The Town FilesStony Brook University, New York
Community in Suffolk County · population 10,409 (2020 Census)
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 19.8
Stony Brook University is a community of 10,409 people in Suffolk County, New York. It ranks more of a college town than 99% of New York towns, better transit than 99% of New York towns, more vibrant than 92% of New York towns.
How Stony Brook University 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
| Housing | Stony Brook University | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | — | $217,700 |
| Median rent | — | $1,080 |
| Median household income | — | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | — | 79.5% |
| Median year built | — | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | — | — |
Who lives in Stony Brook University
| People | Stony Brook University | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 19.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 3.0% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 3.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | — | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 2.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 16.2 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | — | 91.1% |
Weather in Stony Brook University
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 26.3°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.8 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 79 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stony Brook University since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 30, 1998 about 6.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 2, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 4, 2015.
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 Stony Brook University itself the ACS puts it at 9.3%.
Towns near Stony Brook University
- Stony Brook, NY0.3 mi · 13,467 people · home $623,300
- East Setauket, NY1.7 mi · 10,998 people · home $637,800
- Setauket, NY2.7 mi · 3,986 people · home $755,600
- St. James, NY2.8 mi · 13,487 people · home $652,700
- Smithtown, NY3.0 mi · 116,296 people · home $669,900
- Port Jefferson Station, NY3.2 mi · 7,950 people · home $507,900
- Centereach, NY3.5 mi · 30,980 people · home $514,800
- Lake Grove, NY3.6 mi · 11,072 people · home $598,900
Stony Brook University questions
Is Stony Brook University, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Stony Brook University scores better for retirees than 10% of New York towns and quieter than 16%. 3.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 19.8).
What is the weather like in Stony Brook University?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 26.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 31.8 inches of snow.
Does Stony Brook University get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stony Brook University since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 30, 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)