1st Advantage MortgageIn Nassau County, New York, the typical household earns $146,202 a year and the typical rent is $2,252. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Nassau County
- Housing costs in Nassau County
- Paychecks and income spread in Nassau County
- Work, industries and travel time in Nassau County
- Places inside Nassau County
- Nassau County next to its neighbors
- What a median Nassau County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Nassau County
- Who lives in Nassau County, in numbers
- Steps before you apply in Nassau County
- Who licenses lenders for Nassau County residents
- More guides for Nassau County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Nassau County
With an estimated 1,389,591 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Nassau County ranks 6th of 62 in New York for population. Land area is 285 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 4,884 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 133 places in the county (66 incorporated, 67 census-designated); the largest is Hempstead, with about 58,801 residents, or 4% of the county.
Housing costs in Nassau County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $2,252 in Nassau County versus $1,621 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 55% of renter households here. Home values center on $684,700, or 4.7 years of median income. 82% of Nassau County households own their home and 18% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1955.
| Cost | Nassau County | New York figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $2,252/mo | $1,621/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $684,700 | $423,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 54% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 38% | 33% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.2% | 2.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 10% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Paychecks and income spread in Nassau County
The median household income in Nassau County is $146,202; statewide it is $85,974, so Nassau County runs 70% above New York as a whole. In the state ranking that is 1st of 62.
| Income band | Share in Nassau County | Difference from New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 10.4% | -11.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 23.0% | -11.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.3% | +5.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 34.3% | +17.2 pts |
Some 10% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 67% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 5.4%, 9 points lower than the state's 14.0%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.451 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $146,202 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Nassau County
Education and health care employs 32% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 14%. Compared with New York, the county leans toward education and health care (32% against 29%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.8% in Nassau County. 32% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 16% work from home. Households without a car make up 6.8% of the total (29.2% statewide).
| Top industries | Nassau County share | +/- vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 31.7% | +2.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.7% | +0.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 9.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.0% | -0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.4% | -1.7 pts |
| Construction | 6.1% | +0.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Nassau County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Places inside Nassau County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 133 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 100% of Nassau County residents live in one of the 133. Incomes vary by place: $250,001 at the median in East Hills, $81,635 in Point Lookout. Live in one of these Nassau County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hempstead | village | 58,801 | $90,420 | $1,622 | 2 mi |
| Levittown | CDP | 51,904 | $146,068 | $2,656 | 4 mi |
| Freeport | village | 44,088 | $120,625 | $2,077 | 5 mi |
| Hicksville | CDP | 43,780 | $144,471 | $3,113 | 4 mi |
| Valley Stream | village | 40,315 | $133,190 | $2,124 | 8 mi |
| East Meadow | CDP | 36,821 | $133,971 | $2,890 | 2 mi |
| Elmont | CDP | 36,518 | $114,217 | $2,209 | 6 mi |
| Baldwin | CDP | 34,994 | $145,472 | $1,890 | 6 mi |
| Long Beach | city | 34,756 | $140,739 | $2,515 | 11 mi |
| Uniondale | CDP | 33,148 | $124,684 | $2,494 | 1 mi |
| Oceanside | CDP | 31,639 | $149,560 | $2,227 | 7 mi |
| Franklin Square | CDP | 30,897 | $143,263 | $2,102 | 5 mi |
| Glen Cove | city | 28,112 | $92,064 | $2,398 | 11 mi |
| Plainview | CDP | 25,982 | $189,906 | $3,392 | 7 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Nassau County next to its neighbors
Queens County is closest, 14 miles from center to center; the sixth, Bergen County, is 30 miles off. Bergen County leads the group on income ($124,884), Bronx County trails ($48,676), and Nassau County out-earns 6 of the six. Some neighbors are in New Jersey. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Nassau County resident follows New York rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nassau County | - | $146,202 | $2,252/mo | 82% |
| Queens County, NY | 14 mi | $86,136 | $1,956/mo | 45% |
| Bronx County, NY | 16 mi | $48,676 | $1,458/mo | 20% |
| Kings County, NY | 20 mi | $80,263 | $1,833/mo | 29% |
| New York County, NY | 20 mi | $103,931 | $2,197/mo | 25% |
| Hudson County, NJ | 26 mi | $91,795 | $1,894/mo | 31% |
| Bergen County, NJ | 30 mi | $124,884 | $1,914/mo | 65% |
What a median Nassau County budget can carry
Here is the Nassau County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Nassau County: $12,184
- Less median rent of $2,252, which is 18% of it
- $2,621: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Borrowing situations common in Nassau County
A few patterns in the Nassau County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Vehicle repairs. 32% of Nassau County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 67% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Rent squeeze. 55% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Who lives in Nassau County, in numbers
Degree holders: 50% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 3.8%, against 5.1% for New York.
| Residents | Nassau County | New York | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 39.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 49.7% | 40.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.8% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.8% | 5.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 29.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.6% | 14.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.4% | 14.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Nassau County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 17.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.6% |
| 60+ min | 22.3% |
Steps before you apply in Nassau County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Nassau County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for Nassau County residents
Nassau County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the New York State Department of Financial Services. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the New York state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Nassau County
For statewide rules and data, see the New York guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nassau County a high-income county?
Its $146,202 median ranks 1st of 62 New York counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Nassau County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $2,252 against $1,621 statewide, and 55% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Nassau County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 133 Census places: Hempstead, Levittown, Freeport, Hicksville, Valley Stream.
Will a Nassau County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming New York as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Nassau County residents?
The New York State Department of Financial Services licenses consumer lenders in New York; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.