Westhampton Beach, NY · standard
ZIP Code 11978
Suffolk County, New York - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 3,255
- 100/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $125,179
- Median income Above-median income area
- $1,054,000
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 57.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Westhampton Beach pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 8%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 2%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 100
- people per sq mi
- 88%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 11978 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 11978 (Westhampton Beach, NY) rose +9.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 387.7 in 2023 to 423.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 11978 covers 32.6 square miles in Westhampton Beach, Suffolk County, New York (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 3,255 residents on file, a density of 100 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 11978 skews affluent, with a median household income of $125,179 (35% above the average New York ZIP), while per-capita income is $82,765. The poverty rate is 10.8%, with unemployment at 7.0%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $1,054,000 (179% above the average New York ZIP), while 88.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $2,150.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 57.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 45.1, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Suffolk County, so 11978 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 11978
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Westhampton Beach, NY
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 11978.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
52 establishments
- Construction
Construction
50 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
40 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
40 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
30 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 11978, Westhampton Beach, NY · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
3,255
Population
32.6
Area (sq mi)
100
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 11978?
45.1
Median Age
52.0%
Male
48.0%
Female
15.6%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$125,179
Median Household Income
+35% vs state ZIP avg
$82,765
Per Capita Income
10.8%
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Unemployment Rate
27.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 11978 ranks among New York ZIPs
Westhampton Beach, NY household income vs. every New York ZIP code
Median household income among 1,626 reporting New York ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$125,179 Top 17% higher than 83% of 1,626 New York ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more New York ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
4,037housing units
4,037
Total Housing Units
1,704
Occupied Units
2,333
Vacant Units
2.68
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$1,054,000
Median Home Value
+179% vs state ZIP avg
$2,150
Median Rent
1985
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+9.3%
YoY Change (2024)
424
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+324%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 11978 have increased 9.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +324% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +7.3% | 286 |
| 2021 | +21.9% | 348 |
| 2022 | +9.0% | 380 |
| 2023 | +2.1% | 388 |
| 2024 | +9.3% | 424 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 340 business establishments in ZIP 11978, employing approximately 2,397 people with a combined annual payroll of $148,354,000.
340
Businesses
2,397
Employees
$148.4M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 52 | 15.3% |
| Construction | 50 | 14.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 40 | 11.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 40 | 11.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 30 | 8.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 22 | 6.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 21 | 6.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 21 | 6.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 16 | 4.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 14 | 4.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 12 | 3.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 8 | 2.4% |
| Information | 5 | 1.5% |
| Manufacturing | 3 | 0.9% |
| Educational services | 3 | 0.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 11978 vs 11977 →
ZIP 11978 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 11901
Riverhead (11901)
27,172 residents
- 11946
Hampton Bays (11946)
14,068 residents
- 11940 5,210
East Moriches (11940)
5,210 residents
- 11942 4,603
East Quogue (11942)
4,603 residents
- 11978 3,255
Westhampton Beach (11978)
3,255 residents
- 11977 2,467
Westhampton (11977)
2,467 residents
- 11941 1,986
Eastport (11941)
1,986 residents
- 11972 1,321
Speonk (11972)
1,321 residents
- 11960 1,084
Remsenburg (11960)
1,084 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 11978 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 11978 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 11960
Remsenburg (11960)
$240,313 median income
- 11977
Westhampton (11977)
$151,375 median income
- 11940
East Moriches (11940)
$138,639 median income
- 11946
Hampton Bays (11946)
$133,918 median income
- 11978
Westhampton Beach (11978)
$125,179 median income
- 11941
Eastport (11941)
$123,750 median income
- 11942 $93,710
East Quogue (11942)
$93,710 median income
- 11959 $88,542
Quogue (11959)
$88,542 median income
- 11901 $85,061
Riverhead (11901)
$85,061 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 11978 ranks #5 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11977 | Westhampton, NY | 2,467 | 1.7 mi |
| 11959 | Quogue, NY | 939 | 2.5 mi |
| 11972 | Speonk, NY | 1,321 | 3.1 mi |
| 11960 | Remsenburg, NY | 1,084 | 3.4 mi |
| 11941 | Eastport, NY | 1,986 | 4.2 mi |
| 11942 | East Quogue, NY | 4,603 | 3.7 mi |
| 11901 | Riverhead, NY | 27,172 | 6.4 mi |
| 11940 | East Moriches, NY | 5,210 | 5.9 mi |
| 11931 | Aquebogue, NY | 151 | 7.5 mi |
| 11946 | Hampton Bays, NY | 14,068 | 7.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 11978, both outside NY so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (3,255 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Suffolk County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 11978 in?
ZIP code 11978 (Westhampton Beach) is located in Suffolk County, New York. Suffolk County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/suffolk-ny.
What is the population of ZIP code 11978?
ZIP code 11978 in Westhampton Beach, NY has a population of 3,255 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 11978?
The median household income in ZIP 11978 is $125,179, which is 64% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 11978?
The median home value in ZIP 11978 is $1,054,000, which is 279% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 11978?
The largest racial group in ZIP 11978 is White at 70.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 11978?
ZIP code 11978 has 340 business establishments employing approximately 2,397 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 11978?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 11978 are: Retail trade (52), Construction (50), Accommodation and food services (40). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 11978?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 11978 increased by 9.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 324%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 11978?
In ZIP code 11978, 78.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 57.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 11978?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 11978 is 27.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 11978?
In ZIP code 11978, approximately 88.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 11.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 11978?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 11978 is 10.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 11978's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 11978 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Westhampton Beach, NY ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.