Is South Hempstead, NY a Good Place to Live?
South Hempstead is a small town of 3,135 in New York, with a median household income of $153,088 and a 2.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.
Strengths: South Hempstead stands out for solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes. Whether South Hempstead is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All South Hempstead 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: 112.5South Hempstead's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in South Hempstead costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.
| Metric | South Hempstead, NY | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $569,600 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,969 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 96.6% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $153,088 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeSouth Hempstead's violent crime rate is 133.0 per 100,000 residents — 65% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
South Hempstead is served primarily by ROCKVILLE CENTRE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | South Hempstead, NY | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | ROCKVILLE CENTRE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| Elementary Schools | 5 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 10.2:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.1% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 98.4% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
South Hempstead sees average highs of 39.3°F in January and 81.8°F in July, with 48.6 inches of annual precipitation and 25.5 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | South Hempstead, NY |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 39.3°F |
| Average High — July | 81.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" |
Demographics
| Metric | South Hempstead, NY | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,135 | — |
| Median Age | 46.1 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.0% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 30.9 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 70.5% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 15.4% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 12.8% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.7% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 17.6% | 16.8% |