10 Best Independent Living Communities in Queens, NY

 

Learn More About Independent Living in Queens, NY

 

If you travel to New York City, chances are that at some point, you’ll find yourself in Queens! The largest in size of NYC’s five boroughs, Queens is one of the most culturally diverse places in the world. It’s also home to the both of the Big Apple’s airports, the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Citi Field where the Mets play, and the beaches and seaside villages of the Rockaways. With a seemingly endless amount of art and history museums, music and ethnic food festivals, and unmistakable icons of New York, Queens distinguishes itself as an enchanting world within a city, an urban marvel with a variety of lifestyle options.

Independent living communities — also known simply as retirement communities — in Queens are geared towards seniors who are able to live on their own, without daily assistance, and prefer to live among people their age. This usually means residents are self-sufficient and do not require hands-on care. Think of Queens retirement communities as age-restricted (typically 55+) complexes, which provide organized activities, meal services, and transportation.

Cost of Independent Living in Queens, NY

The median monthly cost of independent living in 2019 was about $3,100 within the New York City metropolitan area and $3,000 in the state of New York. To learn more about the cost of independent living in Queens, contact A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors.

 

Learn More About Queens, NY

 

Cost of Living

 

The total household expenses associated with living in Queens are rated 50 points above the national average. Grocery and other essential costs are also rated much higher than the average.

Index Scores

All index scores are based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates that the cost is twice as expensive as the national average, while a score of 50 indicates that the cost is half as expensive.

Household Expenses	Health Care	Insurance	Entertainment	Grocery	Clothing
150	182	149	156	149	149

 

Income and Housing

Median income age 45-64	Median income age 65+	Median household income	Average individual income	Median employee salary	Average property tax	One-bedroom apartment gross rent estimate
$70,109 per year	$40,579 per year	$62,768 per year	$28,693 per year	$50,139 per year	$6,366 per year	$1,419 per month

 

 

Local Hospitals

 

The top hospitals that service Queens include:

NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital

• Facility type: Nonprofit, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 490+
• Specialties: Emergency care, hemodialysis, joint replacement, ICU

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

• Facility type: Nonprofit, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 580+
• Specialties: Emergency care, inpatient surgery, physical therapy, ICU

NYC Health + Hospitals Elmhurst

• Facility type: Governmental, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 490+
• Specialties: Emergency care, spine surgery, ICU

 

 

Weather and Climate

 

Queens has a humid subtropical climate, meaning the county experiences four distinct seasons with plenty of precipitation throughout the year. Summers tend to be hot but are moderated by afternoon sea breezes, whereas winters are cold, wet, and snowy. Given its location near the Atlantic Ocean, Queens is prone to nor’easters with extreme amounts of snow. In warmer seasons, tropical storms and hurricanes usually weaken in the North Atlantic’s cooler waters before reaching New York, or they divert eastward and miss the state. The average humidity level is 61%, and humidity levels are often highest during September at about 65%.

 

Seasonal Temperatures

January Average	January Maximum	January Minimum
33°F	39°F	27°F

 

July Average	July Maximum	July Minimum
77°F	85°F	70°F

 

Air Quality

• Relative Air Quality Index: 102

This index is based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates twice the presence of air pollutants than the national average, while a score of 50 indicates half the presence.

Precipitation

• Average Annual Precipitation: 44.4″

 

 

Demographics and Values

 

Population Statistics

Median age	Percent of population over 65	Population	Population Density	Average Household Size
39.7	16.3%	2,338,458	21,559.8 per square mile	2.8

 

Race & Ethnicity

American Indian or Alaskan Native	Asian	Black	Hispanic or Latino	Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	White (not Hispanic or Latino)
1.3%	26.9%	20.7%	28.2%	0.2%	3.0%	24.9%

These figures were taken from the most recent U.S. Census.

 

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity

These scores were taken from the 2020 Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.

• Non-discrimination laws in New York City: 30/30
• Overall inclusivity: 100/100

 

2016 Presidential Election Results for Queens County

Democratic	Republican	Other
75.5%	22.1%	2.4%

 

 

Arts, Culture, Entertainment, and Recreation

 

Some of the most popular museums and historic sites in Queens include:

• MoMA PS1
• Museum of the Moving Image
• Queens Museum — Panorama of the City of New York
• New York Hall of Science
• SculptureCenter
• Louis Armstrong House Museum
• Rufus King Park — King Manor Museum
• Noguchi Museum
• The Hindu Temple Society of North America
• Queens County Farm Museum
• The Queensboro Bridge
• Unisphere (from the 1964 New York World’s Fair)

Outdoor attractions in Queens:

• Flushing Meadows Corona Park
• Queens Botanical Garden
• Queens Zoo
• Astoria Park
• Gantry Plaza State Park
• Hunter’s Point South Park
• Forest Park
• Highland Park
• Rockaway Beach
• Fort Tilden (Gateway National Recreation Area)
• The People’s Beach at Jacob Riis Park

Queens’s top entertainment destinations and shopping districts are:

• USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center — US Open
• Citi Field — New York Mets
• Forest Park Carousel Amusement Village
• Queens Theatre
• Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning
• Queens Night Market (outdoor festival)
• Queens Center (shopping)
• Queens Place Mall

 

Transportation

As part of the New York City metro area, Queens offers many public transportation services via the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), including subway lines, bus routes, and commuter rail stops on the Long Island Rail Road. The East River Ferry also has a stop in Queens. With countless bike routes, the city works consistently to improve safety and convenience for bicyclists. For seniors, the MTA offers reduced and accessible transportation options.