Court Square. You'll find family-owned spots serving authentic pho and dim sum next to newer openings like HEYTEA and specialty bagel shops that draw crowds on weekends. The mix tilts casual and takeout-friendly, though there are a couple of date-night options like Anable Basin for waterfront dining. Chain presence is thin — this is very much a local independent restaurant neighborhood.
Groceries18 places
For your weekly shop, you've got a solid lineup — Trader Joe's on Jackson Ave and a Key Food Co-Op on 21st Street cover the chain grocery basics, and there are several well-stocked independents like Food Cellar and City Acres Market scattered around the neighborhood. The specialty food scene is surprisingly deep, with spots like Little Banchan Shop and a couple of Koufuku Marts handling the international fare. The Hunters Point Greenmarket runs seasonally on Vernon, which is great for produce. Most of what you need is walkable, though a car helps if you're stocking up from the farther spots along 51st Avenue or doing one-stop bulk runs.
Coffee Shops47 places
LIC's coffee scene runs the full gamut from grab-and-go Dunkin' scattered along Vernon and 21st to more planted options like Birch Coffee in Court Square for a proper laptop session. Starbucks holds down the big-box corners too, but third-wave spots like Partners Coffee mix into the landscape as well. It's a deep bench — whether you need a quick fix or a slower pour, you're covered.
Things to Do42 places
Long Island City packs a surprisingly deep bench of kid-friendly activities, with dance studios leading the charge — ballet, contemporary, and general dance schools cluster heavily along the western waterfront. Swimming is well-served too, between the public pools and apartment building facilities open to residents. Martial arts schools and gymnastics round out the athletic offerings, while a few enrichment spots (art studios, a museum) and that rare NYC beach access add variety. It's enrichment-heavy but balanced with enough sports to wear kids out.
Daycare & informal care5 places
Long Island City offers a deep bench of early childhood options — 17 Pre-K sites across the neighborhood with another 5 daycares filling the gaps. The mix leans heavily toward district-run Universal Pre-K, which means a solid public pathway if your timing lines up with the lottery. Private daycares like Bright Horizons and The Learning Experience anchor the commercial options for families wanting more flexibility. Morning drop-off can get crowded around Court Square and the waterfront developments, so mapping your route before day one helps.
Family Resources4 places
Long Island City punches above its weight for family-facing civic infrastructure. Court Square Library on Jackson Avenue is a real anchor — solid hours, a good kids' section, and a welcome contrast to the area's otherwise developer-heavy vibe. You've got a couple of solid park options in Notorious LIC Park and Andrews Grove for outdoor time, plus the Youthmarket brings fresh produce to the neighborhood. Civic infrastructure is surprisingly thin beyond these anchors, but what exists actually works.
Healthcare21 places
Healthcare here punches above its weight for a neighborhood this size. You've got a few solid hospital anchors — HealthCare Choices NY on Borden and the Planned Parenthood Diane L. Max Queens Health Center are reliable standbys — plus Weill Cornell Imaging just opened on Jackson. Pediatric care is thin but real, with a few practices clustered around the Jackson/Vernon strip. Urgent care options cover the basics, and the dental scene is surprisingly deep, with more than a dozen practices across the neighborhood.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in Long Island City-Hunters Point
Schools in Long Island City-Hunters Point
8
Early education in Long Island City-Hunters Point
22
- Bright Horizons At Long Island City
- BRIGHT START CHILD LEARNING CENTER
- BRIGHT START CHILD LEARNING CENTER
- Brighter Babies
- BUNNY HILL BABIES
- BUNNY HILL LIC
- Bunnyhill Lic
- DISTRICT 30 PRE-K CENTER AT 27-35 JACKSON AVENUE
- GANTRY VIEW SCHOOL
- GERSH ACADEMY-AYM
- Hunters Point Elementary School
- Klecc-Long Island City
- LITTLE ONES
- LITTLE ONES
- Lolly's Early Childhood Center
- LOLLY'S EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER, INC.
- LONG ISLAND CITY EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
- Ny Preschool - Court Square
- P.S. 384
- P.S./I.S. 78Q
- Rainbow - Lic
- TLE AT QUEENS-LONG ISLAND CITY, LLC
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Long Island City-Hunters Point a good neighborhood for families?
- Long Island City-Hunters Point scores 50/100 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 Long Island City-Hunters Point for families?
- For families, Long Island City-Hunters Point stands out for quick weekday-morning transit to the city's main job centers; strong results at the public and charter schools serving it; and cleaner air and better child-health measures. What to weigh: higher costs than most; fewer families with children than most; and 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 Long Island City-Hunters Point safe?
- Long Island City-Hunters Point scores 39/100 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 Long Island City-Hunters Point?
- Long Island City-Hunters Point has 8 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 72/100 for schools — ahead of most NYC neighborhoods.
- How do middle and high school admissions work from Long Island City-Hunters Point?
- Middle school: families in Long Island City-Hunters Point apply in 5th grade through the citywide middle school application. District 30's 31 middle school programs admit by method: 11 zoned, 8 screened, 8 unscreened and 4 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 Long Island City-Hunters Point affordable?
- Long Island City-Hunters Point scores 15/100 for affordability on Motley — among the pricier parts of the city.
- Which borough is Long Island City-Hunters Point in?
- Long Island City-Hunters Point is a neighborhood in Queens, New York City.
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