Is Fresh Meadows, Queens Safe in 2026?
Based on 982 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 0 shooting incidents, and 867 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Fresh Meadows is below the Queens average for crime with stable incident levels year-over-year.
Fresh Meadows is considered much safer than average, ranking safer than 80% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 982 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 18, 2026
Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
982
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
0
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
163
368 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↔ 0.6%
No significant change
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 281 | 28.6% |
| grand larceny | 131 | 13.3% |
| harrassment 2 | 101 | 10.3% |
| grand larceny of motor vehicle | 80 | 8.1% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 71 | 7.2% |
| burglary | 68 | 6.9% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 66 | 6.7% |
| vehicle and traffic laws | 35 | 3.6% |
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
678
19.4 per 1,000 residents
High
Rodent Reports
15
0.4 per 1,000 residents
Low
Sanitation Issues
67
1.9 per 1,000 residents
Low
Heat/Hot Water
107
3.1 per 1,000 residents
Low
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
208
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
49
24% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
157
75% of total
How Safe Is Fresh Meadows 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 (this page) | 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 | 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 Fresh Meadows.
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 Fresh Meadows 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 Fresh Meadows Safety
Is Fresh Meadows safe?
Fresh Meadows is rated "Much Safer Than Average" — Top 25% safest in the borough. Over the past 12 months, 982 crime incidents were recorded, including 0 shooting incidents. Fresh Meadows is considered much safer than average, ranking safer than 80% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 982 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Fresh Meadows?
The most common crimes in Fresh Meadows are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (281 incidents, 28.6% of total); 2. GRAND LARCENY (131 incidents, 13.3% of total); 3. HARRASSMENT 2 (101 incidents, 10.3% of total).
Is Fresh Meadows safer than the Queens average?
Fresh Meadows is safer than 80% of Queens neighborhoods. It had 59% fewer incidents than the borough average (982 vs. a borough average of 2,400).
How has crime changed in Fresh Meadows?
Crime in Fresh Meadows has remained stable year-over-year (976 vs 982 incidents). The trend is classified as "stable."
What do 311 complaints say about Fresh Meadows?
311 data shows 678 High complaints, 15 Low complaints, and 67 Low complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Fresh Meadows safe at night?
Night safety in Fresh Meadows varies by block. About 36.4% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Fresh Meadows recorded 0 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Fresh Meadows safe for families?
For families considering Fresh Meadows: the neighborhood recorded 678 noise complaints (high for Queens) and 15 rodent reports. It ranks safer than 80% of Queens neighborhoods, which is above average. 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. Fresh Meadows ranks at the 80th percentile with 982 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 Fresh Meadows at night?
Fresh Meadows is classified as "Much Safer Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 0 shooting incidents and 982 total crime incidents — 59% fewer 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 Fresh Meadows dangerous?
By NYPD data, Fresh Meadows is rated "Much Safer Than Average" — safer than 80% of Queens neighborhoods. 982 crime incidents over 12 months, remained stable year-over-year (976 vs 982 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 Fresh Meadows 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 Fresh Meadows a good place to live?
Fresh Meadows scores in the 80th percentile for safety in Queens. Fresh Meadows is considered much safer than average, ranking safer than 80% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 982 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 Fresh Meadows to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Fresh Meadows
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Fresh Meadows.
Search an Address in Fresh Meadows