Is Forest Hills, Queens Safe in 2026?
Based on 3,877 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 1 shooting incident, and 8,242 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Forest Hills is above the Queens average for crime with incidents trending upward (18.5% increase year-over-year).
Forest Hills is considered much higher than average, ranking safer than 19% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 3,877 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
Data covers December 2024 – December 2025 (12 months) · Source: NYPD CompStat & NYC 311 via NYC Open Data · Updated April 18, 2026
Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
3,877
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
1
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
418
879 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↑ 18.5%
18.5% more incidents
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 1,498 | 38.6% |
| harrassment 2 | 552 | 14.2% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 260 | 6.7% |
| grand larceny | 250 | 6.4% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 162 | 4.2% |
| vehicle and traffic laws | 130 | 3.4% |
| grand larceny of motor vehicle | 125 | 3.2% |
| felony assault | 117 | 3.0% |
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.
Noise Complaints
5,123
146.4 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
264
7.5 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Sanitation Issues
440
12.6 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Heat/Hot Water
2,415
69.0 per 1,000 residents
Very High
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
2,015
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
747
37% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
1,197
59% of total
How Safe Is Forest Hills Compared to Other Queens Neighborhoods?
Queens Neighborhood Safety Comparison
| Neighborhood | Crime Incidents | Shootings | Verdict | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Neck | 622 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 87% |
| Middle Village | 965 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 80% |
| Fresh Meadows | 982 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 80% |
| Kew Gardens | 988 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 79% |
| Whitestone | 1,003 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 79% |
| Jamaica Estates | 1,008 | 2 | Much Safer Than Average | 79% |
| Glendale | 1,138 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 76% |
| Bayside | 1,182 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 75% |
| Rego Park | 1,250 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 74% |
| Howard Beach | 1,251 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 74% |
| Ozone Park | 2,378 | 4 | Safer Than Average | 74% |
| Richmond Hill | 2,937 | 1 | Safer Than Average | 69% |
| College Point | 1,491 | 2 | Safer Than Average | 69% |
| Maspeth | 1,639 | 1 | Safer Than Average | 66% |
| Briarwood | 1,615 | 2 | Safer Than Average | 66% |
| Woodside | 1,767 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 63% |
| Sunnyside | 2,308 | 0 | Average | 52% |
| Long Island City | 2,523 | 0 | Average | 47% |
| Astoria | 4,862 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 44% |
| Corona | 2,673 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 44% |
| Ridgewood | 2,735 | 2 | Higher Than Average | 43% |
| Rockaway Beach | 2,770 | 10 | Higher Than Average | 42% |
| Forest Hills (this page) | 3,877 | 1 | Much Higher Than Average | 19% |
| Flushing | 4,843 | 3 | High Activity Area | 0% |
| Jackson Heights | 5,229 | 0 | High Activity Area | 0% |
| Elmhurst | 6,283 | 2 | High Activity Area | 0% |
| Jamaica | 11,940 | 10 | High Activity Area | 0% |
Understanding This Data
All crime statistics on this page are sourced directly from the NYPD CompStat database via NYC Open Data. 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 Forest Hills.
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 Forest Hills only against other NTAs within Queens, so scores are borough-relative rather than city-wide.
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 Forest Hills Safety
Is Forest Hills safe?
Forest Hills is rated "Much Higher Than Average" — Significantly above average. Over the past 12 months, 3,877 crime incidents were recorded, including 1 shooting incident. Forest Hills is considered much higher than average, ranking safer than 19% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 3,877 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Forest Hills?
The most common crimes in Forest Hills are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (1,498 incidents, 38.6% of total); 2. HARRASSMENT 2 (552 incidents, 14.2% of total); 3. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (260 incidents, 6.7% of total).
Is Forest Hills safer than the Queens average?
Forest Hills is safer than 19% of Queens neighborhoods. It had 62% more incidents than the borough average (3,877 vs. a borough average of 2,400).
How has crime changed in Forest Hills?
Crime in Forest Hills has worsened by 18.5% year-over-year, rising from 3,273 to 3,877 incidents. The trend is classified as "worsening."
What do 311 complaints say about Forest Hills?
311 data shows 5,123 Very High complaints, 264 Moderate complaints, and 440 Moderate complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Forest Hills safe at night?
Night safety in Forest Hills varies by block. About 22.5% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Forest Hills recorded 1 shooting incident in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Forest Hills safe for families?
For families considering Forest Hills: the neighborhood recorded 5,123 noise complaints (very high for Queens) and 264 rodent reports. It ranks in the 19th percentile for safety in Queens. 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. Forest Hills ranks at the 19th percentile with 3,877 incidents. Compare all Queens neighborhoods in the comparison table above to see how each ranks by total crime, shootings, and borough percentile. All data is sourced from NYPD CompStat.
Can you walk around Forest Hills at night?
Forest Hills is classified as "Much Higher Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 1 shooting incident and 3,877 total crime incidents — 62% more 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 Forest Hills dangerous?
By NYPD data, Forest Hills is rated "Much Higher Than Average" — safer than 19% of Queens neighborhoods. 3,877 crime incidents over 12 months, worsened by 18.5% year-over-year, rising from 3,273 to 3,877 incidents. Block-level risk varies; check our address-level safety score for any specific street or building to weight NYPD incidents within a 250-meter radius.
What parts of Forest Hills should I avoid?
NYPD CompStat reports incidents at the precinct level, not block-by-block, so a granular "avoid this street" answer isn't possible from public data alone. The most reliable signal at the block level is DwellCheck's address-level safety score, which weights NYPD incidents within a 250m 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 Forest Hills a good place to live?
Forest Hills scores in the 19th percentile for safety in Queens. Forest Hills is considered much higher than average, ranking safer than 19% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 3,877 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 Forest Hills to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Forest Hills
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Forest Hills.
Search an Address in Forest Hills