New Rochelle receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Hempstead
New Rochelle
Opportunity
59 · Top 44%
vs72 · Top 19%
Growth
34 · Bottom 23%
vs33 · Bottom 21%
Climate
71 · Top 46%
vs65 · Bottom 34%
Physical resilience
93 · Top 9%
vs85 · Top 16%
Housing affordability
69 · Bottom 32%
vs62 · Bottom 23%
Schools
23 · Bottom 14%
vs61 · Top 37%
Access
99 · Top 14%
vs92 · Top 49%
Economic stability
54 · Bottom 38%
vs64 · Top 42%
Measured values
| Metric | Hempstead | New Rochelle | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 58,801 | 82,769 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $90,420 | $109,167 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,304 | $68,173 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 15,931/sq mi | 8,047/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $459,500 | $702,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,622 | $1,917 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 47.5% | 53.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | 0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.5% | 51.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 10.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 9 | 4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.2 | 0.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.3" | 47.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 9 mi | 20 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 35.4 min | 35.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.1 | 42.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 10 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.11 | 12.00 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 26.5% | 46.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 41.9% | 65.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 76.1% | 57.5% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Hempstead
Elevated or high exposure: coastal flooding, earthquake, hurricane.
New Rochelle
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Hempstead
63
Your Score
61
Area Score
New Rochelle
67
Your Score
66
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Hempstead, NY · New Rochelle, NY · How this is calculated: methodology