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Living in
Wantagh.
Wantagh 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 Wantagh
If you're considering Wantagh, know upfront that you're looking at a solidly affluent Long Island suburb where the median household income sits at about $179,000 and homes average around $706,600—so this is a significant financial commitment, though it comes with genuine stability and low unemployment at 3.2%. Weekends here mean real access to outdoor life: Jones Beach State Park sits right at your doorstep, Twin Lakes Preserve and Mill Pond offer quieter local recreation, and you're within reasonable drives of Sagamore Hill and Gateway National Recreation Area for bigger adventures. The weather trade-off is real though—hot, humid summers are the norm (warm temperate climate with hot summers), and you'll get consistent rain spread throughout the year, which peaks slightly in early winter and spring, so there's no true "dry season" to plan around.
Wantagh at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.1%
Foreign-Born
8.2%
Broadband Internet
95.1%
of households
Population Growth
+0.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.2% foreign-born, most often from El Salvador
Who lives in Wantagh: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Wantagh, the largest foreign-born group is from El Salvador (10.3%), and 5.0% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
24.6%
of residents
65 and Older
15.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
42.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
11.2%
of households
Married Couples
71.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.14
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 40% above NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Wantagh
In Wantagh, rent runs 40% above the NY average, and home values are 67% above the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
23.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
7.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
95.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $816,590 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below NY average
Unemployment in Wantagh and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Nassau County, which includes Wantagh, is 1 percentage points lower than the NY average.
Unemployment rate
Wantagh: Nassau County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Nassau County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Wantagh is about 1% of Nassau County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Wantagh 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 min avg
How Wantagh residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Wantagh, most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 52% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 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 Wantagh, 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 Wantagh, 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
Wantagh is about 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 Wantagh, 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
Wantagh is about 1% of Nassau County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 30°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Wantagh has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 30°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/30°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.8"
Annual Snowfall
18.5"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
77
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
114
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 28°F | 3.33" |
| Feb | 44°F | 29°F | 2.81" |
| Mar | 50°F | 35°F | 4.06" |
| Apr | 60°F | 43°F | 3.81" |
| May | 70°F | 53°F | 3.34" |
| Jun | 79°F | 63°F | 3.77" |
| Jul | 85°F | 69°F | 3.24" |
| Aug | 84°F | 68°F | 3.72" |
| Sep | 78°F | 61°F | 3.64" |
| Oct | 67°F | 50°F | 3.66" |
| Nov | 56°F | 40°F | 3.07" |
| Dec | 47°F | 33°F | 4.35" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Wantagh
Uninsured
1.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Wantagh's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Chsli St Joseph Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.4 mi away · Bethpage
Nassau University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · East Meadow
Brunswick Hospital Center, Inc.
Psychiatric · 4.7 mi away · Amityville
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.
Education11.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Wantagh
Wantagh's student/teacher ratio is 11.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 54.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
54.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Wantagh (within 15 miles)
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)
CUNY Queensborough Community College
13.8 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)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,276 students · in-state tuition $52,050 · 71% graduate · median earnings $80,969 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 4,345 students · in-state tuition $7,358 · 41% graduate · median earnings $62,351 (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, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Wantagh
Wantagh has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
14 mi awaySaint Paul's Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
22 mi awayGateway National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
23 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
25 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
25 mi awayLower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site
National Historic Site
25 mi awayTheodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
25 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
26 mi awayPublic Libraries in Wantagh
Wantagh Public Library
3285 Park Avenue, Wantagh
Cities Near Wantagh
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Wantagh?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Wantagh FAQ
Is Wantagh, New York affordable?⌄
Wantagh's median rent is $2,270/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $179,362/year. Median home value is $706,600.
Is Wantagh, New York safe?⌄
Wantagh 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 Wantagh, New York?⌄
Nassau County, which includes Wantagh, 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 Wantagh, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Wantagh is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,270/month and median household income is $179,362/year. The median home value is $706,600. About 24% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Wantagh, New York?⌄
The average commute in Wantagh 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