The Town FilesWest Hempstead, New York
Community in Nassau County · population 19,835 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $653,600
- Household income
- $164,127
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 37.5
West Hempstead is a community of 19,835 people in Nassau County, New York. The median home is worth $653,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better transit than 99% of New York towns, more walkable than 97% of New York towns, more vibrant than 97% of New York towns.
How West 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 West Hempstead is worth $653,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $164,127, which is more affordable than 25% of New York towns. Median rent is $2,967 a month. 90.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Hempstead | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $653,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $2,967 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $164,127 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.6% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in West Hempstead
| People | West Hempstead | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.6% | — |
| Work from home | 15.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 35.6 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in West Hempstead
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 27.2°F. About 45.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West 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 3.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 13, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 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 West Hempstead itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in West Hempstead
4 public schools with 1,585 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST HEMPSTEAD SECONDARY SCHOOL | 7-12 | 792 | 9.5 |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON SCHOOL | 4-6 | 349 | 13.4 |
| CORNWELL AVENUE SCHOOL | 1-3 | 319 | 16.0 |
| CHESTNUT STREET SCHOOL | PK-1 | 125 | 11.4 |
Towns near West Hempstead
- Garden City South, NY1.2 mi · 4,119 people · home $740,400
- Lakeview, NY1.3 mi · 6,077 people · home $565,300
- Franklin Square, NY1.4 mi · 30,903 people · home $657,000
- Hempstead, NY1.7 mi · 59,169 people · home $459,500
- South Hempstead, NY1.7 mi · 3,406 people · home $601,000
- Malverne, NY1.9 mi · 8,560 people · home $651,100
- Garden City, NY2.1 mi · 23,272 people · home $1,075,900
- Rockville Centre, NY2.3 mi · 26,016 people · home $818,700
West Hempstead questions
Is West Hempstead, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Hempstead scores better for retirees than 2% of New York towns and quieter than 3%. 16.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in West Hempstead?
The median owner-occupied home in West Hempstead is valued at $653,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $164,127, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $2,967 a month.
What is the weather like in West Hempstead?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 27.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 18.5 inches of snow.
Does West Hempstead get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West 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)