Two-Bedroom Apartments • Forest Hills, Queens

Two-Bedroom Apartments in Forest Hills, Queens (2026)

NYC two-bedroom apartments range from converted railroads in the outer boroughs to luxury units in Manhattan. They are popular for roommate situations and families, but "flex" apartments — 1BRs marketed as 2BRs after installing temporary walls — muddy the market. Forest Hills scores 7/10 on DwellCheck's livability index (#1 of 27 Queens neighborhoods scored from NYC Open Data), with 4 subway stations inside the neighborhood's boundaries.

Forest Hills at a glance

Livability
7/10
Subway stations (in neighborhood)
4
Borough rank (NYC Open Data guides)
#1/27

Forest Hills scores 7.0: a tree-dense neighborhood with strong transit and few housing violations, though noise tempers its appeal.

What to look for in a two-bedroom apartment in Forest Hills

Forest Hills has a specific housing profile that affects your two-bedroom search. Its practical score is 8/10 (HPD housing violations per residential lot, higher = fewer), and the most common residential building class is one-family (70% of residential tax lots in NYC's PLUTO data). These are the considerations that matter most here:

  • •True 2BR vs flex 2BR: flex apartments have non-load-bearing temporary walls
  • •Whether flex walls are legal under the NYC Multiple Dwelling Law
  • •Bedroom size ratios (some NYC 2BRs have a large master and tiny second bedroom)
  • •Shared vs. separate bathrooms
  • •Railroad layout (walk through one bedroom to reach another)

How to verify a two-bedroom listing

Listings often over-promise on amenities. Before you sign a lease for a claimed two-bedroom apartment in Forest Hills, run through this verification checklist:

  • ✓For flex apartments, verify the landlord allows temporary walls in writing
  • ✓Check NYC Multiple Dwelling Law compliance — flex walls must not block egress
  • ✓Measure both bedrooms separately, not just the total
  • ✓Look for at least 80 sqft per bedroom as the legal minimum
  • ✓Verify that the second bedroom has its own window

Want a deeper dive? Read our full How to Find an Apartment in NYC guide.

About Forest Hills, Queens

You'll find yourself in a heavily treed neighborhood—189 trees within a 200-meter radius create a sheltered, suburban feel despite the urban density. One-family houses sit on 70% of residential tax lots, with walk-up (5%) and elevator (4%) apartment buildings on few lots, giving Forest Hills a structured, planned appearance that reflects its early 20th-century garden community origins. Parks are distributed across the area—Yellowstone Park, MacDonald Park, and Russell Sage Playground among them, and the 3 nearest parks average 330 meters from the neighborhood's center —and trees are dense overhead: a tree density rating of 7.0/10. You'll access the E, F, M and R lines at Forest Hills-71 Av, with more stops at 75 Av, 67 Av and Kew Gardens-Union Tpke, for a commute score of 7.5.

Forest Hills scores 7/10 overall on DwellCheck's livability index, ranking #1 of 27 Queens neighborhoods scored from NYC Open Data. Rent prices in Forest Hills vary widely; check specific listings for current market rates. DwellCheck lists 4 subway stations inside the neighborhood's boundaries for Forest Hills, including Kew Gardens-Union Tpke, 75 Av, Forest Hills-71 Av.

A typical 200m circle in Forest Hills holds about 189 trees in NYC Parks' tree inventory (street and park trees), a tree density of 7/10 on a citywide percentile scale. Largest parks in or near Forest Hills: Yellowstone Park, Real Good Playground, Russell Sage Playground. Nearest to the neighborhood's center: MacDonald Park, about 87m.

Who Forest Hills is best for

Green-space seekers without car dependency concerns

Tree density 7.0/10, 189 trees per 200m and five nearby parks drive an outdoor score of 6.9; art/livability score of 5.0 beats the borough median of 4.1

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I know about finding a two-bedroom place in Forest Hills?

Forest Hills pricing varies by block and building. Forest Hills ranks #1 of 27 Queens neighborhoods scored from NYC Open Data on livability (7/10). Known for tudor architecture and top schools, Forest Hills has a rental market where two-bedroom options depend heavily on building era and management. Forest Hills scores 7.0: a tree-dense neighborhood with strong transit and few housing violations, though noise tempers its appeal.

How much should I expect to pay in Forest Hills?

Pricing in Forest Hills varies widely by block, building age, and floor. Queens is a large borough with significant rent variation — always compare at least 3-4 listings before committing.

Is Forest Hills actually a good fit for someone looking for a two-bedroom apartment?

Depends on your priorities. Forest Hills scores 8/10 on practical (HPD housing violations per residential lot, higher = fewer) and 7.5/10 on commute (subway stations and lines inside the neighborhood). It tends to work best for green-space seekers without car dependency concerns. The two-bedroom inventory specifically depends on building stock, which you can verify address by address.

How do I get around from Forest Hills?

DwellCheck lists 4 subway stations inside the neighborhood's boundaries, including Kew Gardens-Union Tpke (E/F) and 75 Av (E/F). The commute score is 7.5/10 (subway stations and lines inside the neighborhood); it is not a travel time, so check the trip to your own destination.

What about safety in Forest Hills?

Block-by-block variation is significant — two addresses a quarter mile apart can have very different safety profiles. Queens averages 159.5 reported incidents per 300m radius and 0.3 shooting incidents per 500m. The only way to know for a specific address is to check the NYPD data within a walking radius.

Are there parks or green space near Forest Hills?

A typical 200m circle in Forest Hills holds about 189 trees in NYC Parks' tree inventory (street and park trees), a tree density of 7/10 on a citywide percentile scale. Largest parks in or near Forest Hills: Yellowstone Park, Real Good Playground, Russell Sage Playground. Nearest to the neighborhood's center: MacDonald Park, about 87m. The outdoor score is 6.9/10. There is some green space, though it is not the area's strongest feature.

What ZIP code covers Forest Hills?

Forest Hills falls in 11375 (Forest Hills).

Check a specific Forest Hills address

Neighborhood averages are a starting point. Every NYC apartment building has unique violations, complaint history, and livability characteristics. Enter any address for a block-level analysis.

Check a Forest Hills address →