Census-designated place · New York
Ronkonkoma, New York
Ronkonkoma, census-designated place, in Suffolk County, New York. Ronkonkoma had 18,709 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,654). GEOID 3663473.
Residents, 2020-2024
18,709
±1,654 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 18,955
Median household income
$121,673
±$8,489 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974
Median home value
$489,100
±$15,400 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800
Median gross rent
$2,345
±$139 (90% margin)
New York: $1,621
Where is Ronkonkoma and what county is it in?
Ronkonkoma is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Suffolk County, New York. It covers 8.1 square miles of land, 2,338 residents per square mile in 2020.
Ronkonkoma is in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 22 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Ronkonkoma lies entirely within the Town of Islip, a town with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Ronkonkoma, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Ronkonkoma's population at 18,709 (±1,654). The 2020 Census counted 18,955 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Ronkonkoma is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Ronkonkoma | Suffolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 18,709 ±1,654 | 1,530,146 | no clear change |
| Households | 6,133 ±440 | 512,565 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 3.04 ±0.15 | 2.93 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,534 ±436 | 580,772 | no clear change |
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 Ronkonkoma?
The median resident of Ronkonkoma is 38.2 years old; 22.2% are under 18 and 13.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 62.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 24.7%. 14.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Ronkonkoma | Suffolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 ±2.5 | 41.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.2% ±4.2 pts | 20.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.7% ±2.0 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Male | 49.7% ±1.9 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 24.7% ±7.0 pts | 22.8% | +11.1 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 62.4% ±5.9 pts | 62.0% | −10.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 5.4% ±2.1 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 6.1% ±2.4 pts | 4.4% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.2% ±0.8 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 14.5% ±3.1 pts | 16.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 22.3% ±3.7 pts | 24.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.0% ±1.3 pts | 4.0% | – |
| With a disability | 9.7% ±1.9 pts | 10.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.0% ±0.7 pts | 4.7% | −1.4 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.3% ±1.8 pts | 90.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 33.5% ±3.9 pts | 40.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 15.1% ±3.7 pts | 18.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.8% ±2.0 pts | 92.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.4% ±0.3 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 Ronkonkoma earn?
Half of Ronkonkoma's 6,133 households earn less than $121,673 a year (±$8,489), against $130,686 in Suffolk County and $85,974 in New York. In 2015-2019 the median was $130,988 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $9,315 after inflation. 3.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Ronkonkoma | Suffolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $121,673 ±$8,489 | $130,686 | −$9,315 |
| Mean household income | $138,136 ±$7,446 | $166,220 | – |
| Per capita income | $45,766 ±$3,259 | $57,164 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 3.3% ±1.1 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 3.1% ±2.2 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.8% ±2.3 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.9% ±3.8 pts | 96.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.8% ±1.9 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 Ronkonkoma?
Owners occupy 81.9% of Ronkonkoma's occupied homes and renters 18.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $489,100 by its owner (±$15,400). The median renter pays $2,345 a month including utilities, and 49.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Ronkonkoma | Suffolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $489,100 ±$15,400 | $578,400 | +$63,403 |
| Median gross rent | $2,345 ±$139 | $2,255 | +$276 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 49.9% ±13.0 pts | 49.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,121 ±$95 | $3,320 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 81.9% ±3.9 pts | 82.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 18.1% ±3.9 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Housing units | 6,534 ±436 | 580,772 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 10.7% ±8.1 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 79.9% ±3.3 pts | 79.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.3% ±0.9 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 9.6% ±3.9 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.0% ±4.7 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 do people in Ronkonkoma work and get to work?
80.0% of Ronkonkoma's workers drive alone and 8.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.7%.
| Measure | Ronkonkoma | Suffolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 71.9% ±2.7 pts | 65.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.7% ±3.7 pts | 4.7% | +4.3 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 80.0% ±3.0 pts | 72.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.1% ±2.2 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 3.2% ±1.3 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Walked | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.1% ±2.0 pts | 12.0% | +6.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 32.1 min ±2.6 | 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 Ronkonkoma?
5 census tracts lie mostly in Ronkonkoma (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $101,420 (Tract 1458.10) to $148,299 (Tract 1458.07).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1466.18Suffolk County | 5,996 | $121,903 |
| Tract 1458.07Suffolk County | 4,407 | $148,299 |
| Tract 1458.10Suffolk County | 3,281 | $101,420 |
| Tract 1458.08Suffolk County | 3,143 | $116,875 |
| Tract 1458.09Suffolk County | 1,882 | $131,528 |
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 Ronkonkoma) · Census block assignment files
How does Ronkonkoma compare with other places in New York?
Ronkonkoma ranks 316th 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 (ACS 2020-2024) | 178th | 1,657 |
| Residents per square mile | 375th | 1,657 |
| Median household income | 316th | 1,623 |
| Per capita income | 709th | 1,653 |
| Median home value | 348th | 1,637 |
| Median gross rent | 145th | 1,515 |
| Poverty rate | 1,268th | 1,331 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 781st | 1,640 |
| Median age | 1,340th | 1,654 |
| Owner-occupied share | 678th | 1,639 |
| Work from home | 1,096th | 1,350 |
| Travel time to work | 385th | 1,652 |
Ronkonkoma's figures with every place in New York (CSV)
Every place in New York, sortable · Compare Ronkonkoma 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 Ronkonkoma?
12 of the 57 figures for Ronkonkoma 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 Ronkonkoma 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.