The following report was compiled from data collected between January 2023 and May 2026, aggregating county-level benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED) Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, and BestPlaces.net—which indexes cost-of-living scores from BLS, Census Bureau, and HUD datasets at the county level.
The analysis covers Suffolk County, New York (FIPS 36103), home to approximately 1.55 million residents and an 82.2% homeownership rate, making it one of the most owner-occupied suburban counties in the northeastern United States. The tables below break down the full cost-of-living picture for the county across four datasets.
The Cost of Living Index in Suffolk County, NY
Suffolk County carries an overall cost-of-living index of 147.1, meaning the total cost of housing, food, utilities, transportation, and healthcare runs approximately 47% above the U.S. baseline of 100. The table below compares each spending category against the national average.
The Cost of Living Index by Category — Suffolk County, NY (2025)
| Spending Category | Suffolk County Index | NY State Index | U.S. Baseline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 147.1 | 121.5 | 100.0 |
| Housing | 221.4 | N/A | 100.0 |
| Groceries | 108.6 | N/A | 100.0 |
| Utilities | 125.4 | N/A | 100.0 |
| Transportation | ~135 (est.) | 140.7 | 100.0 |
| Healthcare | ~121 (est.) | 120.7 | 100.0 |
Source: BestPlaces.net, 2025. Aggregated from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, and HUD. Transportation and healthcare Suffolk County figures are estimated from the NY State regional average where county-specific data is unavailable.
- Housing at 221.4 is more than double the national average, the sharpest category gap in the dataset by a wide margin, and the largest contributor to Suffolk County’s 47.1-point overall premium over the U.S. baseline.
- Groceries appear relatively close to the national benchmark compared with housing costs, suggesting that housing may play a larger role in Suffolk County’s overall cost-of-living premium than other spending categories.
- Suffolk County’s reported cost-of-living index is higher than the New York State benchmark used in this analysis, indicating that living costs in the county may exceed many other areas of the state.
What Suffolk County Homeowners Pay Each Month
The Census Bureau’s confirmed median selected monthly owner costs for Suffolk County, $3,320 with a mortgage and $1,478 without, serve as the primary benchmarks for this table. Remaining categories are estimated using BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey regional data adjusted for county-level cost indices.
The Estimated Monthly Cost of Living — Suffolk County Homeowners
| Expense Category | Monthly (Est.) | Annual (Est.) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Owner Housing Costs (w/ Mortgage) | $3,320 | $39,840 | Confirmed — U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 |
| Mortgage Principal & Interest | ~$1,842 | ~$22,104 | Derived: $3,320 minus $1,478 (w/o mortgage) |
| Property Taxes | ~$789 | ~$9,472 | Estimated — Abode Money 2024 |
| Insurance & Utilities (within housing) | ~$689 | ~$8,268 | Balance of without-mortgage costs |
| Food & Groceries | ~$900 | ~$10,800 | BLS CES NY region; BestPlaces grocery index 108.6 |
| Transportation | ~$550 | ~$6,600 | BLS CES NY-NJ-PA metro |
| Healthcare (out-of-pocket) | ~$420 | ~$5,040 | BLS CES; NY healthcare index ~120.7 |
| Personal & Miscellaneous | ~$490 | ~$5,880 | BLS CES; BestPlaces misc. index 154.6 |
| Total Estimated | ~$5,680 | ~$68,160 | Excludes childcare; see note |
Note: Property taxes and utilities are line-item breakdowns within the $3,320 Census housing figure, not additional costs. For a family of four, the MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates required annual income at $108,360–$152,238 when childcare is included. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts 2024; U.S. Census Bureau ACS 1-Year Press Release (September 2025); BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey; BestPlaces 2025; Abode Money 2024; MIT Living Wage Calculator — Suffolk County, NY.
- Suffolk County’s confirmed median monthly owner cost of $3,320 is $1,285, or 63.1%, above the national median of $2,035, a direct comparison between two ACS-sourced figures representing approximately $15,420 in additional annual housing expenditure.
- Census estimates indicate that homeowners without a mortgage still face median selected housing-related costs of approximately $1,478 per month, including expenses such as property taxes, insurance, utilities, and related obligations. The estimated housing-related costs borne by mortgage-free Suffolk County homeowners are substantial and, in some cases, approach national housing-cost benchmarks reported for owner-occupied homes with mortgages.
- Based on the estimates used in this report, total monthly expenses represent roughly 52% of median gross household income before taxes and other household-specific expenses.
Suffolk County Housing Market Benchmarks
Housing is the dominant variable in Suffolk County’s cost structure, with a confirmed median home value of $578,400 and a homeownership rate of 82.2% that is significantly higher than both state and national norms. The table below benchmarks the county’s key housing metrics against New York State and U.S. averages.
The Suffolk County Housing Market Benchmarks (2025)
| Metric | Suffolk County | New York State | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $578,400 | $413,600 | $338,100 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.2% | ~54.7% | 65.2% |
| Median Monthly Owner Costs (w/ Mortgage) | $3,320 | N/A | $2,035 |
| Median Monthly Owner Costs (w/o Mortgage) | $1,478 | N/A | ~$600 (est.) |
| Average Annual Property Tax | ~$9,472 | ~$4,500 | ~$3,399 |
| Median Household Income | $130,686 | ~$85,000 | ~$80,610 |
| Home Value-to-Income Ratio | 4.43x | ~4.87x | ~4.19x |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts 2024 (all Suffolk County housing figures confirmed); U.S. Census Bureau ACS 1-Year Press Release (September 2025) for national monthly owner costs; DataUSA 2024 (New York State homeownership rate); Abode Money 2024 (property tax); New York State Comptroller 2024 (New York State income and home value).
- Average property taxes in Suffolk County are substantially higher than national benchmarks. Actual tax obligations may vary based on assessed value, applicable exemptions, and local taxing jurisdictions.
- Suffolk County’s homeownership rate is significantly higher than both state and national averages, indicating that housing-related costs affect a large share of county households.
- Despite a median home value 71.1% above the national figure, Suffolk County’s home value-to-income ratio (4.43x) is more favorable than the New York State average (4.87x), owing to above-average household incomes. Continued home value appreciation may reduce some of the affordability advantages associated with the county’s relatively strong household incomes.
Median Household Income Trends in Suffolk County
Suffolk County’s median household income has grown consistently since 2020, while home value appreciation has been more pronounced in recent years. The table below tracks annual income from 2020 through 2024 using FRED SAIPE data alongside U.S. national benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau CPS ASEC.
The Median Household Income Trend — Suffolk County, NY vs. U.S. (2020–2024)
| Year | Suffolk County Median Income | YoY % Change | U.S. National Median | YoY % Change | Suffolk Premium vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $109,084 | — | $67,521 | — | +$41,563 (+61.6%) |
| 2021 | $112,681 | +3.3% | $70,784 | +4.8% | +$41,897 (+59.2%) |
| 2022 | $119,253 | +5.8% | $74,580 | +5.4% | +$44,673 (+59.9%) |
| 2023 | $123,219 | +3.3% | $80,610 | +8.1% | +$42,609 (+52.9%) |
| 2024 | $125,969 | +2.2% | ~$83,200 (est.) | ~+3.2% (est.) | ~+$42,769 (~51.4%) |
| 2025 | Not yet published | — | Not yet published | — | — |
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis FRED, series MHINY36103A052NCEN (confirmed, 2020–2024); U.S. Census Bureau CPS ASEC (confirmed 2020–2023, 2024 estimated from BLS wage data). Note: The U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate reports Suffolk County median household income at $130,686 in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars, which differs from SAIPE due to methodology. Official SAIPE 2025 data is expected in December 2025.
- In 2024, reported home-value growth outpaced median household income growth. Differences between income and housing-price growth can influence affordability conditions for prospective buyers over time.
- Suffolk County’s income premium over the national median has shifted from +61.6% in 2020 to approximately +51.4% in 2024, as national income gains have proportionally outpaced Suffolk County’s growth in recent years.
- Income growth was strongest in 2022 and has been lower in the years that followed, based on currently available data.
Requesting a Copy of This Report
This report was compiled to give Suffolk County homeowners, buyers, and property owners a research-backed reference point for the cost of living in the region, from index-level benchmarks down to the monthly expense structure of a typical homeowning household.
If you’d like to request a PDF copy of this report or learn more about exterior property maintenance and improvement services in Holtsville and throughout Suffolk County, you can reach out to Steadfast Paving & Masonry at steadfastpavingandmasonry.com.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau. Suffolk County, New York — QuickFacts. ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2020–2024. Updated 2025.
- U.S. Census Bureau. The Cost of Homeownership Continues to Rise: ACS 1-Year Estimates. Press Release, September 2025.
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED). Estimate of Median Household Income for Suffolk County, NY (MHINY36103A052NCEN). SAIPE Dataset. Updated 2024.
- DataUSA. Suffolk County, NY. County profile compiled from U.S. Census Bureau and BLS datasets. Retrieved May 2025.
- Abode Money. Suffolk County, New York Property Taxes. 2024.