Long Island, which encompasses Nassau and Suffolk Counties, is home to nearly 3 million people. Long Island's economy is closely linked with New York City's, with many residents commuting to the City for work. Long Island’s workforce is fairly affluent and particularly well-educated, with around 45 percent of adults holding a college degree. In the years leading up to the pandemic, employment had been essentially flat, and as of 2022, it remains well below pre-pandemic levels. The strongest sector has been professional and business services, followed by leisure and hospitality. In contrast, the health and education, wholesale trade, and manufacturing sectors have lagged. Home prices surged to record highs following the onset of the pandemic, exacerbating housing affordability, which has been a perennial challenge across the two counties.
| Long Island | New York City* | Orange-Rockland-Westchester* | New York State | USA | |
| Population1 | 2,922,000 | 8,804,000 | 1,744,000 | 20,201,000 | 331,449,000 |
| Pop growth, 10-year change1 | 3.1% | 7.7% | 6.8% | 4.2% | 7.4% |
| GDP, billions1 | $203 | $1,022 | $125 | $1,725 | $20,894 |
| Job growth, 5-year change2 | -4.4% | -3.0% | -4.1% | -4.1% | 1.2% |
| Median household income1 | $114,260 | $70,000 | $82,000 | $72,600 | $67,000 |
| Median home price1 | $500,000 | $650,000 | $350,000 | $350,000 | $250,000 |
| Pop share age 25+ with BA+1 | 45.6% | 40.3% | 38.8% | 39.4% | 35.1% |
