What to know about the latest population gains in Long Island's towns, cities

Most Long Island towns and villages saw modest population growth between 2023 and 2024, helping to reverse years of declining trends in the Northeast, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau released Thursday.

Experts say what’s fueling the estimated population growth is a confluence of factors that includes a modest rise in housing stock and an uptick in immigrants flocking to Northeast communities. But they warn that more housing is key for the trend to continue and expand and that changes in federal immigration policies might impact where people move.

"This is a really encouraging sign," Matt Cohen, president and CEO at the Long Island Association, said in a phone interview. "And now the key is to keep this momentum going."

Southampton saw the highest jump among Long Island towns between July 1, 2023, and the following July, with a 0.93% growth in population estimates from 69,995 in 2023 to 70,646 the following year, the data showed. East Hampton — the town with the third-largest estimated population growth — saw a 0.80% increase by adding 230 residents to its 2023 population estimate of 28,860.

The second-highest rise was in Shelter Island, which saw an 0.88% increase, or about 30 people.

Cities saw estimated population growth, the data showed. For instance, after declines in population estimates between 2020 and 2023, Glen Cove’s population estimates in 2024 grew by 0.41%, from 27,973 in 2023. Long Beach saw population declines between 2020 and 2022, but had a 0.24% increase last year by adding roughly 85 residents.

Newsday reported in March that Nassau and Suffolk counties each saw a roughly 0.44% increase in population between July 2023 and the following July.

In 2024, Northeast cities with 50,000 or more inhabitants had an average growth of 1%, which is five times greater than their expansion rate for the prior year, the Census Bureau said in a Thursday release.

There was also a modest spike in the number of housing units on Long Island.

In Suffolk, the estimated housing unit growth was 0.17% from 2023 to 2024, or adding roughly 1,000 units, the bureau data showed. The figure was 0.19% for Nassau, or about 900 units.

Still, Jan Vink, a demographer and researcher at Cornell University, said in a phone interview that he doesn’t think those housing figures are significant enough to "relieve some pressure on the housing market" and said changes in immigration policies could affect population trends.

He noted that New York City has added a significant number of housing units in recent years. According to the bureau data released Thursday, Kings County saw its estimated housing units grow by 1.08% from 2023 to 2024 — the second-highest growth among counties in the state. The Bronx saw the largest increase within the state at 1.62%.

New York City — by adding roughly 87,000 people — had the greatest numerical jump in population among cities with 20,000 or more residents between July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024, the bureau statement said. Other top-ranking cities included Los Angeles and Houston.

Across Long Island, many incorporated areas are also seeing growth in their population, according to the bureau estimates.

For example, Lynbrook Village saw the highest estimated percentage population growth for an incorporated area at 2.75%, or adding about 550 residents, the data showed. Another place that saw an increase in population was the Village of Hempstead, which added about 1,160 people and had a 1.99% growth in population between 2023 and 2024.

Yet, the Village of Brookville’s population is estimated to have declined, from 2,959 in 2023 to 2,924 the following year, the data showed. The Village of Dering Harbor on Shelter Island saw its population of about 40 stay the same between those times.

Cohen said the increases in population in different localities show that efforts to make the region more affordable are making progress.

"We have lots of really good things to offer on Long Island, and people want to live in a place like Long Island," he said. "The challenge has always been that ... it's unaffordable for too many people."