Hempstead
RANK #489 / 996 NAT · #30 / 45 NY · POP 1,389,160
1YR FORECAST: +2.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
Garden City, a meticulously planned community with tree-lined streets and stately homes, offers a glimpse into Nassau County's distinctive character. Located on Long Island, immediately east of New York City, Nassau County provides a suburban environment with convenient access to urban amenities. Commute times to Manhattan via the Long Island Rail Road can be as short as 40 minutes from some western Nassau stations, with the recent addition of Grand Central Madison providing East Side access. The county boasts numerous parks and preserves, including the 930-acre Eisenhower Park and the coastal Jones Beach State Park, offering extensive outdoor recreation opportunities.
Life in Nassau County often appeals to families, drawn by highly-rated public school districts such as North Shore, Manhasset, and Garden City. The economy is driven by sectors like healthcare, social assistance, and retail trade. Recent economic developments include increased investment in residential and commercial construction, partly fueled by a demand for suburban living from those with remote work flexibility. The county also focuses on supporting its non-profit sector, including social services, healthcare, and education.
Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.7x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Nassau Hub Redevelopment
BSE Global & RXR Realty
|
$1,000M | Planned |
|
County Capital Infrastructure Plan (2026-2029)
Nassau County
|
$430M | Approved |
|
Nassau Financial Group Strategic Partnership (Golub Capital)
Nassau Financial Group & Golub Capital
|
$200M | Completed |
|
Nassau Financial Group Strategic Partnership (Fortress Investment Group)
Nassau Financial Group & Fortress Investment Group
|
$130M | Completed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Nassau County scores 50/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#489). Median household income is $137,709 and job growth is running at +1.1%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Nassau County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $633,800 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.22 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $2,131/month on average.
Employers in Nassau County are hiring — job growth of +1.1% — but the population is close to flat (-0.2% YoY). Home values moved +4.5% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.77% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Nassau County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.