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| Long Island |
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| Nassau and Suffolk Counties Tables of selected demographics ›› Long Island is home to 2.8 million people distributed evenly between its two counties: Nassau and Suffolk. Both counties are relatively affluent and well educated. Long Island has a sizable industry base, which is heavily concentrated in high-tech manufacturing-particularly in Suffolk County. Still, data on commuting patterns suggest that Long Island's economy, and especially Nassau County's, is closely linked with New York City's. Recent Economic Trends Long Island was one of the more resilient areas in the district during the 2001-02 downturn, when job losses were a good deal milder than for either the state or the nation as a whole. Since 2004, however, job creation has lagged the nation’s, the state’s, and especially New York City’s. Still, as of mid-2007, private-sector employment was roughly 1½% above its prior (late-2000) peak, and Long Island's unemployment rate has consistently remained about 1 percentage point below both the statewide and national averages.Long Island's office market has also been relatively tight in 2006 and 2007: the office vacancy rate has hovered above 10%—higher than in Manhattan, but well below the other suburban markets in the metropolitan region. Also, office rents have been running nearly 10% higher in 2007 than in 2006. Long Island's housing market showed signs of cooling in 2006 and early 2007, along with the rest of the region, though prices remain relatively high, having risen at double-digit rates in recent years. High-Tech Manufacturing Sector In the 1980s, Long Island was a major hub of defense-related manufacturing. After widespread job losses in the late 1980s and early 1990s, manufacturing employment leveled off in the mid- to late-1990s, and numerous high-tech and bio-tech firms sprouted up. This shift from defense to high-tech industries reflected both local economic development incentives in the high-tech area and the presence of several major research labs. However, between 2000 and 2006, manufacturing employment fell by nearly 20%, led by a 30% drop in Long Island’s key computer & electronic products industry.Nassau County Bordering on New York City, Nassau is by far the more urban county, and comprises a blend of urban and suburban communities. With nearly 4,700 residents per square mile, Nassau is New York State's most densely populated county outside New York City. Population growth has been well below the national average in recent decades—the county’s population was virtually unchanged between 2000 and 2005, after growing by a relatively modest 3.6% during the 1990s. Nassau's population is relatively affluent and well-educated. As of 2005, 40% of adults over age 25 held college degrees and median household income was slightly over $80,000. An extraordinary 83% of homes were owner-occupied in 2005, compared with 55% statewide, and the median value of these homes was estimated at $470,000, which is more than 80% above the statewide median and nearly triple the national figure.Nassau County's industrial profile is heavily weighted toward wholesale and retail trade. There is a relatively low incidence of manufacturing industries, though computer and electronics firms are well represented. Based on the 2000 Census, 58% of all employed residents work within the county, and a substantial 32% commute to New York City; only 8% commute to neighboring Suffolk County. Of those who work in Nassau, a sizable 16% "reverse" commute from New York City, mostly Queens. Suffolk County Suffolk County's landscape is fairly diverse, with the westernmost portion, like Nassau County, characterized by a mix of urban and suburban areas, and the eastern part somewhat more rural. Overall, there are nearly 1,600 residents per square mile. The population grew by 4% between 2000 and 2005—close to the national rate and roughly double the statewide average. Suffolk County's population is relatively affluent but educational attainment is close to average. Median household income was $77,000 in 2005—two-thirds above the national median and 55% above the statewide figure. Slightly over 31% of adults over the age of 25 hold college degrees, the same as for the state as a whole. As in Nassau County, 83% of homes are owner-occupied and the median value of these homes was estimated at $412,000 in 2005, or about 60% above the statewide median.Suffolk County also has a high concentration of wholesale and retail trade industries. However, unlike Nassau County, Suffolk also has a fairly high concentration manufacturing—specifically computers and electronic products. Based on the 2000 Census, 74% of all employed residents work in the county and another 14% work in neighboring Nassau; almost all the remaining 12% work in New York City. A relatively small proportion of Suffolk's work force "reverse" commutes in—9% commute from Nassau and just 3% commute from New York City (again, mostly Queens). |
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