1st Advantage MortgageSuffolk County households have a median income of $130,686 and median rent of $2,255 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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 Suffolk County
- What Suffolk County households earn
- How Suffolk County residents earn a living
- What it costs to live in Suffolk County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Suffolk County
- Regional comparison for Suffolk County
- Room for a loan payment in Suffolk County
- What the numbers mean for Suffolk County borrowers
- Suffolk County households compared
- New York rules that apply in Suffolk County
- Four steps for Suffolk County borrowers
- More guides for Suffolk County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Suffolk County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Suffolk County's population at 1,530,146; only 3 of New York's 62 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 911 square miles, that is close to 1,680 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 159 Census places inside Suffolk County, West Babylon leads by population with about 43,570; 32 of the 159 are incorporated.
What Suffolk County households earn
Suffolk County households have a median income of $130,686 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 2nd of 62 in New York.
| Band | Suffolk County | Compared with New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 11.8% | -10.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 26.0% | -7.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.5% | +7.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 27.7% | +10.7 pts |
About 12% of households earn under $35,000, while 62% clear $100,000. 6.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 14.0%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Suffolk County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 29% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 13%. Compared with New York, the county leans toward construction (8% against 6%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.7% in Suffolk County. 22% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home. 5.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Suffolk County | Compared with New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.6% | -0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.2% | -0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.6% | +1.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +2.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.1% | -0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.8% | -1.3 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
What it costs to live in Suffolk County
Renters in Suffolk County pay a median of $2,255 a month, 39% above the New York figure of $1,621. 59% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 33% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $578,400, about 4.4 times the median household income. Owners occupy 82% of homes. The median home was built in 1970, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Suffolk County | New York | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $2,255/mo | $1,621/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $578,400 | $423,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 54% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 38% | 33% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.3% | 2.1% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Suffolk County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Suffolk County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 159 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 95% of Suffolk County residents live in one of the 159. Incomes vary by place: $250,001 at the median in Lloyd Harbor, $59,318 in Riverside. Median rent ranges from $1,172 in Miller Place to $3,501 in Melville. No Suffolk County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 159.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Babylon | CDP | 43,570 | $129,519 | $2,225 | 38 mi |
| Coram | CDP | 39,539 | $105,220 | $2,492 | 17 mi |
| Central Islip | CDP | 38,373 | $113,707 | $2,071 | 28 mi |
| Commack | CDP | 36,558 | $169,792 | $2,665 | 32 mi |
| Huntington Station | CDP | 32,601 | $135,477 | $2,052 | 38 mi |
| Centereach | CDP | 31,839 | $132,240 | $2,420 | 21 mi |
| Bay Shore | CDP | 31,683 | $105,618 | $2,063 | 33 mi |
| Shirley | CDP | 28,375 | $112,788 | $2,056 | 14 mi |
| Deer Park | CDP | 27,990 | $137,105 | $1,906 | 35 mi |
| Lindenhurst | village | 27,142 | $130,128 | $1,885 | 40 mi |
| West Islip | CDP | 26,865 | $176,281 | $2,765 | 36 mi |
| Holbrook | CDP | 26,449 | $144,760 | $2,435 | 22 mi |
| Medford | CDP | 24,796 | $128,192 | $2,353 | 17 mi |
| Dix Hills | CDP | 24,773 | $227,944 | $2,659 | 35 mi |
Regional comparison for Suffolk County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (25 to 48 miles). Income ranges from $86,191 in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region to $128,188 in Western Connecticut Planning Region; none of these neighbors top Suffolk County's median. The list crosses into Connecticut, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk County | - | $130,686 | $2,255/mo | 82% |
| South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 25 mi | $88,197 | $1,525/mo | 61% |
| Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT | 32 mi | $89,667 | $1,546/mo | 65% |
| Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, CT | 35 mi | $104,428 | $1,454/mo | 76% |
| Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT | 45 mi | $86,191 | $1,330/mo | 69% |
| Western Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 46 mi | $128,188 | $2,110/mo | 66% |
| Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 48 mi | $86,586 | $1,365/mo | 65% |
Room for a loan payment in Suffolk County
How much room does a median Suffolk County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Suffolk County: $10,890
- 21% goes to median rent ($2,255)
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $2,101 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Suffolk County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Suffolk County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Suffolk County borrowers.
- Keeping the car running. At 22% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Suffolk County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Higher earners. 62% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Tight rental budgets. With 59% of Suffolk County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Suffolk County households compared
40% of Suffolk County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 5% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Suffolk County | New York | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 39.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 40.2% | 40.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.6% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.7% | 5.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 29.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 14.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.4% | 14.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Suffolk County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.1% |
| 60+ min | 14.1% |
New York rules that apply in Suffolk County
Consumer lenders serving Suffolk County are licensed by the state, not the county; in New York that is the New York State Department of Financial Services. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the New York state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Suffolk County borrowers
A short checklist for Suffolk County borrowers:
- Price the Suffolk County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Suffolk County
For statewide rules and data, see the New York guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Suffolk County?
$130,686 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $85,974 for New York. It ranks 2nd of 62 in the state.
How does Suffolk County rent compare with New York?
$2,255 locally versus $1,621 for the state, 39% above.
Which towns does the Suffolk County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 159 Census places: West Babylon, Coram, Central Islip, Commack, Huntington Station.
Does living in Suffolk County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Suffolk County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Suffolk County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In New York it is the New York State Department of Financial Services.