Is Howard Beach, Queens Safe in 2026?
Based on 1,251 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 0 shooting incidents, and 6,180 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Howard Beach is below the Queens average for crime with incidents trending upward (8% increase year-over-year).
Howard Beach is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 74% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 1,251 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
1,251
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
0
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
196
441 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↑ 8%
8% more incidents
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 284 | 22.7% |
| harrassment 2 | 158 | 12.6% |
| grand larceny | 122 | 9.8% |
| grand larceny of motor vehicle | 105 | 8.4% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 103 | 8.2% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 75 | 6.0% |
| other offenses related to theft | 72 | 5.8% |
| off. agnst pub ord sensblty & | 45 | 3.6% |
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
5,585
159.6 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
38
1.1 per 1,000 residents
Low
Sanitation Issues
129
3.7 per 1,000 residents
Low
Heat/Hot Water
428
12.2 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
260
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
94
36% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
161
62% of total
How Safe Is Howard Beach 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 (this page) | 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 | 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 Howard Beach.
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 Howard Beach 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 Howard Beach Safety
Is Howard Beach safe?
Howard Beach is rated "Safer Than Average" — Top 45% safest in the borough. Over the past 12 months, 1,251 crime incidents were recorded, including 0 shooting incidents. Howard Beach is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 74% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 1,251 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Howard Beach?
The most common crimes in Howard Beach are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (284 incidents, 22.7% of total); 2. HARRASSMENT 2 (158 incidents, 12.6% of total); 3. GRAND LARCENY (122 incidents, 9.8% of total).
Is Howard Beach safer than the Queens average?
Howard Beach is safer than 74% of Queens neighborhoods. It had 48% fewer incidents than the borough average (1,251 vs. a borough average of 2,400).
How has crime changed in Howard Beach?
Crime in Howard Beach has worsened by 8% year-over-year, rising from 1,158 to 1,251 incidents. The trend is classified as "worsening."
What do 311 complaints say about Howard Beach?
311 data shows 5,585 Very High complaints, 38 Low complaints, and 129 Low complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Howard Beach safe at night?
Night safety in Howard Beach varies by block. About 29.3% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Howard Beach recorded 0 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Howard Beach safe for families?
For families considering Howard Beach: the neighborhood recorded 5,585 noise complaints (very high for Queens) and 38 rodent reports. It ranks safer than 74% of Queens neighborhoods, which is above average. 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. Howard Beach ranks at the 74th percentile with 1,251 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 Howard Beach at night?
Howard Beach is classified as "Safer Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 0 shooting incidents and 1,251 total crime incidents — 48% 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 Howard Beach dangerous?
By NYPD data, Howard Beach is rated "Safer Than Average" — safer than 74% of Queens neighborhoods. 1,251 crime incidents over 12 months, worsened by 8% year-over-year, rising from 1,158 to 1,251 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 Howard Beach 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 Howard Beach a good place to live?
Howard Beach scores in the 74th percentile for safety in Queens. Howard Beach is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 74% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 1,251 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 Howard Beach to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Howard Beach
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Howard Beach.
Search an Address in Howard Beach