What are the schools like in Riverhead, NY?

Riverhead is served primarily by RIVERHEAD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.4:1.

What is the median household income in Riverhead?

The median household income in Riverhead, NY is $73,197 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.2%.

What is the weather like in Riverhead, NY?

Riverhead has an average high temperature of 39.7°F in January and 83.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 26.8 inches.

Riverhead, NY Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Riverhead, NY affordable or expensive?

Riverhead's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Riverhead is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $410,000 and the median rent is $1,833 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Riverhead, NY?

Riverhead has a violent crime rate of 81.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1157.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Riverhead, NY a Good Place to Live?

Riverhead is a small city of 14,388 in New York, with a median household income of $73,197 and a 9.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Riverhead's profile is close to national averages across most measures.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Riverhead is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Riverhead city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 112.5

Riverhead's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Riverhead costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Riverhead, NY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$410,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,833	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$73,197	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Riverhead's violent crime rate is 81.3 per 100,000 residents — 79% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

81.3 /100k

Property Crime

1157.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Riverhead is served primarily by RIVERHEAD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Riverhead, NY	National Avg
School District	RIVERHEAD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	74.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Riverhead sees average highs of 39.7°F in January and 83.9°F in July, with 47.2 inches of annual precipitation and 26.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Riverhead, NY
Average High — January	39.7°F
Average High — July	83.9°F
Annual Precipitation	47.2"
Annual Snowfall	26.8"

Demographics

Metric	Riverhead, NY	National Avg
Population	14,388	—
Median Age	44.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	56.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	13.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	23.2%	18.9%
Asian	2.8%	6.3%
Under 18	20.3%	22.2%
65 and over	25.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Northville, NY 3 mi Riverside, NY 3 mi Aquebogue, NY 3 mi Baiting Hollow, NY 4 mi Jamesport, NY 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Riverhead

Riverhead, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

11901

Riverhead vs Other Cities

Riverhead, NY vs Northville, NY Riverhead, NY vs Riverside, NY Riverhead, NY vs Aquebogue, NY Riverhead, NY vs Baiting Hollow, NY Riverhead, NY vs Jamesport, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Riverhead, NY affordable or expensive?

Riverhead's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Riverhead roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $410,000 and median rent is $1,833/month.

What is the crime rate in Riverhead, NY?

Riverhead's violent crime rate is 81.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1157.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Riverhead?

Public schools in Riverhead are operated by RIVERHEAD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 16.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Riverhead, NY a good place to live?

Riverhead, NY has a population of 14,388, a median household income of $73,197, and an unemployment rate of 9.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Riverhead?

Riverhead averages 39.7°F in January and 83.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.2 inches with about 26.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Riverhead?

Riverhead, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 11901.

What is the population of Riverhead?

The population of Riverhead, New York is 14,388 with a median age of 44.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Riverhead?

Key numbers for living in Riverhead: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $410,000, median household income $73,197, crime index 35 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Riverhead side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.