State rank#4 of 62
Smallest county1,530,146 residentsKings County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 36103
Suffolk County, New York
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population1,530,146
Household income$130,686
Unemployment3.5%
Life expectancy79.4 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Suffolk County has 1,530,146 residents and ranks #4 by population among New York county equivalents. Median household income is $130,686. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.5%. Its clearest relative strength is median household income. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within New York
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Suffolk County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Suffolk County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is median household income.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $578,400 median home value and $2,255/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $130,686, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Suffolk County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, poor or fair health, and life expectancy. College attainment is 40.2% and life expectancy is 79.4 years.
Potential advantages
- Median household income: $130,686, rank #2 of 62 available New York counties.
- Poor or fair health: 12.5%, rank #6 of 62 available New York counties.
- Life expectancy: 79.4 years, rank #11 of 62 available New York counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $2,255/mo, rank #62 of 62; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $578,400, rank #55 of 62; investigate local variation before moving.
- Uninsured: 5.7%, rank #47 of 62; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within New York
Rank and range use only counties in New York with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$130,686
$130,686; above the state county median of $72,022.
State rank #2 of 62 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$578,400
$578,400; above the state county median of $189,000.
State rank #55 of 62 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$2,255/mo
$2,255/mo; above the state county median of $986/mo.
State rank #62 of 62 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.5%
3.5%; below the state county median of 3.7%.
State rank #16 of 62 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
40.2%
40.2%; above the state county median of 29.4%.
State rank #12 of 62 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
79.4 years
79.4 years; above the state county median of 77.7 years.
State rank #11 of 62 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
12.5%
12.5%; below the state county median of 15.4%.
State rank #6 of 62 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
5.7%
5.7%; above the state county median of 5%.
State rank #47 of 62 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,403 residents
1 per 1,403 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,809 residents.
State rank #19 of 62 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 302 residents
1 per 302 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 403 residents.
State rank #18 of 62 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Suffolk County FAQ
Is Suffolk County a good place to live?
Suffolk County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, poor or fair health, and life expectancy. College attainment is 40.2% and life expectancy is 79.4 years.
What should I know before moving to Suffolk County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $578,400 median home value and $2,255/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $130,686, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Suffolk County?
Suffolk County has 1,530,146 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Suffolk County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 36103; the parent state FIPS is 36.
What is the median household income in Suffolk County?
The ACS median household income is $130,686.
How much does housing cost in Suffolk County?
Housing benchmarks are $578,400 median home value and $2,255/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $130,686, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Suffolk County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.5%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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