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Moving to
Riverhead.
Riverhead is an unincorporated community in Suffolk 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 Riverhead
Riverhead is an unincorporated community in New York with county unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a growing population, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Riverhead deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, college degree attainment below the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Low crime rates
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Low college degree attainment
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Riverhead compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Riverhead
Based on Riverhead's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,090
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $81,800 a year
- 54% of Riverhead renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$91,480
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $45,740
- Homes cost 5.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 45% above US
$2,045/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,045 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 run above average, with a median around $457,400. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $457,400 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Suffolk County is 3.5%, 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.
Suffolk County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 64% below US
119 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1888/100k · Riverhead Town Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24.4 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 6% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 28°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 2.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 47% below US
19% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 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 Fire Island National Seashore (23 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Riverhead's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and crime rates well below 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 ($2,045/mo) equals 30% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Riverhead
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