Is Briarwood, Queens Safe in 2026?
Based on 1,522 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 1 shooting incident, and 3,434 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Briarwood has a lower crime rate per resident than 65% of Queens neighborhoods, with incidents trending down (7.1% fewer year-over-year).
Briarwood is considered safer than average, with a lower crime rate per resident than 65% of Queens neighborhoods. Incidents are trending down with 1,522 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
Data covers June 2025 – June 2026 (12 months) · Source: NYPD Complaint, Shooting & Arrest Data and NYC 311 via NYC Open Data · Updated September 14, 2026
Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
1,522
Past 12 months · 38.7 per 1,000 residents
Shooting Incidents
1
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
127
Murder, rape, robbery, felony assault
Year-over-Year Trend
↓ 7.1%
7.1% fewer incidents
* Borough rate: the borough's count per resident across the neighborhoods we track, applied to this neighborhood's 39,292 residents (2020 Census).
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| harrassment 2 | 270 | 17.7% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 225 | 14.8% |
| petit larceny | 222 | 14.6% |
| grand larceny | 122 | 8.0% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 105 | 6.9% |
| vehicle and traffic laws | 85 | 5.6% |
| felony assault | 84 | 5.5% |
| off. agnst pub ord sensblty & | 66 | 4.3% |
Severity Distribution
Where Crimes Occur
Quality of Life Indicators
311 complaints reveal patterns about daily quality of life that crime statistics alone do not capture. These are resident-reported issues from the past 12 months. Rates use the 2020 Census population (39,292 residents). Labels compare each rate with the other NYC neighborhoods we track: Low is the bottom quarter, Moderate the middle half, High the next 15%, and Very High the top 10%.
Noise Complaints
1,613
41.1 per 1,000 residents
Low
Rodent Reports
84
2.1 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Sanitation Issues
240
6.1 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Heat/Hot Water
1,497
38.1 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Arrest Activity
Arrest data reflects law enforcement activity in the area. High arrest counts relative to crime can indicate active policing; low counts may reflect under-enforcement or lower crime.
Total Arrests
671
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
306
46% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
349
52% of total
How Safe Is Briarwood Compared to Other Queens Neighborhoods?
Queens Neighborhood Safety Comparison
| Neighborhood | Crime Incidents | Per 1,000 Residents | Shootings | Verdict | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Neck | 575 | 22.8 | 0 | Exceptionally Safe | 100% |
| Middle Village | 1,001 | 29 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 96% |
| Glendale | 1,077 | 30.7 | 0 | Exceptionally Safe | 92% |
| Bayside | 1,183 | 33.2 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 88% |
| Woodside | 1,796 | 33.8 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 85% |
| Kew Gardens | 846 | 34.7 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 81% |
| Whitestone | 1,028 | 36.2 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 77% |
| Corona | 2,829 | 38.3 | 7 | Higher Than Average | 73% |
| Fresh Meadows | 907 | 38.7 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 69% |
| Briarwood (this page) | 1,522 | 38.7 | 1 | Safer Than Average | 65% |
| Maspeth | 1,723 | 39.8 | 1 | Safer Than Average | 62% |
| Rego Park | 1,273 | 41.4 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 58% |
| Astoria | 5,032 | 41.5 | 2 | Average | 54% |
| Forest Hills | 3,760 | 42.3 | 1 | Average | 50% |
| Howard Beach | 1,164 | 42.6 | 0 | Average | 46% |
| Jamaica Estates | 1,005 | 42.6 | 0 | Higher Than Average | 42% |
| Ridgewood | 2,841 | 42.8 | 3 | Higher Than Average | 38% |
| Sunnyside | 2,316 | 44.3 | 0 | Higher Than Average | 35% |
| Ozone Park | 2,420 | 47.6 | 4 | Higher Than Average | 31% |
| College Point | 1,604 | 47.7 | 3 | Higher Than Average | 27% |
| Jackson Heights | 5,014 | 49.2 | 2 | Much Higher Than Average | 23% |
| Richmond Hill | 2,956 | 50.8 | 2 | Much Higher Than Average | 19% |
| Elmhurst | 6,122 | 56.8 | 2 | Much Higher Than Average | 15% |
| Rockaway Beach | 2,669 | 64.5 | 9 | Much Higher Than Average | 12% |
| Flushing | 4,537 | 64.9 | 1 | High Activity Area | 8% |
| Long Island City | 2,587 | 80.3 | 0 | High Activity Area | 4% |
| Jamaica | 12,034 | 114.2 | 13 | High Activity Area | 0% |
Understanding This Data
All crime statistics on this page come from NYPD Complaint Data, Shooting Incident Data and Arrest Data published on NYC Open Data, refreshed periodically. Incidents are mapped to neighborhood boundaries using the NYC Department of City Planning Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (NTAs) — the same geographic units used in official census reporting. Each safety score reflects the cumulative activity within the NTA boundaries assigned to Briarwood.
NTA boundaries are drawn to maintain population comparability across census tracts, which means they may not perfectly align with what residents consider their "neighborhood." In some cases, a single NTA spans areas with different character. The percentile ranking compares Briarwood's reported crimes per resident (its NTAs' 2020 Census population, 39,292) only against the other neighborhoods we track in Queens, so it is borough-relative rather than city-wide. Crimes are counted where they were reported, so commercial and nightlife districts with few residents rank high. The borough averages on this page apply the borough's crimes per resident to Briarwood's population.
Safety conditions vary significantly block by block. Neighborhood-level statistics provide important context but should not substitute for address-level research. Use DwellCheck to analyze a specific address and understand the precise safety environment within walking distance of where you plan to live.
Frequently Asked Questions about Briarwood Safety
Is Briarwood safe?
Briarwood is rated "Safer Than Average" — Top 45% safest in the borough. Over the past 12 months, 1,522 crime incidents were recorded, including 1 shooting incident. Briarwood is considered safer than average, with a lower crime rate per resident than 65% of Queens neighborhoods. Incidents are trending down with 1,522 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Briarwood?
The most common crimes in Briarwood are: 1. HARRASSMENT 2 (270 incidents, 17.7% of total); 2. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (225 incidents, 14.8% of total); 3. PETIT LARCENY (222 incidents, 14.6% of total).
Is Briarwood safer than the Queens average?
Briarwood has a lower crime rate per resident than 65% of Queens neighborhoods. It had 23% fewer incidents than the borough average (1,522 vs. a borough average of 1,976 for a neighborhood of the same population, 39,292 residents in the 2020 Census). That is 38.7 reported crimes per 1,000 residents.
How has crime changed in Briarwood?
Crime in Briarwood has improved by 7.1% year-over-year, dropping from 1,638 to 1,522 incidents. The trend is classified as "improving."
What do 311 complaints say about Briarwood?
Over the past 12 months, 311 recorded 1,613 noise complaints (low per resident), 84 rodent complaints (moderate) and 240 sanitation complaints (moderate). Each label compares the rate per resident (2020 Census) with the other NYC neighborhoods we track. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Briarwood safe at night?
Night safety in Briarwood varies by block. About 32.1% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Briarwood recorded 1 shooting incident in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Briarwood safe for families?
For families considering Briarwood: the neighborhood recorded 1,613 noise complaints (low per resident among the NYC neighborhoods we track) and 84 rodent reports. It has a lower crime rate per resident than 65% of Queens neighborhoods. Family-friendliness also depends on schools, parks, and building quality — use DwellCheck to evaluate a specific address.
What is the safest neighborhood in Queens?
Safety varies across Queens neighborhoods. Briarwood has a lower crime rate per resident than 65% of Queens neighborhoods, with 1,522 incidents. Compare all Queens neighborhoods in the comparison table above to see each one's crimes per 1,000 residents, shootings, and borough percentile. Crime data is NYPD Complaint Data via NYC Open Data.
Can you walk around Briarwood at night?
Briarwood is classified as "Safer Than Average" by NYPD complaint data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 1 shooting incident and 1,522 total crime incidents — 23% fewer incidents than the borough average. Walking at night carries the same risk profile as anywhere in NYC: stay on commercial corridors with foot traffic, avoid empty side streets after midnight, and prefer subway lines that run 24/7.
Is Briarwood dangerous?
By NYPD data, Briarwood is rated "Safer Than Average", with a lower crime rate per resident than 65% of Queens neighborhoods. 1,522 crime incidents over 12 months, improved by 7.1% year-over-year, dropping from 1,638 to 1,522 incidents. Block-level risk varies; check our address-level safety score for any specific street or building, which counts NYPD complaints within a 300-meter radius.
What parts of Briarwood should I avoid?
NYPD complaint records carry approximate incident coordinates, but a neighborhood total can't tell you which blocks drive it, so we don't publish an "avoid this street" list. For a specific block, use DwellCheck's address-level safety score, which counts NYPD complaint records within a 300m radius of a specific building. As a general rule across all NYC neighborhoods: industrial blocks with no foot traffic are higher-risk than residential blocks; subway-station-adjacent commercial corridors are lowest-risk.
Is Briarwood a good place to live?
Briarwood is considered safer than average, with a lower crime rate per resident than 65% of Queens neighborhoods. Incidents are trending down with 1,522 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months. Whether it's a good fit depends on what you weight: families, solo renters, and remote workers prioritize different factors (noise, transit access, parks, building quality). Use DwellCheck's full livability page for Briarwood to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Briarwood
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Briarwood.
Search an Address in Briarwood