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Living in
East Rockaway.
About
Life in East Rockaway
East Rockaway is a community of 10,064 people in New York. The median household income is $124,929, median rent runs about $2,416 per month, and median home values are around $623,500. Unemployment is low at 3.2%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
East Rockaway at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
2.6%
Foreign-Born
13.9%
Broadband Internet
94.4%
of households
Population Growth
-0.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.9% foreign-born, most often from El Salvador
Who lives in East Rockaway: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In East Rockaway, the largest foreign-born group is from El Salvador (21.5%), and 9.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.7%
of residents
65 and Older
17.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.1%
of households
Married Couples
50.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.62
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 49% above NY average
Rent, home values, and income in East Rockaway
In East Rockaway, rent runs 49% above the NY average, and home values are 47% above the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
79.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1949
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $740,582 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below NY average
Unemployment in East Rockaway and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Nassau County, which includes East Rockaway, is 1 percentage points lower than the NY average.
Unemployment rate
East Rockaway: Nassau County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Nassau County (county-wide) · Annual averages
East Rockaway is less than 1% of Nassau County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro area
Commute38.5 min avg
How East Rockaway residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In East Rockaway, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 47% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 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 Rockaway, 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 Rockaway, 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 Rockaway is less than 1% 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 Rockaway, 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 Rockaway is less than 1% of Nassau County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 28°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
East Rockaway has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and cold winters (avg low 28°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/28°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.6"
Annual Snowfall
25.5"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
89
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
152
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 26°F | 3.81" |
| Feb | 42°F | 27°F | 3.01" |
| Mar | 48°F | 33°F | 4.64" |
| Apr | 59°F | 41°F | 4.16" |
| May | 67°F | 51°F | 4.31" |
| Jun | 76°F | 61°F | 4.57" |
| Jul | 82°F | 67°F | 4.25" |
| Aug | 82°F | 67°F | 4.16" |
| Sep | 75°F | 60°F | 3.76" |
| Oct | 64°F | 48°F | 4.30" |
| Nov | 54°F | 39°F | 3.57" |
| Dec | 44°F | 31°F | 4.10" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in East Rockaway
Uninsured
2.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside East Rockaway's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mount Sinai South Nassau
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2 mi away · Oceanside
Mercy Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.5 mi away · Rockville Centre
St John's Episcopal Hospital at South Shore
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.5 mi away · Far Rockaway
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.
Education11.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in East Rockaway
East Rockaway's student/teacher ratio is 11.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 51.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
51.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near East Rockaway (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 · 10,543 students · in-state tuition $7,450 · 59% graduate · median earnings $66,519 (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
8.7 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
9.1 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 8,940 students · in-state tuition $5,210 · 34% graduate · median earnings $50,546 (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: Gateway National Recreation Area, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for East Rockaway
East Rockaway has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Gateway National Recreation Area (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gateway National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
14 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
18 mi awayLower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site
National Historic Site
18 mi awayTheodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
18 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
19 mi awayFederal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
19 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
19 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
19 mi awayPublic Libraries in East Rockaway
East Rockaway Public Library
477 Atlantic Avenue, East Rockaway
Cities Near East Rockaway
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to East Rockaway?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
East Rockaway FAQ
Is East Rockaway, New York affordable?⌄
East Rockaway's median rent is $2,416/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $124,929/year. Median home value is $621,300.
Is East Rockaway, New York safe?⌄
East Rockaway 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 Rockaway, New York?⌄
Nassau County, which includes East Rockaway, 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 Rockaway, New York?⌄
The cost of living in East Rockaway is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,416/month and median household income is $124,929/year. The median home value is $621,300. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in East Rockaway, New York?⌄
The average commute in East Rockaway is 39 minutes, which is significantly 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