The Town FilesShelter Island, New York
Town in Suffolk County · population 3,253 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,104,300
- Household income
- $133,967
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 50.0
Shelter Island is a town of 3,253 people in Suffolk County, New York. The median home is worth $1,104,300, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of New York towns, more seaside character than 96% of New York towns, better for retirees than 95% of New York towns.
How Shelter Island 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 Shelter Island is worth $1,104,300, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 8.2 times the median household income of $133,967, which is more affordable than 3% of New York towns. 94.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shelter Island | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,104,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | — | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $133,967 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.7% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 56.6% | — |
Who lives in Shelter Island
| People | Shelter Island | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.1% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 63.0% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.2% | — |
| Work from home | 29.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 34.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 58.2% | 91.1% |
Weather in Shelter Island
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 23.0°F. About 49.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.8 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shelter Island since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 8, 1999 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 15, 2000.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 30, 2003.
Severe weather in Suffolk County since 1996
Suffolk County has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 21, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4839: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| August 25, 2024 | Severe Storm | EM-3613: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 15, 2023 | Snowstorm | DR-4694: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4615: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3572: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Suffolk County
Suffolk County had 679,594 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,121 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Shelter Island itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Public schools in Shelter Island
1 public school with 193 students, about 5.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHELTER ISLAND SCHOOL | PK-12 | 193 | 5.2 |
Towns near Shelter Island
- Greenport, NY3.5 mi · 2,583 people · home $961,200
- Southold, NY5.1 mi · 23,732 people · home $859,300
- Sag Harbor, NY5.2 mi · 2,772 people · home $1,615,900
- Southold, NY5.7 mi · 6,040 people · home $844,700
- Noyack, NY6.2 mi · 4,325 people · home $1,085,500
- Northwest Harbor, NY6.3 mi · 4,637 people · home $1,573,300
- Bridgehampton, NY8.6 mi · 2,953 people · home $1,764,800
- Springs, NY8.7 mi · 8,086 people · home $948,500
Shelter Island questions
Is Shelter Island, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shelter Island scores better for retirees than 95% of New York towns and quieter than 65%. 36.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.0).
How much does a house cost in Shelter Island?
The median owner-occupied home in Shelter Island is valued at $1,104,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $133,967, so homes cost about 8.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Shelter Island?
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 23.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.8 inches of precipitation a year and 26.8 inches of snow.
Does Shelter Island get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shelter Island since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 8, 1999. 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)