LONG ISLAND, NY – A recent Newsday/Siena College poll reveals that a staggering 71% of Long Island residents consider affordability the worst aspect of life on the Island. Released July 24 in the Newsday/Siena “Progress Report,” the findings highlight a growing financial pressure facing the region’s population
The survey paints a comprehensive picture of Long Island’s affordability crisis. A majority of respondents – a staggering 77% – said the cost of living here is significantly higher compared to other areas, while 85% expressed concerns over the lack of affordable housing. These results underscore why living costs dominate the island’s quality-of-life complaints, despite widely acknowledged amenities like beaches and communities.
Further research underscores how acute the issue has become. To afford a typical home on Long Island today, a household needs an estimated income of $242,000 – a jump of over 80% from previous norms, per Realtor.com data. Meanwhile, inflation-adjusted housing costs have risen by nearly a quarter since 2000, without commensurate gains in median household income.
The pressure is especially felt among Long Islanders at both ends of the age spectrum. A study summarized in the New York Post and Newsday indicates that poverty rates among those aged 65 and older have surged: a 78% increase in Nassau County and 48% in Suffolk County over the past decade, with close to half lacking retirement savings – a crisis aggravated by high housing and living costs.
Newdynd/Siena’s poll also signals decreasing consumer confidence across the region, as residents grow pessimistic about economic prospects.
Long Island has long featured pockets of affluence and high-quality living. Its median household earns over $112,000, and median home prices range from $450,000 to $700,000—well above national averages. But these numbers mask the burden on middle- and lower-income families, retirees, and even younger professionals who are finding it increasingly difficult to live, work, and retire here.
Top Questions & Answers: Long Island Affordability
Q: What is the Newsday/Siena Poll?
A: The Newsday/Siena College Poll is a joint public opinion research effort conducted by Siena College Research Institute (SCRI) and Newsday, Long Island’s largest daily newspaper. Siena College, located in Loudonville, New York (just outside Albany), runs one of the nation’s most respected polling centers. The SCRI specializes in independent, nonpartisan polling of public opinion on politics, economics, social issues, and regional matters like Long Island affordability. In this case, Newsday partnered with Siena to conduct a wide-reaching poll of Long Island residents to assess quality of life and economic pressures.
Q: What did the Newsday/Siena poll find about affordability?
A: It reported that 71% of Long Islanders identify affordability as the most negative aspect of living here. Other concerns include a high cost of living (77%) and lack of affordable housing (85%).
Q: How much income is needed to purchase a median-priced home?
A: A typical household now needs around $242,000 in annual income to afford Long Island’s median home price – a dramatic 83% increase from prior estimates.
Q: Are housing costs outpacing income growth?
A: Yes. Since 2000, housing prices have increased by 24% in inflation-adjusted terms, while median incomes have stagnated or dipped.
Q: Who is most affected by the rising costs?
A: Older residents are hit especially hard. Poverty rates for seniors have risen sharply—in some areas by nearly 80% – as many struggle without retirement savings.
Q: What does this mean for life quality and confidence on the Island?
A: While overall quality of life remains rated positively, economic stress is weighing on residents. A separate Siena/Newday poll found declining consumer confidence tied to financial worries
