The Town FilesHempstead, New York
Town in Nassau County · population 793,409 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $640,800
- Household income
- $141,243
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 40.7
Hempstead is a town of 793,409 people in Nassau County, New York. The median home is worth $640,800, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more walkable than 96% of New York towns, more vibrant than 95% of New York towns, better transit than 95% of New York towns.
How Hempstead ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hempstead is worth $640,800, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $141,243, which is more affordable than 16% of New York towns. Median rent is $2,101 a month. 82.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hempstead | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $640,800 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $2,101 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $141,243 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.2% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Hempstead
| People | Hempstead | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.0% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 24.3% | — |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 36.6 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 91.1% |
Weather in Hempstead
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 26.0°F. About 48.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 89 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hempstead since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 7, 1998 about 3.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 13, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Nassau County since 1996
Nassau County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 30, 2024 | Flood | DR-4755: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4615: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3572: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| October 2, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4567: Tropical Storm Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Nassau County
Nassau County had 631,563 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,454 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Hempstead itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Towns near Hempstead
- Baldwin, NY1.1 mi · 33,919 people · home $593,800
- Oceanside, NY1.5 mi · 32,637 people · home $634,300
- Freeport, NY1.7 mi · 44,472 people · home $505,900
- Rockville Centre, NY2.6 mi · 26,016 people · home $818,700
- Barnum Island, NY2.7 mi · 2,590 people · home $755,100
- Lido Beach, NY3.1 mi · 2,719 people · home $896,000
- East Rockaway, NY3.1 mi · 10,159 people · home $621,300
- Island Park, NY3.1 mi · 4,928 people · home $574,500
Hempstead questions
Is Hempstead, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hempstead scores better for retirees than 8% of New York towns and quieter than 6%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Hempstead?
The median owner-occupied home in Hempstead is valued at $640,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $141,243, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $2,101 a month.
What is the weather like in Hempstead?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 26.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.6 inches of precipitation a year and 25.5 inches of snow.
Does Hempstead get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hempstead since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 7, 1998. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)