Woodmere is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) located within the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 18,669 at the time of the 2020 census.
Woodmere is one of the Long Island communities known as the Five Towns, which is usually said to comprise the villages of Lawrence and Cedarhurst, the hamlets of Woodmere and Inwood, and "The Hewletts", which consist of the villages of Hewlett Bay Park, Hewlett Harbor, Hewlett Neck, and Woodsburgh, along with the unincorporated hamlet of Hewlett.Barron, James. "If You're Thinking Of Living In: Five Towns", The New York Times, July 10, 1983. Accessed July 7, 2019. "The basic five are Lawrence, Cedarhurst, Woodmere, Hewlett and Inwood. But the area also includes some unincorporated communities and two tiny villages, Hewlett Bay Park and Woodsburgh, that are not added to the final total."
History In 1910, Woodmere considered incorporating as a village. These plans, however, were unsuccessful, and Woodmere remains an unincorporated hamlet governed by the Town of Hempstead to this day. Another attempt to incorporate Woodmere as a village was made in 1978; this proposal was also unsuccessful.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2), of which 2.6 square miles (6.6 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.4 km2) (5.19%) is water.
Climate Woodmere has a wet and cold winter, with a warm and moderately dry summer. The average high is 83 in July and 39 in January. The average low in January is 24 and in July 67. The record high is in July 1966, and the record low is in 1985 and 1994.
The rainiest month is May, and the driest month is August. Woodmere is prone to droughts from late July until mid-September. Woodmere receives around of snow a year in an average winter. Woodmere can get strong to severe thunderstorms, and it is prone to flooding in the early fall and late spring. It has been hit by a tornado three times, in 1985, 1998, and 2021.
Woodmere was hit by Hurricane Gloria in 1985, Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, and Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
Demographics 2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Woodmere had a population of 18,669. The median age was 33.7 years. 33.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.4 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 5,199 households in Woodmere, of which 43.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 72.9% were married-couple households, 9.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 16.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 13.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 5,485 housing units, of which 5.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.5%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 16,039 85.9% Black or African American 776 4.2% American Indian and Alaska Native 10 0.1% Asian 590 3.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 4 0.0% Some other race 695 3.7% Two or more races 555 3.0% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 960 5.1%
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 17,121 people. The population density was 6,700 people per square mile. The percentage of family households is 86%. The racial makeup of the CDP was 84% White, 5.0% Black, 2.0% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 7% Hispanic.
Woodmere has become home to many Modern Orthodox Jewish families who have established a number of synagogues in Woodmere and throughout much of the Five Towns.
There were 5,349 households, out of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.5% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.4% were non-families. Of all households 13.7% were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $93,212, and the median income for a family was $119,402. Males had a median income of $76,266 versus $41,393 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $41,699. About 3.5% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.
Education Part of the community is in the Hewlett-Woodmere School District (District 14), with the rest being served by the Lawrence Public Schools (District 15). - Text list
The Hebrew Academy of Long Beach (HALB) Elementary School for grades 1-8 is a Jewish day school that moved in March 2017 from Long Beach to Woodmere. Their all-boys high school, known as the Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for Boys (DRS), is also located in Woodmere.
Lawrence Woodmere Academy is a pre-kindergarten through grade 12 coeducational preparatory school.
Transportation The Woodmere station provides Long Island Rail Road service on the Far Rockaway Branch. There are also two Nassau Inter-County Express bus routes which travel through and serve Woodmere: the n31 and the n32.
Fire department Woodmere is served by the Woodmere Volunteer Fire Department. It provides Fire, Rescue, and Advanced Life Support to Woodmere. It has approximately 75 volunteer members.
Notable people
Notable current and former residents of Woodmere include: David A. Adler (born 1947), author of the Cam Jansen series of booksLaGorce, Tammy. "Neighborhood Storytelling", The New York Times, July 13, 2008. Accessed July 29, 2008. "On Long Island, David A. Adler, 61, the author of the 'Cam Jansen' series of young-detective chapter books for Penguin since 1971, draws on his experience as a former middle-school math teacher and on visits to schools around his Woodmere home to inform his plucky heroine’s adventures." Michael Albert (born 1966), pop artist, author and entrepreneur"Peninsula Public Library pop art workshop was a hit; Event with Michael Albert was well attended", Long Island Herald, January 11, 2017. "Albert, a Woodmere native and graduate of Lawrence High School (class of 1984), showed attendees how to create a pop art collage." Donatella Arpaia (born 1971), restaurateur and television personality who appears on The Food NetworkFauci, Jennifer. "Her Italy, Her Way; Childhood summers in Italy strengthened chef Donatella Arpaia’s love for the culinary world, Long Island Weekly, October 24, 2017. Accessed September 4, 2019. "If you ask any chef how they came into their craft, most of the time the answer is simple: they were born into it. Such is the case for chef Donatella Arpaia. The Woodmere native grew up in the restaurant business, spending summers in Italy where her mother’s family made their own olive oil." Lynne Barasch, children's book illustrator and author Jeff Beacher (born 1973), producer, entrepreneur, and master of ceremonies who created, produced, and hosted the long-running live theater series, Beacher's MadhouseRidley, Jane. "I got so fat, I lost my penis", New York Post, March 24, 2016. Accessed September 4, 2019. "My weight issues date back to my childhood in Woodmere, Long Island, when I would comfort-eat to feel better." Margot Bennett (born 1935), actress Roger Berlind (19302020), theatrical producer who won 25 Tony AwardsSeelye, Katharine Q. "Roger Berlind, 90, Dies; Broadway Impresario Who Amassed 25 Tonys", The New York Times, December 24, 2020. Accessed February 17, 2025. "The family moved to Woodmere, on Long Island, when Roger was 3. He attended Woodmere Academy and went on to Princeton, where he majored in English." Eli M. Black (1921–1975), businessman who controlled the United Brands CompanyDovere, Maxine. "Educating the Generations: PAS Community Dedicates the Eli M. Black Learning Center", New York Jewish Life, October 25, 2017. "Reading from a 1942 sermon presented by Eli Black, then a young Orthodox rabbi in Woodmere, New York, Leon Black conveyed the gratitude his father felt toward America and the important responsibility he believed the American Jewish community has for the continuity of Judaism." Jane Bowles (1917–1973), writer and playwrightJane Auer Bowles: An Inventory of Her Collection at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin. Accessed September 4, 2019. "The only child of Sidney and Claire Stajer Auer, Jane Stajer Auer was born February 22, 1917, in New York City. The Auer family moved to Woodmere, Long Island, when Jane was ten years old." Peter Diamond (born 1940), winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2010Peter A. Diamond Biographical, Nobel Prize. Accessed September 4, 2019. "I started public school in the Bronx, and switched to suburban public schools in second grade when the family moved to Woodmere, on Long Island. Our house faced the Long Island Rail Road and was so close to the tracks that the family thought the first train at 5 AM was coming through the bedrooms." Perry Farrell (born 1959), singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the frontman for the alternative rock band Jane's Addiction and creator of the touring festival LollapaloozaHandelman, David. "Jane’s Addiction: Taking Chances The band members aren’t always on speaking terms, but they’ve produced a unique blend of punk, metal, and funk that’s landed in the top 20", Rolling Stone, February 7, 1991. Accessed September 4, 2019. "After his mother’s death, which Farrell declines to discuss, the family moved to Woodmere, Long Island, and later Miami, where he attended high school but preferred surfing." Clarence G. Galston (1876–1964), United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York"U.S. Judge, 80, to Retire In the Eastern District", The New York Times, November 27, 1956. Accessed September 4, 2019. "A native of New York, he was educated at City College and New York University Law School. He lives with his wife at 853 Keene Lane, Woodmer, L. I." Jordan Gelber (born 1975), actor and singer who has performed on Broadway in the musical Avenue QShin, Laura. "Where He Belongs Finally, Jordan Gelber gets it: he's an actor.", Stanford Magazine, November / December 2005. Accessed September 4, 2019. "The easygoing actor—'Jordan Gelber is not an edgy man,' Gelber observes—grew up in Woodmere, N.Y., and took part in numerous school plays before apprenticing at the Berkshire Theater Festival." Lisa Glasberg (born 1956), radio and TV personalityConnelly, Sherryl. "Lisa G. from Howard Stern's show pens a memoir, Sex, Lies & Cookies, with her life's obsessions", New York Daily News, June 5, 2013. Accessed September 4, 2019. "Lisa G., a Woodmere, L.I., native, got her start on Chicago rock radio back when an intrepid reporter would get scoops by checking the leftovers on a room service tray to see what a touring Mick Jagger had for breakfast." Alice Glaser (1928–1970), writer and editor