Staten Island
RANK #607 / 996 NAT · #39 / 45 NY · POP 492,925
1YR FORECAST: +3.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +21%
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.
Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 17.3x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
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 996 counties.
At 38/100, Richmond County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 996 counties we track. Median income of $96,185 combined with job growth of +3.5% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Richmond County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $637,100 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.15 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,602/month on average.
Employers in Richmond County are hiring — job growth of +3.5% — but the population is close to flat (-0.1% YoY). Home values moved +5.2% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
Not particularly — 2.0% of Richmond County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.
Home values climbed +5.2% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Richmond County is now valued at $637,100. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.