The Town FilesWest Hills, New York
Community in Suffolk County · population 5,385 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $741,900
- Household income
- $185,745
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 48.7
West Hills is a community of 5,385 people in Suffolk County, New York. The median home is worth $741,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more upscale than 95% of New York towns, better transit than 93% of New York towns, better for families than 90% of New York towns.
How West Hills 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 Hills is worth $741,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $185,745, which is more affordable than 25% of New York towns. Median rent is $2,939 a month. 95.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Hills | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $741,900 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $2,939 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $185,745 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 95.0% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Hills
| People | West Hills | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.7 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.0% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 15.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 66.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 1.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.4% | — |
| Work from home | 22.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 34.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.4% | 91.1% |
Weather in West Hills
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 24.5°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.6 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 88 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Hills since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 27, 1970 about 9.0 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 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 3, 1984.
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 West Hills itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Towns near West Hills
- Woodbury, NY2.0 mi · 9,335 people · home $1,003,400
- South Huntington, NY2.2 mi · 9,561 people · home $636,800
- Huntington Station, NY2.3 mi · 34,878 people · home $578,000
- Melville, NY2.9 mi · 19,284 people · home $788,900
- Cold Spring Harbor, NY3.3 mi · 3,064 people · home $1,587,900
- Plainview, NY3.3 mi · 27,100 people · home $796,300
- Syosset, NY3.6 mi · 19,259 people · home $874,300
- Huntington, NY4.1 mi · 19,645 people · home $767,000
West Hills questions
Is West Hills, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Hills scores better for retirees than 85% of New York towns and quieter than 59%. 21.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.7).
How much does a house cost in West Hills?
The median owner-occupied home in West Hills is valued at $741,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $185,745, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $2,939 a month.
What is the weather like in West Hills?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 24.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 23.6 inches of snow.
Does West Hills get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Hills since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 27, 1970. 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)