Is Long Island City, Queens Safe? Crime Rate & NYPD Data (2026)
Long Island City has a lower crime rate per resident than 4% of Queens neighborhoods, or 80.3 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the higher-crime half of Queens. DwellCheck rates it "High Activity Area" — among the highest activity areas — from 2,587 NYPD complaint records and 0 shooting incidents over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents held roughly steady year-over-year (2,627 vs 2,587). Safety varies block by block, so read this as neighborhood context rather than a verdict on any single street.
Over the same 12 months, 311 logged 3,213 quality-of-life complaints in Long Island City. Long Island City is considered a high-activity area, with a lower crime rate per resident than 4% of Queens neighborhoods. Incident levels are stable with 2,587 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
What Is the Crime Rate in Long Island City?
Long Island City recorded 2,587 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (32,216 residents) that is 80.3 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 4% of Queens neighborhoods. Of those, 869 were felonies and 175 were violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery or felony assault). Crimes are counted where they were reported, so commercial and nightlife blocks push the rate up in districts with few residents.
Long Island City Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
2,587
Past 12 months · 80.3 per 1,000 residents
Shooting Incidents
0
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
175
Murder, rape, robbery, felony assault
Year-over-Year Trend
↔ 1.5%
No significant change
* Borough rate: the borough's count per resident across the neighborhoods we track, applied to this neighborhood's 32,216 residents (2020 Census).
Most Common Crimes in Long Island City
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 635 | 24.5% |
| harrassment 2 | 312 | 12.1% |
| grand larceny | 299 | 11.6% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 219 | 8.5% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 154 | 6.0% |
| sex crimes | 114 | 4.4% |
| felony assault | 88 | 3.4% |
| grand larceny of motor vehicle | 84 | 3.2% |
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 (32,216 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
2,486
77.2 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Rodent Reports
46
1.4 per 1,000 residents
Low
Sanitation Issues
327
10.2 per 1,000 residents
High
Heat/Hot Water
354
11.0 per 1,000 residents
Low
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
1,429
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
621
43% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
754
53% of total
How Safe Is Long Island City 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 | 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 (this page) | 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 Long Island City.
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 Long Island City's reported crimes per resident (its NTAs' 2020 Census population, 32,216) 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 Long Island City'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 Long Island City Safety
Is Long Island City safe?
Long Island City has a lower crime rate per resident than 4% of Queens neighborhoods, or 80.3 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the higher-crime half of Queens. DwellCheck rates it "High Activity Area" — among the highest activity areas — from 2,587 NYPD complaint records and 0 shooting incidents over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents held roughly steady year-over-year (2,627 vs 2,587). Safety varies block by block, so read this as neighborhood context rather than a verdict on any single street.
What is the crime rate in Long Island City?
Long Island City recorded 2,587 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (32,216 residents) that is 80.3 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 4% of Queens neighborhoods. Of those, 869 were felonies and 175 were violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery or felony assault). Crimes are counted where they were reported, so commercial and nightlife blocks push the rate up in districts with few residents.
What are the most common crimes in Long Island City?
The most common crimes in Long Island City are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (635 incidents, 24.5% of total); 2. HARRASSMENT 2 (312 incidents, 12.1% of total); 3. GRAND LARCENY (299 incidents, 11.6% of total).
Is Long Island City safer than the Queens average?
Long Island City has a lower crime rate per resident than 4% of Queens neighborhoods. It had 60% more incidents than the borough average (2,587 vs. a borough average of 1,620 for a neighborhood of the same population, 32,216 residents in the 2020 Census). That is 80.3 reported crimes per 1,000 residents.
How has crime changed in Long Island City?
Crime in Long Island City has remained stable year-over-year (2,627 vs 2,587 incidents). The trend is classified as "stable."
What do 311 complaints say about Long Island City?
Over the past 12 months, 311 recorded 2,486 noise complaints (moderate per resident), 46 rodent complaints (low) and 327 sanitation complaints (high). 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 Long Island City safe at night?
Night safety in Long Island City varies by block. About 29.1% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Long Island City recorded 0 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Long Island City safe for families?
For families considering Long Island City: the neighborhood recorded 2,486 noise complaints (moderate per resident among the NYC neighborhoods we track) and 46 rodent reports. It has a lower crime rate per resident than 4% 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. Long Island City has a lower crime rate per resident than 4% of Queens neighborhoods, with 2,587 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 Long Island City at night?
Long Island City is classified as "High Activity Area" by NYPD complaint data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 0 shooting incidents and 2,587 total crime incidents — 60% 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 Long Island City dangerous?
By NYPD data, Long Island City is rated "High Activity Area", with a lower crime rate per resident than 4% of Queens neighborhoods. 2,587 crime incidents over 12 months, remained stable year-over-year (2,627 vs 2,587 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 Long Island City 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 Long Island City a good place to live?
Long Island City is considered a high-activity area, with a lower crime rate per resident than 4% of Queens neighborhoods. Incident levels are stable with 2,587 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 Long Island City to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Long Island City
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Long Island City.
Search an Address in Long Island CityCompare Long Island City with Nearby Queens Crime Rates
The Queens neighborhoods whose crime rate per resident is closest to Long Island City's.