The Town FilesStony Brook, New York
Community in Suffolk County · population 13,467 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $623,300
- Household income
- $174,872
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 44.9
Stony Brook is a community of 13,467 people in Suffolk County, New York. The median home is worth $623,300, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for families than 97% of New York towns, more upscale than 95% of New York towns, better transit than 95% of New York towns.
How Stony Brook 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 Stony Brook is worth $623,300, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $174,872, which is more affordable than 32% of New York towns. Median rent is $3,501 a month. 90.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Stony Brook | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $623,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $3,501 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $174,872 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Stony Brook
| People | Stony Brook | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 68.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 2.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.1% | — |
| Work from home | 19.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 29.7 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Stony Brook
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 26.3°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.8 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 79 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stony Brook since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 30, 1998 about 6.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 2, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 4, 2015.
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 Stony Brook itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Stony Brook
2 public schools with 1,186 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT CUSHMAN MURPHY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-9 | 672 | 10.0 |
| WILLIAM SIDNEY MOUNT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 514 | 13.9 |
Towns near Stony Brook
- Stony Brook University, NY0.3 mi · 10,409 people · home —
- East Setauket, NY2.0 mi · 10,998 people · home $637,800
- St. James, NY2.5 mi · 13,487 people · home $652,700
- Smithtown, NY2.7 mi · 116,296 people · home $669,900
- Setauket, NY2.9 mi · 3,986 people · home $755,600
- Port Jefferson Station, NY3.5 mi · 7,950 people · home $507,900
- Lake Grove, NY3.5 mi · 11,072 people · home $598,900
- Centereach, NY3.6 mi · 30,980 people · home $514,800
Stony Brook questions
Is Stony Brook, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Stony Brook scores better for retirees than 74% of New York towns and quieter than 23%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.9).
How much does a house cost in Stony Brook?
The median owner-occupied home in Stony Brook is valued at $623,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $174,872, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $3,501 a month.
What is the weather like in Stony Brook?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 26.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 31.8 inches of snow.
Does Stony Brook get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stony Brook since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 30, 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)