The Town FilesSouth Hempstead, New York
Community in Nassau County · population 3,406 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $601,000
- Household income
- $156,023
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 46.3
South Hempstead is a community of 3,406 people in Nassau County, New York. The median home is worth $601,000, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better transit than 95% of New York towns, better for families than 94% of New York towns, more walkable than 94% of New York towns.
How South Hempstead 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 South Hempstead is worth $601,000, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $156,023, which is more affordable than 27% of New York towns. Median rent is $2,267 a month. 95.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Hempstead | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $601,000 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $2,267 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $156,023 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 95.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in South Hempstead
| People | South Hempstead | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.5% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.2% | — |
| Work from home | 15.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in South Hempstead
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 26.0°F. About 48.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 89 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Hempstead since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 7, 1998 about 3.7 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 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 South Hempstead itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in South Hempstead
2 public schools with 581 students, about 9.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRAND AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 298 | 9.9 |
| WILLIAM S COVERT SCHOOL | K-5 | 283 | 9.4 |
Towns near South Hempstead
- Lakeview, NY1.4 mi · 6,077 people · home $565,300
- Rockville Centre, NY1.4 mi · 26,016 people · home $818,700
- Hempstead, NY1.6 mi · 59,169 people · home $459,500
- West Hempstead, NY1.7 mi · 19,835 people · home $653,600
- Roosevelt, NY2.1 mi · 18,066 people · home $477,400
- Baldwin, NY2.3 mi · 33,919 people · home $593,800
- Malverne, NY2.6 mi · 8,560 people · home $651,100
- Garden City South, NY2.9 mi · 4,119 people · home $740,400
South Hempstead questions
Is South Hempstead, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Hempstead scores better for retirees than 10% of New York towns and quieter than 13%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.3).
How much does a house cost in South Hempstead?
The median owner-occupied home in South Hempstead is valued at $601,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $156,023, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $2,267 a month.
What is the weather like in South Hempstead?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 26.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.6 inches of precipitation a year and 25.5 inches of snow.
Does South Hempstead get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Hempstead since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 7, 1998. 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)