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Living in
West Hempstead.
West Hempstead 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 West Hempstead
The community skews family-oriented with a median household income of $164,127, which tells you something important: this is where established professionals and families with kids plant roots, and about 60% of households are married couples, many raising children in a stable environment. The Orthodox Jewish community here is particularly strong, with seven synagogues and the Hebrew Academy serving as anchors for that cultural fabric, which gives the neighborhood real depth if that resonates with your background or values. Your commute will likely run around 37 minutes depending on where you work, and yes, you'll be car-dependent—this is suburban Long Island, and the Southern State Parkway runs right through the area, which means weekend traffic patterns are real—but Hempstead Lake State Park borders the community on the east, giving you legitimate outdoor space for hiking and recreation without needing to drive far.
West Hempstead at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.5%
Foreign-Born
20.6%
Broadband Internet
94.0%
of households
Population Growth
+4.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics20.6% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in West Hempstead: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In West Hempstead, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (7.6%), and 16.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.5%
of residents
65 and Older
16.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
40.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
15.4%
of households
Married Couples
67.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.36
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 83% above NY average
Rent, home values, and income in West Hempstead
In West Hempstead, rent runs 83% above the NY average, and home values are 54% above the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
31.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
90.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1952
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $797,149 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below NY average
Unemployment in West Hempstead and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Nassau County, which includes West Hempstead, is 1 percentage points lower than the NY average.
Unemployment rate
West Hempstead: Nassau County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Nassau County (county-wide) · Annual averages
West Hempstead is about 1% of Nassau County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What West Hempstead 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
Commute35.6 min avg
How West Hempstead residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In West Hempstead, most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 44% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 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 West Hempstead, 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 West Hempstead, 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
West Hempstead 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 West Hempstead, 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
West Hempstead is about 1% 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
West Hempstead 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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in West Hempstead
Uninsured
4.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside West Hempstead's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mercy Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.5 mi away · Rockville Centre
Mount Sinai South Nassau
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Oceanside
Long Island Jewish Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.5 mi away · New Hyde Park
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.
Education11.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in West Hempstead
West Hempstead's student/teacher ratio is 11.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 50.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
50.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near West Hempstead (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
7.7 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
6.6 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, 15 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for West Hempstead
West Hempstead has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (15 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awaySaint Paul's Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
16 mi awayGateway National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
17 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
17 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
18 mi awayLower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site
National Historic Site
18 mi awayStonewall National Monument
National Monument
18 mi awayTheodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
18 mi awayPublic Libraries in West Hempstead
West Hempstead Public Library
500 Hempstead Avenue, West Hempstead
Cities Near West Hempstead
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to West Hempstead?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
West Hempstead FAQ
Is West Hempstead, New York affordable?⌄
West Hempstead's median rent is $2,967/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $164,127/year. Median home value is $653,600.
Is West Hempstead, New York safe?⌄
West Hempstead 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 West Hempstead, New York?⌄
Nassau County, which includes West Hempstead, 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 West Hempstead, New York?⌄
The cost of living in West Hempstead is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,967/month and median household income is $164,127/year. The median home value is $653,600. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in West Hempstead, New York?⌄
The average commute in West Hempstead is 36 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