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.
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Sunnyside Rentals Under $2,500 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Sunnyside
45-26 48th Street
$2,100No Fee
1 |
1
Sunnyside
43-30 44th Street
$2,200No Fee
1 |
1
Sunnyside
43-33 41st Street
$2,350No Fee
1 |
1
Sunnyside
43-01 46th Street
$1,895No Fee
Studio |
1
Sunnyside
41-01 43rd Avenue
$2,350No Fee
1 |
1
Sunnyside
43-29 39 Place
$2,208No Fee
1 |
1
Sunnyside
43-17 48th Street
$2,150No Fee
1 |
1
Sunnyside
41-00 43rd Avenue
$2,400No Fee
1 |
1
Sunnyside
41-41 41st Street
$2,395No Fee
1 |
1
Sunnyside
43-29 39 Place
$2,429No Fee
1 |
1
Sunnyside
41-43 43rd Street
$2,350No Fee
1 |
1
Sunnyside
53-30 35th Street
$2,300No Fee
1 |
1
Sunnyside, Queens, Has a Chill New York Vibe
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 Homes Under $600K on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Sunnyside
43-10 48th Avenue
$549,000
2 |
1
Sunnyside
41-08 43rd Street
$450,000
1 |
1
Sunnyside
47-37 45th Street
$495,000
1 |
1
Sunnyside
48-10 45th Street
$485,000
2 |
1
Sunnyside
48-25 43rd Street
$509,000
2 |
1
Sunnyside
48-55 43rd Street
$525,000
2 |
1
Sunnyside
41-20 46th Street
$468,000
1 |
1
Sunnyside
48-10 45th Street
$420,000
1 |
1
How Far Is Sunnyside, Queens, From Manhattan?
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.”
Queens Rentals Under $2,000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Astoria
32-84 45th Street
$1,900No Fee
Studio |
1
Maspeth
60-58 Flushing Avenue
$2,000No Fee
1 |
1
Sunnyside
43-01 46th Street
$1,895No Fee
Studio |
1
Glendale
78-17 81st Street
$1,850No Fee
1 |
1
North Corona
37-29 104th Street
$1,895No Fee
1 |
1
East Flushing
195-08 Station Road
$1,950No Fee
1 |
1
Jamaica Estates
87-01 Midland Parkway
$1,995No Fee
1 |
1
Kew Gardens
83-83 118th Street
$1,895No Fee
Studio |
1
Flushing
143-36 Barclay Avenue
$2,000No Fee
1 |
1
Ridgewood
61-28 Madison Street
$1,980No Fee
1 |
1
Jamaica
91-12 175th Street
$1,900No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
43-09 31st Avenue
$1,950No Fee
Studio |
1
What Is Sunnyside Gardens?
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.
Queens Homes Under $650K on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Sunnyside
43-10 48th Avenue
$549,000
2 |
1
Kew Gardens
132-47 Metropolitan Avenue
$585,000
2 |
2
Jackson Heights
34-10 75th Street
$508,000
2 |
1
Hunters Point
4-74 48th Avenue
$649,000
1 |
1
Queens Village
227-32 113rd Avenue
$625,000
2 |
2
Jamaica
145-11 106th Avenue
$500,000
5 |
2.5
Jamaica
150-41 113rd Avenue
$629,000
4 |
2
Glen Oaks
271-10 Grand Central Parkway
$579,000
2 |
2.5
Glen Oaks
269-10 Grand Central Pkw
$549,000
2 |
2.5
Glen Oaks
270-10 Grand Central Pkw
$585,000
1 |
1.5
Forest Hills
69-10 Yellowston Boulevard
$599,000
2 |
2
Jackson Heights
37-46 85th Street
$600,000
2 |
1
Where To Eat and Drink in Sunnyside, Queens
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.