The typical owner-occupied home in Suffolk County is worth about $578,400, 36% above the New York median of $423,800 and 74% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $10,001 a year in property taxes, about 1.73% of their home's value, higher than the New York rate of 1.55%. The median household earns $130,686 a year, so the median home costs 4.4 times the median income (4.9 times for New York). 82% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 62% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Suffolk County at a glance
| Suffolk County | New York | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $578,400 | $423,800 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $10,001 | $6,582 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.73% | 1.55% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $130,686 | $85,974 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 82% | 54% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 62% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $3,320 | $2,555 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 24.8% | 22.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $2,255 | $1,621 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 34.5% | 31.2% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1970 | 1959 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 11.7% | 10.0% | 10.1% |
| Population | 1,530,146 | 19,852,366 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Suffolk County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Suffolk County home of $578,400 with 20% down costs about $4,188 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $5,151, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $179,469 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 38% of the median Suffolk County household income of $130,686; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $421,000.
The median rent here is $2,255 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,933 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $115,680 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $462,720 |
| Principal and interest | $3,113 |
| Property taxes (1.73% a year) | $834 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $241 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $4,188 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $20,244 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $567,924 |
| Principal and interest | $3,820 |
| Property taxes (1.73% a year) | $834 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $241 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $256 |
| Total per month | $5,151 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Suffolk County
What is the median home value in Suffolk County?
About $578,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Suffolk County?
Homeowners pay a median $10,001 a year, which is about 1.73% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Suffolk County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $4,188 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $179,469 a year.
More about Suffolk County
- Mortgage Refinance in Suffolk County
- Debt Relief in Suffolk County
- Home Equity Loans in Suffolk County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data