Population 11,520 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Roosevelt Island
Household size in Roosevelt Island
| Period | Roosevelt Island | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.81 | 2.15 | 2.79 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.00 | 2.16 | 2.85 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.12 | 2.82 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.10 | 2.08 | 2.79 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.29 | −0.07 | −0.00 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Roosevelt Island is a place of small households, averaging 2.10 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. That is in line with the rest of Manhattan. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 1.81, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Roosevelt Island
| Period | Roosevelt Island | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.2 | 37.5 | 38.0 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.1 | 38.2 | 38.7 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.4 | 39.4 | 39.8 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.9 | 40.4 | 40.4 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −5.3 | +2.8 | +2.4 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
Roosevelt Island is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 36.9, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has dropped from 42.2 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Roosevelt Island
| Period | Roosevelt Island | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 10.5% | 13.1% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 9.5% | 12.8% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 1.3% | 8.5% | 11.4% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 8.9% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Roosevelt Island: 5.7% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.3 points, as it has nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Roosevelt Island
Renters in Roosevelt Island
| Period | Roosevelt Island | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.2% | 77.2% | 47.1% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 88.9% | 77.4% | 48.7% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 77.0% | 75.9% | 48.8% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 81.1% | 74.9% | 48.6% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −11.1 pts | −2.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Roosevelt Island rent: 81.1% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 34.7% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 11.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Roosevelt Island
| Period | Roosevelt Island | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 12.8% | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 13.1% | 9.0% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.4% | 13.8% | 9.1% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 15.4% | 7.9% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +2.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Roosevelt Island: 12.6% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Locally, though, the rate is lower than in Manhattan as a whole (15.4%).
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Roosevelt Island
| Period | Roosevelt Island | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1968 | 1952 | 1957 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1989 | 1954 | 1958 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1954 | 1959 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1956 | 1962 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +21 | +4 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Roosevelt Island has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1989, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1968 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the north has the oldest housing. Only one other Manhattan neighborhood has newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Roosevelt Island
| Period | Roosevelt Island | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,786 | $1,332 | $1,268 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,958 | $1,485 | $1,377 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,561 | $1,922 | $1,645 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $3,007 | $2,383 | $2,060 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,221 | +$1,051 | +$792 | +$698 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Roosevelt Island costs $3,007 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,221 a month from 2006–10, a 68% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 34.7% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Roosevelt Island
Bachelor's degrees in Roosevelt Island
| Period | Roosevelt Island | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.3% | 57.2% | 35.0% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 72.1% | 59.6% | 36.7% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 64.2% | 62.2% | 39.9% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 76.6% | 64.7% | 43.6% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.3 pts | +7.5 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Roosevelt Island is highly educated: about three-quarters of adults 25 and older (76.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.3 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Roosevelt Island
| Period | Roosevelt Island | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.8% | 84.9% | 83.7% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.3% | 86.6% | 84.6% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.0% | 87.8% | 86.2% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.7% | 89.9% | 86.9% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +5.0 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Roosevelt Island: 95.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 5.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Roosevelt Island
| Period | Roosevelt Island | Manhattan | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 8.3% | 7.9% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.7% | 8.6% | 9.5% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 5.5% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 8.2% | 6.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Roosevelt Island than nationally: unemployment was 4.4%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 1.5 points, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Roosevelt Island compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roosevelt Island | 2.10 | 36.9 | 5.7% | 81.1% | 12.6% | 1989 | $3,007 | 76.6% | 95.7% | 4.4% |
| Upper East Side | 1.92 | 43.9 | 4.7% | 62.9% | 22.4% | 1958 | $2,882 | 82.1% | 97.9% | 4.8% |
| North Sutton Area | 1.84 | 49.5 | 4.3% | 46.1% | 22.0% | 1958 | $2,933 | 85.4% | 98.7% | 5.6% |
| Long Island City | 2.13 | 33.9 | 5.8% | 83.9% | 25.2% | 1991 | $2,850 | 69.9% | 91.2% | 4.7% |
| Carnegie Hill | 1.92 | 45.2 | 3.2% | 58.4% | 16.2% | 1951 | $2,950 | 84.7% | 96.7% | 4.5% |
| Midtown | 1.71 | 42.3 | 2.8% | 69.8% | 25.6% | 1969 | $3,083 | 82.1% | 97.8% | 4.9% |
| Astoria | 2.20 | 37.7 | 7.7% | 81.1% | 15.7% | 1953 | $2,118 | 53.4% | 89.5% | 8.1% |
| Murray Hill | 1.74 | 38.4 | 3.4% | 66.1% | 20.8% | 1967 | $3,164 | 86.0% | 98.0% | 3.6% |
| Yorkville | 2.30 | 40.3 | 18.3% | 91.4% | 9.1% | 1961 | $1,443 | 37.8% | 78.2% | 12.0% |
| Sunnyside | 2.22 | 38.7 | 7.6% | 81.3% | 8.4% | 1943 | $1,991 | 48.0% | 88.1% | 6.6% |
| Theater District | 1.57 | 40.5 | 2.5% | 85.3% | 14.6% | 1966 | $2,390 | 65.9% | 93.2% | 8.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Broadway Junction, Brooklyn, NY · Pinehurst, Everett, WA · Steele Creek, Charlotte, NC · Madisonville, Cincinnati, OH · Mount Pleasant, Providence, RI · Allandale, Austin, TX · Norteast Citizens Action, Grand Rapids, MI · North Los Altos, Los Altos, CA · Reservoir Hill-Bolton Hill, Baltimore, MD · Silver Spring, Milwaukee, WI
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Roosevelt Island. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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