The Town FilesNorthwest Harbor, New York
Community in Suffolk County · population 4,637 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,573,300
- Household income
- $160,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 47.9
Northwest Harbor is a community of 4,637 people in Suffolk County, New York. The median home is worth $1,573,300, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of New York towns, better for retirees than 98% of New York towns, more seaside character than 95% of New York towns.
- #2 in 25 Small Towns in New York With the Most Remote Workers
- #3 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New York With the Fewest Tornadoes
- #6 in The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in New York
- #10 in The 50 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in America
- #11 in The 50 Best Vacation-Home Places in America
- #15 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New York
How Northwest Harbor 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 Northwest Harbor is worth $1,573,300, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 9.8 times the median household income of $160,375, which is more affordable than 1% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,807 a month. 82.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Northwest Harbor | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,573,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,807 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $160,375 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 9.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.3% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 41.6% | — |
Who lives in Northwest Harbor
| People | Northwest Harbor | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.9 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.6% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 26.3% | — |
| Work from home | 42.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.2% | 91.1% |
Weather in Northwest Harbor
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 23.0°F. About 49.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.8 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Northwest Harbor since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F1, struck on August 10, 1979 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 10, 1979.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 30, 2003.
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 Northwest Harbor itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Towns near Northwest Harbor
- East Hampton North, NY3.3 mi · 5,377 people · home $1,077,000
- Springs, NY3.4 mi · 8,086 people · home $948,500
- Sag Harbor, NY3.8 mi · 2,772 people · home $1,615,900
- Shelter Island, NY6.3 mi · 3,253 people · home $1,104,300
- Bridgehampton, NY6.7 mi · 2,953 people · home $1,764,800
- Noyack, NY7.0 mi · 4,325 people · home $1,085,500
- East Hampton, NY8.1 mi · 28,385 people · home $1,178,500
- Water Mill, NY9.3 mi · 2,506 people · home $2,000,001
Northwest Harbor questions
Is Northwest Harbor, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Northwest Harbor scores better for retirees than 98% of New York towns and quieter than 68%. 24.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.9).
How much does a house cost in Northwest Harbor?
The median owner-occupied home in Northwest Harbor is valued at $1,573,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $160,375, so homes cost about 9.8 times income. Median rent is $1,807 a month.
What is the weather like in Northwest Harbor?
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 23.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.8 inches of precipitation a year and 26.8 inches of snow.
Does Northwest Harbor get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Northwest Harbor since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on August 10, 1979. 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)