हामीलाई राम्रो गर्न मद्दत गर्नुस्।
NepYork is an independent nonprofit newsroom serving Nepali and Himalayan communities in Queens. This is our Listening Post — where we hear from you before we publish.
हामी प्रकाशित गर्नुअघि तपाईंको कुरा सुन्छौं।
NepYork is an independent, nonprofit newsroom founded four years ago by Kishor Panthi to cover Nepali and Himalayan life in New York City — in English, for the community and for the city that surrounds it.
We cover immigration, housing, workers' rights, health, small business, and culture. We are not neutral observers — we are part of the community we cover, and we believe information is civic infrastructure.
NepYork is a member of LION Publishers, a national network of local and independent media outlets, and a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News, a consortium of nonprofit journalism organizations.
This Listening Post is a summer 2026 engagement journalism initiative developed in partnership with the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.
Read why this matters →"Community media is not just about stories that are not being told by the mainstream. It is the organizer of the community. It is a critical link between the community and the mainstream."— Jahangir Kattak, community media leader
Engagement journalism means the community sets the agenda. Here is how the Listening Post works this summer — and what we do with what you tell us.
If something is happening in your neighborhood, your workplace, or your building — tell us. Tips are confidential. You decide how much to share.
We cover the issues that matter most to Nepali and Himalayan New Yorkers. Your tip could become a story that helps your community.
Tips are confidential. We will never publish your name without your permission.
We have gathered research on the Nepali community in Queens so NepYork can report on what matters most. This page will grow as we collect more information from the community this summer.
Almost all Nepali New Yorkers — about 87% — live in Queens. Jackson Heights, Woodside, and Elmhurst are the main neighborhoods.
Source: Asian American Federation →The Nepali population in New York City tripled between 2010 and 2019. It is one of the fastest-growing immigrant groups in the city.
Source: ABC7 New York →Over half of Nepali Americans have a college degree — higher than many other immigrant groups. Yet they are often left out of city conversations and news coverage.
Source: NepYork, May 2026 →About half of Nepali community members have a hard time understanding English-language news. This is why NepYork publishes in English as a bridge — not a replacement for Nepali.
Source: Pew Research Center →About 1.8 million people in New York City speak little or no English. For many, community media is their only reliable source of news and information.
Source: NYC Mayor's Office →There are more than 20 Nepali restaurants in Jackson Heights alone, plus dozens of Nepali-owned shops, salons, and services. The area is known as "Nepali Junction."
Source: Kathmandu Post →The Nepali and Himalayan community lives across ten Queens zip codes, and each neighborhood tells a different story. The numbers below come from Claritas demographic data for 2026. They show how population, income, language, and housing change from one corridor to the next.
One important note. This data describes the whole population of each neighborhood, not Nepali residents specifically. City and commercial datasets do not count Nepali New Yorkers as their own group, so the community is folded into broader categories and never named. That gap is exactly why our Listening Post exists. These numbers map the ground the community stands on, and our survey and listening sessions fill in what the data cannot see.
| Neighborhood | Population | Median income | Top home language | What stands out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Heights 11372 |
64,004 | $79,326 | Spanish (49.2%) | The heart of Nepali Junction, heavily Hispanic and immigrant. |
| Corona 11368 |
111,764 | $75,291 | Spanish (69.8%) | The largest and most language-isolated, with one in four adults having less than a ninth grade education. |
| Elmhurst 11373 |
99,595 | $76,978 | Spanish (39.7%) | The most Asian of the corridor at 51.9%, a true crossroads neighborhood. |
| Woodside 11377 |
87,993 | $79,930 | Spanish (32.7%) | The most balanced split, 40.6% Asian and 36.2% Hispanic. |
| Flushing 11355 |
85,640 | $54,918 | Asian languages | The lowest income and most renter-heavy at 70.7%, with the highest public transit use in the city. |
| Sunnyside 11104 |
25,782 | $91,573 | English (39.7%) | The smallest and one of the most English-speaking and college-educated. |
| Ridgewood 11385 |
95,310 | $92,027 | English (43.4%) | A large, young, and rapidly changing Brooklyn-border neighborhood. |
| Rego Park 11374 |
44,867 | $81,637 | English (31.2%) | An older, settled neighborhood with a large share of residents over 65. |
| Forest Hills 11375 |
69,991 | $109,260 | English (46.9%) | The most educated and affluent, with high rates of bachelor's and master's degrees. |
| Long Island City 11101 |
57,554 | $133,592 | English (52.0%) | The highest income and youngest, with three in ten residents aged 25 to 34. |
Many Nepali New Yorkers are afraid to ask for help from the government — even when they are legally allowed to. Fear of immigration enforcement stops people from applying for housing help, health care, and other services they qualify for. In April 2026, the Trump administration labeled seven Nepali nationals as among the most dangerous people in the country. That kind of news makes the whole community afraid, even people with legal status.
Source: NepYork, April 2026 →False and misleading information spreads quickly through Facebook groups, WhatsApp, and TikTok. Many community members see fake news almost every day. Because so many people rely on social media for news, it is hard to know what is true. This is one of the biggest problems NepYork is working to solve by providing reliable, fact-checked reporting.
Source: NepYork →Rents in Jackson Heights and Woodside are rising. Some Nepali businesses and families are being forced to move because they can no longer afford to stay. This threatens the cultural heart of the community. NepYork tracks housing policy and tenant rights so community members know their options.
Source: Kathmandu Post →Even though the Nepali community is growing fast, it is often overlooked by city politicians and mainstream media. Many Nepali New Yorkers do not know who represents them or how local government works. NepYork's job is to close that gap by covering local elections, city policy, and civic opportunities in plain language.
Source: NepYork →Most Nepali New Yorkers get their news through Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp groups, and YouTube — not traditional newspapers or websites. Word of mouth through friends, family, and community spaces like restaurants and temples is also a major source.
The problem is that social media does not fact-check. Anyone can post anything. That is why trusted outlets like NepYork — with real journalists and real accountability — are so important. When people know where the information comes from, they can trust it.
Nepali-language outlets like Khasokhas reach Nepali speakers directly. NepYork fills a different gap — writing in English so that policymakers, government agencies, younger community members, and allies can also understand what the community is experiencing.
NepYork covers the issues that matter most to everyday Nepali New Yorkers — immigration, housing, health, workers' rights, small business, and education. Stories are written in plain English so anyone can understand them.
NepYork works with organizations like Adhikaar, Chhaya CDC, Ridgewood Nepalese Society, and United Sherpa Association to reach more people and cover more ground. These partnerships make NepYork stronger.
NepYork is a nonprofit outlet funded by grants, reader donations, and community support. It is a member of LION Publishers, a national network of local and independent media outlets, and a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News, a consortium of nonprofit journalism organizations.
A yearly survey asking Nepali New Yorkers about housing, jobs, health, media use, and how they feel about life in New York City.
Coming fall 2026An interactive map of every Nepali-owned business in Jackson Heights and Woodside — restaurants, grocery stores, salons, and professional services.
Explore the map →A full report on how Nepali New Yorkers get information, what they trust, and where the gaps are. This will be shared with funders, policymakers, and partner organizations.
Coming fall 2026Every fact on this page comes from a named, verified source. We believe you deserve to know where our information comes from. Click any source to read the original.