Jalen Coleman, a 25-year-old law student at Hofstra University, sat at Ground Central Coffee Company, on Sunrise Highway in Lynbrook, preparing for upcoming classes.
Coleman lives in Brooklyn, he said, and commutes to Nassau County, because he found a less expensive apartment in the city than rentals that are available near Hempstead.
An analysis of current Zillow listings shows that the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Lynbrook is $2,166 per month, most of them space in homes that homeowner rent out.
The Langdon, a new apartment complex at 47 Broadway, is expected to open in the next couple of months, with 201 units.
In 2024, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that 56 percent of Lynbrook residents ages 18 to 25 earned between $35,000 and $39,000, while the cost of living in Nassau County totaled nearly $58,000 a year, according to Massachusetts Institute of Technology research.
In addition to rising prices, potential restrictions on how many people can live together in Lynbrook are also a concern, Coleman said.
Nassau County housing code stipulates that rooms used for sleeping provide a minimum amount of space. Typically, a room must have at least 70 square feet for one person and 50 square feet for each additional person. The regulations apply to both single-family and multi-family dwellings, and are meant to ensure that homes remain safe and habitable for all occupants. But the requirements sometimes limit the number of people who can live together in one unit, further complicating affordability for young residents, Coleman said.
“When I lived in Connecticut, there was one point where I had eight roommates,” he said. “On Long Island, it was hard to find a place that would allow more than two or three roommates.”
Coleman said he hopes to become a labor attorney, which will potentially mean a stable income and financial independence. And, he said, “I want to also help people with these employment and pay issues through labor law.”
The median Zillow Home Value Index for Lynbrook is $758,470, while nearby communities such as Hewlett Harbor and Hewlett Neck have average home values of $1.8 million or more. The numbers in areas like Lakeview and Rosedale are lower, but even they remain out of reach for many in the 18-to-34 age group.
“It’s just feeling more and more unattainable,” Edward Jansen, a 21-year-old physics student and materials science researcher at Adelphi University, said. Jansen lives in Rockville Centre with his parents, he said, because of the lack of affordable units in the area.
“I’m honestly thinking about going to graduate school for physics to give me more job opportunities,” he said.
Many local officials and community leaders are calling for increased affordable housing development and programs to help young people find stable, affordable housing options.
Brian Devine, the communications director of the Town of Hempstead, said Lynbrook has one complex in its database that works with the federal housing authority to provide affordability: Nathan Hale Senior Village. But, this only serves senior residents.
For now, many young residents of Lynbrook are left grappling with the financial strain of living in an increasingly expensive community.