Hempstead, NY Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Hempstead, NY Summary

Cost of living in Hempstead research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Hempstead is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in New York, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Hempstead is 137, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Hempstead is 1.4x higher than the national average.

  • Hempstead ranks as the #168 cheapest in New York out of 341.

  • Hempstead ranks as the #5,293 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Hempstead is $619,147.

  • The median income in Hempstead is $82,454.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
137
Hempstead's Overall Cost Of Living
1.4x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Hempstead, NY?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Hempstead has an overall cost of living index of 137, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to New York, Hempstead has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than New York's index of 119.

The standard of living in Hempstead ranks as #168 most affordable out of the 341 places we measured in New York. By definition, that implies Hempstead ranks as the #173 most expensive place in the Empire State.

For more reading on life in Hempstead, check out:

168 out of 341
In New York
5,293 out of 6,489
In America

Hempstead Cost Of Living Vs. New York

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Hempstead. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Hempstead is 126.

  • The Groceries index in Hempstead is 115.

  • The Health index in Hempstead is 122.

  • The Housing index in Hempstead is 178.

  • The Transportation index in Hempstead is 116.

  • The Utilities index in Hempstead is 100.

Living Expense Hempstead New York National Average
Overall 137 119 100
Services 126 110 100
Groceries 115 103 100
Health 122 101 100
Housing 178 145 100
Transportation 116 105 100
Utilities 100 99 100
For more reading on cost of living around New York, check out:
Hempstead Cost of Living Vs. NY

Hempstead, NY Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in New York, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Hempstead is $619,147.

  • The Median Rent in Hempstead is $1,649.

  • The Median Income in Hempstead is $82,454.

  • The Home Value To Income in Hempstead is 7.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Hempstead is 0.24x.

Statistic Hempstead New York United States
Median Home Value $619,147 $508,764 $303,400
Median Rent $1,649 $1,576 $1,348
Median Income $82,454 $84,578 $78,538
Home Value To Income 7.5x 6.0x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.24x 0.22x 0.21x
$619,147
Median Home Value
$1,649
Median Rent
$82,454
Median Income

Hempstead, NY Costs By Category

Detailed Hempstead Services Costs Vs. New York

Item Hempstead New York
Shampoo $1.69 $1.28
Movie $13.68 $12.13
Bowling $29.4 $18
Haircut $34.94 $24.26
Beauty Salon $64.07 $45.56

Detailed Hempstead Groceries Costs Vs. New York

Item Hempstead New York
Ground Beef $5.87 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.46 $1.57
Milk $4.97 $4.67
Potatoes $5.21 $4.93
Pizza $12.57 $12.09
Beer $11.87 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.96 $3.7

Detailed Hempstead Health Costs Vs. New York

Item Hempstead New York
Optometrist $128.97 $125.68
Doctor $162.24 $135.78
Dentist $149.64 $113.29

Detailed Hempstead Transportation Costs Vs. New York

Item Hempstead New York
Gasoline $3.55 $3.46
Tire Balancing $86.43 $59.92

Detailed Hempstead Utilities Costs Vs. New York

Item Hempstead New York
All Electricity $201.27 $193.99
Phone $200.67 $192.25

Hempstead SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
9
Affordability
4
Diversity
9
Safety
6
Amenities
10
Education
5
Commute
4

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Hempstead

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Hempstead. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Levittown, NY has a cost of living index of 145, 1.1x Hempstead.

  • Uniondale, NY has a cost of living index of 148, 1.1x Hempstead.

  • Baldwin, NY has a cost of living index of 151, 1.1x Hempstead.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Hempstead
Levittown, NY 51,557 145 1.1x
Uniondale, NY 33,637 148 1.1x
Baldwin, NY 33,595 151 1.1x
Plainview, NY 26,251 167 1.2x
Massapequa, NY 21,822 166 1.2x
Merrick, NY 21,816 167 1.2x
West Hempstead, NY 20,762 158 1.2x
Roosevelt, NY 19,636 141 1.0x
Syosset, NY 18,274 182 1.3x
Woodmere, NY 18,198 194 1.4x

Articles About New York

Enjoy The Snack?