77 / 100

Suffolk County, NY

RANK #227 / 996  ·  POP 1,524,486  ·  NY

PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.9%

Suffolk County is growing steadily, with strong fundamentals across jobs, wages, and population.

[01] Why Suffolk County?

Suffolk County, located on the eastern two-thirds of Long Island, New York, is known for its diverse landscapes, from the upscale Hamptons to historic towns like Port Jefferson and Huntington. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound, offering over 1,000 miles of coastline and numerous beaches. Commuting to New York City is possible via the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), Suffolk County Transit, and express bus services like the Hampton Jitney. The area provides extensive outdoor recreation, including state parks like Heckscher State Park and Sunken Meadow State Park, offering hiking, fishing, and camping.

Life in Suffolk County offers a suburban feel with access to natural surroundings. The public school system is highly rated, with districts like Half Hollow Hills, Harborfields, and Kings Park High School recognized for strong academic performance. The economy is diverse, with significant contributions from science, agriculture, fishery, and tourism. Major institutions like Brookhaven National Laboratory and Stony Brook University are located within the county. Recent economic developments include investments in infrastructure and downtown revitalization, with a focus on creating varied housing options.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
6.9x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+3.0%

Above national median

Home Prices
+3.0%

Outpacing national median

Climate & Terrain
1.5

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
7x

Strong rental yield

Housing is fairly valued at 6.9x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Suffolk County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
1,524,486
+0.1% YoY
Median Household Income
$122,498
Median Home Value
$490,800
+2.98% 12mo
Median Rent
$2,113
Average Annual Pay
$79,121
+5.8% YoY
Employment
679,594
+2.3% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2496
Near national average
Migration Inflow
2.1%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$660,000
Days on Market
40
Moderate pace
Months of Supply
2.7
Seller's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
100.7%
Homes selling above asking
Sold Above List
49.0%
Listings w/ Price Drops
10.5%
Building Permits (2024)
1,407
Single-Family Permits
1,137

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$3,160M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Long Island Wind Offshore Wind Farm
Ørsted
$1,485M Proposed
Sunrise Wind Offshore Wind Farm
Ørsted
$700M Under Construction
Suffolk County Sewer Infrastructure (Carlls River-Wyandanch, Wheatley Heights, Deer Park, Forge River, Southwest Sewer District No. 3, Smithtown)
Suffolk County
$541M Planned
Suffolk County Road, Bridge, and Transit Improvements (including NYS Route 110 Bus Rapid Transit)
Suffolk County
$247M Planned
Holtsville Energy Storage Facility
None
$110M Proposed
Boralex Yaphank Battery Energy Storage System
Boralex Inc. & Savion, LLC
$77M Planned

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +3.0% 56 percentile
Population Growth +0.1% 34 percentile
Income Growth +9.7% 76 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.6% 92 percentile
Home Price Change +3.0% 72 percentile
Rent Growth +4.6% 75 percentile
Price/Rent 7x 100 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Suffolk County, NY a good place to move to?

Suffolk County has a Boom Town Index score of 77/100, ranking #227 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +2.3% and a median household income of $122,498, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Suffolk County affordable?

The median home value in Suffolk County is $490,800 with median rent at $2,113/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2496, which is less affordable than the national average.

Is Suffolk County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +0.1% year-over-year. Job growth: +2.3%. Home values changed +3.0% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Suffolk County?

Yes — 2.1% of Suffolk County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

St. Louis County, MN 87 Delaware County, IN 87 Huron County, OH 87 Sandusky County, OH 87 Strafford County, NH 87 Sauk County, WI 87 Ocean County, NJ 87 Stark County, OH 87