Long Island continues to have the lowest share of rental housing units across the region. In 2010, only 1 out of every 5 occupied units was occupied by renters either as single-family units rented out by the owners or apartments in multi-family buildings, the same share it had in 2000. In other New York suburbs and nationwide the share was 1 out of 3.

After over ten years’ increase, the median rent on Long Island dropped for the first time in 2010 and went to lower than what it was in 2008. The drop can be attributed to a shrinking market of the rental units that cost $1,500 or more a month. But rents are still expensive on Long Island. More than 40% of rental units on Long Island cost $1,500 or more a month, almost doubling the share in other New York suburbs.