Shelter Island Heights, New York Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Shelter Island Heights is a small community located in New York, within Suffolk County. The total population is 1,230. It ranks as the 787th most populous out of 1,289 Census-designated places in New York.

Age Demographics

The median age in Shelter Island Heights is 70.0 years. This is 76% higher than the state median of 39.8 years. 25.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Shelter Island Heights is $113,091. This is 32% higher than the state median of $85,974. It is also 40% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.8%. This is 6% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.0%. The unemployment rate is 10.4%. This is 64% higher than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $1,157,200. Housing costs are 173% higher than the state median of $423,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 10.2x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 84% higher than the state average of 54.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Shelter Island Heights has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.4% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 2.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (93.4% vs 52.8%). The Black or African American population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 13.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 19.8%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 9.0%.

Education

71.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Shelter Island Heights in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 77% higher than the state rate of 40.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.2%. Notably, 42.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Shelter Island Heights, New York is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against New York state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,289 Census-designated places in New York. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.