Hollis

The neighborhood.

Hollis calls itself a suburb within the city, and it earns it: quiet, tree-lined streets, rows of single-family homes, and one of the highest owner-occupancy rates in the area. Families of all ages settle here and stay.

It's also sacred ground in hip-hop history — the home of Run-DMC, LL Cool J, and Def Jam founder Russell Simmons. That heritage is a character bonus on top of what is, fundamentally, a calm residential buy.

Housing stock & prices.

Overwhelmingly single-family: brick colonials, Tudors, Cape Cods, and ranches from the 1920s–1950s, many with finished basements and private driveways or garages. Two-to-four family homes exist but are a smaller share than in Jamaica. Adjacent Holliswood — often grouped with Hollis — holds larger detached homes on 8,600+ sqft lots listed around $1.18M–1.35M.

PropertyShark measured a September 2026 median sale price of $747,500 (down 5.1% year over year) at $504 per square foot — the value end of the eastern Queens ladder.

Getting around.

The LIRR's Hollis station (Main Line, Hempstead Branch trains) reaches Grand Central in about 29 minutes — but service runs roughly hourly, the station isn't ADA-accessible, and there's no parking lot. The subway alternative is a bus to the F at Jamaica–179 St, about 48 minutes total to Manhattan. Plan around the railroad or don't buy here.

Walkability.

Hollis carries a Walk Score of 75 from walkscore.com (137th most walkable in New York), also rated 'Very Walkable.' The Jamaica Avenue corridor is genuinely walkable — shops, restaurants, and buses within a few blocks — and the Hollis LIRR station anchors the commute. But the residential streets are classic quiet suburbia: tree-lined, single-family, and built for cars. Most owners here drive, even if they don't have to.

Schools.

Hollis is in NYC Geographic District 29, where public schools average a 3/10 ranking — in the bottom half of New York schools, per 2026-27 data — so honesty matters on this page. The bright spots: PS/IS 178 The Holliswood School (top-ranked in the area, PK-8, on the Jamaica Estates border), PS 35 Nathaniel Woodhull, and IS 238 Susan B. Anthony Academy. Private options include Yeshiva University High School for Girls and The Wellspring Schools. Buyers with school-age kids should check the specific zoned school before making an offer — it varies block by block.

Local favorites.

• Run-DMC JMJ Way. The corner of 205th Street and Hollis Avenue is co-named for the group that put Hollis on the map — with a mural honoring Jam Master Jay, it's a pilgrimage stop for hip-hop history.
• Addisleigh Park. The historic district just south in St. Albans, where Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Jackie Robinson once lived — drive the tree-lined blocks to see the jazz-era mansions.
• Fitoor Cafe and Grill Lounge. A halal grill and hookah lounge on Union Turnpike with live DJs on weekends — chicken kebab and rice, kati rolls, and a late-night scene.
• Chris & Sons Roti Shop and Bakery. A five-star Trinidadian roti shop on Hollis Avenue — doubles, curry roti, and BBQ chicken at neighborhood prices.
• Jamaica Avenue retail corridor. Hollis's main commercial strip: Caribbean and South Asian restaurants, independent shops, and the everyday street life that makes the neighborhood feel lived-in.

Living here.

• Cunningham Park. 358 acres of sports fields, hiking trails, bike greenways, and family BBQ areas.
• Roy Wilkins Park. Hosts the annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival each July — 20,000+ attendees.
• Hip-hop landmarks. The corner of 205th St & Hollis Ave is co-named Run-DMC JMJ Way, with a Jam Master Jay mural.

Best for.