The Town FilesMontauk, New York
Community in Suffolk County · population 4,318 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,356,600
- Household income
- $142,961
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 44.7
Montauk is a community of 4,318 people in Suffolk County, New York. The median home is worth $1,356,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of New York towns, more seaside character than 95% of New York towns, better for retirees than 94% of New York towns.
- #1 in 25 Small Towns in New York With the Mildest Winters
- #1 in The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in New York
- #2 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New York With the Fewest Tornadoes
- #11 in The 50 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in America
- #12 in The 50 Best Vacation-Home Places in America
- #21 in 25 Small Towns in New York With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
How Montauk 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 Montauk is worth $1,356,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 9.5 times the median household income of $142,961, which is more affordable than 2% of New York towns. Median rent is $2,313 a month. 78.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Montauk | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,356,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $2,313 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $142,961 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 9.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.7% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 61.2% | — |
Who lives in Montauk
| People | Montauk | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.1% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.1% | — |
| Work from home | 20.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 91.1% |
Weather in Montauk
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 27.7°F. About 44.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.8 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 74 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Montauk since 1950.
Severe weather in Suffolk County since 1996
Suffolk County has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 21, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4839: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| August 25, 2024 | Severe Storm | EM-3613: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 15, 2023 | Snowstorm | DR-4694: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4615: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3572: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Suffolk County
Suffolk County had 679,594 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,121 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Montauk itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Montauk
1 public school with 297 students, about 7.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MONTAUK SCHOOL | PK-8 | 297 | 7.4 |
Towns near Montauk
- East Hampton, NY8.9 mi · 28,385 people · home $1,178,500
- Springs, NY11.2 mi · 8,086 people · home $948,500
- East Hampton North, NY13.7 mi · 5,377 people · home $1,077,000
- Northwest Harbor, NY14.5 mi · 4,637 people · home $1,573,300
- Sag Harbor, NY18.2 mi · 2,772 people · home $1,615,900
- Shelter Island, NY19.5 mi · 3,253 people · home $1,104,300
- Bridgehampton, NY20.1 mi · 2,953 people · home $1,764,800
- Groton, CT20.2 mi · 9,387 people · home $306,600
Montauk questions
Is Montauk, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Montauk scores better for retirees than 94% of New York towns and quieter than 82%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.7).
How much does a house cost in Montauk?
The median owner-occupied home in Montauk is valued at $1,356,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $142,961, so homes cost about 9.5 times income. Median rent is $2,313 a month.
What is the weather like in Montauk?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 27.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.3 inches of precipitation a year and 25.8 inches of snow.
Does Montauk get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Montauk in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)