Town · New York
Town of Brookhaven, New York
Brookhaven (town), town, in Suffolk County, New York. Brookhaven (town) had 496,410 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 485,773 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 489,810 (±63). GEOID 3610310000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
496,410
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 485,773 · ACS 2020-2024: 489,810 ±63
Median household income
$120,110
±$2,568 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974
Median home value
$489,200
±$3,133 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800
Median gross rent
$2,314
±$46 (90% margin)
New York: $1,621
Where is Brookhaven (town) and what county is it in?
Brookhaven (town) is a town in Suffolk County, New York. It covers 259.6 square miles of land, 1,871 residents per square mile in 2020.
44 places lie inside the Town of Brookhaven, the largest Coram (CDP, 40,220 residents in 2020); 2 places lie partly in it.
- Coram CDP, 40,220 in 2020
- Centereach CDP, 30,980 in 2020
- Shirley CDP, 26,360 in 2020
- Medford CDP, 24,247 in 2020
- East Patchogue CDP, 21,580 in 2020
- Selden CDP, 21,262 in 2020
- Holtsville CDP, 18,937 in 2020
- Lake Ronkonkoma CDP, 18,619 in 2020
- Mastic CDP, 15,404 in 2020
- Farmingville CDP, 14,983 in 2020
- Manorville CDP, 14,317 in 2020
- Mastic Beach CDP, 14,199 in 2020
- Rocky Point CDP, 13,633 in 2020
- Stony Brook CDP, 13,467 in 2020
- Ridge CDP, 13,271 in 2020
- Patchogue village, 12,408 in 2020
- North Bellport CDP, 11,900 in 2020
- Miller Place CDP, 11,723 in 2020
- Mount Sinai CDP, 11,623 in 2020
- Terryville CDP, 11,472 in 2020
- Lake Grove village, 11,072 in 2020
- East Setauket CDP, 10,998 in 2020
- Middle Island CDP, 10,546 in 2020
- Stony Brook University CDP, 10,409 in 2020
- Center Moriches CDP, 8,046 in 2020
- Port Jefferson village, 7,962 in 2020
- Port Jefferson Station CDP, 7,950 in 2020
- Sound Beach CDP, 7,416 in 2020
- East Shoreham CDP, 6,841 in 2020
- North Patchogue CDP, 6,751 in 2020
- Yaphank CDP, 5,974 in 2020
- East Moriches CDP, 5,946 in 2020
- Blue Point CDP, 5,156 in 2020
- Setauket CDP, 3,986 in 2020
- Gordon Heights CDP, 3,981 in 2020
- Brookhaven CDP, 3,330 in 2020
- Moriches CDP, 3,026 in 2020
- Eastport CDP, 2,219 in 2020
- Bellport village, 2,203 in 2020
- Poquott village, 903 in 2020
- Old Field village, 893 in 2020
- Belle Terre village, 808 in 2020
- Fire Island CDP, 777 in 2020
- Shoreham village, 561 in 2020
- Holbrook CDP, partly in the town
- Calverton CDP, partly in the town
Brookhaven (town) is in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 22 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Brookhaven (town), and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 496,410 people lived in Brookhaven (town) on July 1, 2025, up 2.2% since 2020, while New York shrank 1.0%. The 2020 Census counted 485,773 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 489,810 (±63).
| Measure | Brookhaven (town) | Suffolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 489,810±63 | 1,530,146 | +6,264 |
| Households | 166,521±1,615 | 512,565 | +5,306 |
| Average household size | 2.85±0.03 | 2.93 | −0.06 |
| Housing units | 179,374±1,649 | 580,772 | +3,486 |
Brookhaven (town)'s population since 2000
From 448,248 in 2000 to 496,410 in 2025: up 10.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Brookhaven (town) as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Brookhaven (town)?
The median resident of Brookhaven (town) is 39.9 years old; 21.3% are under 18 and 16.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 66.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 18.6%. 13.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Brookhaven (town) | Suffolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9±0.5 | 41.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.3%±0.4 pts | 20.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.6%±0.4 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Male | 49.5%±0.4 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 18.6%±0.8 pts | 22.8% | +2.6 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 66.5%±0.9 pts | 62.0% | −5.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 5.9%±0.4 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 5.1%±0.4 pts | 4.4% | +0.6 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.2%±0.3 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 13.5%±0.6 pts | 16.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 20.3%±0.8 pts | 24.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.3%±0.2 pts | 4.0% | – |
| With a disability | 11.0%±0.5 pts | 10.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.7%±0.3 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.9%±0.5 pts | 90.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.9%±0.9 pts | 40.2% | +3.3 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 16.8%±0.7 pts | 18.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.7%±0.6 pts | 92.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.9%±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Brookhaven (town) earn?
Half of Brookhaven (town)'s 166,521 households earn less than $120,110 a year (±$2,568), against $130,686 in Suffolk County and $85,974 in New York. In 2015-2019 it was $119,082 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Brookhaven (town) | Suffolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $120,110±$2,568 | $130,686 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $145,946±$3,396 | $166,220 | – |
| Per capita income | $50,807±$988 | $57,164 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 7.0%±0.5 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.6%±1.2 pts | 7.1% | −2.8 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.7%±0.6 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.4%±0.5 pts | 96.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.4%±0.5 pts | 93.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Brookhaven (town)?
Owners occupy 80.9% of Brookhaven (town)'s occupied homes and renters 19.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $489,200 by its owner (±$3,133). The median renter pays $2,314 a month including utilities, and 52.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Brookhaven (town) | Suffolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $489,200±$3,133 | $578,400 | +$61,903 |
| Median gross rent | $2,314±$46 | $2,255 | +$134 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 52.6%±2.5 pts | 49.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,101±$34 | $3,320 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 80.9%±0.9 pts | 82.2% | +1.7 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 19.1%±0.9 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Housing units | 179,374±1,649 | 580,772 | +3,486 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6%±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.4%±0.9 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 78.1%±0.8 pts | 79.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.3%±0.1 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.8%±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.8%±0.4 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.2%±0.5 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.5%±0.4 pts | 5.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Brookhaven (town) building?
Builders took permits for 286 new housing units in Brookhaven (town) in 2025 (266 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 10 of 12 months), 0.6 per 1,000 residents against 1.9 across New York.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Brookhaven (town) work and get to work?
76.4% of Brookhaven (town)'s workers drive alone and 9.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.2%.
| Measure | Brookhaven (town) | Suffolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.5%±0.7 pts | 65.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2%±0.4 pts | 4.7% | +0.8 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 76.4%±0.7 pts | 72.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.7%±0.6 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 3.3%±0.4 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Walked | 1.3%±0.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.9%±0.6 pts | 12.0% | +6.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 32.3 min±0.6 | 31.1 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Brookhaven (town)?
119 census tracts lie mostly in Brookhaven (town), and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $49,320 (Tract 1584.10) to $238,750 (Tract 1580.16).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1580.15Suffolk County | 8,883 | not published |
| Tract 1594.07Suffolk County | 8,771 | $143,287 |
| Tract 1585.14Suffolk County | 7,936 | $137,760 |
| Tract 1594.10Suffolk County | 7,176 | $168,905 |
| Tract 1583.04Suffolk County | 6,910 | $149,280 |
| Tract 1591.08Suffolk County | 6,900 | $124,490 |
| Tract 1587.12Suffolk County | 6,823 | $128,170 |
| Tract 1585.10Suffolk County | 6,800 | $115,024 |
| Tract 1595.16Suffolk County | 6,718 | $120,318 |
| Tract 1581.19Suffolk County | 6,687 | $125,313 |
| Tract 1595.11Suffolk County | 6,967 | $84,515 |
| Tract 1583.27Suffolk County | 6,495 | $120,721 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Brookhaven (town)) · Census block assignment files
How does Brookhaven (town) compare with other places in New York?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Brookhaven (town) is the 2nd-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 2nd-most populous of 924 in New York.
Brookhaven (town) ranks 332nd of 1,623 places in New York with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 2nd | 924 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 135th | 1,225 |
| Residents per square mile | 450th | 1,657 |
| Median household income | 332nd | 1,623 |
| Per capita income | 532nd | 1,653 |
| Median home value | 347th | 1,637 |
| Median gross rent | 155th | 1,515 |
| Poverty rate | 939th | 1,331 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 695th | 1,640 |
| Median age | 1,203rd | 1,654 |
| Owner-occupied share | 738th | 1,639 |
| Work from home | 925th | 1,350 |
| Travel time to work | 374th | 1,652 |
Brookhaven (town)'s figures with every place in New York (CSV)
Every place in New York, sortable · Compare Brookhaven (town) with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Brookhaven (town)?
2 of the 57 figures for Brookhaven (town) on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Brookhaven (town) are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.