Shelter Island, NY

This town of 3,410 residents needs 335 more housing units over the next five years. Shelter Island is part of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council.

Housing snapshot

Population
3,410 (2026)
Households
1,490
Median household income
$137,097 (2026)
Typical home value
$1,818,456
Owner-occupied
38%
Five-year housing need
335 units

Comparison to other New York municipalities

Shelter Island: $137,097 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$31K >$149K
Shelter Island: 0.66 jobs to household ratio
<0.02 >1.89
Shelter Island: Permits since 2021 represent 2.6% of housing
<0% >5.9%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

The typical home in Shelter Island, NY is valued at $1,818,456, well above the New York average of $245,316. With a median household income of $137,097 in Shelter Island, NY, the typical home is far out of reach for most households, requiring roughly $297,135 more in annual income to afford.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Shelter Island, NY has a population of roughly 3,355, growing steadily at 2.2% per year.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Shelter Island, NY is a growing community of roughly 1,490 households, with population increasing at 2.2% per year.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Shelter Island, NY is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 96% of units. In Shelter Island, NY, renters make up the majority, with only 38% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Shelter Island, NY needs 335 new units over the next 5 years.

276
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
18.5%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 1,490 in 2026 to 1,766 in 2031.
59
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
13
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 0.8 per 1,000 units.
20
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 0.0%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
26
Overcrowding adjustment
Overcrowding rate is 5.3%. This is above National avg. of 3.4%.
335
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
67
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
9.7%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
1.9%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How does this place compare to similar communities?