CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

40.76° N · 73.37° W · GEOID 3681419

Wheatley Heights

Suffolk County, New York · part of the New York, NY metro

Limited data population under 5,000

New YorkWheatley Heights, NYWheatley HeightsWheatley Heights

The short answer

Wheatley Heights is home to 4,729 people. Median household income is $118,036 a year and median rent is $1,688 a month, 17.2% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $538,200, about 4.6x annual median household income.

Median gross rent
$1,688
24% above the median place
Median household income
$118,036
47% above the median place
Median home value
$538,200
69% above the median place
Unemployment
4.1%
16% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Wheatley Heights

  • Owning with a mortgage costs about $1,809 a month more than the median rent, a wider gap than in 97% of the 2,469 places under 10,000 people we track.
  • 78% of renter households spend 30% or more of income on rent, a higher share than in 97% of places its size.
  • Between the 2019 and 2024 surveys, rent rose 6.1% a year while household income rose 0.2%, so rent outran pay by more than in 91% of places its size.
  • Counting remote workers as zero, the average worker spends about 230 hours a year commuting, more than in 92% of places its size.
  • Households average 3.23 people, larger than in 94% of places its size.

High pay has not made renting easy. Household income is higher than in 81% of places we track, yet 78% of renters still spend 30% or more of income on rent.

Rent is light relative to pay, but the county has a FEMA natural hazard risk score of 97 out of 100. Budget for insurance before counting the savings.

01

Moving to Wheatley Heights

Suffolk County loses about 5.5 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in38,900
Moved out46,266
Net−7,366

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Nassau County, NY11,6446,378+5,266
Queens County, NY7,4222,716+4,706
Kings County, NY3,0521,722+1,330
New York County, NY2,2542,429−175
Palm Beach County, FL4371,145−708
Broward County, FL263537−274

Within New York, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within New YorkOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$116K
Leavers$121K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Suffolk County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
8.6% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 0.7% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Suffolk County report $116,100 a year in income on average; those leaving, $120,700.
Income you would need
$67,500 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,688 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $3,497 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $538,200.
Getting to work
35 minutes each way on average; 15.4% work from home; 13.9% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
Riverdale Park, MD matches it on character. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
8.6%
49% above the median place
Income of households moving out7
$120,653
72% above the median place
Moved from another state1
0.7%
66% below the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureWheatley HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year18.6%49% above
Moved from another state1County figure0.7%66% below
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure-5.5below (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$116,08664% above
Income of households moving out7County figure$120,65372% above
02

What it costs to live here

Renters paying 30%+ is 78.0%, 54% above the median place.

Wheatley Heights17.2%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$67,520
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
17.2%
16% below the median place
Home price to income
4.6x
20% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
17%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$92,900
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Wheatley Heights, $1,688 a month, and local prices for everything else (105.2 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Wheatley Heights, but easier on the budget

Close matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income.

PlaceRent to incomeMore left a year
South Hooksett, NH13.6% vs 17.2%n/aCompare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Wheatley Heights.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Wheatley Heights? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Renters paying 30%+1
78.0%
54% above the median place
Property tax paid (median)1
$10,001
206% above the median place
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$3,497
87% above the median place
All 15 cost and housing measures
MeasureWheatley HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,68824% above
Rent to income117.2%16% below
Home price to income14.6x20% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure112.612% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$2,68967% above
HUD area median income4County figure$164,30053% above
Property tax paid (median)1$10,001206% above
Median home value1$538,20069% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure5.4%70% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure54.5%6% above
Homeownership188.3%33% above
Renters paying 30%+178.0%54% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$3,49787% above
Vacant homes1County figure11.7%66% above
Median year built119700% below
03

Work and pay

Commutes by transit is 13.9%, above the median place (median 0.8%).

Commutes by transit1
13.9%
above the median place (median 0.8%)
Mean commute1
35 min
41% above the median place
Poverty rate1
5.8%
46% below the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Median household income$118,036 +47%
Unemployment4.1% −16%
Works from home15.4% +24%
Income per person$43,329 +8%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureWheatley HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$118,03647% above
Income per person1$43,3298% above
Unemployment14.1%16% below
Average annual pay6County figure$81,11923% above
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure2.5%32% below
Jobs6County figure689,858358% above
Poverty rate15.8%46% below
Mean commute135 min41% above
Works from home115.4%24% above
Commutes by transit113.9%above (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

No health insurance is 2.5%, 61% below the median place.

No health insurance1
2.5%
61% below the median place
Household size1
3.2
29% above the median place
Homes with broadband1
84.1%
9% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

High school or higher81.2% −12%
Born abroad20.3% 2.3×
Median age37.0 −5%
Bachelor's or higher37.3% +16%
All 8 people measures
MeasureWheatley HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population14,7296646th largest
Median age137.05% below
Bachelor's or higher137.3%16% above
High school or higher181.2%12% below
Household size13.229% above
Born abroad120.3%130% above
No health insurance12.5%61% below
Homes with broadband184.1%9% below
05

Life in Wheatley Heights

347 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 12 of them National Historic Landmarks.

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents14.8 +46%
Playgrounds per 10k12.7 +35%
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k4.2 −62%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi1.5 7.2×

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars25.6 +23%
Shops39.7 +31%
Arts, recreation and fitness6.6 +61%
Doctors' offices and clinics24.4 +21%
Child care centers2.7 +17%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Public school students11
222,431
above the median place (median 4,897)
Public schools11
342
above the median place (median 9)
Students per teacher11
11.4
26% below the median place
All 16 schools and local life measures
MeasureWheatley HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools11County figure342above (median 9)
Public school students11County figure222,431above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher11County figure11.426% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure25.623% above
Shops per 10k8County figure39.731% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure6.661% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure24.421% above
Child care centers per 10k8County figure2.717% above
Parks per 10k914.846% above
Playgrounds per 10k912.735% above
Grocery stores per 10k90.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k94.262% below
Libraries per 10k90.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails90.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi91.5above (median 0.2)
National Register listings10County figure347above (median 13)
06

Safety, weather and risk

Hurricane risk is 96.8, 37% above the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Wheatley Heights. Larger places are fetched first.

Hurricane risk13
96.8
37% above the median place
July average high12
82°F
5% below the median place
Natural hazard risk13
97.3
5% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureWheatley HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high12County figure82°F5% below
January average low12County figure24°F5% below
Average temperature12County figure53°F4% below
Annual precipitation12County figure45.5 in4% above
Natural hazard risk13County figure97.35% above
Hurricane risk13County figure96.837% above
Tornado risk13County figure74.88% below
Wildfire risk13County figure73.420% above
Heat wave risk13County figure94.75% above
Median air quality index14County figure415% below
Good air days14County figure72.6%6% above
08

Wheatley Heights in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 18% of the median income in 2030, up from 17% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,688/mo (2024)$2,180/mo$1,790 to $2,660/mo+4.4%
Median household income$118,036 (2024)$146,500$124,000 to $173,500+3.7%
Median home value$538,200 (2024)$759,000$551,000 to $1,045,000+5.9%

The median home would be worth 5.2 years of the median income in 2030, against 4.6 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Wheatley Heights

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Riverdale Park, MD$1,679$120,043Compare
Pleasant View, UT$1,741$129,462Compare
Abington, MA$1,724$125,400Compare
West Richland, WA$1,590$119,892Compare
West Richland, WAAbington, MAPleasant View, UTRiverdale Park, MDWheatley Heights, NYWheatley HeightsRiverdale ParkPleasant ViewAbingtonWest RichlandWheatley HeightsRiverdale ParkPleasant ViewAbingtonWest Richland

Common questions

Is Wheatley Heights a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Owning with a mortgage costs about $1,809 a month more than the median rent, a wider gap than in 97% of the 2,469 places under 10,000 people we track. 78% of renter households spend 30% or more of income on rent, a higher share than in 97% of places its size. On cost, space and class size it scores 93 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Wheatley Heights expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 17.2% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $538,200.

What salary do you need to live in Wheatley Heights?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $67,520 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Wheatley Heights?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Riverdale Park, MD, Pleasant View, UT, Abington, MA and West Richland, WA.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  11. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  12. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  13. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  14. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Wheatley Heights with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Wheatley Heights itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/wheatley-heights-new-york

Citytistics. “Wheatley Heights, New York.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/wheatley-heights-new-york/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.