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Port Washington.

All Port Washington data Compare Port Washington

18,004people live here $170,127median household income▲ 111% above US $2,184median rent per month▲ 55% above US $1,003,200median home value▲ 202% above US

Port Washington is an unincorporated community in Nassau County, NY. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.

What it's like to live in Port Washington

Port Washington is an unincorporated community in New York with county 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. Port Washington deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, long average commutes, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.

The good

Low unemployment in the county
Higher-than-average incomes
Low crime rates
Clean air
Highly educated workforce
Fast-growing population

The not so good

Rent well above the national average
High home prices
Long commutes
High rent burden for renters

How Port Washington compares

Median household income

Port Washington$170,127

New York avg$85,974

US$80,734

Median rent (per month)

Port Washington$2,184

New York avg$1,621

US$1,413

Median home value

Port Washington$1,003,200

New York avg$423,800

US$332,700

What it takes to move to Port Washington

Based on Port Washington's median rent, home value and household income

To rent

$4,368

up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit

Income to keep rent under 30%: $87,360 a year
55% of Port Washington renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent

To buy

$200,640

a 20% down payment on the median home

With 10% down: $100,320
Homes cost 5.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)

Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.

The details

Cost of living▲ 55% above US

$2,184/mo median rent

Rent is expensive here, at $2,184 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 $1,003,200. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.

Median home value $1,003,200 · 55% of renters cost-burdened

Job market

3.3% county unemployment

Unemployment in Nassau County is 3.3%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.

Nassau County (county-wide)

Safety▼ 92% below US

25 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 663/100k · Port Washington Police Department · 2025 data

Getting around▲ 36% above US

35 min average commute

Traffic is a real factor here. The 35.4 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 5 in 10 workers drive to work; 18% take public transit; 29% work from home.

How workers get to work

Drive alone

45%

Work from home

29%

Public transit

18%

Carpool

3.1%

Other

2.4%

Walk

2.1%

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

High °FLow °FPrecip (in)

30-year averages, 1991–2020

Education & workforce▲ 100% above US

72% bachelor's degree or higher

This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.

Schools

6 public schools inside the boundary

There are 6 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, 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 Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site (8 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.

Bottom line

Port Washington's strongest points are county 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 ($2,184/mo) equals 15% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (29% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and people who dread long commutes.

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