The Town FilesShirley, New York
Community in Suffolk County · population 26,360 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $424,900
- Household income
- $112,788
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 40.3
Shirley is a community of 26,360 people in Suffolk County, New York. The median home is worth $424,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of New York towns, more seaside character than 92% of New York towns, more vibrant than 79% of New York towns.
How Shirley 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 Shirley is worth $424,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $112,788, which is more affordable than 29% of New York towns. Median rent is $2,056 a month. 92.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shirley | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $424,900 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $2,056 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $112,788 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.2% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Shirley
| People | Shirley | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.9% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 33.2 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Shirley
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 23.9°F. About 44.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.8 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shirley since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 10, 1989 about 5.3 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 7 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 10, 1989.
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 Shirley itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Public schools in Shirley
4 public schools with 2,385 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NATHANIEL WOODHULL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 786 | 14.8 |
| JOHN S HOBART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 784 | 12.6 |
| WILLIAM FLOYD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 744 | 13.3 |
| WILLIAM FLOYD LEARNING CENTER | K-5 | 71 | 5.5 |
Towns near Shirley
- Mastic, NY1.8 mi · 15,404 people · home $432,500
- Brookhaven, NY2.0 mi · 3,330 people · home $692,800
- Moriches, NY2.7 mi · 3,026 people · home $455,400
- Mastic Beach, NY2.8 mi · 14,199 people · home $357,200
- North Bellport, NY3.7 mi · 11,900 people · home $416,100
- Yaphank, NY3.9 mi · 5,974 people · home $459,700
- Center Moriches, NY4.2 mi · 8,046 people · home $586,900
- East Patchogue, NY5.8 mi · 21,580 people · home $478,700
Shirley questions
Is Shirley, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shirley scores better for retirees than 3% of New York towns and quieter than 26%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Shirley?
The median owner-occupied home in Shirley is valued at $424,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $112,788, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $2,056 a month.
What is the weather like in Shirley?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 23.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.2 inches of precipitation a year and 31.8 inches of snow.
Does Shirley get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shirley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 10, 1989. 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)