Census-designated place · New York
West Hempstead, New York
West Hempstead, census-designated place, in Nassau County, New York. West Hempstead had 20,648 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,351). GEOID 3680225.
Residents, 2020-2024
20,648
±1,351 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 19,835
Median household income
$164,127
±$11,853 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974
Median home value
$653,600
±$16,344 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800
Median gross rent
$2,967
±$725 (90% margin)
New York: $1,621
Where is West Hempstead and what county is it in?
West Hempstead is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Nassau County, New York. It covers 2.7 square miles of land, 7,462 residents per square mile in 2020.
West Hempstead is in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 22 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
West Hempstead lies entirely within the Town of Hempstead, 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 West Hempstead, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts West Hempstead's population at 20,648 (±1,351). The 2020 Census counted 19,835 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; West Hempstead is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | West Hempstead | Nassau County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 20,648 ±1,351 | 1,389,591 | no clear change |
| Households | 6,121 ±351 | 458,166 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 3.36 ±0.16 | 2.99 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,311 ±349 | 479,044 | 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 West Hempstead?
The median resident of West Hempstead is 37.5 years old; 25.5% are under 18 and 16.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 57.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 21.9%. 20.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | West Hempstead | Nassau County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 ±2.5 | 42.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 25.5% ±2.3 pts | 21.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.4% ±1.8 pts | 18.7% | – |
| Male | 49.4% ±1.8 pts | 49.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 21.9% ±4.6 pts | 18.7% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 57.8% ±4.7 pts | 54.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 9.8% ±2.2 pts | 10.8% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 6.2% ±1.7 pts | 12.2% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±1.1 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.7% ±1.3 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 20.6% ±3.1 pts | 23.3% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 32.1% ±4.0 pts | 30.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.6% ±0.8 pts | 3.0% | – |
| With a disability | 8.4% ±1.2 pts | 9.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.5% ±1.9 pts | 3.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.7% ±2.2 pts | 92.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 50.4% ±3.5 pts | 49.7% | +10.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 23.7% ±2.8 pts | 22.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.1% ±3.7 pts | 93.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.5% ±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
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 West Hempstead earn?
Half of West Hempstead's 6,121 households earn less than $164,127 a year (±$11,853), against $146,202 in Nassau County and $85,974 in New York. In 2015-2019 it was $148,603 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 4.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | West Hempstead | Nassau County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $164,127 ±$11,853 | $146,202 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $176,137 ±$11,487 | $191,704 | – |
| Per capita income | $53,179 ±$3,433 | $64,198 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 4.5% ±1.8 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 3.0% ±2.3 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.1% ±2.0 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.8% ±1.5 pts | 96.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.0% ±2.0 pts | 94.8% | – |
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 West Hempstead?
Owners occupy 90.6% of West Hempstead's occupied homes and renters 9.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $653,600 by its owner (±$16,344). The median renter pays $2,967 a month including utilities, and 45.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | West Hempstead | Nassau County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $653,600 ±$16,344 | $684,700 | +$85,881 |
| Median gross rent | $2,967 ±$725 | $2,252 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 45.3% ±16.8 pts | 45.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,600 ±$178 | $3,795 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 90.6% ±2.3 pts | 81.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 9.4% ±2.3 pts | 18.1% | – |
| Housing units | 6,311 ±349 | 479,044 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.1% ±1.0 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.0% ±5.8 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 92.0% ±2.2 pts | 76.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.6% ±1.0 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 23.7% ±3.8 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.3% ±2.8 pts | 6.8% | – |
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 West Hempstead work and get to work?
64.5% of West Hempstead's workers drive alone and 15.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 35.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.5%.
| Measure | West Hempstead | Nassau County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.8% ±2.5 pts | 64.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% ±1.7 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 64.5% ±4.3 pts | 60.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.1% ±2.1 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 8.9% ±2.4 pts | 12.5% | – |
| Walked | 1.9% ±1.1 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.6% ±2.7 pts | 15.6% | +11.1 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 35.6 min ±2.3 | 36.0 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 West Hempstead?
5 census tracts lie mostly in West Hempstead (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $141,384 (Tract 4062.01) to $176,932 (Tract 4059).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 4059Nassau County | 5,775 | $176,932 |
| Tract 4060.01Nassau County | 5,142 | $164,194 |
| Tract 4060.02Nassau County | 3,519 | $172,656 |
| Tract 4062.01Nassau County | 3,287 | $141,384 |
| Tract 4061Nassau County | 2,925 | $146,026 |
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 West Hempstead) · Census block assignment files
How does West Hempstead compare with other places in New York?
West Hempstead ranks 122nd 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) | 157th | 1,657 |
| Residents per square mile | 65th | 1,657 |
| Median household income | 122nd | 1,623 |
| Per capita income | 465th | 1,653 |
| Median home value | 211th | 1,637 |
| Median gross rent | 54th | 1,515 |
| Poverty rate | 1,184th | 1,331 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 333rd | 1,640 |
| Median age | 1,390th | 1,654 |
| Owner-occupied share | 243rd | 1,639 |
| Work from home | 431st | 1,350 |
| Travel time to work | 206th | 1,652 |
West Hempstead's figures with every place in New York (CSV)
Every place in New York, sortable · Compare West Hempstead 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 West Hempstead?
9 of the 57 figures for West Hempstead 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 West Hempstead 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.