Is Rockaway Beach, Queens Safe in 2026?
Based on 2,770 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 10 shooting incidents, and 3,971 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Rockaway Beach is above the Queens average for crime and trending safer (5.2% fewer incidents year-over-year).
Rockaway Beach is considered higher than average, ranking safer than 42% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 2,770 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 26, 2026
Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
2,770
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
10
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
302
785 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↓ 5.2%
5.2% fewer incidents
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| harrassment 2 | 640 | 23.1% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 405 | 14.6% |
| petit larceny | 378 | 13.6% |
| miscellaneous penal law | 226 | 8.2% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 216 | 7.8% |
| felony assault | 160 | 5.8% |
| off. agnst pub ord sensblty & | 95 | 3.4% |
| vehicle and traffic laws | 93 | 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
3,083
88.1 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
40
1.1 per 1,000 residents
Low
Sanitation Issues
195
5.6 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Heat/Hot Water
653
18.7 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
1,302
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
629
48% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
657
50% of total
How Safe Is Rockaway 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 | 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 (this page) | 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 Rockaway 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 Rockaway 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 Rockaway Beach Safety
Is Rockaway Beach safe?
Rockaway Beach is rated "Higher Than Average" — Above-average incident activity. Over the past 12 months, 2,770 crime incidents were recorded, including 10 shooting incidents. Rockaway Beach is considered higher than average, ranking safer than 42% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 2,770 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Rockaway Beach?
The most common crimes in Rockaway Beach are: 1. HARRASSMENT 2 (640 incidents, 23.1% of total); 2. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (405 incidents, 14.6% of total); 3. PETIT LARCENY (378 incidents, 13.6% of total).
Is Rockaway Beach safer than the Queens average?
Rockaway Beach is safer than 42% of Queens neighborhoods. It had 15% more incidents than the borough average (2,770 vs. a borough average of 2,400).
How has crime changed in Rockaway Beach?
Crime in Rockaway Beach has improved by 5.2% year-over-year, dropping from 2,923 to 2,770 incidents. The trend is classified as "improving."
What do 311 complaints say about Rockaway Beach?
311 data shows 3,083 Very High complaints, 40 Low complaints, and 195 Moderate complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Rockaway Beach safe at night?
Night safety in Rockaway Beach varies by block. About 17.7% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Rockaway Beach recorded 10 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Rockaway Beach safe for families?
For families considering Rockaway Beach: the neighborhood recorded 3,083 noise complaints (very high for Queens) and 40 rodent reports. It ranks in the 42th 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. Rockaway Beach ranks at the 42th percentile with 2,770 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 Rockaway Beach at night?
Rockaway Beach is classified as "Higher Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 10 shooting incidents and 2,770 total crime incidents — 15% 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 Rockaway Beach dangerous?
By NYPD data, Rockaway Beach is rated "Higher Than Average" — safer than 42% of Queens neighborhoods. 2,770 crime incidents over 12 months, improved by 5.2% year-over-year, dropping from 2,923 to 2,770 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 Rockaway 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 Rockaway Beach a good place to live?
Rockaway Beach scores in the 42th percentile for safety in Queens. Rockaway Beach is considered higher than average, ranking safer than 42% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 2,770 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 Rockaway Beach to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Rockaway Beach
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Rockaway Beach.
Search an Address in Rockaway Beach