What it's like to live in Glen Cove
Glen Cove is a small city in New York with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Glen Cove deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- High rent burden for renters
How Glen Cove compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Glen Cove
Based on Glen Cove's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,796
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $95,920 a year
- 62% of Glen Cove renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$139,780
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $69,890
- Homes cost 7.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 70% above US
$2,398/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,398 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $698,900. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $698,900 · 62% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 19% below US
3.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.5%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 73% below US
89 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 602/100k · Glen Cove Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 13% above US
29 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 29.4 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 7% take public transit; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 29°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 5.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 17% above US
42% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 42% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (8 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Glen Cove's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,398/mo) equals 31% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Glen Cove
All New York guides →Moving to Mamaroneck →
5 mi away · pop. 19,826
Rent $2,157/mo · Income $120,000
Compare with Glen Cove →Moving to Port Washington →
5 mi away · pop. 18,004
Rent $2,184/mo · Income $170,127
Compare with Glen Cove →Moving to New Rochelle →
7 mi away · pop. 82,769
Rent $1,917/mo · Income $109,167
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