© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
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.
About
Life in Riverhead
Living in Riverhead means embracing a quieter, more grounded version of Long Island life—one that's deeply rooted in agriculture, water access, and a genuine sense of community rather than just being a bedroom suburb. The town sits at a crossroads: it's the county seat and a real economic center with a median household income around $83,500, but it's also genuinely affordable by Long Island standards, with median home values around $457,000 and rent averaging $2,045 a month—significantly lower than the Hamptons or North Fork villages you might be comparing it to. The job market is steady with a 3.4% unemployment rate, and your commute into New York City averages just under 28 minutes via the LIRR, though many locals find work right here in town given the healthcare, government, and agricultural sectors that keep things humming.
Riverhead at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.7%
Foreign-Born
23.2%
Broadband Internet
92.3%
of households
Population Growth
+6.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics23.2% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in Riverhead: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Riverhead, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (26.0%), and 28.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.7%
of residents
65 and Older
23.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.7%
of households
Married Couples
45.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.65
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 26% above NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Riverhead
In Riverhead, rent runs 26% above the NY average, and home values are 8% above the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,837
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $638,350 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts below NY average
Unemployment in Riverhead and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Suffolk County, which includes Riverhead, is 0.8 percentage points lower than the NY average.
Unemployment rate
Riverhead: Suffolk County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Suffolk County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Riverhead is less than 1% of Suffolk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Riverhead 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
Commute24.4 min avg
How Riverhead residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Riverhead, most residents drive alone to work (83%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 24 mi
Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)
Small hub790k passengers boarded in 2025
- 61 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 64% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Riverhead runs 64% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
119
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,888.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Riverhead Town Police Department
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 Riverhead, 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
Riverhead is less than 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 Riverhead, 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
Riverhead is less than 1% of Suffolk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 28°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Riverhead has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 28°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/28°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.2"
Annual Snowfall
26.8"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
85
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
111
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 26°F | 3.79" |
| Feb | 41°F | 27°F | 3.31" |
| Mar | 48°F | 33°F | 4.72" |
| Apr | 60°F | 42°F | 4.08" |
| May | 70°F | 51°F | 3.60" |
| Jun | 79°F | 61°F | 3.82" |
| Jul | 84°F | 67°F | 3.05" |
| Aug | 82°F | 66°F | 3.93" |
| Sep | 76°F | 60°F | 4.07" |
| Oct | 65°F | 50°F | 4.46" |
| Nov | 54°F | 40°F | 3.81" |
| Dec | 45°F | 32°F | 4.58" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Riverhead
Riverhead has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
14.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Peconic Bay Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education12.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Riverhead
Riverhead's student/teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 19.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
19.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Fire Island National Seashore, 23 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Riverhead
Riverhead has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fire Island National Seashore (23 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fire Island National Seashore
National Seashore
23 mi awaySagamore Hill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
44 mi awayWeir Farm National Historical Park
National Historical Park
48 mi awaySaint Paul's Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
61 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
68 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
68 mi awayGateway National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
70 mi awayTheodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
70 mi awayPublic Libraries in Riverhead
Riverhead Free Library
330 Court Street, Riverhead
Cities Near Riverhead
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Riverhead?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Riverhead FAQ
Is Riverhead, New York affordable?⌄
Riverhead's median rent is $2,045/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $83,008/year. Median home value is $457,400.
Is Riverhead, New York safe?⌄
Riverhead's violent crime rate was 119 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 1888 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Riverhead, New York?⌄
Suffolk County, which includes Riverhead, 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 Riverhead, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Riverhead is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,045/month and median household income is $83,008/year. The median home value is $457,400. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Riverhead, New York?⌄
The average commute in Riverhead is 24 minutes, which is about 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