Affording NYC Neighborhoods NYC Life

Sunnyside, Queens Is An Affordable Neighborhood for Renters and Home Buyers

By StreetEasy Team January 11, 2022

If you’re looking for an area that combines a small-town feel with big-city accessibility, this New York City neighborhood offers both. Located just 15 minutes from Midtown Manhattan, Sunnyside, Queens, is a diverse and affordable neighborhood that residents love and housing-seekers shouldn’t ignore. It’s home to the historic Sunnyside Gardens, one of the country’s first planned communities. Plus, it boasts a slew of restaurants and watering holes. With a rental median asking price of $2,050 and a sales median asking price of $388,000 as of November 2021, Sunnyside’s housing costs fall well below city averages. Talk about budget-friendly! Still not convinced? StreetEasy dives into what makes Sunnyside, Queens, one of the top affordable places to live in NYC.

Table of Contents

Sunnyside

43-10 44th Street

$2,150 No Fee

1 |

1

Sunnyside

45-34 47th Street

$2,150 No Fee

1 |

1

Sunnyside

43-34 49th Street

$2,300 No Fee

1 |

1

Sunnyside

51-28 35th Street

$2,100 No Fee

1 |

2

Sunnyside

47-32 41st Street

$2,300 No Fee

1 |

1

Sunnyside

50-12 46th Street

$2,100 No Fee

1 |

1

Sunnyside

41-20 39 Place

$2,395 No Fee

1 |

1

Sunnyside

43-10 44th Street

$2,150 No Fee

1 |

1

Sunnyside

41-00 43rd Avenue

$2,295 No Fee

1 |

1

Sunnyside

48-21 40th Street

$2,075 No Fee

Studio |

1

Sunnyside

43-23 40th Street

$2,399 No Fee

1 |

1

Sunnyside

48-39 45th Street

$2,350 No Fee

1 |

1

Sunnyside, Queens, Has a Chill New York Vibe

^{Tree-lined streets and brick row houses add to the neighborhood’s charming appeal. (Getty Images)}

In Sunnyside, Queens, don’t expect the brash anonymity of other places you might have lived. “It’s not uncommon to bump into friends, acquaintances, or neighbors when out for a walk. That’s what gives the area a friendly, small-town feel,” says Rob MacKay, Director at the Queens Tourism Council and longtime Sunnyside resident. “I know the name of my tailor next door and other local shop owners. I know their kids — they know my kids.”

The area is brimming with local amenities

Warburg Realty’s Michael Arkin, who frequently works in the area and whose sister has lived in Sunnyside since 1975, says above all, “The area has a down-to-earth neighborly vibe.” He cites its many restaurants, bars, tree-lined streets, and residential feel as main contributors. There’s an especially dense area for neighborhood restaurants along Queens Boulevard and lively Skillman Avenue.

Sunnyside

48-19 43rd Street

$495,000

2 |

1

Sunnyside

41-15 45th Street

$462,000

1 |

1

Sunnyside

43-10 48th Avenue

$485,000

2 |

1

Sunnyside

39-35 51st Street

$500,000

2 |

1

Sunnyside

47-37 45th Street

$425,000

1 |

1

Sunnyside

45-08 40th Street

$588,000

2 |

1

Sunnyside

43-33 48th Street

$499,999

1 |

1

Sunnyside

48-10 45th Street

$465,000

2 |

1

Sunnyside

48-50 44th Street

$577,000

2 |

1

Sunnyside

45-08 40th Street

$599,000

2 |

1.5

Sunnyside

43-10 48th Avenue

$470,000

2 |

1

Sunnyside

48-01 42nd Street

$479,000

2 |

1

How Far Is Sunnyside, Queens, From Manhattan?

^{The 7 train connects Sunnyside residents to Midtown Manhattan. (Getty Images)}

Sunnyside, Queens, is incredibly accessible, with a commute to Grand Central clocking in at 15 minutes. With four stations serving the neighborhood — and bus lines for those who want to avoid highly trafficked subway cars — residents love how easy it is to get around. The 7 train stops at Grand Central, Fifth Avenue, and Times Square. Arkin notes that all three stations are transfer hubs that connect to several other lines.

“You’re close to Manhattan, so it’s convenient,” MacKay says. “But you can enjoy tree-lined streets and parks, stuff that suburban people enjoy. So you get the best of both worlds.”

Jamaica Estates

183-11 Hillside Avenue

$1,895 No Fee

1 |

1

Jackson Heights

37-21 80th Street

$1,850 No Fee

Studio |

1

Astoria

30-64 21st Street

$2,000 No Fee

1 |

1

Forest Hills

75-20 113rd Street

$1,900 No Fee

Studio |

1

Woodside

41-39 54th Street

$1,850 No Fee

1 |

1

Elmhurst

41-25 Case Street

$2,000 No Fee

Studio |

1

Elmhurst

41-14 Judge Street

$1,950 No Fee

1 |

1

Forest Hills

102-30 Queens Boulevard

$1,995 No Fee

1 |

1

Kew Gardens

83-61 116th Street

$1,960 No Fee

Studio |

1

Woodside

43-02 60th Street

$1,999 No Fee

1 |

1

Jackson Heights

76-09 34th Avenue

$1,995 No Fee

1 |

1

Glendale

66-15 Myrtle Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

1 |

1

What Is Sunnyside Gardens?

^{A colorful mural that celebrates the vibrant neighborhood. (From a listing at 43-17 48th St. #1N)}

Sunnyside Gardens was built in the 1920s with the hope of creating a little utopia, MacKay explains. The English Garden City Movement inspired the pocket community. This idea promoted self-contained communities with shared green spaces (among other things). Picture apartment buildings surrounding a common courtyard.

These days, one of the U.S.’s first planned communities is still a peaceful sanctuary of low-rise buildings. “It’s quite wonderful, and beautifully maintained,” says Arkin. He explains that the utopic neighborhood holds status as both a national and local historic district, which protects some buildings from renovations and destruction.

Wait, there’s a country club?

One interesting aspect of the neighborhood is the members-only Sunnyside Gardens Park, a lush space with a baseball field, tennis courts, basketball courts, picnic tables, and more.

The area’s history doesn’t end in Sunnyside Gardens. Here’s one more fun fact: The Wendy’s on Queens Boulevard was once the Sunnyside Garden Arena, a famous boxing arena where fighters such as Emile Griffith and Gerry Cooney duked it out. Visitors will find a plaque out front commemorating the site’s heyday.

Laurelton

220-19 135th Avenue

$599,900

4 |

1.5

Astoria

26-01 4th Street

$629,600

Studio |

1

Rockaway All

188 Beach 101st Street

$585,000

2 |

2.5

Astoria

26-01 4th Street

$624,600

Studio |

1

Rego Park

94-11 65 Road

$598,300

1 |

1

Forest Hills

111-20 73rd Avenue

$525,000

2 |

1

Forest Hills

104-20 68 Drive

$539,000

2 |

2

Astoria

26-01 4th Street

$614,600

Studio |

1

South Richmond Hill

101-48 103rd Street

$575,000

Studio |

1

Ridgewood

63-34 Fresh Pond Road

$645,000

1 |

1

St. Albans

187-02 Foch Boulevard

$539,900

3 |

1.5

Astoria

26-01 4th Street

$609,600

Studio |

1

Where To Eat and Drink in Sunnyside, Queens

The Sunnyside Arch on 46th Street is a welcoming touch. (Shutterstock)

Beyond its history and picture-perfect streets, Sunnyside also has plenty of places to keep your stomach full and your drink topped. “I recommend the veggie salteñas at Bolivian Llama Party, which are like empanadas with a smoked vegetable stew inside,” says Jonah Bader, who moved to the neighborhood last year. Also among his favorites is Bajeko Sekuwa, a spot for momos, Nepalese dumplings.

MacKay recommends a restaurant called Cardamom for authentic Indian cuisine and Mangal Kabob for Turkish eats.

Prefer burgers and beer? Try The Skillman on Skillman Avenue, one of the neighborhood’s liveliest streets.

If you’re interested in learning about other areas of the borough, check out seven more affordable Queens neighborhoods.

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