11978 Zip Code Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for the zip code 11978, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

11978 is a zip code in Suffolk County, New York, which covers Brookhaven and Southampton, with a total population of 3,636 people.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in the 11978 zip code. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in 11978.

The estimated population of people living in 11978 is 3,636, with a median age of 45.8.

We can look back at data from previous years to see how the population in the 11978 area has changed over the last 5 years.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
3,636
+21.97%
+18.94%
2020
2,981
 -3.4% -
2019
3,086
+0.92%
-
2018
3,058
+0.03%
-
2017
3,057
 - -

Population of 11978 by Race and Ethnicity

How much has the race and ethnicity of the population in the 11978 zip code changed? The US Census Bureau gives us a few defined types that the population is broken down into.

Let's look at the total numbers and also the change over the last 5 years.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
75.6%
73.3%
 +3.14%
Black/African American
2.4%
2.7%
 -11.11%
Native
1%
1.1%
 -9.09%
Hispanic
10.1%
19.8%
 -48.99%
Asian
2%
0.9%
 +122.22%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
6.3%
1.9%
 +231.58%
Other
2.6%
0.3%
 +766.67%

This data can be very important for anybody studying the 11978 zip for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of 11978 by Age and Gender

We can also monitor the change of the age and gender in the 11978 zip code to track track trends in the population over time.

We can see how the population in 11978 has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 45.8 +2.92% 42.2 +0.48% 51.4 +12.47%
2020 44.5 -7.48% 42 -8.7% 45.7 -12.28%
2019 48.1 +2.34% 46 0% 52.1 +3.17%
2018 47 +1.51% 46 -0.43% 50.5 +8.37%
2017 46.3 - 46.2 - 46.6 -

The median age of the 11978 zip gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population in the 11978 area, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 152 +36.97% 175 -24.64% 188 127
10 to 19 129 +82.36% 215 +5.39% 256 225
20 to 29 135 +51.01% 165 +49.26% 189 207
30 to 39 170 +39.45% 151 +8.38% 241 156
40 to 49 215 2.43% 149 -5.52% 208 140
50 to 59 259 -12.22% 293 +14.18% 221 302
60 to 69 192 +40.13% 240 +30.75% 260 317
70+ 212 +40.56% 205 +42.21% 302 297

Median Household Income

The latest median household income for the 11978 zip code is $101,444.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less.

The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for 11978.

  • Under 25
    $0.00
  • 25 to 44
    $57,813.00
  • 45 to 64
    $122,109.00
  • 65 and over
    $94,297.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in the 11978 zip code, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in 11978, and then dividing that number by the total number of households.

This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of 11978 is currently $182,541.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

23.65% of households in 11978 are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of 11978 against other zip codes.

  • Less than $24,999
    10.12%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    16.50%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    9.02%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    12.55%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    18.45%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    9.71%
  • $200,000 or more
    23.65%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in 11978 is $74,317.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of 11978 by the total population of 11978.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people living in the 11978 area, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in 11978 to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    24.42%
  • Bachelor's degree
    41.29%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    8.49%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    23.54%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.26%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in 11978 that are over the age of 16.

Currently, the total population of the 11978 zip over the age of 16 is 3,065.

Of those people, a total of 61.10% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in 11978 is 58.80%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate. Here's how that breaks down for the 11978 zip code.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 225 31.10% 0.00%
20 to 24 years 227 85.90% 21.20%
25 to 29 years 169 92.30% 5.80%
30 to 34 years 270 84.80% 3.50%
35 to 44 years 287 85.00% 1.70%
45 to 54 years 454 84.10% 0.00%
55 to 59 years 257 51.80% 0.00%
60 to 64 years 298 80.20% 0.40%
65 to 74 years 485 34.80% 0.00%
75 years and over 393 14.50% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in 11978. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau (which we mentioned earlier in this article).

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 2,629 59.30% 4.00%
Black or African American 75 53.30% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 12 0.00% 0.00%
Asian 74 91.90% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 126 72.20% 0.00%
Two or more races 149 77.20% 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino 271 86.30% 0.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 2,507 58.00% 4.30%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations for people living in the 11978 area as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in 11978 is 1,802, with median earnings of $43,125.00.

Women in 11978 are earning approximately 49.70% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 1,802 $43,125.00
Male 962 $67,692.00
Female 840 $33,626.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings for 11978 even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 240 $99,714.00
Business and Financial 117 $93,589.00
Computer and Mathematical 26 $160,000.00
Architecture and Engineering 41 $106,336.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 21 $102,679.00
Community and Social Service 14 $18,750.00
Legal 74 $180,833.00
Educational and Library 129 $33,750.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 55 $60,625.00
Healthcare Practitioners 110 $101,591.00
Healthcare Support 28 $37,115.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 83 $9,390.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 27 $0.00
Personal Care and Service 79 $24,583.00
Sales 230 $16,830.00
Office and Administrative Support 185 $31,250.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 47 $33,789.00
Construction and Extraction 128 $22,273.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 101 $34,402.00
Production 32 $62,727.00
Transportation and Material Moving 27 $16,875.00

Occupations by Gender

Now we can also look at the occupations by category for 11978 when it is broken down by male and female.

This lets us see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings for 11978.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 175 $99,321.00 65 $113,125.00
Business and Financial 84 $93,958.00 33 $93,355.00
Computer and Mathematical 20 $250,001.00 6 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 37 $106,164.00 4 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 0 $0.00 21 $102,679.00
Community and Social Service 0 $0.00 14 $18,750.00
Legal 51 $182,083.00 23 $32,396.00
Educational and Library 15 $85,417.00 114 $26,000.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 24 $70,833.00 31 $34,779.00
Healthcare Practitioners 34 $111,364.00 76 $100,227.00
Healthcare Support 0 $0.00 28 $37,115.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 57 $9,157.00 26 $33,269.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 11 $0.00 16 $0.00
Personal Care and Service 4 $0.00 75 $22,917.00
Sales 158 $17,240.00 72 $10,000.00
Office and Administrative Support 25 $71,250.00 160 $29,779.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 15 $0.00 32 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 116 $27,000.00 12 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 101 $34,402.00 0 $0.00
Production 17 $63,523.00 15 $0.00
Transportation and Material Moving 18 $28,438.00 9 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household is defined by the US Census Bureau as a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 1,442 households in 11978, with an average household size of 2.46 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 950 families living in the 11978 zip code with an average family size of 2.98 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each, that live in 11978:

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 709 103 138 492
Average Household Size 2.97 3.82 3.6 1.12
Total Families 709 103 138 0
Average Household Size 2.87 3.37 3.25 0

Poverty

Of the 950 families living in 11978, 7.20% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in 11978:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 3,687 housing units in 11978.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 1,442 39.11%
Vacant 2,245 60.89%

7.89% of the total 3,687 housing units in 11978 are rental units. This is approximately 291 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 1,120 are occupied by the owner - or 30.38% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in 11978 is $1,940.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in 11978 that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    31
  • Less than $500
    0
  • $500 to $999
    8
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    61
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    87
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    77
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    39
  • $3,000 or more
    19

Property Value

The median value of a property in 11978 is $758,000.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in 11978 that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    0
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    25
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    12
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    5
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    5
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    185
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    509
  • $1,000,000 or more
    379

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in 11978. The chart below shows the number of properties in 11978 that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    385
  • 1940 to 1949
    106
  • 1950 to 1959
    408
  • 1960 to 1969
    469
  • 1970 to 1979
    647
  • 1980 to 1989
    499
  • 1990 to 1999
    457
  • 2000 to 2009
    396
  • 2010 to 2013
    314
  • 2014 or later
    6

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in 11978 that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    44
  • 1 vehicle available
    542
  • 2 vehicles available
    439
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    417

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in 11978 get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in 11978 that commute to work in a particular way.

28.5 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in 11978.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    120
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    238
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    239
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    150
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    139
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    56
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    122
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    56
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    43
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    195
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    99
  • 90 or more minutes
    106

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for 11978 in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

States in 11978

If you want to see how the population and demographics of 11978 compare to other zip codes in New York, check out the list of all New York zip codes below: