The report, released on Friday, Oct. 23, found that there is “much to be excited about” in the neighborhoods, pointing to a 14.3% growth in private-sector jobs between 2014 and 2024 and a 16.2% growth in private-sector businesses in the area within the same timeframe.

The report, which focused on Richmond Hill/Woodhaven and Ozone Park/Howard Beach as two neighborhoods, also found that the median household income across the area was $88,967 in 2024, higher than the median for Queens and the wider city. The 12.6% of households in the area that were below the poverty line in 2024 is also below the borough-wide average of 14.1% and the citywide average of 17.9%.

However, the report also found that the number of jobs and private businesses across the neighborhoods declined slightly between 2024 and 2025, with jobs dropping by 1.8% and businesses falling by 2.6%.

Almost two-thirds of the area’s jobs were located in Richmond Hill/Woodhaven in 2024, while almost two-thirds of residents worked across six different sectors, with 19.2% of residents working in healthcare and social assistance.

Meanwhile, despite significant growth in both jobs and businesses across the decade, the area’s population plummeted by 10.9% during the same period, far outstripping the borough-wide average of 0.2%. Households with children under the age of 18 also fell by 10.2% across the same period, almost double the citywide average of 5.9%.

On the other hand, the share of area residents living in their own property stood at 58.2% in 2024, far above the borough-wide average of 44.8%.

But housing costs remain a burden for residents in southeast Queens, according to the report, with a larger share of households paying more than 30% of their income on housing costs compared to the wider borough and city. The share of renters paying more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities was also up slightly compared to the rest of the city.

Pointing to the $19 billion transformation of JFK Airport and the $5.5 billion project at Resorts World NYC after it won one of three downstate casino licenses last year, the report asserted that investment projects are “likely to continue” in the area, especially in Ozone Park and Howard Beach. The economic snapshot also noted plans to develop housing at Aqueduct Racetrack and resiliency projects at Jamaica Bay and said community input is “essential” to ensure that long-term projects are sustainable.

“There is much to be excited about in our Southeast Queens communities,” DiNapoli said after releasing the report.

He pointed to rising household income, declining poverty rates, job growth and improving student performance as well as the development of a world-class cancer center at Jamaica Hospital to underline the area’s progress. But he also flagged a number of challenges and “work to be done,” including climate change and crime rates, which remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels through the first half of 2026.

“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,” he added.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, meanwhile, said the report has showcased how economic growth has brought increased prosperity to southeast Queens but also highlighted the additional work required to keep communities thriving.

“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,” Richards said in a statement.

U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks, who represents the neighborhoods in Congress, said the report confirms that there is “real strength and power” in the local economy.

“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,” Meeks said in a statement.