The Town FilesOyster Bay, New York
Town in Nassau County · population 301,332 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $708,600
- Household income
- $160,126
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 44.3
Oyster Bay is a town of 301,332 people in Nassau County, New York. The median home is worth $708,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more seaside character than 92% of New York towns, more vibrant than 90% of New York towns, more upscale than 90% of New York towns.
How Oyster Bay 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 Oyster Bay is worth $708,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $160,126, which is more affordable than 18% of New York towns. Median rent is $2,572 a month. 89.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oyster Bay | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $708,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $2,572 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $160,126 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Oyster Bay
| People | Oyster Bay | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 55.6% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.4% | — |
| Work from home | 18.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 34.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in Oyster Bay
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 25.1°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 88 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oyster Bay since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 18, 1973 about 9.6 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 32 times; the largest was 3.00 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 Oyster Bay itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Oyster Bay
3 public schools with 960 students, about 9.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| OYSTER BAY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 417 | 8.3 |
| THEODORE ROOSEVELT SCHOOL | PK-2 | 324 | 10.8 |
| OYSTER BAY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-8 | 219 | 8.1 |
Towns near Oyster Bay
- Syosset, NY1.1 mi · 19,259 people · home $874,300
- Jericho, NY1.9 mi · 14,808 people · home $948,400
- Muttontown, NY2.2 mi · 3,512 people · home $1,914,800
- Plainview, NY2.3 mi · 27,100 people · home $796,300
- Woodbury, NY2.4 mi · 9,335 people · home $1,003,400
- Hicksville, NY2.6 mi · 43,869 people · home $634,100
- Brookville, NY3.2 mi · 2,939 people · home $2,000,001
- East Norwich, NY3.5 mi · 2,792 people · home $828,100
Oyster Bay questions
Is Oyster Bay, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oyster Bay scores better for retirees than 31% of New York towns and quieter than 15%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Oyster Bay?
The median owner-occupied home in Oyster Bay is valued at $708,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $160,126, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $2,572 a month.
What is the weather like in Oyster Bay?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 25.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 18.5 inches of snow.
Does Oyster Bay get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oyster Bay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 18, 1973. 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)