Rockaway Beach
One of New York City’s main beaches and a surfer’s paradise
“It’s a beach town with the grit and edginess of the city but also open skies and fresh saltwater air,” says Carrington. “You see people in wetsuits riding their bikes along the boardwalk and carrying their boards with one arm, even in snowy weather. Waves are better in winter.” Abutting the beach, the recently reconstructed boardwalk is a hive of activity accommodating cyclists, joggers and pedestrians. Jetties section of areas for swimming and others for surfing. Rockaway Skate Park, Rockaway Beach Amphitheater and the Shore Front Parkway Adventure Course host events throughout the spring and summer but are open all year long. Close to the bay, there’s the Pier 8 fishing dock, the Rockaway Freeway Dog Run and Hammels Playground.Restaurant Row and seasonal beachside eateries
A short stretch of Rockaway Beach Boulevard is locally known as Restaurant Row and has an eclectic array of establishments like Central Asian mainstay Uma’s and popular barbeque joint Smoke & Barrel. A shopping center with a Key Food grocery store and Family Dollar covers the essentials. A number of seasonal hot spots like burger and hot dog go-to Rippers line the boardwalk. Peruvian seafood counter La Cevicheria stays open in the fall and winter as well. Boarders Surf Shop is an important resource for Rockaway Beach’s thriving surf scene.Detached Saltbox-style houses and high-rise condos
Though mostly a commercial area, there’s a wide variety of homes on offer in Rockaway Beach. Quiet side streets are filled with detached Saltbox-style single-family and multifamily homes selling for between $650,000 and $850,000. A few semi-detached postwar properties start at $550,000. While condos in postwar high-rises with water-facing balconies hover around the $350,000 mark, more recent townhome-style developments near the beach have units priced closer to $600,000.Hurricane Sandy and flood insurance
Much of the original wooden Rockaway Boardwalk washed away during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. The Army Corps of Engineers spent years rebuilding and securing this infrastructure. It now also serves as a sea wall, protecting homes from potential storm surges coming off the ocean. Many homeowners have opted to raise their properties and pour higher foundations. New buildings must sit on pylons at least 10 to 12 feet high. All of Rockaway Peninsula is in a flood zone with subsections rated between X and A based on risk. This rubric informs the cost of mandatory annual insurance.The Channel View School for Research is in the top 20% of citywide rankings
Students can begin their education at Waterside Children's Studio School in nearby Rockaway Park. With an A-minus rating from Niche, this elementary school has a favorable 11 to 1 student-teacher ratio. With a B-minus score, Channel View School for Research covers grades 6 to 12 and is in the top 20% of citywide high schools according to the New York City Department of Education. Channel View is lauded for its expeditionary learning model. Its students acquire knowledge and skills by investigating real-world problems. There are also parochial schools like St. Rose of Lima Catholic Academy.Bridge to the Belt Parkway and the A Subway to Manhattan
The Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge connects directly between Rockaway Beach and the Belt Parkway on the other side of Jamaica Bay. The A Subway stops at several stations in the neighborhood and gets residents to Lower Manhattan in an hour. During the summer, there’s a free shuttle from the beach to the 108th Street Ferry dock, which has direct service to Wall Street.
Agents Specializing in this Area
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Colleen Brady
Rockaway Properties
(929) 552-1097
52 Total Sales
7 in Rockaway Beach
$590K - $650K Price Range
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Cheryl Rosenthal
Realty Trends Corp
(516) 518-7267
138 Total Sales
1 in Rockaway Beach
$355,000 Price
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Maria Teresa Gonzalez
Winzone Realty Inc
(646) 374-4257
21 Total Sales
3 in Rockaway Beach
$835K - $1.2M Price Range
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Anna Diaz
RE/MAX Team
(646) 837-7994
26 Total Sales
1 in Rockaway Beach
$840,000 Price
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Patrick Tubridy
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX Elite
26 Total Sales
2 in Rockaway Beach
$612K - $620K Price Range
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Nicholas Compagnone
Responds QuicklyDouglas Elliman Real Estate
(866) 817-5317
52 Total Sales
4 in Rockaway Beach
$775K - $885K Price Range
Schools
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, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Parks in this Area
Transit
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Rockaway Beach | US |
---|---|---|
Homicide | 5 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 5 | 4 |
Robbery | 6 | 4 |
Burglary | 3 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
Larceny | 4 | 4 |
Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Rockaway Beach Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Rockaway Beach, Queens sell after 93 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Rockaway Beach, Queens over the last 12 months is $429,990, up 153% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Open Houses
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Saturday, Aug 212 - 1:30pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
Weather
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
Excellent Transit
Transit 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.
Nearby Neighborhoods

Small Queens neighborhood with beach appeal near Rockaway Beach

Home of New York’s favorite surfing beach

A Rockaway Beach-front suburb with ferries, express buses and seaside colonials

A small community located on an island in South Queens

Atlantic Ocean views at the start of Rockaway boardwalk with developments coming

A beachy, suburban lifestyle within city limits