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South Ozone Park features affordable single-family homes near JFK Airport. Cross Bay Boulevard connects to the Rockaways and Jamaica Bay wildlife areas.
South Ozone Park features affordable single-family homes near JFK Airport. Cross Bay Boulevard connects to the Rockaways and Jamaica Bay wildlife areas.
Did you know?
The Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, known as the "Big A," opened in 1894 and is the only thoroughbred horse racing track within New York City limits.
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
$603 / sq ft
Commute
Weekday mornings · leaving 7:30–9:00
- FromSouth Ozone Park
- ToNear Bryant Park
Family scores
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Trade-offs
Stands out
- Schools94/100
Strong results at the public and charter schools serving it
- Air & Child Health88/100
Cleaner air and better child-health measures
- Affordability82/100
Lower costs than most
To weigh
- Transit33/100
Longer weekday-morning trips to the city's main job centers
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 Ozone Park 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
Schools14 schools
South Ozone Park runs deep on public schools — twenty-one of them across elementary, middle, and high school levels — plus a charter option at Success Academy and a couple of Catholic schools for families seeking alternatives. J.H.S. 226 Virgil I. Grissom anchors the middle school scene on Rockaway Boulevard, and John Adams High School serves as the neighborhood's main public high school. It's a solid, traditional mix with few gaps.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Parks & Playgrounds4 places
South Ozone Park delivers a solid bench of playgrounds spread across its residential blocks — Al Stabile Playground anchors the eastern side, Frederick B. Judge Playground sits near 127th Avenue, Lefferts Playground serves the center, and Police Officer Edward Byrne Park covers the northern stretch. They're not destination parks with splash pads or major amenities, but they're well-maintained and give kids real space to run and climb. The tree canopy thins in places, but several blocks offer decent shade between the play areas.
Nearest large park: Spring Creek Park · ~54 min walk (2.1 mi)
Transportation83 stops
The A train is your lifeline here, and the 104 St and Ozone Park-Lefferts Blvd stops anchor the neighborhood. That direct Midtown run without a transfer is the real draw — you can make it to the Financial District in under an hour on a good day, though rush hour on the A is its own sport. Buses along 109 Av, 135 Av and Liberty Av pick up the east-west gaps, but there's no second line to bail you out when the subway gods are angry.
Restaurants100 places
South Ozone Park's restaurant scene is a genuine cross-cultural hub, with Caribbean flavors leading the charge — you'll find a deep bench of roti shops, halal joints, and Caribbean-American diners lining Liberty Avenue and Rockaway Blvd. South Asian eats pop up too, particularly around the north end near the border with Richmond Hill. The food court at Aqueduct and the Resorts World complex bring some sit-down variety, but mostly this is a neighborhood of quick-serve counters, corner delis, and takeout windows where locals grab dinner on the walk home.
Groceries21 places
South Ozone Park has a deep bench of grocery options lining Liberty Ave and Lefferts Blvd — you won't lack for a place to load up the cart. Key Food shows up three times across the neighborhood, and there's a CTown for budget-friendly staples, plus a handful of independent markets handling produce and specialty items. The international flavor runs strong here, with South Asian and Caribbean grocers mixing into the mix. For a full weekly shop, having a car helps, but the density means you can grab what you need without going far.
Coffee Shops12 places
South Ozone Park keeps it practical on the coffee front — a couple of Dunkin' locations cover the basics, and there's a Starbucks near Rockaway Boulevard for those needing a familiar fix. Beyond the chains, you're looking at old-school diners and grab-and-go spots that do the job if you're already in the area, but there's no specialty coffee scene to speak of. Residents heading to Jamaica or Richmond Hill for better options is pretty common.
Things to Do10 places
This corner of South Ozone Park leans athletic — you've got a solid bench of soccer fields and sports centers scattered around the neighborhood, plus a karate school and a couple of dance studios for kids who want to move. Beach access is a genuine perk here, with routes pointing toward the shore that make a day trip feel easy. The tutoring presence is thin but present, covering the basics if you're looking for academic support close to home.
Daycare & informal care5 places
South Ozone Park has a deep bench of Pre-K options — the bulk of them run through the local public schools (you'll find P.S. 96, 100, 108, 121, and 155 all offering seats), which means Universal Pre-K is actually accessible here. Private daycares are thinner on the ground, just a handful scattered around Rockaway Boulevard and 107th Avenue, so early-morning drop-off logistics matter more than in neighborhoods with more daycare density. If you're banking on a free UPK seat at a nearby school, the odds are decent.
Family Resources5 places
South Ozone Park delivers a reliable set of public anchors for families who need them. LEFFERTS library on Lefferts Boulevard and the SOUTH OZONE PARK branch on Rockaway Boulevard both offer solid programming and a quiet place to spend an afternoon. For outdoor time, kids have Lefferts Playground off North Conduit Avenue and Southern Fields nearby — both well-maintained and popular with local families. Al Stabile Playground near Centreville Street adds another solid option. The recreation scene here is quietly strong, with real anchors that feel permanent and well-used.
Healthcare14 places
Healthcare in South Ozone Park is anchored by a few solid options — Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center and John Adams High School serve as the primary hospitals in the area, with Ozone Park Dialysis covering kidney care. Pediatric care is thin, with just one provider in the neighborhood (and it's technically over the border in LIC). Urgent care has a decent bench with a few walk-in clinics around Liberty Avenue. Dental options are more plentiful, with several practices along Lefferts Boulevard and Liberty Ave.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in South Ozone Park
Schools in South Ozone Park
14
- AL-IHSAN ACADEMY
- Epic High School - South
- Hawtree Creek Middle School
- J.H.S. 226 Virgil I. Grissom
- John Adams Evening Hs M/W
- John Adams High School
- OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP CATHOLIC
- P.S. 096
- P.S. 100 Glen Morris
- P.S. 108 Captain Vincent G. Fowler
- P.S. 121 Queens
- P.S. 124 Osmond A Church
- P.S. 155
- Success Academy Charter School - NYC 14
Early education in South Ozone Park
22
- Aim High Leadership Academy
- Aim High Leadership Academy
- Aim High Leadership Academy Center Too
- AIM HIGH LEADERSHIP CENTER TOO, INC.
- AIM HIGH LEADERSHIP CENTER, INC.
- Al-Ihsan Academy
- AL-IHSAN ACADEMY
- AL-IHSAN ACADEMY 3
- DISTRICT 27 PRE-K CENTER AT 100-02 ROCKAWAY BLVD
- IT'S MY TURN DAYCARE, INC.
- Little Hearts And Steps Daycare
- Little Leaders Live
- OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP CATHOLIC
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy
- P.S. 096
- P.S. 100 Glen Morris
- P.S. 108 Captain Vincent G. Fowler
- P.S. 121 Queens
- P.S. 155
- Susan Day Care For Little Angels Inc.
- Talented Little Children III
- TLC SPIRIT, LLC
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is South Ozone Park a good neighborhood for families?
- South Ozone Park scores 76/100 for families on Motley — ahead of most NYC neighborhoods. 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 Ozone Park for families?
- For families, South Ozone Park stands out for strong results at the public and charter schools serving it; cleaner air and better child-health measures; and lower costs than most. What to weigh: longer weekday-morning trips to the city's main job centers. 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 Ozone Park safe?
- South Ozone Park scores 80/100 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 South Ozone Park?
- South Ozone Park has 14 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 94/100 for schools — ahead of most NYC neighborhoods.
- How do middle and high school admissions work from South Ozone Park?
- Middle school: families in South Ozone Park apply in 5th grade through the citywide middle school application. District 27's 24 middle school programs admit by method: 14 zoned, 5 unscreened, 4 screened and 1 charter lottery. District 28's 15 middle school programs admit by method: 9 unscreened, 3 charter lottery and 3 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 Ozone Park affordable?
- South Ozone Park scores 82/100 for affordability on Motley — more affordable than most NYC neighborhoods.
- Which borough is South Ozone Park in?
- South Ozone Park is a neighborhood in Queens, New York City.
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