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Living in
East Meadow.
East Meadow 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.
About
Life in East Meadow
If you're considering East Meadow, understand that you're looking at a stable, established suburb with solid middle and upper-middle-class character. The median household income of about $134,000 and homeowner base make this feel like a community where people have put down roots, though housing costs reflect that security—median homes run around $632,000 and rent averages $2,890 monthly. The schools have deep roots here, with a district originally organized in 1812, and about 44% of residents hold college degrees.
East Meadow at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.4%
Foreign-Born
19.9%
Broadband Internet
92.4%
of households
Population Growth
-5.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics19.9% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in East Meadow: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In East Meadow, the largest foreign-born group is from India (13.6%), and 11.8% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
19.6%
of residents
65 and Older
21.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
19.2%
of households
Married Couples
62.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.02
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 78% above NY average
Rent, home values, and income in East Meadow
In East Meadow, rent runs 78% above the NY average, and home values are 49% above the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
70.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
39.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
89.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $813,629 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below NY average
Unemployment in East Meadow and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Nassau County, which includes East Meadow, is 1 percentage points lower than the NY average.
Unemployment rate
East Meadow: Nassau County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Nassau County (county-wide) · Annual averages
East Meadow is about 3% of Nassau County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What East Meadow Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro area
Commute35 min avg
How East Meadow residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In East Meadow, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 50% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Major hub30.8M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 58% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Nassau County Police Department, which covers East Meadow, runs 58% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
138.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
963.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Nassau County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Nassau County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Nassau County, which includes East Meadow, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | High Wind | $22,000 |
| 2024 | 17 | High Wind | $16,000 |
| 2023 | 7 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 14 | Winter Weather | $8,000 |
| 2021 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8.3M |
| 2020 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $379,000 |
| 2019 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $325,000 |
| 2018 | 28 | Coastal Flood | $829,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Nassau County, county-wide
East Meadow is about 3% of Nassau County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality29 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Nassau County, which includes East Meadow, is typically good — 287 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
29
Good Days
287
per year
Moderate Days
77
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nassau County, county-wide
East Meadow is about 3% of Nassau County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate84°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
East Meadow has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.3"
Annual Snowfall
18.5"
Hot Days/Year
16
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
83
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
114
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 27°F | 3.65" |
| Feb | 44°F | 28°F | 3.00" |
| Mar | 51°F | 35°F | 4.41" |
| Apr | 62°F | 43°F | 3.75" |
| May | 72°F | 52°F | 3.13" |
| Jun | 81°F | 62°F | 3.80" |
| Jul | 87°F | 68°F | 4.04" |
| Aug | 85°F | 66°F | 3.92" |
| Sep | 78°F | 60°F | 4.08" |
| Oct | 67°F | 49°F | 4.02" |
| Nov | 56°F | 40°F | 3.35" |
| Dec | 47°F | 33°F | 4.18" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 1.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in East Meadow
East Meadow has 1 hospital, averaging 1.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.0 / 5
Nassau University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Chsli St Joseph Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Bethpage
Mercy Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Rockville Centre
Mount Sinai South Nassau
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.6 mi away · Oceanside
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in East Meadow
East Meadow's student/teacher ratio is 11.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 48.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
48.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near East Meadow (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 12,550 students · in-state tuition $7,538 · 57% graduate · median earnings $68,324 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,630 students · in-state tuition $6,545 · 34% graduate · median earnings $53,866 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 9,552 students · in-state tuition $8,626 · 62% graduate · median earnings $75,278 (10 yrs after entry)
St. John's University-New York
12.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 9,477 students · in-state tuition $55,640 · 71% graduate · median earnings $77,281 (10 yrs after entry)
CUNY Queensborough Community College
10.7 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 8,940 students · in-state tuition $5,210 · 34% graduate · median earnings $50,546 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,488 students · in-state tuition $59,960 · 66% graduate · median earnings $76,540 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, 12 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for East Meadow
East Meadow has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (12 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awaySaint Paul's Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
19 mi awayGateway National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
21 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
22 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
22 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
23 mi awayLower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site
National Historic Site
23 mi awayStonewall National Monument
National Monument
23 mi awayPublic Libraries in East Meadow
East Meadow Public Library
1886 Front Street, East Meadow
Cities Near East Meadow
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to East Meadow?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
East Meadow FAQ
Is East Meadow, New York affordable?⌄
East Meadow's median rent is $2,890/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $133,971/year. Median home value is $631,800.
Is East Meadow, New York safe?⌄
East Meadow is policed by the Nassau County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 139 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 963 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in East Meadow, New York?⌄
Nassau County, which includes East Meadow, has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in East Meadow, New York?⌄
The cost of living in East Meadow is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,890/month and median household income is $133,971/year. The median home value is $631,800. About 71% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in East Meadow, New York?⌄
The average commute in East Meadow is 35 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from