Downsizing in Queens

Queens at a glance

The state's county page describes Queens as the easternmost and largest in area of the five boroughs, at 178 square miles, with JFK International and LaGuardia airports and Flushing Meadows Park within its borders. Queens County was established in 1683, and Queens Borough Hall is at 120-55 Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens.

Queens joined New York City in the 1898 consolidation, when the borough presidents' offices were created. NYC Planning divides Queens into 14 community districts, from Astoria and Long Island City in the west to Bayside and Douglaston in the northeast and the Rockaways in the south.

Sources: New York State, Queens County; NYC Municipal Archives, Queens Borough President.

Housing for downsizers in Queens

The mix is wide and changes district by district. Some examples that shape a search:

• Garden apartments and co-ops. Jackson Heights is a landmarked district of low-rise garden apartment buildings, many of them co-ops, and Forest Hills mixes co-op and condo complexes with the Forest Hills Gardens planned community.
• Historic districts. The Landmarks Preservation Commission lists Queens districts including Hunters Point, Jackson Heights, Sunnyside Gardens, Douglaston, Douglaston Hill, Addisleigh Park, Cambria Heights, Fort Totten, Ridgewood and Stockholm Street. Exterior work in these areas generally needs LPC review.
• Towers and newer buildings. Community Board 2 describes Long Island City as a mix of one- and two-family homes and a large number of multiple dwellings, including the fast-growing Queens West. Community Board 7 describes Flushing as one- and two-family homes with suburban and urban high-rise apartments.
• Smaller houses. Bayside has blocks of single-family houses. A smaller house trades a board approval for its own upkeep, stairs and heating system.

Elevator or walk-up, steps to the front door and the location of laundry and storage matter more to daily life than the label on the deed. Read the co-op and condo buying guide and the comparison of home types before you tour, and have a New York attorney review any contract.

Sources: NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, Queens historic districts; Queens Community Board 2 needs statement; Queens Community Board 7 needs statement (both FY2018).

Where to start in Queens

• Astoria: houses and apartment buildings near Astoria Park, with N and W service.
• Long Island City: waterfront towers, Gantry Plaza State Park and the 7, E, G and N/W lines.
• Flushing: the 7 train terminal, the LIRR and a dense Main Street corridor.
• Forest Hills: co-ops along Queens Boulevard and the Forest Hills Gardens rules.
• Jackson Heights: landmarked garden apartment co-ops at a major subway hub.
• Bayside: single-family blocks, garden apartments and an LIRR station.

Getting around Queens by subway, bus, LIRR and ferry

Several lines cross the borough. The MTA's 7 line map shows the 7 running from Flushing-Main St, past Mets-Willets Point, Junction Blvd, 74 St-Broadway, 61 St-Woodside and Queensboro Plaza to Court Sq and Hunters Point Av. The E line map lists Queens stops from Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer and Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport through Forest Hills-71 Av, Jackson Hts-Roosevelt Av, Queens Plaza and Court Sq-23 St. The N and W serve Astoria, the R ends at Forest Hills-71 Av and the G stops at Court Sq and 21 St. Accessibility varies station by station: many stops on the 7 and E have elevators, others do not, so check the MTA station page for an address you are considering.

For the airports, the line map shows the Q48 bus connecting the 7 at Flushing-Main St and Mets-Willets Point to LaGuardia and the Q72 connecting at Junction Blvd. The Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport station is on the E.

The Long Island Rail Road serves Queens too. Its Port Washington Branch stops at Flushing-Main Street and Murray Hill, and the MTA also lists stations at Forest Hills, Long Island City and Hunterspoint Avenue. NYC Ferry runs an Astoria route with landings in Astoria and Long Island City, and a Rockaway-Soundview route.

The MTA's Reduced-Fare program is open to riders 65 and older. It lists $1.50 on subways and local buses and up to 50% off full one-way peak fares on the LIRR and Metro-North, and seniors can be issued a card the same day in person. Our guide to getting around after 65 covers signing up, and the MTA trip planner handles individual trips.

Sources: MTA, 7 line map; E line map; N line map; G line map; MTA, Reduced-Fare program; NYC Ferry; Queens Public Library, Flushing branch.

Hospitals and health care in Queens

Queens has hospitals across the borough. Confirm that your plan and doctors participate before you count a hospital as your nearest.

• Mount Sinai Queens, 25-20 30th Avenue in Astoria, describes nearly 500 physicians across about 40 specialties.
• Elmhurst Hospital Center, 79-01 Broadway in Elmhurst.
• NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, 56-45 Main Street in Flushing.
• Flushing Hospital Medical Center, 4500 Parsons Boulevard in Flushing.
• Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, a Northwell Health hospital at 102-01 66th Road, with a state-designated Stroke Center.
• Queens Hospital Center, 82-68 164th Street in Jamaica.
• Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, 8900 Van Wyck Expressway, which says it has served Queens since 1891.

Sources: Mount Sinai Queens; Elmhurst Hospital Center; NewYork-Presbyterian Queens; Flushing Hospital; Northwell, LIJ Forest Hills; Queens Hospital Center; Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.

Older adult services and libraries in Queens

NYC Aging says more than 300 older adult centers across the city offer free art, fitness and daily meals; use its center finder or call Aging Connect at 212-AGING-NYC (212-244-6469). Nonprofit operators run many Queens centers. Selfhelp, for example, lists centers in Flushing, Forest Hills, Bayside and Maspeth for members 60 and older.

Queens Public Library is a separate system from the Brooklyn and New York public libraries. Its Central Library is at 89-11 Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica, and the neighborhood guides linked above name the branches nearest each area. Several branches are closed for renovation, so check the location finder for reopening dates.

Sources: NYC Aging; Selfhelp; Queens Public Library, Central Library.

Flooding and storms in Queens

Queens County was among the counties in the federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. Risk depends on the block and on the level of the building, so check each address rather than a neighborhood name.

• Use the city's Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder. The city explains its six zones, with zone 1 at the highest risk of flooding from storm surge, on its evacuation page.
• Look up the flood insurance map at the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Evacuation zones and FEMA flood zones are separate maps.
• FloodHelpNY lists Rockaway East and Howard Beach among the Queens areas eligible for free home resiliency audits, backwater valves and flood insurance counseling. Eligibility depends on income and on the home being a primary residence.

Standard homeowners, condo and co-op policies exclude flood. Our flood and storm insurance guide explains what to ask.

Property taxes and exemptions in Queens

The same city programs apply in every Queens neighborhood. Owners 65 or older with combined income of $58,399 or less may apply for the Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption on a primary residence, covering one to three family homes, condos and co-ops (co-ops apply separately), by March 15 (March 16 in 2026). Enhanced STAR reduces school taxes for owners 65 and older within its income limit, and a buyer registers with the state. In a co-op or condo, the board applies for the city's tax abatement on behalf of the building. Selling triggers state and city transfer taxes, which the net proceeds calculator can estimate. See costs and money and the senior property tax exemptions guide, and ask a New York lawyer or CPA to confirm figures for your situation.

Sources: NYC 311, SCHE; NY Tax Department, STAR; NYC Finance, co-op and condo abatement.

Every Queens neighborhood, by community district

The list follows NYC Planning's neighborhood boundaries. Neighborhoods with a full guide are linked, and each district links to its NYC Planning profile.

Next steps

Start with the downsizing plan and the resources page for move managers, donation and disposal. To be introduced to an agent, get matched with one on the operating team at eXp Realty. Introductions go only to agents on that team, so this is not a search of the whole market.