The Town FilesBarnum Island, New York
Community in Nassau County · population 2,590 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $755,100
- Household income
- $116,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 50.8
Barnum Island is a community of 2,590 people in Nassau County, New York. The median home is worth $755,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more seaside character than 95% of New York towns, better transit than 88% of New York towns, more vibrant than 86% of New York towns.
How Barnum Island ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Barnum Island is worth $755,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 6.5 times the median household income of $116,250, which is more affordable than 6% of New York towns. Median rent is $3,500 a month. 81.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barnum Island | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $755,100 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $3,500 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $116,250 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.6% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.5% | — |
Who lives in Barnum Island
| People | Barnum Island | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.6% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 21.8% | — |
| Work from home | 21.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 53.2 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Barnum Island
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 26.0°F. About 48.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 89 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnum Island since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 7, 1998 about 3.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 13, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Nassau County since 1996
Nassau County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 30, 2024 | Flood | DR-4755: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4615: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3572: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| October 2, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4567: Tropical Storm Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Nassau County
Nassau County had 631,563 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,454 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Barnum Island itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Towns near Barnum Island
- Island Park, NY0.6 mi · 4,928 people · home $574,500
- Long Beach, NY1.8 mi · 35,029 people · home $696,400
- Oceanside, NY2.0 mi · 32,637 people · home $634,300
- Lido Beach, NY2.3 mi · 2,719 people · home $896,000
- Hempstead, NY2.7 mi · 793,409 people · home $640,800
- East Rockaway, NY3.0 mi · 10,159 people · home $621,300
- Baldwin, NY3.6 mi · 33,919 people · home $593,800
- Hewlett, NY3.7 mi · 7,262 people · home $654,500
Barnum Island questions
Is Barnum Island, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barnum Island scores better for retirees than 61% of New York towns and quieter than 71%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.8).
How much does a house cost in Barnum Island?
The median owner-occupied home in Barnum Island is valued at $755,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $116,250, so homes cost about 6.5 times income. Median rent is $3,500 a month.
What is the weather like in Barnum Island?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 26.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.6 inches of precipitation a year and 25.5 inches of snow.
Does Barnum Island get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnum Island since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 7, 1998. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)