The Town FilesRiverhead, New York
Town in Suffolk County · population 35,902 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $486,600
- Household income
- $94,249
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 52.1
Riverhead is a town of 35,902 people in Suffolk County, New York. The median home is worth $486,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more seaside character than 94% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of New York towns, more vibrant than 72% of New York towns.
How Riverhead 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 Riverhead is worth $486,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 5.2 times the median household income of $94,249, which is more affordable than 10% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,974 a month. 79.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Riverhead | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $486,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,974 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $94,249 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.0% | — |
Who lives in Riverhead
| People | Riverhead | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.1 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 15.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.2% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Riverhead
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 26.0°F. About 47.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 85 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riverhead since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on November 13, 2021 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 25, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on August 26, 2024.
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 Riverhead itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Riverhead
6 public schools with 4,581 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RIVERHEAD SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,986 | 13.8 |
| RIVERHEAD MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 789 | 11.0 |
| PULASKI STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 5-6 | 745 | 11.3 |
| PHILLIPS AVENUE SCHOOL | PK-4 | 654 | 12.8 |
| ROANOKE AVENUE SCHOOL | K-4 | 401 | 9.8 |
| SUFFOLK COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE | 11-12 | 6 | — |
Towns near Riverhead
- Baiting Hollow, NY1.7 mi · 2,763 people · home $586,300
- Riverhead, NY2.6 mi · 14,993 people · home $457,400
- Calverton, NY4.8 mi · 5,934 people · home $229,200
- Riverside, NY5.3 mi · 2,882 people · home —
- Wading River, NY5.4 mi · 7,731 people · home $518,500
- Aquebogue, NY5.6 mi · 2,547 people · home $613,200
- Flanders, NY8.2 mi · 5,098 people · home $419,600
- East Shoreham, NY8.5 mi · 6,841 people · home $604,100
Riverhead questions
Is Riverhead, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Riverhead scores better for retirees than 31% of New York towns and quieter than 42%. 28.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.1).
How much does a house cost in Riverhead?
The median owner-occupied home in Riverhead is valued at $486,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,249, so homes cost about 5.2 times income. Median rent is $1,974 a month.
What is the weather like in Riverhead?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 26.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 29.1 inches of snow.
Does Riverhead get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riverhead since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on November 13, 2021. 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)