Is Kew Gardens, Queens Safe in 2026?
Based on 988 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 0 shooting incidents, and 2,368 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Kew Gardens is below the Queens average for crime with incidents trending upward (25.2% increase year-over-year).
Kew Gardens is considered much safer than average, ranking safer than 79% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 988 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
988
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
0
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
113
309 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↑ 25.2%
25.2% more incidents
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 194 | 19.6% |
| harrassment 2 | 167 | 16.9% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 80 | 8.1% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 79 | 8.0% |
| grand larceny of motor vehicle | 63 | 6.4% |
| miscellaneous penal law | 56 | 5.7% |
| grand larceny | 54 | 5.5% |
| felony assault | 41 | 4.1% |
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
1,400
40.0 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
23
0.7 per 1,000 residents
Low
Sanitation Issues
140
4.0 per 1,000 residents
Low
Heat/Hot Water
805
23.0 per 1,000 residents
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
1,254
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
499
40% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
535
43% of total
How Safe Is Kew Gardens 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 (this page) | 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 | 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 Kew Gardens.
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 Kew Gardens 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 Kew Gardens Safety
Is Kew Gardens safe?
Kew Gardens is rated "Much Safer Than Average" — Top 25% safest in the borough. Over the past 12 months, 988 crime incidents were recorded, including 0 shooting incidents. Kew Gardens is considered much safer than average, ranking safer than 79% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 988 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Kew Gardens?
The most common crimes in Kew Gardens are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (194 incidents, 19.6% of total); 2. HARRASSMENT 2 (167 incidents, 16.9% of total); 3. CRIMINAL MISCHIEF & RELATED OF (80 incidents, 8.1% of total).
Is Kew Gardens safer than the Queens average?
Kew Gardens is safer than 79% of Queens neighborhoods. It had 59% fewer incidents than the borough average (988 vs. a borough average of 2,400).
How has crime changed in Kew Gardens?
Crime in Kew Gardens has worsened by 25.2% year-over-year, rising from 789 to 988 incidents. The trend is classified as "worsening."
What do 311 complaints say about Kew Gardens?
311 data shows 1,400 Very High complaints, 23 Low complaints, and 140 Low complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Kew Gardens safe at night?
Night safety in Kew Gardens varies by block. About 32.9% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Kew Gardens recorded 0 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Kew Gardens safe for families?
For families considering Kew Gardens: the neighborhood recorded 1,400 noise complaints (very high for Queens) and 23 rodent reports. It ranks safer than 79% 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. Kew Gardens ranks at the 79th percentile with 988 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 Kew Gardens at night?
Kew Gardens is classified as "Much Safer Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 0 shooting incidents and 988 total crime incidents — 59% 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 Kew Gardens dangerous?
By NYPD data, Kew Gardens is rated "Much Safer Than Average" — safer than 79% of Queens neighborhoods. 988 crime incidents over 12 months, worsened by 25.2% year-over-year, rising from 789 to 988 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 Kew Gardens 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 Kew Gardens a good place to live?
Kew Gardens scores in the 79th percentile for safety in Queens. Kew Gardens is considered much safer than average, ranking safer than 79% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 988 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 Kew Gardens to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Kew Gardens
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Kew Gardens.
Search an Address in Kew Gardens