Is West Islip, NY a Good Place to Live?
West Islip is a small city of 27,192 in New York, with a median household income of $161,792 and a 4.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.
Strengths: West Islip 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 West Islip is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All West Islip 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: 112.5West Islip's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in West Islip costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.
| Metric | West Islip, NY | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $546,800 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,358 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 96.8% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $161,792 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeWest Islip's violent crime rate is 81.3 per 100,000 residents — 79% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
West Islip is served primarily by WEST ISLIP UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | West Islip, NY | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | WEST ISLIP UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| Elementary Schools | 4 | — |
| Middle Schools | 2 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 10.7:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.3% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 96.0% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
West Islip sees average highs of 38.9°F in January and 82.8°F in July, with 47.5 inches of annual precipitation and 31.8 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | West Islip, NY |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 38.9°F |
| Average High — July | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.8" |
Demographics
| Metric | West Islip, NY | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,192 | — |
| Median Age | 40.5 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 31.7 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 87.8% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.7% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 6.0% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 2.2% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 14.1% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in West Islip
West Islip, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: