Is Long Island City, Queens Safe in 2026?
Based on 2,523 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 0 shooting incidents, and 3,115 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Long Island City is above the Queens average for crime and trending safer (10.1% fewer incidents year-over-year).
Long Island City is considered about average, ranking safer than 47% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 2,523 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
2,523
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
0
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
458
826 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↓ 10.1%
10.1% fewer incidents
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 572 | 22.7% |
| harrassment 2 | 328 | 13.0% |
| grand larceny | 284 | 11.3% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 213 | 8.4% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 159 | 6.3% |
| sex crimes | 115 | 4.6% |
| vehicle and traffic laws | 94 | 3.7% |
| felony assault | 86 | 3.4% |
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
2,449
70.0 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
68
1.9 per 1,000 residents
Low
Sanitation Issues
280
8.0 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Heat/Hot Water
318
9.1 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
1,482
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
624
42% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
787
53% of total
How Safe Is Long Island City 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 (this page) | 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 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 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 Long Island City Safety
Is Long Island City safe?
Long Island City is rated "Average" — Typical for the borough. Over the past 12 months, 2,523 crime incidents were recorded, including 0 shooting incidents. Long Island City is considered about average, ranking safer than 47% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 2,523 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Long Island City?
The most common crimes in Long Island City are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (572 incidents, 22.7% of total); 2. HARRASSMENT 2 (328 incidents, 13% of total); 3. GRAND LARCENY (284 incidents, 11.3% of total).
Is Long Island City safer than the Queens average?
Long Island City is safer than 47% of Queens neighborhoods. It had 5% more incidents than the borough average (2,523 vs. a borough average of 2,400).
How has crime changed in Long Island City?
Crime in Long Island City has improved by 10.1% year-over-year, dropping from 2,806 to 2,523 incidents. The trend is classified as "improving."
What do 311 complaints say about Long Island City?
311 data shows 2,449 Very High complaints, 68 Low complaints, and 280 Moderate complaints. 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 28.9% 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 2,449 noise complaints (very high for Queens) and 68 rodent reports. It ranks in the 47th 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. Long Island City ranks at the 47th percentile with 2,523 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 Long Island City at night?
Long Island City is classified as "Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 0 shooting incidents and 2,523 total crime incidents — 5% 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 "Average" — safer than 47% of Queens neighborhoods. 2,523 crime incidents over 12 months, improved by 10.1% year-over-year, dropping from 2,806 to 2,523 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 Long Island City 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 Long Island City a good place to live?
Long Island City scores in the 47th percentile for safety in Queens. Long Island City is considered about average, ranking safer than 47% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 2,523 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 City