States › New York › Riverhead

Is Riverhead, NY expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 30 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$2,25629% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$89,524about $7,460/month · 3% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$457,40037% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 78% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.1 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $90,240 a year. That is $43 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other New York cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of New York. It is number 183 of 343 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Riverhead
$2,256
Johnson City
$1,488
Gloversville
$1,267
Eggertsville
$978
Depew
$1,153
Tonawanda
$1,356
Beacon
$1,772

How much do households earn in Riverhead?

Under $25k
10.6%
$25k–50k
20.4%
$50k–100k
37.3%
$100k–150k
18.7%
$150k+
8.8%

Share of households by yearly income. 27.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Riverhead

SizeRiverheadU.S. average
Studio$2,247$1,338
1 bedroom$1,598$1,324
2 bedrooms$2,660$1,509
3 bedrooms$2,894$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,858$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Riverhead overall?

Everyday prices in New York overall are 8% above the U.S. average (index 107.9, U.S. = 100).

Housing
122
Goods (food, clothes…)
107
Utilities
134
Other services
104
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Riverhead, so the New York figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Riverhead

🏛️ Property tax$6,837a year · 1.49% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$186a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Riverhead

Commute to work24.4 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree19.1%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home60.9%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line10.7%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment6.8%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Riverhead?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $918 a month less.

Renting
$2,256
Owning
$3,174

Owning assumes a typical $457,400 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $45,740 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Riverhead, NY?

Renting in Riverhead costs a median of about $2,256 a month in 2026, including utilities. The New York median is $2,177.

How much do I need to make to live in Riverhead?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $90,240 a year, or $43 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Riverhead cheap or expensive?

Riverhead is rated Expensive: rent takes 30.2% of the typical household income of $89,524. It ranks 183rd cheapest of 343 New York cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Riverhead?

The median homeowner in Riverhead pays $6,837 a year in property taxes, about 1.49% of the median home value.

Is Riverhead more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in New York are 8% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Riverhead?

The median home value in Riverhead is $457,400, about 5.1 times the typical yearly household income.

14,936 people live in Riverhead. Numbers are typical (middle) values.