Long Island City (LIC) Neighborhood Introduction

Long Island City is one of Queens’ most dynamic and fast-growing neighborhoods, known for its Manhattan access, skyline views, new development activity, and strong rental demand. Its core area is centered around Court Square and Queens Plaza, where subway access, residential towers, offices, retail, and daily conveniences are most concentrated. Beyond the core, the waterfront area around Hunters Point and Gantry Plaza offers parks, luxury residential buildings, ferry access, and Manhattan views. At the same time, Dutch Kills has a more transitional mixed-use character with older industrial buildings, hotels, local businesses, and growing residential development potential.

LIC is highly connected by subway, with access to the 7, E, M, G, N, W, R, and F trains through stations such as Court Square, Queens Plaza, Queensboro Plaza, Vernon Boulevard–Jackson Avenue, and Hunterspoint Avenue. The neighborhood also offers ferry service, Citi Bike, bus routes, and quick access to the Queensboro Bridge, making it convenient for commuting to Midtown, Downtown Manhattan, Brooklyn, and other parts of Queens.

Long Island City is part of NYC Geographic District 30 and offers access to several neighborhood school options, especially around Hunters Point and Court Square. Local schools such as P.S./I.S. 78Q and Hunters Point Community Middle School serve the growing waterfront residential area, while nearby public, charter, and citywide school options give families additional flexibility.

LIC offers a modern urban lifestyle shaped by the differences between its core and surrounding submarkets. The Court Square–Queens Plaza core is best for transit access, daily convenience, and dense residential living; the waterfront offers a more open, residential atmosphere with parks and skyline views; and Dutch Kills provides a quieter mixed-use setting with local restaurants, hotels, and emerging residential projects.

LIC has a strong creative identity shaped by former industrial spaces, galleries, studios, and cultural institutions. MoMA PS1 anchors the Court Square area, while the broader neighborhood includes art spaces, design businesses, waterfront parks, and new residential development, giving LIC a modern Queens identity with both cultural and residential appeal.

Commercial activity is concentrated around Court Square, Jackson Avenue, Queens Plaza, Vernon Boulevard, Center Boulevard, 21st Street, and Dutch Kills. These corridors support different parts of the neighborhood’s identity, from office and residential growth around the core area to waterfront retail and dining near Hunters Point and more industrial-to-residential transition in Dutch Kills.

LIC has a young, diverse, and well-educated resident base, with a population of 68,973 and a median household income of $126,090. Many residents are in their late 20s and 30s, supporting demand for modern apartments, condos, restaurants, fitness, transit access, and lifestyle amenities.

Long Island City offers a relatively safe and comfortable urban living environment, supported by active residential streets, newer buildings, strong neighborhood services, and growing public space. LIC is served by NYPD’s 108th Precinct, which also covers Sunnyside and Woodside. Overall, the neighborhood remains one of Queens’ most desirable places to live, with a polished residential feel in the waterfront and core areas and a more transitional character in Dutch Kills.

For buyers, LIC offers a strong condo market with a major new development presence and a more accessible price point compared with many Manhattan neighborhoods. In 2025, LIC recorded 319 sales, with a median sold price of $960,000, an average sold price of $1,117,323, and an average sold price per square foot of $1,507. New development made up 54.2% of recorded sales, showing that newly built condos remain a major driver of the ownership market. One-bedroom and two-bedroom units were the most active segments, making LIC especially attractive to first-time buyers, young professionals, couples, and investors.

For renters, LIC remains one of Queens’ strongest rental markets, supported by new luxury rental buildings, strong transit access, and proximity to Manhattan. In 2025, LIC recorded 2,819 rented units, with an average listed rent of $4,625, a median listed rent of $4,263, and an average rental days on market of 33 days. 

LIC continues to show long-term investment appeal through its strong transit infrastructure, active new development market, and expanding residential demand beyond the Court Square–Queens Plaza core. In 2025, the neighborhood recorded 384 active sales, with a median listed price of $1,157,500 and an average listed price per square foot of $1,601. 

For ACRE, LIC is a highly familiar project market, with experience across boutique condominium developments such as The Athena LIC, Urban 21, and CRESYN. Located at 37-28 Crescent Street, CRESYN brings 39 boutique residences to LIC, reflecting growing demand for well-designed, transit-oriented homes and highlighting the continued growth potential of Dutch Kills and nearby emerging submarkets.

Long Island City stands out as one of Queens’ strongest residential markets, anchored by the Court Square–Queens Plaza core and supported by distinct surrounding submarkets. The core area offers transit and convenience, the waterfront offers lifestyle and skyline value, and Dutch Kills adds mixed-use character and future growth potential. For buyers, renters, and investors, LIC offers a strong balance of location, housing options, and long-term Queens market fundamentals.