The Town FilesSea Cliff, New York
Village in Nassau County · population 5,062 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $986,900
- Household income
- $193,590
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 40.5
Sea Cliff is a village of 5,062 people in Nassau County, New York. The median home is worth $986,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more seaside character than 100% of New York towns, more walkable than 96% of New York towns, more upscale than 96% of New York towns.
- #3 in The 25 Best Seaside Small Towns in New York
- #6 in The 25 Most Walkable Historic Small Towns in New York
- #9 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in New York With Little Snow
- #17 in 25 Small Towns in New York With the Mildest Winters
- #21 in 25 Small Towns in New York With the Oldest Homes
- #24 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in New York
How Sea Cliff 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 Sea Cliff is worth $986,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $193,590, which is more affordable than 11% of New York towns. Median rent is $2,315 a month. 77.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sea Cliff | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $986,900 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $2,315 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $193,590 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 77.3% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Sea Cliff
| People | Sea Cliff | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.8% | — |
| Work from home | 27.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 36.2 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.9% | 91.1% |
Weather in Sea Cliff
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 27.2°F. About 45.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sea Cliff since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on September 16, 2010 about 6.6 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 28, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 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 Sea Cliff itself the ACS puts it at 13.5%.
Public schools in Sea Cliff
1 public school with 341 students, about 10.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEA CLIFF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 341 | 10.3 |
Towns near Sea Cliff
- Glenwood Landing, NY1.3 mi · 3,948 people · home $895,400
- Glen Head, NY1.7 mi · 4,837 people · home $872,000
- Port Washington, NY2.0 mi · 16,753 people · home $1,003,200
- Port Washington North, NY2.6 mi · 3,160 people · home $1,058,900
- Glen Cove, NY2.7 mi · 28,365 people · home $698,900
- Sands Point, NY2.8 mi · 2,712 people · home $2,000,001
- Flower Hill, NY3.0 mi · 4,794 people · home $1,975,500
- Manorhaven, NY3.2 mi · 6,956 people · home $687,100
Sea Cliff questions
Is Sea Cliff, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sea Cliff scores better for retirees than 51% of New York towns and quieter than 17%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.5).
How much does a house cost in Sea Cliff?
The median owner-occupied home in Sea Cliff is valued at $986,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $193,590, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $2,315 a month.
What is the weather like in Sea Cliff?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 27.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 18.5 inches of snow.
Does Sea Cliff get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sea Cliff since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on September 16, 2010. 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)