Mostly no. On the Census medians, rent in the Town of East Hampton is 42% higher than in New York City, rent in the Town of Southampton is 30% higher, and the median home value is 19% higher in the Town of Southampton and 52% higher in the Town of East Hampton. People who move for space and quiet pay for it. If you are weighing the move, start with a year-round rental trial before you commit.
| Place | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income | Seasonal homes | Workers who drive alone | Work from home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $1,821 | $777,600 | $80,483 | 2% | 22% | 17% |
| Suffolk County | $2,255 | $578,400 | $130,686 | 8% | 72% | 12% |
| Southampton, whole town | $2,363 | $928,100 | $128,594 | 40% | 66% | 17% |
| East Hampton, whole town | $2,578 | $1,178,500 | $132,348 | 47% | 60% | 26% |
| Shelter Island | Not published | $1,104,300 | $133,967 | 57% | 50% | 30% |
Rent and home value
The median gross rent is $1,821 in New York City, $2,255 across Suffolk County, $2,363 in the Town of Southampton and $2,578 in the Town of East Hampton. The city number is held down by rent-regulated apartments, so it understates what a newcomer pays for an unregulated apartment in the city. Even so, East End renters are not paying less than the five-year city median.
Median home value is $777,600 in the city and $928,100 to $1,178,500 in the two towns.
Income
Median household income is $80,483 in New York City and $132,348 in the Town of East Hampton. Households here earn more, but the figures describe different populations, so they do not show what any one household would earn after moving.
Getting around
Among workers, 66% drive alone in the Town of Southampton and 60% in the Town of East Hampton, against 22% in New York City. Public transit carries 44% of city workers and 4% of East Hampton workers. A car is a normal household expense out here. For how people travel between the city and the East End, see Hamptons Commute.
Heat
New York City homes heat mostly with utility gas, 64% of households. In the Town of East Hampton the leading fuel is oil at 49%, followed by propane at 25%. In the Town of Southampton it is oil at 53%. Oil and propane arrive by delivery truck and are billed by the gallon, a different rhythm from a monthly gas bill. The heating guide explains how it works.
Taxes
New York City’s resident income tax follows the state’s residency definitions. The state looks at domicile, meaning the place you intend as your permanent home, and separately at whether you keep a permanent place of abode and spend 184 or more days in the state. Tax Bulletin IT-690 says the same permanent-place-of-abode test applies to New York City. A move to the East End leaves you a New York State resident. Whether you stop being a city resident depends on facts such as your domicile and any city home you keep. The tax page sets out the state’s own definitions. It is not tax advice.
Seasonal vacancy
Only 2% of New York City’s homes are seasonal, against 47% in the Town of East Hampton and 40% in the Town of Southampton. See the seasonal homes ranking for the hamlet detail.
Questions people ask
Is rent lower in the Hamptons than in the city?
On the Census medians, no. The median gross rent in the Town of East Hampton is higher than New York City's, and so is Southampton's. New York City's median is pulled down by rent-regulated apartments.
What do people save by leaving New York City?
The Census cannot say. It shows higher housing costs, more driving and oil or propane heat on the East End. Your own savings, if any, depend on rent, fuel, a second car and your tax residency, so total those before deciding.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5‑year estimates, tables B25064, B25077, B19013, B08301, B25004, B25040 Retrieved through the Census Reporter API.
- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, income tax definitions
- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, Tax Bulletin IT-690, Permanent Place of Abode
Checked October 2026. Rules, fees and hours change; confirm with the office or operator before you act.