ZIP Code · NY

ZIP 11978

Part of Westhampton Beach, NY

Pop. 4,705·Suffolk County·1st most expensive ZIP in New York

Median rent (all units)

$12,000/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-56.7%

vs US Median

+$10,068

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 11978 · $12,000

More expensive than 100% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($125,179) is $3,129 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,700); a 3-bedroom is $3,500.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 11946, 7 miles away, rents for 71% less ($3,484/mo), about $102,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 11978. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$144,000/yr

At $12,000/mo median

Location

CityWesthampton Beach

StateNY

CountySuffolk County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are down 0.0% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -56.7% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 11978 (Westhampton Beach, NY) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 57.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

4,705

Median income

$125,179

Median age

45.1

Renters

11.8%

Age distribution

18%

21%

18.6%

15.5%

26.9%

Under 1818%

18–3421%

35–5418.6%

55–6415.5%

65+26.9%

Gender

52%

48%

Male52%

Female48%

Race & ethnicity

70.2%

White70.2%

Black7.6%

Hispanic11.8%

Asian1.7%

Other8.7%

Education (25+)

21%

16.4%

57.5%

No HS diploma5.1%

HS diploma21%

Some college16.4%

Bachelor's+57.5%

Housing tenure

88.2%

Owner88.2%

Renter11.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 11978 in Westhampton Beach, NY has changed in 5 years

Income

$101,444 → $125,179

up 23.4%

Population

3,636 → 4,705

up 29.4%

Renter share

22.3% → 11.8%

-10.5 pts

Bachelor's+

55.2% → 57.5%

+2.3 pts

Median age

45.8 → 45.1

-0.7 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 11978 in Westhampton Beach, NY now reports about $125,179, up from $101,444 in 2021. Census counts show ZIP 11978 in Westhampton Beach, NY adding about 1,069 residents over the five-year window, up 29.4% on net. The renter share has eased from 22.3% to 11.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 55.2% to 57.5% across the same window.

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About renting in ZIP 11978

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 11978 covers Westhampton Beach, NY. The median rent here is $12,000/mo as of October 2026.

At 115% of local median household income ($125,179/yr), ZIP 11978 ranks as expensive compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 11978?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $480,000/year (about $231/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $12,000/mo in ZIP 11978. The local median household income is $125,179/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.