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Living in
Hampton Bays.
Hampton Bays 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.
About
Life in Hampton Bays
The economy here is genuinely tied to two things—seasonal tourism and commercial fishing, which remains vital; Hampton Bays is actually the second-busiest commercial fishing port in New York State, centered at the Shinnecock Inlet, and that working waterfront culture is real, not just nostalgia. Job-wise, unemployment sits at 3.4% and about 43% of residents hold college degrees, suggesting decent professional opportunities, though many people commute: the average is 34 minutes, and you'll likely be heading west toward central Long Island or using the LIRR's Montauk Branch for occasional trips into the city. The geography here is your biggest asset and constraint rolled together—you're surrounded by three bays with water making up 28% of the land area, which means waterfront recreation and boating culture are genuinely woven into weekends, but you're also car-dependent and fairly isolated 81 miles from Manhattan, so this is a place you move to for the community and outdoor access, not convenience to the city.
Hampton Bays at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.9%
Foreign-Born
20.2%
Broadband Internet
92.1%
of households
Median household income
Demographics20.2% foreign-born, most often from Colombia
Who lives in Hampton Bays: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hampton Bays, the largest foreign-born group is from Colombia (23.9%), and 23.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.8%
of residents
65 and Older
22.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.7%
of households
Married Couples
54.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.58
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 48% above NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Hampton Bays
In Hampton Bays, rent runs 48% above the NY average, and home values are 74% above the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
36.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$8,495
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
82.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1977
median year built
Vacant Homes
31.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $950,047 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts below NY average
Unemployment in Hampton Bays and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Suffolk County, which includes Hampton Bays, is 0.8 percentage points lower than the NY average.
Unemployment rate
Hampton Bays: Suffolk County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Suffolk County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Hampton Bays is about 1% of Suffolk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Hampton Bays 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
Commute34.2 min avg
How Hampton Bays residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hampton Bays, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 47% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 31 mi
Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)
Small hub790k passengers boarded in 2025
- 68 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 88% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Southampton Town Police Department, which covers Hampton Bays, runs 88% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
39.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
556.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Southampton Town Police Department (township-wide rate)
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 19 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Suffolk County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Suffolk County, which includes Hampton Bays, the most common type is high wind, with 19 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | High Wind | $17,500 |
| 2024 | 21 | High Wind | $10.7M |
| 2023 | 8 | Flash Flood | $51,000 |
| 2022 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $205,800 |
| 2021 | 25 | High Wind | $5.4M |
| 2020 | 28 | High Wind | $2.6M |
| 2019 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.8M |
| 2018 | 42 | Winter Weather | $932,750 |
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
Suffolk County, county-wide
Hampton Bays is about 1% of Suffolk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Suffolk County, which includes Hampton Bays, is typically good — 265 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
265
per year
Moderate Days
95
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Suffolk County, county-wide
Hampton Bays is about 1% of Suffolk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate79°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hampton Bays has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.5"
Annual Snowfall
26.8"
Hot Days/Year
6
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
132
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
131
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 20°F | 3.19" |
| Feb | 40°F | 21°F | 2.72" |
| Mar | 47°F | 28°F | 4.28" |
| Apr | 57°F | 36°F | 3.79" |
| May | 66°F | 46°F | 3.31" |
| Jun | 75°F | 56°F | 3.50" |
| Jul | 81°F | 63°F | 2.88" |
| Aug | 80°F | 61°F | 3.74" |
| Sep | 74°F | 54°F | 3.75" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 4.65" |
| Nov | 53°F | 34°F | 3.48" |
| Dec | 45°F | 26°F | 4.17" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hampton Bays
Uninsured
7.4%
of residents
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Education10.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hampton Bays
Hampton Bays's student/teacher ratio is 10.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 47.2% 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
47.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Fire Island National Seashore, 28 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hampton Bays
Hampton Bays has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fire Island National Seashore (28 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fire Island National Seashore
National Seashore
28 mi awaySagamore Hill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
51 mi awayWeir Farm National Historical Park
National Historical Park
56 mi awaySaint Paul's Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
68 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
75 mi awayGateway National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
76 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
76 mi awayTouro Synagogue National Historic Site
National Historic Site
76 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hampton Bays
Hampton Bays Public Library
52 Ponquogue Avenue, Hampton Bays
Cities Near Hampton Bays
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hampton Bays?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hampton Bays FAQ
Is Hampton Bays, New York affordable?⌄
Hampton Bays's median rent is $2,392/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $134,216/year. Median home value is $735,400.
Is Hampton Bays, New York safe?⌄
Hampton Bays is policed by the Southampton Town Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 39 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 556 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hampton Bays, New York?⌄
Suffolk County, which includes Hampton Bays, has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hampton Bays, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Hampton Bays is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,392/month and median household income is $134,216/year. The median home value is $735,400. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hampton Bays, New York?⌄
The average commute in Hampton Bays is 34 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