Categories
Quick searches
South Jamaica offers affordable housing and growing community investment. The E/J/Z trains and proximity to downtown Jamaica's retail hub serve a diverse population.
South Jamaica offers affordable housing and growing community investment. The E/J/Z trains and proximity to downtown Jamaica's retail hub serve a diverse population.
Did you know?
South Jamaica's King Manor Museum preserves the home of Rufus King, one of the signers of the U.S. Constitution and a vocal opponent of slavery.
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
$440 / sq ft
Commute
Weekday mornings · leaving 7:30–9:00
- FromSouth Jamaica
- ToNear Bryant Park
Family scores
Show 5 moreShow fewer
Trade-offs
Stands out
- Affordability81/100
Lower costs than most
- Air & Child Health65/100
Cleaner air and better child-health measures
To weigh
- Family-Friendly Vibe34/100
Fewer families with children than most
- Schools38/100
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 South 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
Schools8 schools
South Jamaica's public school landscape runs the gamut from early childhood through high school, with a cluster of options concentrated around Union Hall Street and 167th Street. P.S. 040 Samuel Huntington and Jamaica Children's School share a building on Union Hall, while the 167th Street corridor packs J.H.S. 008 Richard S. Grossley alongside York Early College Academy, which offers an early college track. Day care options like Bright Kids and All My Children add early childhood slots to the mix.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Parks & Playgrounds5 places
South Jamaica has a solid bench of playgrounds scattered through the residential blocks — you've got Jamaica Playground and Latimer Playground as the more recognizable names, plus a few smaller ones like Marconi Park that locals know by sight. It's not a neighborhood with one big marquee park, but the spread means you can usually find a swingset within a short walk no matter where you are. The options are decent, though nothing that would draw families from outside the area specifically.
3 playgrounds within a 10-min walk
Nearest large park: Cunningham Park · ~54 min walk (2.1 mi)
Transportation49 stops
South Jamaica is a bus-first neighborhood — there's no subway here, so your commute to Manhattan means catching a ride on corridors like Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, Merrick Boulevard, or Liberty Avenue and transferring to the F train at some point. The bus network runs deep along the main thoroughfares, making local trips around Queens straightforward. But heads up: getting to the city core is a commitment, typically requiring at least one transfer and around an hour of travel time.
Restaurants19 places
South Jamaica's restaurant scene is firmly in casual, takeout-friendly territory — a neighborhood where you grab a roti, some Cantonese lo mein, or a hearty plate of oxtail without much fuss. Caribbean food runs strong here, with several spots lining Guy R Brewer and Sutphin doing solid home-cooking. The Chinese options lean traditional, and there's a whole lineup of delis and groceries that double as quick-serve lunch spots. Pizza chains give families an easy fallback. It's not a date-night destination, but what's here covers the everyday basics well.
Groceries6 places
South Jamaica's grocery scene is anchored by a couple of key players along the main drags — Key Food on Merrick Blvd is the most reliable full-service option for the weekly shop, while CTown and Bravo locations pop up along Guy R Brewer. The selection skews heavily toward Caribbean and Latin American staples, so finding plantains, scotch bonnets, and fresh herbs is straightforward. For broader big-box runs, families head toward Jamaica Avenue. A car helps for the haul, though the Sutphin corridor is walkable from the Q111 route.
Coffee Shops1 place
South Jamaica's coffee scene is thin — there's a basic option on 106th Avenue for a cup on the go, but the neighborhood doesn't yet have the third-wave spots or chain presence you'd find in more transit-connected parts of Queens. It's a place where your morning run might mean combining it with an errand elsewhere, or where a local spot does the job just fine.
Things to Do3 places
South Jamaica keeps things practical when it comes to kids' activities — a public pool, a dance school, and a tutoring center cover the basics without a lot of extras. The mix leans enrichment: dance and academic support are here, and there's a place to swim when the weather calls for it. Families won't find a deep bench of options, but what's here fills core needs without going far from the block.
Daycare & informal care3 places
South Jamaica's got a deep bench of early childhood options — nine pre-k sites clustered around the public schools on Sutphin, Inwood, and Union Hall Streets, plus a handful of private daycares scattered through the residential blocks. The mix leans heavily toward NYC's Universal Pre-K program through the P.S. sites, which means most families are navigating the school district lottery come fall. Morning drop-off can get busy near the bigger school buildings on Sutphin, but the coverage is solid for a neighborhood this size.
Family Resources4 places
South Jamaica has a solid bench of playgrounds — Jamaica Playground on Brinkerhoff, Latimer over near 167th, and Norelli-Hargreaves tucked by the Van Wyck — giving families a few spots to spread out. The South Jamaica library on Guy R. Brewer is the neighborhood's main public anchor for story hours and quiet study. Community centers beyond these are thin, but the playground network holds down informal gathering spots well.
Healthcare3 places
South Jamaica's healthcare scene centers on MediSys Family Care in St. Albans — the neighborhood's main hospital anchor on Merrick Boulevard. Pediatric options are thin but solid, with a couple of providers clustered in the MediSys network. Urgent care and dedicated pediatric dentistry are both gaps you'll feel — families typically head to adjacent neighborhoods for those. The hospital handles the bulk of what comes up, but for specialized or after-hours needs, be ready to travel a bit.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in South Jamaica
Schools in South Jamaica
8
Early education in South Jamaica
13
- AFRO AMERICAN PARENTS EDUCATIONAL CENTER SITE 4
- Afro-American #4
- All My Children Day Care 4
- Allen Christian School
- Bright Kids Day Care
- BRIGHT START EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY
- David N. Dinkins School
- JENNYS EXPLORING MINDS DAYCARE INC.
- NELOY INC, DBA BRIGHT KIDS DAY CARE
- P.S. 040 Samuel Huntington
- P.S. 048 WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
- P.S. 160 Walter Francis Bishop
- P.S./I.S. 116 William C. Hughley
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is South Jamaica a good neighborhood for families?
- South Jamaica scores 52/100 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 South Jamaica for families?
- For families, South Jamaica stands out for lower costs than most, and cleaner air and better child-health measures. What to weigh: fewer families with children than most, 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 South Jamaica safe?
- South Jamaica scores 54/100 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 South Jamaica?
- South Jamaica has 8 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 38/100 for schools — toward the lower end citywide.
- How do middle and high school admissions work from South Jamaica?
- Middle school: families in South 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 South Jamaica affordable?
- South Jamaica scores 81/100 for affordability on Motley — more affordable than most NYC neighborhoods.
- Which borough is South Jamaica in?
- South Jamaica 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.