Suffolk County, New York Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Suffolk County is located in New York with a total population of 1,525,680. It is the 4th most populous county out of 62 in New York.

Age Demographics

The median age in Suffolk County is 41.7 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 39.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Suffolk County is $128,329. This is 52% higher than the state median of $84,578. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 63% higher. The poverty rate stands at 6.4%. This is 53% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.7%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 6.2%. The median home value is $539,500. Housing costs are 34% higher than the state median of $403,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 81.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 51% higher than the state average of 54.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Suffolk County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 22.2%. The Asian population (4.2%) is well below the state average of 8.8%.

Education

39.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is about average than the state rate of 39.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.5%. Notably, 18.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.