Neighborhood Comparison
Forest Hills vs Kew Gardens: Which NYC Neighborhood Is Better in 2026?
Central Queens family neighborhoods: Forest Hills' Tudor-style homes and Austin Street shopping versus Kew Gardens' leafy pre-war cooperative buildings and proximity to Forest Park.
Overall Livability Score
Winner: Forest Hills by 1.7 points
Dimension-by-Dimension Breakdown
Each dimension is scored 0-10. A dimension with no data behind it is shown as not measured and left out of the comparison.
Financial
No comparison: not measuredOutdoor & Green
Winner: Forest HillsCommute
Winner: Forest HillsInvestment
No comparison: not measuredLivability (ART)
Winner: Forest HillsPractical
Winner: Forest HillsKey Stats at a Glance
| Stat | Forest Hills | Kew Gardens |
|---|---|---|
| Subway stations nearby | 4 | 1 |
| Trees within 200m | 189 | 159 |
| Largest park in or near | Yellowstone Park | Maple Grove Park |
| Avg days on market | — | — |
| Borough rank (within scoring model) | #1 / 27 | #24 / 27 |
The Verdict
Forest Hills
Forest Hills scores 7.0: a tree-dense neighborhood with strong transit and few housing violations, though noise tempers its appeal.
Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens scores 5.3 composite—a tree-rich neighborhood with notable commute friction.
Top Strengths
Forest Hills
- +Above-median tree coverage and tree density — 189 trees within 200m radius, tree density 7.0/10—among the most in Queens
- +Few housing violations — Practical score of 8 (vs. borough median 8.0) reflects a low rate of HPD housing violations per residential building
- +ART/Livability above borough baseline — Art/Livability score 5.0 vs. borough median 4.1
Kew Gardens
- +Architectural character and visual cohesion — Tudor-style building stock and established neighborhood identity differentiate Kew Gardens from surrounding areas
- +Forest Park adjacency — Direct access to one of Queens's largest green spaces and recreational anchors
Things to Consider
Forest Hills
- −Moderate noise complaint volume — 5,118 noise complaints (Moderate category)
Kew Gardens
- −Significantly longer commute times — Commute score of 3.5 vs. borough median of 3.5; E/F service is the primary transit option
- −Moderate noise complaints — 1,475 noise complaints recorded—flagged as 'Moderate' and suggesting traffic, construction, or quality-of-life friction
- −Limited transit redundancy — Reliance on single E/F line creates vulnerability; no alternative subway routes serve the neighborhood directly
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forest Hills or Kew Gardens better for renters?
Based on current DwellCheck data, Forest Hills scores 7/10 overall (#1 of 27 Queens neighborhoods scored from NYC Open Data) and Kew Gardens scores 5.3/10 (#24 of 27 Queens neighborhoods scored from NYC Open Data). "Better" depends on what you weight — see the dimension-by-dimension breakdown below for a side-by-side.
Which neighborhood has better transit: Forest Hills or Kew Gardens?
Forest Hills has 4 subway stations in our data and scores 7.5/10 on commute. Kew Gardens has 1 stations and scores 3.5/10. The commute score counts the subway stations inside each neighborhood and the number of lines they serve.
Which is greener: Forest Hills or Kew Gardens?
Forest Hills: 189 trees expected in a 200m circle (NYC Parks tree inventory); 6.9/10 outdoor. Kew Gardens: 159 trees expected in a 200m circle (NYC Parks tree inventory); 6/10 outdoor. Parks listed: Yellowstone Park (Forest Hills) and Maple Grove Park (Kew Gardens).
Is Forest Hills or Kew Gardens safer?
Safety varies block-by-block within any NYC neighborhood. Check the specific address you're considering on DwellCheck for an NYPD crime count within 300m of the building. Neighborhood-level averages are useful starting points but can mask individual block differences of 5x or more.
Which is better for families: Forest Hills or Kew Gardens?
Family-friendliness depends on the outdoor, practical, and commute dimensions plus specific factors like school quality and playground density. In our data, Forest Hills scores 8/10 practical and 6.9/10 outdoor; Kew Gardens scores 7/10 practical and 6/10 outdoor. School quality data is not included in these scores — use nyc.gov/schools for that.
How recent is this comparison data?
Neighborhood guide data was last generated on 2026-09-14, and the neighborhood averages shown here come from that run. For block-level data, the DwellCheck address lookup queries NYC Open Data when a report is calculated and caches it for up to 14 days; NYPD publishes crime data quarterly, and 311 data updates daily.
Check a Specific Address
Neighborhood averages are a starting point. Block-level safety, crime, and building health vary widely within any NYC neighborhood. Check the exact address before you sign.
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