Places › New York › Centereach

Living in Centereach, NY

Suburb in New York

Centereach is a suburb in New York, home to about 32,000 people, with 2.9 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly houses with yards.

Is Centereach a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 13 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Mild summers: highs around 81°F
  • Easy flying: JFK is 40 mi away
  • Strong public schools: test results well above the US average

👎 Cons

  • Higher taxes: about $3,080 state income tax per resident, 2.12% property tax
  • Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $627k, and rent is $4,020 a month
  • Few dog parks: 4 within 9 mi
  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Centereach ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
32,000
2.9 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
42°F / 81°F
Average daily highs · 32″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$627k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$4,020/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
113
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$3,080
State income tax per resident · 2.12% property tax
Safety
No data
Not in FBI 2019 city table
Natural disasters
14 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding
Top-rated hospitals
13
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Public schools
Excellent
Tests well above US average · 15 students per teacher
Adults with a degree
35%
2 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
JFK
40 mi away

Living in Centereach: common questions

What is the cost of living in Centereach?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $627k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $4,020 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 113, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Centereach?

New York collects about $3,080 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 2.12% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Centereach safe?

Centereach isn't in the FBI's 2019 city crime table, so Best Life Fit Me counts its safety as average.

How are the schools in Centereach?

Public schools in Centereach test well above the US average in math and reading (2018–19 state tests, put on one national scale with NAEP), with about 15 students per teacher.

What is the weather like in Centereach?

Centereach has cold winters: winter days average around 42°F and summer days around 81°F, with roughly 32″ of snow a year.

Does Centereach get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding: 14 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.22 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Centereach?

The nearest major airport is JFK, about 40 mi away.

How Centereach scores

Each bar compares Centereach with the other 1,990 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City sizeMid-size Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quietUrban & suburban mix Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting aroundSome transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or natureStrong culture scene Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️ClimateCold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of livingVery expensive Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️PaceFast-paced Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝CommunityTight-knit community AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡HousingHouses with yards ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housingPoor
💸Low taxesPoor
💼Job marketExcellent
🏥HealthcareExcellent
🏫SchoolsExcellent
🎓EducationAverage
🧸Kids & familyGood
🐕Dog-friendlyBelow average
⛰️OutdoorsBelow average
🎭CultureGood
👮SafetyNo crime data (counted as average)
🌪️Few natural disastersGood
☀️SunnyBelow average
🌤️Mild summersExcellent
✈️AirportExcellent

Places like Centereach

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 24 aspects.

The circle is each place's all-round score out of 100: the average of its 15 quality scores, from red (poor) to green (excellent).

Deer Park, NYSuburb65 $676k$2,860/moNo crime data Holbrook, NYSuburb56 $665k$3,350/moNo crime data West Islip, NYSuburb66 $740k$3,560/moNo crime data Commack, NYSuburb66 $782k$6,610/moNo crime data Brookhaven, NYBig city56 $675k$3,560/moNo crime data Lindenhurst, NYSuburb66 $652k$3,500/moNo crime data

Nearby

Coram, NYSuburb · 4 mi away55 $584k$3,700/moNo crime data Holbrook, NYSuburb · 5 mi away56 $665k$3,350/moNo crime data Brookhaven, NYBig city · 6 mi away56 $675k$3,560/moNo crime data Central Islip, NYSuburb · 8 mi away54 $574k$3,420/moNo crime data Commack, NYSuburb · 11 mi away66 $782k$6,610/moNo crime data Shirley, NYSmall city · 12 mi away51 $536k$3,560/moNo crime data

See all the best places to live in New York.

Is Centereach right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.