Population 1,454,777 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Suffolk County
Household size in Suffolk County
| Period | Suffolk County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.01 | 2.79 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.04 | 2.85 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.07 | 2.82 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.02 | 2.79 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | −0.00 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Suffolk County are large by national standards, averaging 3.02 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Of New York's 62 counties, only three have larger households.
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 Suffolk County
| Period | Suffolk County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8 | 38.0 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.1 | 38.7 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.6 | 39.8 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.6 | 40.4 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.8 | +2.4 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Suffolk County is 42.6 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.8, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the southwest, the 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 Suffolk County
| Period | Suffolk County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 13.1% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 12.8% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 11.4% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Suffolk County than nationally: 9.2%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, 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 Suffolk County
Renters in Suffolk County
| Period | Suffolk County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.6% | 47.1% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.7% | 48.7% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.4% | 48.8% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.6% | 48.6% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Suffolk County is largely a place of homeowners: only 17.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 37.5% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Only one other New York county has a lower share of renters.
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 Suffolk County
| Period | Suffolk County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 9.0% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 9.1% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 7.9% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Suffolk County as nationally: 10.1%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the New York area overall (7.9%).
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 Suffolk County
| Period | Suffolk County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1957 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1958 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1959 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1962 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Suffolk County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1970, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Even so, homes here are newer than in the New York area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1962. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the northwest has the oldest housing.
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 Suffolk County
| Period | Suffolk County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,477 | $1,268 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,541 | $1,377 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,832 | $1,645 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,356 | $2,060 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$880 | +$792 | +$698 | +$606 |
The median renter in Suffolk County pays $2,356 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $880 a month since 2006–10, up 60%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 35.2% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Few New York counties have higher rents: only two of 62.
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 Suffolk County
Bachelor's degrees in Suffolk County
| Period | Suffolk County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.0% | 35.0% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 33.8% | 36.7% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.3% | 39.9% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 41.3% | 43.6% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.3 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Suffolk County than nationally: 41.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.3 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the east.
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 Suffolk County
| Period | Suffolk County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.2% | 83.7% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.7% | 84.6% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.4% | 86.2% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.2% | 86.9% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Suffolk County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.2% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is down 2.0 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate rose. Suffolk County has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of New York counties.
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 Suffolk County
| Period | Suffolk County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 7.9% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 9.5% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 6.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Suffolk County than nationally: unemployment was 4.5%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Suffolk County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk County | 3.02 | 42.6 | 9.2% | 17.6% | 10.1% | 1970 | $2,356 | 41.3% | 87.2% | 4.5% |
| Nassau County | 3.14 | 42.5 | 9.6% | 18.1% | 5.6% | 1955 | $2,478 | 49.8% | 92.0% | 4.8% |
| Queens County | 2.88 | 41.4 | 11.8% | 55.1% | 8.4% | 1955 | $2,042 | 36.1% | 82.3% | 7.2% |
| Bronx County | 2.65 | 36.9 | 22.4% | 79.9% | 6.0% | 1958 | $1,512 | 22.3% | 75.0% | 11.7% |
| New York County | 2.08 | 40.4 | 8.9% | 74.9% | 15.4% | 1956 | $2,383 | 64.7% | 89.9% | 8.2% |
| Bergen County | 2.77 | 42.9 | 8.9% | 34.7% | 5.3% | 1961 | $2,193 | 53.4% | 92.9% | 5.8% |
| Hudson County | 2.44 | 37.1 | 11.7% | 69.3% | 7.3% | 1968 | $2,049 | 49.0% | 87.9% | 6.2% |
| Passaic County | 3.01 | 39.0 | 16.8% | 46.9% | 5.1% | 1956 | $1,783 | 29.7% | 83.7% | 8.0% |
| Essex County | 2.75 | 38.5 | 16.2% | 55.1% | 6.4% | 1960 | $1,796 | 38.7% | 86.3% | 8.9% |
| Morris County | 2.71 | 43.4 | 6.0% | 25.7% | 4.3% | 1971 | $2,157 | 58.3% | 95.0% | 5.0% |
| Warren County | 2.45 | 44.5 | 8.3% | 24.9% | 4.1% | 1970 | $1,595 | 36.9% | 93.9% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Riverside County, CA · San Bernardino County, CA · DeKalb County, GA · Hamilton County, OH · Contra Costa County, CA · Baltimore County, MD · Bergen County, NJ · Marion County, IN · Bexar County, TX · DuPage County, IL
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 Suffolk County. 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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