RANK #90 / 1001 NAT · #17 / 45 NY · POP 1,530,146
1YR FORECAST: +3.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
Suffolk County, located on the eastern two-thirds of Long Island, New York, is known for its diverse landscapes, from the upscale Hamptons to historic towns like Port Jefferson and Huntington. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound, offering over 1,000 miles of coastline and numerous beaches. Commuting to New York City is possible via the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), Suffolk County Transit, and express bus services like the Hampton Jitney. The area provides extensive outdoor recreation, including state parks like Heckscher State Park and Sunken Meadow State Park, offering hiking, fishing, and camping.
Life in Suffolk County offers a suburban feel with access to natural surroundings. The public school system is highly rated, with districts like Half Hollow Hills, Harborfields, and Kings Park High School recognized for strong academic performance. The economy is diverse, with significant contributions from science, agriculture, fishery, and tourism. Major institutions like Brookhaven National Laboratory and Stony Brook University are located within the county. Recent economic developments include investments in infrastructure and downtown revitalization, with a focus on creating varied housing options.
Suffolk County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.7% YoY, population +0.3%, wages +2.5%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 15.8x — 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: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Suffolk County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties · counties where safety is improving.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Long Island Wind Offshore Wind Farm
Ørsted
|
$1,485M | Proposed |
|
Sunrise Wind Offshore Wind Farm
Ørsted
|
$700M | Under Construction |
|
Suffolk County Sewer Infrastructure (Carlls River-Wyandanch, Wheatley Heights, Deer Park, Forge River, Southwest Sewer District No. 3, Smithtown)
Suffolk County
|
$541M | Planned |
|
Suffolk County Road, Bridge, and Transit Improvements (including NYS Route 110 Bus Rapid Transit)
Suffolk County
|
$247M | Planned |
|
Holtsville Energy Storage Facility
None
|
$110M | Proposed |
|
Boralex Yaphank Battery Energy Storage System
Boralex Inc. & Savion, LLC
|
$77M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Suffolk County ranks #90 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 91/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +1.5% and a median household income of $130,686 point to a county with active economic momentum.
Suffolk County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $578,400 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.23 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $2,255/month on average.
Employers in Suffolk County are hiring — job growth of +1.5% — but the population is close to flat (+0.3% YoY). Home values moved +3.7% 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 2.06% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Suffolk County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.