Forest Hills Preliminary Backgrounder

Forest Hills is a neighborhood consisting of a little over two square miles. It rests in central Queens and its boundaries approximately run from the intersection of the Jackie Robinson Parkway and Queens Boulevard, northwest to Horace Harding Expressway, southwest to Queens Boulevard, south along Selfridge Street to Woodhaven Boulevard, and then back northeast to the intersection of the Jackie Robinson Parkway and Queens Boulevard.

According to compiled 2010 Census data using tracts approximating the area of Forest Hills, the neighborhood consists of nearly 80,000 residents. Sixty-six percent of residents are white, 24 percent are Asian alone, 3 percent are Black, and 6 percent identifies as two or more races or some other race. In regards to ethnicity, only 12 percent of Forest Hills’ population identifies as Hispanic or Latino. According to the Community District 6, which consists of Forest Hills and Rego Park, there has been an increase in the population of Russians as well as Bukharian Jews, not to mention a steady rise in the Asian population. The median age in Forest Hills is 42.

According to ACS data, the median income is higher in Forest Hills than surrounding areas. The median income, per section of Forest Hills, ranges from $72,000 to over $120,00. All things considered, this indicates Forest Hills is a fairly affluent neighborhood. Furthermore, the homes in this neighborhood average value comes in at around at over $620,000, but in surrounding neighborhoods is over $100,000 less. A little more than 74 percent of the population lives in a family household, while 24 percent of the population lives in non-family households. Despite being categorized as a neighborhood predominated by homeowners, there is a nearly fifty-fifty split between owner occupied homes and renters. Fifty-one percent of dwellings are renter occupied, and 94 percent of all housing units are occupied.

There are a wide-range of business in Forest Hills. Metropolitan Avenue houses many restaurants, antique shops, and “mom and pop” stores. These include Dee’s, La Vigna, and Eddie’s Sweet Shop. Eddie’s is a century old ice cream shop. Meanwhile, Austin Street is home to many new, trendy, and chain businesses. These include Station House, Flying Pig, and Buffalo Wild Wings. The E and F lines run straight through this area.

Community services in Forest Hills include Forest Hills Senior Center, Alcoholic Anonymous, classes at the Bukharian Jewish Center, and a variety of services and classes at the Queens Community House. Schools in the area include PS 101, JHS 190 Russell Sage, Queens Metropolitan High School, Forest Hills High School, and Our Lady of Mercy School. Forest Hills is also littered with parks, including a section of Forest Park within its bounds, and many other small parks within residential areas, including Project Eden, Russell Sage playground, and Remsen Family Cemetary.