DiNapoli: Economic Report Shows Signs of Strength in Richmond Hill and Ozone Park Area of Southeast Queens
The Richmond Hill/Woodhaven and South Ozone Park/Howard Beach neighborhoods in Southeast Queens near JFK Airport saw strong growth in jobs and private sector businesses in the decade ending 2024, according to a new economic report released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The two neighborhoods, referred to in the report as Richmond Hill and Ozone Park, are home to a diverse population experiencing progress from increased wages to improved student proficiency on standardized tests. Still, they face challenges related to public safety, youth unemployment, housing costs, and threats from climate change.
“There is much to be excited about in our Southeast Queens communities,” DiNapoli said. “Rising household income, declining poverty rates, job and business growth, and student performance are all bright spots, along with the development of a new world class cancer center and major improvements to local transportation and entertainment hubs. But there are still challenges and work to be done. Crime rates and the impacts of climate change are some of the serious concerns that require continued attention to keep Richmond Hill and Ozone Park moving forward.”
"The communities of Richmond Hill and Ozone Park personify the working-class and immigrant spirits that define New York City. Yet concerns about the cost of living, especially regarding the cost of housing, continue to persist and threaten to fracture neighborhoods like these," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "State Comptroller DiNapoli's latest Economic Snapshot shows how recent economic growth has helped bring greater prosperity to so many families in Richmond Hill and Ozone Park, while identifying additional work that must be done to keep these communities strong. I am committed to working with the Comptroller and all our partners both inside and outside government to address the affordability crisis and to extend the benefits of economic growth to all of our borough's residents, not just a few."
More than 250,000 people called the neighborhoods home in 2024, about 11% of Queens’ population. The combined area population saw a 10.9% percent decline from 2014, though they remain among the most diverse in the borough. Nearly half (47.6%) of all area residents were foreign born, primarily from South America (including Guyana), Asia (including Bangladesh), and the Caribbean.
Wage and Business Growth Exceeded Citywide Rates
The economy has been relatively strong in the neighborhoods in recent years. Private sector job growth climbed 14.3% between 2014 and 2024, with the number of jobs topping 45,000. Health care jobs accounted for most of that employment growth, followed by leisure and hospitality and transportation and warehousing. This growth offsets declines in educational services, manufacturing, and retail jobs. Nearly two-thirds of the increase in jobs was in Richmond Hill in health care, transportation and warehousing, and construction, while Ozone Park, adjacent to JFK and Resorts World NYC, saw growth fueled by the leisure and hospitality and retail trade sectors.
Wages climbed significantly as well. Total wages paid by private sector firms in the area rose 57.1%, from $1.7 billion to $2.6 billion, while the average wage increased by 37.5% over the decade.
In another positive economic sign, the number of private firms in Richmond Hill and Ozone Park grew by 16.2% between 2014 and 2024, outpacing the citywide rate of 14.2%.
Incomes and Poverty Improved
The 2024 median household income for Richmond Hill and Ozone Park was $88,967, higher than that for the borough as a whole and well above the citywide median household income of $81,228. The share of households with income below the federal poverty level dropped from 14.6% to 12.6% between 2014 and 2024, compared to a less than 1 percentage point decline for all of Queens, while child poverty fell sharply from 21.7% to 12.6%, compared to a 5.3 percentage point decline across Queens.
Strong Home Ownership Rate, But Cost Pressures Remain
A majority of Richmond Hill and Ozone Park homes (over 58%) were owned by the residents who lived in them in 2024. This was higher than the 44.4% of households occupied by owners across Queens and over 1.7 times the citywide share.
However, housing cost burdens remain a challenge. A larger proportion of these households spend 30% or more of their income on housing costs compared to the borough and the city overall. Among renters across the area, the share that spent 30% or more on rent and utilities was slightly higher than the rest of the city.
Quality of Life Matters
Life expectancies in both neighborhoods were higher than the city’s and showed improvement between 2015 and 2022. According to New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene data, life expectancies were 83.5 years for Richmond Hill residents and 81.9 years for those in South Ozone Park, compared to 81.3 years citywide. Still, health challenges remained, with higher rates of obesity and diabetes than in other areas of the city.
In education, traditional public-school enrollment reached 18,453 students in the 2025-2026 school year, with an additional 467 students enrolled in two charter schools, down 15.6% from 2018-2019. Despite the decline, several area schools were over capacity.
A larger share of K-8 students who took the statewide English language assessment (49.9%) in the spring of 2026 scored proficient than citywide (44.2%), while a slightly smaller share of those who took the Math exam (54.5%) scored proficient than citywide (57%).
Crime and public safety remain a top concern for residents, despite a marked decline in shootings to the lowest level on record. For the 102nd and 106th Precincts, which patrol most of the Richmond Hill and Ozone Park area, major crime remained flat from 2024 to 2025. Across Queens and the city, crime dropped by 5% and 2%, respectively. Major crimes within Richmond Hill and Ozone Park continued to exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2025, on par with the rest of the city.
Flooding is also an ongoing issue for some area homeowners. Howard Beach was included in the city’s resilient neighborhoods initiative, launched after Superstorm Sandy, and Hamilton Beach was established as a Special Coastal Risk District in 2017 under the City’s Zoning Resolution, allowing for land use restrictions to mitigate coastal flooding and storm surge impacts. Last October, the city released the Jewel Streets Neighborhood Plan to address chronic flooding and stormwater pollution.
Outlook
Looking ahead, major projected investments include the ongoing redevelopment of JFK Airport and the casino expansion at Resorts World NYC. DiNapoli’s report encourages strengthened partnerships between the city and state as well as continued monitoring to address the needs of both neighborhoods, including oversight of economic activities, so the benefits of major projects reach all residents.
“This report confirms what we already knew: there is real strength and power in our local economy," said Congressman Gregory Meeks. "The steady increase in job growth, homeownership rates, and quality of life—despite this administration's affordability crisis—are direct results of hard work and dedication seen throughout our community. I look forward to building on this momentum through federal efforts to expand new economic opportunities across our district."
“I appreciate State Comptroller DiNapoli’s report, because it not only spotlights the positive economic strengths of Richmond Hill and Ozone Park, but also lays out a clear, thoughtful blueprint for the priorities and next steps that we legislators, partnering with all interested individuals and entities, need to work on and address,” said Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo.
“A new report from State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli confirms what those of us in Southeast Queens have always known: the people of Richmond Hill and Ozone Park are among the hardest-working and most resilient in New York. Much of this success has been driven by immigrant families from the Caribbean, South Asia, and beyond who came here seeking opportunity and, through sacrifice and determination, have helped build strong businesses, strong neighborhoods, and a strong local economy. At a time when some seek to demonize immigrants, we should recognize the facts. These communities are creating jobs, increasing homeownership, reducing poverty, and contributing to the prosperity of our borough and our state. Their success story is the American story, and it deserves to be celebrated,” said Sen. James Sanders Jr.
"I want to thank State Comptroller DiNapoli for compiling this important data. Reports like this help identify the gaps that remain and provide a roadmap for the investments and resources our communities need. South Ozone Park is home to a vibrant business district that plays a critical role in supporting the surrounding community. While the data shows meaningful progress has been made, we must remain committed to sustaining that momentum and ensuring continued growth and opportunity for residents and local businesses. It is our hope that this information will help guide efforts to further strengthen and advance the community,” said Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson.
"State Comptroller DiNapoli's report quantifies what so many of us have witnessed in Richmond Hill and the surrounding areas. The data shows major increases in private-sector jobs as well as increases in the number of private businesses between 2014 and 2024. We have also seen substantial growth in wages for Richmond Hill and Ozone Park residents. These numbers reflect the hard work of our small business owners, workers, and families who continue to invest in our neighborhoods. While it is encouraging to see growth in employment, incomes, and entrepreneurship, we must not lose sight of the many challenges that remain, particularly with regards to affordability, public safety, and climate change. We must ensure that residents can continue calling these vibrant neighborhoods of Queens home," said Assemblymember David I. Weprin.
“Richmond Hill and Ozone Park are vibrant neighborhoods in City Council District 29, as evidenced by State Comptroller DiNapoli's new report on economic activity in NYC, which shows how meaningful investment can shape our local communities,” said Council Member Lynn Schulman. “Rising incomes and declining poverty are significant signs of progress. At the same time, families continue to face challenges with housing affordability, public safety, and quality of life. We must build on this achievement to ensure that Richmond Hill and Ozone Park continue to thrive and that all residents can share in that success!”
“The people of Southeast Queens have spent generations working hard to build better lives for their families, and it is encouraging to see that hard work reflected in this report,” said Council Member Ty Hankerson. “The growth in local businesses and wages, coupled with the decline in child poverty, gives our communities much to be proud of. I thank State Comptroller DiNapoli for recognizing this progress and bringing attention to the challenges that remain. We still have families struggling with the rising cost of housing and residents concerned about public safety. We look forward to working with the Comptroller to build on this progress and make sure the major investments coming to Southeast Queens create real opportunities for the residents and families who have called these neighborhoods home for generations.”
“The Queens Chamber of Commerce is encouraged to see such strong numbers in the State Comptroller’s latest report on Richmond Hill and Ozone Park, two vibrant communities that reflect the incredible diversity, talent and entrepreneurial spirit that make Queens such a special place. To see communities representing more than one-tenth of Queens’ population experience such significant growth in wages, businesses and job opportunities over the past decade is a major achievement and sets an example for the rest of the borough. We expect these positive trends to continue as major investments bring new jobs, economic activity and opportunities for local residents and businesses throughout Queens,” said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “This data is also incredibly important as we look ahead to the Chamber’s priorities for 2027. Understanding which sectors of Southeast Queens’ economy are growing and how the private sector is performing allows us to tailor our programming and resources to support local businesses and ensure that these gains extend beyond Southeast Queens to communities across our borough. We’re grateful to State Comptroller DiNapoli for this thorough report and appreciate his continued partnership alongside the city and state in helping Queens businesses and communities thrive.”
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