Median Income
$109,821
household / year
Median Home Value
$355,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$2,010
gross / month
Cost of Living
112
national avg = 100

Is Shirley, NY a Good Place to Live?

Shirley is a small city of 26,498 in New York, with a median household income of $109,821 and a 6.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Shirley stands out for solid school ratings (B-).

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

All Shirley 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

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

Metric Shirley, NY National Avg
Median Home Value $355,600 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $2,010 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 91.2% 65.9%
Median Household Income $109,821 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Shirley'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

Shirley is served primarily by WILLIAM FLOYD UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Shirley, NY National Avg
School District WILLIAM FLOYD UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT —
Elementary Schools 6 —
Middle Schools 2 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.7:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 19.5% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 89.4% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Shirley sees average highs of 39.2°F in January and 82.5°F in July, with 44.2 inches of annual precipitation and 31.8 inches of snow per year.

MetricShirley, NY
Average High — January39.2°F
Average High — July82.5°F
Annual Precipitation44.2"
Annual Snowfall31.8"

Demographics

MetricShirley, NYNational Avg
Population26,498—
Median Age40.438.9
Unemployment Rate6.4%3.7%
Avg Commute Time34.5 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)73.5%59.3%
Black or African American7.7%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino10.5%18.9%
Asian5.4%6.3%
Under 1822.4%22.2%
65 and over13.2%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Mastic, NY 2 mi Brookhaven, NY 2 mi Moriches, NY 3 mi Mastic Beach, NY 3 mi North Bellport, NY 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Shirley

Shirley, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

11967

Shirley vs Other Cities

Shirley, NY vs Mastic, NY Shirley, NY vs Brookhaven, NY Shirley, NY vs Moriches, NY Shirley, NY vs Mastic Beach, NY Shirley, NY vs North Bellport, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Shirley's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Shirley roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $355,600 and median rent is $2,010/month.
Shirley'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.
Public schools in Shirley are operated by WILLIAM FLOYD UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. 19.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Shirley, NY has a population of 26,498, a median household income of $109,821, and an unemployment rate of 6.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Shirley averages 39.2°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.2 inches with about 31.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Shirley, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 11967.
The population of Shirley, New York is 26,498 with a median age of 40.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Shirley: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $355,600, median household income $109,821, crime index 35 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shirley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.