Census-designated place · New York
Shirley, New York
Shirley, census-designated place, in Suffolk County, New York. Shirley had 28,375 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±2,099). GEOID 3667070.
Residents, 2020-2024
28,375
±2,099 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 26,360
Median household income
$112,788
±$16,492 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974
Median home value
$424,900
±$14,998 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800
Median gross rent
$2,056
±$435 (90% margin)
New York: $1,621
Where is Shirley and what county is it in?
Shirley 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 11.3 square miles of land, 2,330 residents per square mile in 2020.
Shirley is in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 22 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Shirley lies entirely within the Town of Brookhaven, 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 Shirley, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Shirley's population at 28,375 (±2,099). The 2020 Census counted 26,360 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Shirley is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Shirley | Suffolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 28,375 ±2,099 | 1,530,146 | no clear change |
| Households | 8,483 ±506 | 512,565 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 3.32 ±0.17 | 2.93 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 8,804 ±519 | 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 Shirley?
The median resident of Shirley is 40.3 years old; 22.7% are under 18 and 12.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 54.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 30.4%. 16.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Shirley | Suffolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 ±2.3 | 41.7 | +4.8 |
| Under 18 years | 22.7% ±2.3 pts | 20.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 12.9% ±1.9 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Male | 51.8% ±2.0 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 30.4% ±5.2 pts | 22.8% | +9.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 54.8% ±5.0 pts | 62.0% | −12.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 7.3% ±1.9 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.2% ±1.4 pts | 4.4% | – |
| 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 | 3.1% ±1.4 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 16.0% ±3.2 pts | 16.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 30.0% ±5.2 pts | 24.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.3% ±1.0 pts | 4.0% | – |
| With a disability | 11.0% ±1.9 pts | 10.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.4% ±1.4 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.7% ±2.6 pts | 90.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 18.9% ±2.7 pts | 40.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.0% ±1.3 pts | 18.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.3% ±3.3 pts | 92.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.1% ±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 Shirley earn?
Half of Shirley's 8,483 households earn less than $112,788 a year (±$16,492), against $130,686 in Suffolk County and $85,974 in New York. In 2015-2019 it was $107,368 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Shirley | Suffolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $112,788 ±$16,492 | $130,686 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $164,112 ±$41,849 | $166,220 | – |
| Per capita income | $49,162 ±$10,699 | $57,164 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 6.5% ±1.5 pts | 6.4% | −5.6 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.6% ±2.9 pts | 7.1% | −13.9 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.6% ±2.3 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.0% ±3.4 pts | 96.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.0% ±3.5 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 Shirley?
Owners occupy 92.2% of Shirley's occupied homes and renters 7.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $424,900 by its owner (±$14,998). The median renter pays $2,056 a month including utilities, and 63.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Shirley | Suffolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $424,900 ±$14,998 | $578,400 | +$98,028 |
| Median gross rent | $2,056 ±$435 | $2,255 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 63.3% ±17.6 pts | 49.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,712 ±$85 | $3,320 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 92.2% ±2.2 pts | 82.2% | +9.9 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 7.8% ±2.2 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Housing units | 8,804 ±519 | 580,772 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±5.9 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 94.2% ±2.1 pts | 79.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.0% ±0.8 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.3% ±1.2 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.1% ±1.2 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.0% ±1.5 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 Shirley work and get to work?
77.1% of Shirley's workers drive alone and 6.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 33.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.4%.
| Measure | Shirley | Suffolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.7% ±3.8 pts | 65.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.4% ±2.7 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 77.1% ±3.4 pts | 72.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 12.1% ±3.1 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.9% ±0.8 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Walked | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.5% ±2.0 pts | 12.0% | +3.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 33.2 min ±1.9 | 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 Shirley?
6 census tracts lie mostly in Shirley, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $92,941 (Tract 1595.18) to $143,287 (Tract 1594.07).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1594.07Suffolk County | 8,771 | $143,287 |
| Tract 1595.13Suffolk County | 5,361 | $94,537 |
| Tract 1595.18Suffolk County | 5,058 | $92,941 |
| Tract 1595.17Suffolk County | 3,784 | $112,372 |
| Tract 1594.08Suffolk County | 3,261 | $110,865 |
| Tract 1595.14Suffolk County | 3,072 | $139,083 |
| Tract 1595.10Suffolk County | 231 | $153,542 |
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 Shirley) · Census block assignment files
How does Shirley compare with other places in New York?
Shirley ranks 385th 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) | 108th | 1,657 |
| Residents per square mile | 377th | 1,657 |
| Median household income | 385th | 1,623 |
| Per capita income | 585th | 1,653 |
| Median home value | 423rd | 1,637 |
| Median gross rent | 263rd | 1,515 |
| Poverty rate | 1,001st | 1,331 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,403rd | 1,640 |
| Median age | 1,171st | 1,654 |
| Owner-occupied share | 181st | 1,639 |
| Work from home | 1,210th | 1,350 |
| Travel time to work | 317th | 1,652 |
Shirley's figures with every place in New York (CSV)
Every place in New York, sortable · Compare Shirley 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 Shirley?
9 of the 57 figures for Shirley 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 Shirley 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.