Staten Island
RANK #423 / 1001 NAT · #32 / 45 NY · POP 494,956
1YR FORECAST: +1.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +30%
Richmond County, coextensive with Staten Island, offers a distinct suburban feel within New York City, a characteristic often noted by locals. It is the least populated borough, providing more green space than its urban counterparts. Historic Richmond Town, a living history village, stands as a notable landmark, preserving centuries of local culture. Commute options to Manhattan include the free Staten Island Ferry, a 25-minute ride offering views of the Statue of Liberty, and express bus services. The borough also features extensive parkland, including the Staten Island Greenbelt and Fresh Kills Park, which is being transformed from a former landfill into a large park.
Life in Richmond County often appeals to families and those seeking a quieter pace within the metropolitan area. The public school system, part of the New York City Department of Education, includes top-ranked schools like Staten Island Technical High School. The economy is supported by sectors such as healthcare and education, with ongoing investments in commercial and residential developments. Efforts are also underway to promote job growth in industries like logistics, manufacturing, and green energy, particularly along the working waterfront.
Richmond County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +5.5% runs above the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 36.1x — 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Staten Island North Shore Action Plan (Empire Outlets & Former NY Wheel Site Redevelopment)
NYCEDC (New York City Economic Development Corporation)
|
$400M | Proposed |
|
Resilient New York Energy Storage
Undisclosed (planned by NYSERDA)
|
$349M | Planned |
|
New Stapleton Waterfront Development
NYCEDC
|
$300M | Under Construction |
|
Lighthouse Point Mixed-Use Development (Phase One)
Triangle Equities and NYCEDC
|
$50M | Completed |
|
Community Solar Portfolio (Staten Island)
SolarBank, Solar Simplified, Bloom Energy, RWE Clean Energy, CVI CleanCapital Solar 4 LLC, Public Service Elec & Gas Co, Bed Bath & Beyond, IGS Solar I LLC, IGS ORIX Solar I LLC, EnterSolar
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Richmond County scores 57/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#423). Median household income is $98,333 and job growth is running at -0.9%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Affordability is a real challenge in Richmond County. The median home is valued at $675,500 — with an income-to-home-value ratio of just 0.15, that's significantly harder to afford than in most U.S. counties. Median rent runs $1,733/month.
Population and employment in Richmond County are both close to flat — population +0.5% YoY and jobs -0.9%. Home values shifted +5.5% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.05% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Richmond County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +5.5% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Richmond County is now valued at $675,500. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.