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Woodhaven features affordable single-family homes, Forest Park access, and diverse South Asian and Caribbean communities. A stable residential area with local retail.
Woodhaven features affordable single-family homes, Forest Park access, and diverse South Asian and Caribbean communities. A stable residential area with local retail.
Did you know?
Forest Park's 100-year-old carousel features hand-carved horses by Daniel Muller, one of only two Muller carousels still operating in the country.
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
$413 / sq ft
Commute
Weekday mornings · leaving 7:30–9:00
- FromWoodhaven
- ToNear Bryant Park
Family scores
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Trade-offs
Stands out
- Safety83/100
Fewer reported crimes, traffic injuries and serious housing violations per resident
- Affordability77/100
Lower costs than most
- Air & Child Health77/100
Cleaner air and better child-health measures
To weigh
- Schools24/100
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 Woodhaven 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
Schools5 schools
Woodhaven's school scene runs the gamut from zoned public elementaries like P.S. 060 Woodhaven and P.S. 097 Forest Park to a couple of faith-based options including Saint Thomas Apostle Catholic Academy. Parsons Preschool handles early learners, while the New York City Academy for Discovery adds a magnet-style option to the mix. It's a decent spread for a neighborhood this size — nothing flashy, but families have real choices without needing to cross borough lines.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Parks & Playgrounds1 place
For parks and playgrounds, Woodhaven's got a deep bench in name only — there's really just one standout, Equity Playground, which pulls weight for the whole area. The rest of the green space picture here leans more on the modest side compared to some neighboring Queens blocks that are luckier with scattered pocket parks. That single playground does have a solid local reputation though, and it's the kind of place that becomes the unofficial living room for families on warm weekends.
1 playground within a 10-min walk
Nearest large park: Forest Park · ~10 min walk (0.4 mi)
Transportation31 stops
Woodhaven's transit picture is defined by the J line — it runs through the heart of the neighborhood with stops at 75 St-Elderts Ln, 85 St-Forest Pkwy, and Woodhaven Blvd, the latter two also catching the Z for those mornings when you need the express skip. The bus network fills in nicely along Jamaica Avenue and Atlantic Avenue, giving you coverage that doesn't leave you captive to the subway schedule. Commuting to Manhattan means a straightforward ride into the core — not the quickest in Queens, but reliable once you're on the train.
Restaurants64 places
Woodhaven's Jamaica Avenue is a deep bench of no-nonsense eats — a solid mix of Latin spots (Peruvian, Mexican, Dominican), old-school delis, Chinese takeout windows, and pizza parlors serving the neighborhood crowd. There's a handful of diners and bakeries scattered in, plus the usual fast food suspects. It's not a destination dining scene, but for families grabbing a quick dinner or a weekend morning bagel run, the options are plentiful and built for real life.
Groceries7 places
Woodhaven's got a solid lineup along Jamaica Ave for the weekly shop — you've got a couple of Key Food locations (both at 9028, go figure) and a CTown in the mix, so basics are covered without heading to another neighborhood. Beyond the chains, there's a decent spread of independents like Bravo and Compare Food if you want more variety or tend to gravitate toward different spots week to week. It's a car-optional situation for most families, though transit riders will appreciate everything clusters right on the main drag.
Coffee Shops5 places
Woodhaven's coffee scene leans practical over trendy — there's a Dunkin' on Jamaica Ave for the reliable grab-and-go crowd, but most mornings you'll find yourself in one of the old-school coffee shops that line the avenue. These are the counter-service, sit-a-spell kind of places where the coffee is decent and the regulars know your order. It's not a third-wave scene, but what's there covers the daily ritual just fine.
Things to Do6 places
Woodhaven's activity scene leans enrichment-heavy, with a solid dance presence — two studios offering different styles give the block a cultural bent you don't always find in residential Queens. Beyond dance, there's a martial arts dojo, a tutoring center, and a public tennis court, which covers the basics without requiring a trek across borough lines. It's a thin but workable bench, and what's there skews toward structured classes rather than drop-in play.
Daycare & informal care2 places
Woodhaven's Pre-K landscape is reasonably deep with half a dozen sites — a mix of public District 27 locations and several private and parochial options that give families real variety. Daycare is thinner, with just a couple of independent operations clustered near the main commercial strips. Families needing full-time formal childcare may find the pickings slimmer locally, though the Pre-K network provides a strong backbone for early education in the neighborhood.
Family Resources2 places
Woodhaven holds down two solid anchors for families: the Woodhaven Library on Forest Parkway and Equity Playground on 88th Avenue. The library is a quiet, reliable resource for story hours and homework help, while the playground gives kids a place to burn off energy. It's a thin bench—you won't find a community center or dedicated family programming hub—but the essentials are covered and both spots get consistent use.
Healthcare8 places
Healthcare along Jamaica Avenue gives families a workable setup, though it's more heavy on urgent care than anything else. There are four urgent care spots clustered on the main strip — a decent backup when your kiddo spikes a fever after hours or takes a tumble at the park. Pediatric and dental options are thinner — just one pediatrician and three dental offices for the whole neighborhood — so snagging a provider you like early is smart. No hospitals within Woodhaven itself, but the nearest are a short drive across the border in neighboring areas.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in Woodhaven
Schools in Woodhaven
5
Early education in Woodhaven
6
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Woodhaven a good neighborhood for families?
- Woodhaven scores 58/100 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 Woodhaven for families?
- For families, Woodhaven stands out for fewer reported crimes, traffic injuries and serious housing violations per resident; lower costs than most; and cleaner air and better child-health measures. What to weigh: 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 Woodhaven safe?
- Woodhaven scores 83/100 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 Woodhaven?
- Woodhaven has 5 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 24/100 for schools — toward the lower end citywide.
- How do middle and high school admissions work from Woodhaven?
- Middle school: families in Woodhaven 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. 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 Woodhaven affordable?
- Woodhaven scores 77/100 for affordability on Motley — more affordable than most NYC neighborhoods.
- Which borough is Woodhaven in?
- Woodhaven is a neighborhood in Queens, New York City.
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