Islip, NY — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·New York·Islip

Suffolk County · New York-Newark-Jersey City · population 18,418

Small-town feel

Overview Cost of living Moving guide

View watchlist →

Rising

Momentum score · 0–100

Where Islip stands

At or near all-time high.

Median home $649,058

1-year +3.9%

5-yr CAGR +4.7%

vs 5-yr peak -0.1%

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly

Lifestyle scores

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Walkability

32/100

Very car-dependent

Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.

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Public transit

15/100

Transit limited

Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.

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Remote work fit

63/100

Workable for remote workers

Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →

Home YoY

70 · w22%

Home 5-yr CAGR

63 · w22%

Distance from peak

90 · w18%

Home 10-yr CAGR

67 · w10%

Long thesis

Islip has held up across the cycle: home values at $649,058 with +4.7% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.

Short thesis

Islip's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Islip

Islip is a city in Suffolk County, New York, with an estimated population of 18,418. It anchors the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area. The median home value in Islip is $649,058 as of 2026-04, up 3.9% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +4.7% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. The composite momentum score is 72 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Quiet strength: +3.9% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.

●Held the highs: currently -0.1% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Suffolk County right now.

NWS active alerts (NY)New York Emergency Management How to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Suffolk County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.