Fire Island, NY vs Vernon, NY

The cost of living difference between Fire Island, NY and Vernon, NY is dramatic. Vernon is 90.2% cheaper than Fire Island, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Fire Island has a cost index of 142 while Vernon sits at 75, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Fire Island is $1,750/month compared to $941/month in Vernon — a 86% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Vernon is more affordable at $169,300 median vs $608,500.

Median household income in Fire Island is $90,179 compared to $62,031 in Vernon (+45.4%). The higher salaries in Fire Island partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Fire Island spend roughly 23.3% of their income on rent, more than the 18.2% in Vernon.