Milton Coste

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NYC Neighborhood Comparison

Jamaica Hills vs Kensington

Kensington vs Jamaica Hills: side-by-side market data, transit, and neighborhood profiles to help you decide.

Queens|Brooklyn

Jamaica Hills

Queens

Kensington

Brooklyn

How They Compare

For buyers focused on affordability, Kensington has the lower median sale price at $525K vs $990K in Jamaica Hills.

Investors analyzing rental yield will find Kensington offers a stronger rent-to-price ratio based on current market data.

Median Sale Price
$990K
$525K
Median Rent
$2K
$3K
Active Listings
14
98
Avg Days on Market
36.5 days
56 days
YoY Price Change
+164.0%
+3.8%
Monthly Sales Volume
3
13

Detailed Comparison

MetricJamaica HillsKensington
Median Sale Price$990,000$525,000
Median Condo PriceN/A$415,500
Median Co-op Price$153,000$474,700
Median Rent$2,350$2,750
Active Listings1498
Rental Inventory18120
Days on Market36.556
Price Cut Share14.3%14.3%
Monthly Sales Volume313
YoY Price Change+164.0%+3.8%
YoY Rent Change-5.8%-5.2%
YoY Inventory Change+27.3%+28.9%
Subway LinesN/AN/A

Year-Over-Year Price Movement

Prices in Jamaica Hills moved +164.0% over the past year, compared to +3.8% in Kensington. The +164.0% gain in Jamaica Hills reflects stronger buyer demand relative to available inventory in that market.

Neighborhood Profiles

Jamaica Hills

Jamaica Hills is a hilly Queens neighborhood of brick single-family homes, attached row houses, and garden-apartment co-ops set on winding residential streets. The F train at Parsons Boulevard provides subway service, and multiple bus routes connect to Jamaica Center and the LIRR. The neighborhood sits on elevated terrain offering partial skyline views from upper floors.

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Kensington

Kensington is a residential Brooklyn neighborhood bordered by Prospect Park to the north and the landmarked Green-Wood Cemetery to the west, with Ocean Parkway running through its center as one of the borough's signature tree-lined boulevards. The housing stock includes brick rowhouses, prewar co-op apartment buildings along Ocean Parkway and Coney Island Avenue, and detached Victorian homes on the side streets, served by the F and G trains at Fort Hamilton Parkway and Church Avenue. The B and Q express trains are accessible within a short walk, providing a 30-to-35-minute commute to Midtown Manhattan.

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Transit Access

Jamaica Hills

No subway data available

Kensington

No subway data available

Active Listings

Jamaica Hills for sale

View all Jamaica Hills listings

Kensington for sale

View all Kensington listings

Listing data is derived in whole or in part from the RLS at REBNY (Real Estate Board of New York) Internet Data Exchange (IDX) database. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Milton Coste | Keller Williams NYC are marked with the RLS logo. The information provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data is refreshed every 15 minutes per REBNY IDX requirements.

Jamaica Hills vs Kensington: Home Price Resilience 2008-2020

From the 2008 financial crisis through the 2020 pandemic, the NYC metro Case-Shiller composite fell about 25% peak-to-trough between 2007 and 2012, then fully recovered by 2017 and gained another 15% through Q1 2020. Jamaica Hills and Kensington both tracked this broader NYC arc, with annual closing volume contracting sharply in 2009 and again in Q2 2020 before normalizing.

Outer-borough submarkets including Jamaica Hills and Kensington generally tracked the broader NYC metro pattern of a 20% to 25% peak-to-trough decline before fully recovering by 2017 and posting further gains through early 2020.

Source: Per Case-Shiller Home Price Index, NYC metro subset, 2008-2020, cross-referenced with StreetEasy historical price data series.

Metric (2026)Jamaica HillsKensington
Median Sale Price$990,000$525,000
Median Rent$2,350/mo$2,750/mo
Year-over-Year Price Change+164.0%+3.8%
Average Days on Market36.5 days56 days
Distance to Nearest SubwayN/AN/A

Table values reflect current 2026 market conditions. Historical 2008-2020 commentary is sourced from Case-Shiller NYC metro composite and StreetEasy historical series.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jamaica Hills cheaper than Kensington?
Kensington is more affordable, with a median sale price of $525,000 vs $990,000 in Jamaica Hills. Pricing can vary widely by building, floor, and unit condition, so review current listings for accurate comparisons.
Which has better transit, Jamaica Hills or Kensington?
Transit data is not available for these neighborhoods. Check the MTA website for current service maps.
Which is better for families, Jamaica Hills or Kensington?
This depends on what type of home fits your household. Jamaica Hills and Kensington both offer a mix of apartment and multi-room units in co-ops, condos, and townhouses. Larger 3- and 4-bedroom units, including townhouses and multi-family properties, tend to be more available in lower-density areas. Reviewing active listings filtered by bedroom count is the most reliable way to see what each neighborhood currently offers for larger households. A licensed broker can pull current inventory by bedroom count across both areas for a direct comparison.
Should I buy in Jamaica Hills or Kensington?
The right neighborhood depends on your price range, commute needs, and preferred property type. A comparative market analysis (CMA) of recent sales in both Jamaica Hills and Kensington gives you the clearest picture of what your budget gets in each location. Request a free CMA from Milton Coste to get a side-by-side breakdown of current opportunities.

More Comparisons

Need Help Choosing?

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Data updated:

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