Is Great Kills Safe? Staten Island Livability, Crime & Rent
Great Kills scores a median 6.5—a solid neighborhood for tree-seeking families who drive, but recent crime increases and transit limitations temper appeal for those prioritizing walkability or frequent Manhattan commutes.
Great Kills at a glance
- Borough
- Staten Island
- Livability score
- 6.5/10
- Borough rank
- #3 of 15
- Safety verdict
- Safer Than Average
- Crimes (12 mo)
- 1,074
- Median listing
- $0
- Subway stations
- 2 (Great Kills, Eltingville)
- Active listings
- 4
- Data updated
- 2026-04-05
Is Great Kills Safe?
Great Kills, Staten Island scores 6.5/10 for overall livability, ranking #3 of 15 Staten Island neighborhoods. Great Kills scores a median 6.5—a solid neighborhood for tree-seeking families who drive, but recent crime increases and transit limitations temper appeal for those prioritizing walkability or frequent Manhattan commutes.
This score aggregates live NYPD crime data, 311 safety complaints, shooting incidents, and building health signals within walking distance. Safety varies by block — check a specific Great Kills address below for a block-level breakdown.
Score Overview
Vertical line = borough median. Scale: 0-10.
Neighborhood Character
Great Kills is a residential waterfront neighborhood where you'll find tree-lined streets—averaging 133 trees within a 200-meter radius with a canopy density of 9.5/10—and a quiet, suburban feel anchored by marina access and beach proximity. You'll have five parks within roughly a kilometer, including the namesake Great Kills Park and the specialized Seaside Wildlife Nature Park, making outdoor recreation genuinely accessible. The building stock splits evenly between walk-ups and mid-rise structures, creating a mixed but predominantly low-rise residential character. Transit connections via the Staten Island Railway (Great Kills and Eltingville stations) provide your main link out, though commute scores reflect the reality of crossing water to reach Manhattan.
Analysis based on 4 properties scored across 30+ data points
Livability & Restoration
Tree Canopy
133 trees
Avg within 200m | Density: 9.5/10
10 additional trees per block correlates with health benefits equivalent to being 7 years younger (Kardan et al., 2015)
Park Access
King Fisher Park
Avg 1047m away | Score: 2.1/10
Living within 300m of green space associated with 30% fewer antidepressant prescriptions (Taylor et al., 2015)
Acoustic Quality
5/10
Noise proxy score (higher = quieter)
Chronic noise above 55 dB at night associated with 8% cardiovascular mortality increase (Basner et al., 2014)
Street Character
0/10
Enclosure: 0/10
What is the ART Score?
ART stands for Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989) — the framework environmental psychologists use to measure whether a place helps your brain recover from mental fatigue, or pushes it deeper into overload. Cities deplete directed attention (the effortful focus you use at work); exposure to restorative environments replenishes it.
We compute an ART score for every block by combining four signals: access to restorative zones (parks, museums, libraries), sensory load (nightlife and tourist density), street vitality (Jane Jacobs’ “eyes on the street”), and third places (Oldenburg’s informal community spaces).
Meaningfully more restorative than the Staten Island average — expect lower sensory load and better access to restorative zones than most of the borough.
What drives the score
- +Restorative zones. Museums, libraries, community gardens, and parks within walking distance. “Soft fascination” stimuli (clouds, tree branches, water) let directed attention recover without effort — the Kaplans’ core mechanism.
- −Sensory load. Bar and nightclub density (5+ within 150m), firehouse siren corridors, tourist chokepoints, and very high foot traffic push the score down by up to 8 points.
- +Street vitality (Jacobs, 1961). Permitted block parties, farmers markets, and community festivals over the past 12 months — a proxy for “eyes on the street” and the informal surveillance that makes blocks feel safe and maintained.
- +Third places (Oldenburg, 1989). Cafés, public plazas (POPS), community centers — the “anchors of community life” that buffer against social isolation. Loneliness has been linked to 29% higher incident coronary heart disease risk (Valtorta et al., 2016).
Health mechanism. Directed-attention fatigue (DAF) is linked to impaired decision-making, irritability, and elevated cortisol. A meta-analysis of 60+ studies (Ohly et al., 2016) found restorative environment exposure significantly improves attention-task performance (Hedges’ g ≈ 0.32) and reduces negative affect.
Theoretical foundations. Kaplan & Kaplan (1989), The Experience of Nature; Jacobs (1961), The Death and Life of Great American Cities; Oldenburg (1989), The Great Good Place.
Transit & Commute
Subway Stations
Commute Score
5/10
Borough median: 2.5/10
Walk Score Proxy
0/10
Based on street geometry analysis
Financial Landscape
Median Price
$0
Price per Sq Ft
$0
Price Distribution
Price by Building Type
Investment Indicators
Avg Unused FAR
0 sqft
Development rights potential
Unused development rights valued at $30-$80/sqft in Brooklyn (Glaeser, 2011)
Avg Days on Market
0
Market velocity signal
Multi-Family Stock
0%
2-4 family buildings
Multi-family owner-occupants build 2.4x wealth vs single-family (Herbert, 2013)
Outdoor & Green Space
Avg Tree Count
133
Within 200m radius
Canopy Density
9.5/10
Normalized canopy coverage
Park Network
- King Fisher Park
- Siedenburg Park
- Seaside Wildlife Nature Park
- Wegener Park
- Greencroft Playground
Avg distance: 1047m
Practical Living
Building Types
Who Great Kills Is For
Car-dependent families seeking green space
Practical score of 9 (borough median: 5.5) indicates strong neighborhood essentials; ART/Livability at 7.3 suggests park access and tree coverage support residential comfort
Outdoor enthusiasts with patience for transit
Five named parks within ~1km (King Fisher, Siedenburg, Seaside Wildlife, Wegener, Greencroft) and marina/beach access make this appealing despite commute score of 5
Those prioritizing safety over urban walkability
Safety percentile of 66% in borough is higher; low rodent complaints (140) signal maintenance standards, though commute score of 5 and outdoor score of 4.2 show trade-offs
Pros & Cons
Strengths
Abundant tree canopy and park proximity
133 trees avg within 200m; 9.5/10 canopy density; five parks within ~1km including Great Kills Park and Seaside Wildlife Nature Park
Strong practical neighborhood essentials
Practical score of 9, significantly above borough median of 5.5, reflects reliable access to stores, services, and daily conveniences
Above-average safety standing
Safety verdict is higher at 66th percentile in borough; low rodent complaints (140) suggest well-maintained residential conditions
Waterfront amenities and beach access
Marina access and beach proximity are documented existing highlights of the neighborhood character
Trade-offs
Significantly elevated noise complaints
1,088 noise complaints recorded, flagged as Very High—notably above typical borough patterns
Worsening crime trend
Crime trend shows +191.8% increase over 12 months; total crimes at 823 despite higher safety percentile suggests recent deterioration
Weak commute accessibility
Commute score of 5 (borough median: 2.5) reflects reliance on Staten Island Railway with limited frequency and cross-water travel to Manhattan
Limited outdoor recreation score
Outdoor score of 4.2 falls below borough median of 6, suggesting constraints beyond park proximity (likely weather, trail density, or water access)
Score Any Address in Great Kills
Get detailed livability scores based on building health, transit access, safety, noise levels, and 15+ NYC data sources.
Search an Address in Great KillsFrequently Asked Questions about Great Kills
1Is Great Kills safe?
By NYPD data, Great Kills is rated "Safer Than Average" — safer than 55% of Staten Island neighborhoods. 1,074 crime incidents and 0 shooting incidents over the past 12 months. See the safety page for the full breakdown.
2What is the average rent in Great Kills?
Rents in Great Kills, Staten Island vary significantly by building and apartment type. The median listing price is $0. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses.
3How is transit access in Great Kills?
Great Kills has a commute score of 5/10. 2 subway stations serve the area: Great Kills, Eltingville.
4What are the best streets in Great Kills?
The best streets depend on your priorities. Use DwellCheck to compare specific addresses across livability, safety, transit, and environmental factors.
5What is Great Kills known for?
Great Kills sits in Staten Island and ranks #3 of 15 Staten Island neighborhoods on DwellCheck's livability score (6.5/10). It's served by 2 subway stations (Great Kills, Eltingville), with a median listing price of $0. Great Kills scores a median 6.5—a solid neighborhood for tree-seeking families who drive, but recent crime increases and transit limitations temper appeal for those prioritizing walkability or frequent Manhattan commutes.
6What is it like to live in Great Kills?
Living in Great Kills, Staten Island weights against six livability dimensions: practical (HPD-violation density), commute (subway proximity), arts/culture (venue density), outdoor (parks + trees), financial (price level), investment (price trend). Great Kills's composite is 6.5/10. Great Kills scores a median 6.5—a solid neighborhood for tree-seeking families who drive, but recent crime increases and transit limitations temper appeal for those prioritizing walkability or frequent Manhattan commutes. For the block-by-block view, run any specific Great Kills address through DwellCheck.
7Is Great Kills expensive?
Median listing price in Great Kills, Staten Island is $0 based on 4 active listings as of 2026-04-05. Whether that reads "expensive" depends on the comparison: it's lower than Manhattan averages and varies considerably by building. Rent-stabilized units in Great Kills can run 20-40% below the median; check DHCR rent history for any specific address to verify.
8Can you walk around Great Kills at night?
Great Kills is classified as "Safer Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 0 shooting incidents and 1,074 total crime incidents. 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.
9Is Great Kills dangerous?
By NYPD data, Great Kills is rated "Safer Than Average" — safer than 55% of Staten Island neighborhoods. 1,074 crime incidents over 12 months. Block-level risk varies; check the address-level safety score for any specific street or building.
10What parts of Great Kills 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 NYC: industrial blocks with no foot traffic are higher-risk than residential blocks; subway-station-adjacent commercial corridors are lowest-risk.
11Is Great Kills a good place to live?
Great Kills scores 6.5/10 for overall livability and ranks in the 55th percentile for safety in Staten Island. Great Kills scores a median 6.5—a solid neighborhood for tree-seeking families who drive, but recent crime increases and transit limitations temper appeal for those prioritizing walkability or frequent Manhattan commutes. Whether it's a good fit depends on what you weight: families, solo renters, and remote workers each prioritize different factors (noise, transit access, parks, building quality).
12What is the average DwellScore in Great Kills?
The median composite score is 6.5 (interquartile range 6.1–6.9). Practical essentials score highest at 9, while commute and outdoor recreation lag at 5 and 4.2 respectively.
13How safe is Great Kills compared to the rest of Staten Island?
Great Kills ranks at the 66th percentile for safety in the borough—higher than average. However, the crime trend shows a +191.8% increase over 12 months, indicating recent deterioration despite the current standing.
14What is the noise situation like?
You'll encounter 1,088 noise complaints, flagged as Very High. This is a notable outlier and suggests regular disturbances beyond typical Staten Island patterns.
15How much tree coverage does the neighborhood have?
Great Kills averages 133 trees within 200 meters with a canopy density of 9.5/10—among the best in the borough and a major amenity for residents.
16What are my transit options?
Two Staten Island Railway stations serve the area: Great Kills and Eltingville. The commute score of 5 reflects limited frequency and the need to cross water to reach Manhattan, making a car nearly essential.
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