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Jamaica

Jamaica

$630,966 Average Value
$609 Average Price per Sq Ft
85 Homes For Sale

Jamaica blends accessibility to Manhattan jobs and nearby recreation

Jamaica is a vivid tapestry of a neighborhood located on the eastern side of the New York City borough of Queens. Downtown Jamaica, or Jamaica Center, hosts a dense concentration of government, commercial and retail buildings. To the south and east of downtown, residential communities feature single-family homes and low-rise apartment blocks. The name “Jamaica” dates from the colonial period, not called after the Caribbean island, as might be expected, but from a corruption of a Native American word for “beaver.” The area has a long history as a crossroads, stretching back to times when bands of local Lenape bartered with other tribes from as far away as the Ohio River Valley. Jamaica still serves as a major transportation hub: the Grand Central Parkway bisects the neighborhood, the Long Island Rail Road intersects with subway lines, and the JFK AirTrain connects to nearby John F. Kennedy Airport. Queens qualifies as one of the most diverse counties in the country, and Jamaica mirrors its home borough in that respect. You need only to witness the spirited weekend cricket matches in South Jamaica’s Baisley Pond Park to appreciate the variety of communities in the area. Ease of access to the employment and entertainment offerings of Manhattan allows Jamaica residents to enjoy the attractions of both urban and suburban environments.

From apartments and condos to single- and multifamily homes

With approximately one hundred transactions per quarter, the real estate market in Jamaica, Queens, averages a median sales price of $500,000. One-bedroom homes are rare but average in price around $190,000, while homes of five bedrooms or more can approach $1 million. The average price per square foot registers at around $250. Stand-alone homes make up ninety percent of sales, with co-ops representing most of the rest, along with a tiny percentage of condominiums. The rental market is very tight, with the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment averaging $2,000.

Jamaica fits into the grand mosaic of neighborhoods in the borough of Queens, surrounded most immediately by South Jamaica, Jamaica Estates and Jamaica Hills. Neighborhoods notably nearby are Kew Gardens, Hollis, Richmond Hills, Ozone Park and Little Guyana. For international getaways, JFK Airport is located a mile south. The borough of Brooklyn lies to the southeast, while the numerous attractions of Manhattan are less than ten miles away, easily accessible by several public transportation lines.

Jamaica has an array of private and public schools

Over a dozen public high schools lie within the vicinity of Jamaica, including several co-located on Jamaica Campus and those on the nearby Springfield Gardens Educational Campus, as well as Thomas A. Edison Vocational and Technical High School, and the High School for Law Enforcement and Public Safety. Fourteen public elementary and middle schools also call the neighborhood home. Several private schools enroll students, such as the United Nations International School in Jamaica Estates and a number of religion-based institutions, from an array of Catholic schools to Al-Iman School, an Islamic prekindergarten through 12th-grade school.

Gathering for Jamaica JAMS and seasonal festivals

King Manor Museum is a colonial heritage house that is worth a visit any time, and the facility holds events throughout the year. The most popular is King Manor's annual Fall Festival, where events range from a pumpkin patch for kiddies to a rum tasting for adults. A hallmark of the summer is always the two-day Jamaica JAMS (Jamaica Arts and Music Summer Festival), a massive street fair paired with nightly concerts under the stars. The Jamaica Jerk Festival in Roy Wilkins Park features Caribbean food, while the downtown strip of Jamaica Center hosts an annual Jamaica Jazz Festival.

The far north-western corner of Jamaica, Queens touches upon the far south-western corner of Flushing Meadows Park, one of the largest public facilities in New York City, offering copious opportunities for relaxation and recreation. Within the boundaries of Jamacia itself are smaller neighborhood parks, including Captain Tilly Park, Roy Wilkins Park, St. Albans Park, and Detective Keith L. Williams Park. In South Jamaica, there is the hundred-acre Baisley Pond Park, which features three cricket fields among its many recreational offerings.

Shopping at Jamaica Center or working at JFK Airport

The commercial and retail outlets of Jamaica Center present local employment opportunities, as do the hotels serving travelers from nearby JFK Airport. Government offices related to borough administration offer public sector jobs. Jamaica’s abundant public transportation facilities allow for access to an incredible array of employment opportunities beyond the neighborhood’s borders. Alternately, many residents must feel there’s no place like home, preferring the quiet residential blocks of Jamaica’s suburban southern and eastern areas to the hustle and bustle of downtown or Manhattan.

Taking the Long Island Rail Road or the Van Wyck Expressway

Jamaica, Queens serves as a transportation hub for the entire vicinity. A pair of subway lines place Manhattan and the other boroughs of New York City within reach of commuters. The Long Island Rail Road offers an alternative method of connecting to Manhattan’s Penn Station and Grand Central Station. The JFK AirTrain links to the international airport. Major highways include the north-south Van Wyck Expressway on the neighborhood's western border, and the east-west Grand Central Parkway.
Perez Folds
Photography Contributed By
Perez Folds
Matt Ferguson
Video By
Matt Ferguson

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Raj Jaggi, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

John F Kennedy International

9 min drive

Subway

Jamaica

Subway

Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer

Subway

Parsons Boulevard

Subway

Jamaica-179 Street

Subway

169 Street

Subway

Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Avenue-Jfk Airport

Train

Jamaica Station

Bus

Jamaica Av & 164 St

Bus

111 Av & 175 St

Bus

Sayres Av & 180 St

Bus

Jamaica Av & 183 St

Bus

Liberty Av & Union Hall St

Bus

Sutphin Bl & Lakewood Av

Bus

153 St & Jamaica Av

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Jamaica US
Homicide 4 4
Sexual Assault 4 4
Assault with Weapon 5 4
Robbery 6 4
Burglary 2 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 3 4
Larceny 3 4
Crime Score 4 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Jamaica Demographics and Home Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$642,500
Median Sale Price
$634,400
Median Single Family Sale Price
$685,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$650,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$330,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
101
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
6%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$609

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,276
Number of Homes for Sale
85
Median Year Built
1930
Months of Supply
10.10
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,485
Significantly below the national average
1,927
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,446
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
886
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
760
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
481
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
2,613

Open Houses

  • Sunday, Jul 20
    4 - 5:30pm

    170-11 88th Ave, Jamaica, NY 11432

    $899,999

    • 4 Beds
    • 2 Baths
    • 1,548 Sq Ft
    • 170-11 88th Ave
    • New 2 days ago

    House For Sale. Close to Train Station A, E, J, Z, 5-8 minutes. It has back yard. Parking for 2 cars in front.

    Xiao Feng Pan Winzone Realty Inc

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  • Thursday, Jul 17
    4 - 6pm

    138-01 107th Ave, Jamaica, NY 11435

    $799,000

    • 3 Beds
    • 3 Baths
    • 1,248 Sq Ft
    • 138-01 107th Ave
    • New 15 days ago

    Fully Furnished Basement with Separate Entrance. Large Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen. 3 Bedrooms with Attic.

    Lucy Hensley Winzone Realty Inc

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Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Raj Jaggi, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
95,913
Median Age
39
Population Density
77 ppl/acre
Population under 18
25%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
16.5%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$61,142
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$81,187

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
73.7%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
21.7%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
6.4%
% Population in Labor Force
63.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
43''
Average Winter Low Temperature
26°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
2''

Area Factors

Bikeable

Bike Score®

50 / 100

Very Walkable

Walk Score®

84 / 100

Rider's Paradise

Transit Score®

100 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Jamaica
Raj Jaggi
VORO LLC
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