Southold is a somewhat small coastal town (i.e. on the ocean, a bay, or inlet) located in the state of New York. With a population of 6,040 people and two associated neighborhoods, Southold is the 275th largest community in New York. Southold home prices are not only among the most expensive in New York, but Southold real estate also consistently ranks among the most expensive in America.Unlike some towns, Southold isn’t mainly white- or blue-collar. Instead, the most prevalent occupations for people in Southold are a mix of both white- and blue-collar jobs. Overall, Southold is a town of professionals, sales and office workers, and managers. There are especially a lot of people living in Southold who work in sales jobs (16.27%), management occupations (8.88%), and teaching (7.77%). Of important note, Southold is also a town of artists. Southold has more artists, designers and people working in media than 90% of the communities in America. This concentration of artists helps shape Southold’s character. One interesting thing about the economy is that relatively large numbers of people worked from their home: 9.19% of the workforce. While this number may seem small overall, as a fraction of the total workforce this is high compared to the rest of the county. These workers are often telecommuters who work in knowledge-based, white-collar professions. For example, Silicon Valley has large numbers of people who telecommute. Other at-home workers may be self-employed people who operate small businesses out of their homes. Another notable thing is that Southold is a major vacation destination. Much of the town’s population is seasonal: many people own second homes and only live there part-time, during the vacation season. The effect on the local economy is that many of the businesses are dependent on tourist dollars, and may operate only during the high season. As the vacation season ends, Southold’s population drops significantly, such that year-round residents will notice that the city is a much quieter place to live. Because of many things, Southold is a great place for families with children to consider. First of all, many other families with children live here, making Southold a place where both parents and children are more likely to develop social ties with other families, as well as find family-oriented services and community. The town’s good public school district and large population of college-educated adults provide an environment conducive to academic values. With regard to real estate, Southold has a high rate of owner-occupied single family homes, which tends to reflect stability in the local community. Finally, Southold’s overall crime rate is lower than average for the country. Southold is also nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Quite often, nautical areas such as these attract visitors and locals who come to enjoy the scenery and various waterfront activities. Even though Southold is a smaller town, it has many people who hop on public transportation – mostly taxis for their daily commute to work. Typically, these people are commuting to good jobs in the surrounding cities.Southold is one of the most well-educated cities in the nation. 46.66% of adults in Southold have at least a bachelor's degree. Compare that to the average community in America, which has just 21.84% with a bachelor's degree or higher. The per capita income in Southold in 2022 was $72,072, which is wealthy relative to New York and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $288,288 for a family of four. Southold is a very ethnically-diverse town. The people who call Southold home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Southold residents report their race to be White, followed by Asian. Southold also has a sizeable Hispanic population (people of Hispanic origin can be of any race). People of Hispanic or Latino origin account for 14.14% of the town’s residents. Important ancestries of people in Southold include German, Irish, Italian, English, and Polish. Foreign born people are also an important part of Southold's cultural character, accounting for 15.24% of the town’s population. The most common language spoken in Southold is English. Other important languages spoken here include Spanish and Polish.
