City profile · New York · Census ACS 2023

Riverhead, NY

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Riverhead - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

15,073
Residents
$83,521
Median income
$449,000
Median home
$2,747
Median rent (state)

Riverhead - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Riverhead lands in the 65th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

65th
percentile, household income
81st
percentile, home value
94th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Riverhead, NY

15,073 people live in Riverhead, New York - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Riverhead households earn a median of $83,521 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.4%. Typical homes in Riverhead are valued around $449,000, and the median resident age is 44.1 years. 18.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 51.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 6 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

New York carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, New York scores 107.9 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,747 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $285 across New York, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 97.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

15,073 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New York

Median Household Income

$83,521 /yr

Poverty 6.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.9 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New York average

How does Riverhead compare to other US cities?

Where Riverhead sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 65% higher than other cities
Home value 81% pricier than other cities
Median rent 94% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Riverhead against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to New York only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

New York-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Riverhead toward the bottom of New York's cities

Among the 1,254 New York cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Riverhead ranks #1,063 - the 15th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Riverhead only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#578 of 1,205
52nd percentile in New York
Median Gross Rent
#142 of 1,256
68th percentile in New York
Median Home Value
#356 of 1,202
70th percentile in New York
Poverty Rate
#485 of 1,246
61st percentile in New York
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,063 of 1,254
15th percentile in New York

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within New York only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

65thIncome percentile

65th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Riverhead's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$449,000 19th percentile more affordable than 19% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Riverhead $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Riverhead, NY Riverhead, NY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Riverhead, NY-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Riverhead, NY median $83,521/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Riverhead, NY's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Riverhead, NY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
15,073
Median Income
$83,521
Median Home Value
$449,000
Median Age
44.1
Poverty Rate
6.4%
Labor force participation
51.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.0%

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.6%
Carpool
7.8%
Public Transit
0.4%
Walk
3.4%
Work from Home
4.0%
Other
1.8%

Based on 6,184 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New York - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$65
avg/month
Total Utilities
$285
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New York state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a New York state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Riverhead sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.9
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,747/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
97.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New York

Depew
15,065 people
Kenmore
15,097 people
Tonawanda
15,044 people
Mastic
15,031 people
Johnson City
15,130 people
Gloversville
15,010 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Riverhead's 15,073 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

West Park, FL
15,076 people
Laurinburg, NC
15,079 people
Beech Grove, IN
15,082 people
Berkley, MI
15,084 people
Rossville, MD
15,088 people
Gantt, SC
15,057 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Riverhead's $83,521 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Carrollton, MS
$83,523 median income
Quail Creek, TX
$83,523 median income
North Plainfield, NJ
$83,529 median income
Rancho Viejo, TX
$83,512 median income
Sussex, VA
$83,531 median income
Lawndale, CA
$83,538 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Riverhead, NY Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Riverhead, NY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 50.1% 12.3% 19.3% 14.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 33.1% White 50.1% Black or African American 12.3% Asian 3.1% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 19.3% Two or more races 14.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Riverhead compares to nearby New York cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Riverhead (this city) 15,073 $83,521
Depew 15,065 $75,226
Kenmore 15,097 $75,768
Tonawanda 15,044 $61,619
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NY NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Riverhead, NY?

What is the population of Riverhead, NY? +

Riverhead, NY counts 15,073 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Riverhead, NY? +

Median annual household income in Riverhead runs $83,521, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Riverhead? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Riverhead; the closest available measure is the New York state average, a cost of living index of 107.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New York vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Riverhead, NY? +

A typical home in Riverhead is worth $449,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.