Rows tagged local are specific to Plainview (Census ACS); state rows are state averages; metro-area rows are inherited from New York, NY. Home value is ACS owner-reported (not a Zillow sale price).
School score: 8/10 (district Plainview-old Bethpage Central School District · NCES EDFacts)
Cost of living
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100)
112.6
metro-area
#192 of 200 metros
Grocery index (US=100)
108.3
metro-area
#198 of 200 metros
Big Mac price (est.)
$6.41
metro-area
#192 of 200 metros
Median household income
$181,423
local
#99 of 3,220 cities
Median wage (all occupations)
$82,341
local
#139 of 3,220 cities
Who lives here
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Median age
39.4 years
metro-area
#125 of 200 metros
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+)
43.5%
metro-area
#19 of 200 metros
Foreign-born residents
29.8%
metro-area
#5 of 200 metros
Homes that are owner-occupied
51.5%
metro-area
#198 of 200 metros
Economy
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Unemployment rate
2.74%
local
#337 of 3,220 cities
Population growth (5-yr)
+1.8%
local
#1965 of 3,220 cities
Housing — what your money buys
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Median home price
$691,400
local
#2856 of 3,220 cities
Home price ÷ income (affordability)
3.8×
local
#1547 of 3,220 cities
1-yr home appreciation
+4.1%
metro-area
#31 of 200 metros
Price per square foot
$432
local
#2878 of 3,220 cities
Typical home size (implied)
1,600 sqft
Median rent (monthly)
$2,660
local
#3096 of 3,220 cities
Homes for sale (inventory)
45,297
Median days on market
23
metro-area
#134 of 200 metros
Taxes
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income)
15.9%
state
#193 of 200 metros
Combined sales tax
8.52%
state
#141 of 200 metros
State income tax (top rate)
10.90%
Capital gains tax
10.90%
state
#171 of 200 metros
High earners
Top rates up to 10.9% on multimillion-dollar incomes
Social Security in retirement
Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits
Effective property tax rate
1.45%
local
#2288 of 3,220 cities
Median property tax paid
$10,001
local
#2955 of 3,220 cities
Health & childcare
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Life expectancy at birth
80.3 years
metro-area
#19 of 200 metros
Healthcare (annual, single adult)
$7,800
state
#182 of 200 metros
Uninsured (share of residents)
6.9%
metro-area
#60 of 200 metros
Primary care providers per 100k
84
metro-area
#59 of 200 metros
Childcare (annual, infant, center)
$17,000
state
#170 of 200 metros
Vehicles & commute
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Annual registration
$70
state
#38 of 200 metros
Vehicle property tax (annual)
None
state
#1 of 200 metros
Emissions testing
Required
Emissions detail
Required in major metro counties
DMV & license offices
2
Avg commute to work
36 min
local
#3017 of 3,220 cities
Commute by driving alone
45.5%
metro-area
#1 of 200 metros
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min
52.2%
metro-area
#197 of 200 metros
Utilities & fuel
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Electricity
29.4¢/kWh
state
#166 of 200 metros
Avg monthly electric bill
$265
state
#166 of 200 metros
Gasoline
$3.45/gal
state
#142 of 200 metros
Natural gas (avg monthly bill)
$98
state
#186 of 200 metros
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill)
$87
state
#57 of 200 metros
Home internet (avg monthly bill)
$76
state
#20 of 200 metros
Insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Home insurance (annual)
$1,600
state
#80 of 200 metros
Auto insurance (annual)
$2,100
state
#126 of 200 metros
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Main natural hazards
Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk)
96.8 — Relatively High
metro-area
#164 of 200 metros
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP)
$800
state
#120 of 200 metros
Earthquake insurance (annual)
$100
state
#1 of 200 metros
Climate & air quality
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner)
52
metro-area
#151 of 200 metros
Cooling degree-days (AC load)
700
metro-area
#25 of 200 metros
Homes with air conditioning (state)
88%
state
#143 of 200 metros
Heating degree-days (heat load)
6,000
metro-area
#168 of 200 metros
Days per year ≥ 90°F
12
metro-area
#54 of 200 metros
Days per year ≥ 100°F
0
metro-area
#5 of 200 metros
Avg summer high (state)
83°F
metro-area
#21 of 200 metros
Avg winter low
16°F
metro-area
#168 of 200 metros
Annual precipitation
49.5"
metro-area
#154 of 200 metros
Annual snowfall
29.8"
metro-area
#144 of 200 metros
Sunshine (% of possible)
58%
metro-area
#105 of 200 metros
Plant hardiness zone
6a
Frost window
04-30 → 10-15
Safety
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg)
350
state
#51 of 200 metros
Property crime (per 100k, state avg)
1,450
state
#24 of 200 metros
Local amenities & recreation
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Grocery stores
86
metro-area
#91 of 200 metros
Parks
103
Hiking areas
15
Golf courses
59
Shooting ranges
9
Lakes
5
Permits
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5)
5
state
#165 of 200 metros
Permit detail
Very difficult; NYC DOB long timelines
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.