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Living in
West Islip.
West Islip 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 West Islip
If you're considering West Islip, understand upfront that you're buying into an affluent Long Island suburb with a solid middle-to-upper-class character—median household income sits at $176,000 and homes run $610,000+. The trade-off for that stability is density and cost: you're living in an urban environment on a modest 6.8 square miles, with median rents around $2,800 monthly. The commute to Manhattan averages just under 31 minutes via the Long Island Rail Road, making it realistic for people working in the city, though you'll definitely need a car for daily life.
West Islip at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
2.7%
Foreign-Born
5.8%
Broadband Internet
96.7%
of households
Population Growth
-1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.8% foreign-born, most often from El Salvador
Who lives in West Islip: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In West Islip, the largest foreign-born group is from El Salvador (9.2%), and 4.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.3%
of residents
65 and Older
13.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
14.8%
of households
Married Couples
66.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.13
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 71% above NY average
Rent, home values, and income in West Islip
In West Islip, rent runs 71% above the NY average, and home values are 45% above the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
34.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
10.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
95.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1960
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $762,303 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts below NY average
Unemployment in West Islip and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Suffolk County, which includes West Islip, is 0.8 percentage points lower than the NY average.
Unemployment rate
West Islip: Suffolk County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Suffolk County (county-wide) · Annual averages
West Islip is about 2% of Suffolk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What West Islip 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
Commute30.2 min avg
How West Islip residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In West Islip, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)
Small hub790k passengers boarded in 2025
- 25 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 2023
Older dataThe latest complete year reported to the FBI is 2023. It's compared with the national rate for 2023.
Violent crime in the area policed by the Suffolk County Police Department, which covers West Islip, runs 88% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
47.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (386 national, 2023)
Property Crime Rate
566.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,951 national, 2023)
Policed by Suffolk County Police Department (county-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 West Islip, 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
West Islip is about 2% 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 West Islip, 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
West Islip is about 2% of Suffolk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
West Islip has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.5"
Annual Snowfall
31.8"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
88
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
120
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 25°F | 2.69" |
| Feb | 41°F | 26°F | 2.03" |
| Mar | 48°F | 33°F | 3.46" |
| Apr | 58°F | 42°F | 3.61" |
| May | 68°F | 51°F | 3.18" |
| Jun | 77°F | 61°F | 3.45" |
| Jul | 83°F | 68°F | 3.05" |
| Aug | 82°F | 67°F | 3.25" |
| Sep | 75°F | 60°F | 3.66" |
| Oct | 64°F | 48°F | 3.37" |
| Nov | 53°F | 38°F | 2.93" |
| Dec | 44°F | 31°F | 3.60" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in West Islip
West Islip has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Ns/lij Hs Southside Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Bay Shore
South Oaks Hosp
Psychiatric · 5.7 mi away · Amityville
Brunswick Hospital Center, Inc.
Psychiatric · 6.1 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.
Education10.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in West Islip
West Islip's student/teacher ratio is 10.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 49.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
49.8%
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
Colleges Near West Islip (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 9,552 students · in-state tuition $8,626 · 62% graduate · median earnings $75,278 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 547 students · in-state tuition $31,100 · 44% graduate · median earnings $46,311 (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: Fire Island National Seashore, 16 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for West Islip
West Islip has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fire Island National Seashore (16 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fire Island National Seashore
National Seashore
16 mi awaySagamore Hill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
16 mi awaySaint Paul's Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
30 mi awayGateway National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
33 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
34 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
35 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
36 mi awayLower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site
National Historic Site
36 mi awayPublic Libraries in West Islip
West Islip Public Library
3 Higbie Lane, West Islip
Cities Near West Islip
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to West Islip?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
West Islip FAQ
Is West Islip, New York affordable?⌄
West Islip's median rent is $2,765/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $176,281/year. Median home value is $614,300.
Is West Islip, New York safe?⌄
West Islip is policed by the Suffolk County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 48 per 100,000 residents in 2023, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 386/100k that year. Property crime rate is 567 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in West Islip, New York?⌄
Suffolk County, which includes West Islip, 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 West Islip, New York?⌄
The cost of living in West Islip is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,765/month and median household income is $176,281/year. The median home value is $614,300. About 34% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in West Islip, New York?⌄
The average commute in West Islip is 30 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