Suffolk
New York

What stands out

Three things set Suffolk County apart from the other 3,142 counties: the typical two-bedroom rent is among the highest in America ($2,163 a month), the median household income is among the highest in America ($122,498), and the median home price is in the top 2% of American counties ($716K). Within New York it ranks 1st of 62 counties for the typical two-bedroom rent.

Where you are

You live in Suffolk County, New York. 1,524,486 people live here with you, which makes it one of the country's big urban counties. The population shrank 0.3% last year.

New York's top income-tax rate is 10.9%, and New York City residents add a city income tax of up to 3.876% on top. The state estate tax has a cliff: estates just over the exemption can owe tax on the whole amount. Social Security is not taxed and up to $20,000 of pension income is excluded. Upstate home prices and taxes look nothing like the downstate market.

Money

The typical household here brings in $122,498 a year, higher than almost every county in America. Employers pay an average wage of $79,121. Unemployment runs 3.1%, lower than 61% of American counties. 9% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 29 minutes each way.

New York takes 5.4% of that median income in state income tax, about $6,659 a year.

Home

The median home costs $716K, pricier than 98% of American counties, about 3.5 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $2,163 a month. Property tax is 2.04% of home value, roughly $10,001 a year on that median home, higher than 97% of American counties. 82% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 2.9 per 1,000 residents, lower than 96% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 21 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 79.6 years, longer than 89% of American counties. There are 5,990 active physicians in the county, about 39.3 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 4.2 of 5 stars. 5.2% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

90% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 5 points. 70% of eligible voters turned out. Under New York law you need local approval to carry a concealed handgun, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 53°F, highs near 62 and lows near 45, colder than 61% of American counties. About 35 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 97 out of 100, riskier than 97% of American counties; the county has had 36 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 275 Mbps down, faster than 86% of American counties. There are 15 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.9 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 18 breweries, 49 museums, 1 National Park Service site.