The North Shore, for many the gateway to Staten Island, has led the borough in population growth since 2010, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The North Shore is located just north of the Staten Island Expressway and serves as an important freight and commuting hub. The area accounts for more than one third of the Staten Island population and its residents tend to be younger and more racially diverse than in other parts of the borough.

“The North Shore is a key part of the growth story in Staten Island. It has contributed to the increase in average household income and a decline in poverty,” said DiNapoli. “The success of the area’s waterfront revitalization remains critical for future growth in the borough by creating jobs and new housing. But like many parts of New York City, the North Shore faces challenges with systemic disparities that must be addressed to ensure that all residents benefit from these efforts."

The North Shore population grew by 7.9% to 189,663 between 2010 and 2020, faster than the borough (5.8%). Population and income growth in the North Shore have supported more businesses and jobs than a decade ago. The total number of businesses in the area grew 16.8% from 2012 to 2022, an increase driven mostly by micro-businesses, defined in the report as those with five employees or fewer.

Reflecting the growth in small businesses, area employment also grew by nearly 8% during the same period. Business growth was fastest in the social assistance sector at more than 41%, followed by construction at 25%, leisure and hospitality at nearly 21%, and retail trade at almost 7%. As of 2022, area employment was 94.8% of the pre-pandemic total.

From 2012 to 2022, the area’s median household income and median home value rose 47.3% and 44.7%, respectively—faster than the borough’s rates. Poverty declined 2.9 percentage points to a total of 15%, lower than the citywide rate.

“The North Shore is critical to Staten Island. What we need to do is create economic opportunities for businesses to grow, build smart residential development, reduce onerous regulations, and reduce taxes in order to stimulate growth. We thank the State Comptroller for his attention to the economic needs of the North Shore,” said Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella.

“I am glad Comptroller DiNapoli has investigated the tremendous growth on Staten Island's North Shore over the last ten years. As the proud representative of such a young and diverse portion of our borough, I am thrilled to see that our small businesses have grown by over 16 percent and that the median incomes here continue to rise. However, I recognize that there is still work to be done to make sure the North Shore becomes the best version of itself. With this key information, we can continue to build on this progress and address the challenges that remain for my constituents here on Staten Island,” said Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton.

“I commend Comptroller Tom DiNapoli for his Economic Snapshot of Staten Island’s North Shore, highlighting significant growth in businesses and jobs. This progress is encouraging, but the decline in K-8 school enrollment is troubling. It is imperative that we address this issue and provide robust support for families to create an environment where our schools and students can thrive. Our commitment to education must match our economic ambitions to secure a prosperous future for all,” said Assemblyman Charles D. Fall.

“Despite the challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, our community’s resiliency has been remarkable. While we have made significant progress, we continue to face issues such as poverty, lack of transportation, rising rents, and health challenges. Together, we can tackle these issues and create a brighter future for the North Shore of Staten Island. Thank you to Comptroller DiNapoli for this economic snapshot, which helps us understand our progress and the work that still lies ahead,” said Council Member Kamillah Hanks.

“The North Shore stands as a hub for local business growth, waterfront expansion, innovative construction, and job opportunities,” said Mike Cusick, President & CEO of the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation (SIEDC). “We appreciate State Comptroller DiNapoli for releasing this critical report, which highlights the area’s economic potential. These findings will serve as an invaluable resource to the SIEDC as we continue to work with public officials, community-based organizations, and public and private entities to support the growth of new industries and community assets on the North Shore.”

"The development of Staten Island’s North Shore has undergone several stops and starts, with the most recent stall caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Linda Baran, President and CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. "The Chamber has long been a champion of revitalizing this area, which will bring the new businesses, jobs, and economic opportunity that has long been promised. This is an area with tremendous potential, and we thank State Comptroller DiNapoli for shining a light on the importance of investing in this community."

“Cultural diversity fuels economic growth, and nowhere is this more evident than in Staten Island's thriving immigrant businesses,” said Executive Director of La Colmena Yesenia Mata. “These businesses enrich our community with their unique flavors and entrepreneurial spirit. They not only contribute jobs and revenue but also weave a tapestry of resilience and ambition, embodying the American dream in every storefront. Even though there is much work ahead of us in ensuring that the North Shore is fully supported, the NYS Comptroller's 'Staten Island’s North Shore Economic Snapshot' findings remind us that economic success blossoms when diversity is embraced and opportunities are open to all.“

Looking ahead, DiNapoli points out that addressing socioeconomic disparities among the North Shore’s seven micro-neighborhoods remains critical for the community’s long-term success. DiNapoli encourages elected officials and business leaders to continue to drive investment in the development and revitalization of the North Shore’s downtown waterfront, stressing the need to engage local stakeholders in project implementation.

Other key findings in DiNapoli’s report include:

• Like many parts of the city, one of the largest challenges for North Shore residents is housing costs. About 44% of residents rent, and more than half of them are rent-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing.
• While all three Staten Island community districts inclusive of the North Shore are designated as lower density growth management areas, the North Shore has a higher concentration of buildings with 50 or more residential units.
• The number of businesses rose to a peak of 3,647 in 2021, partly reflecting a 10.2% increase from 2019, which was stronger growth than boroughwide (8.7%) and citywide (6.4%).
• Total wages paid in the North Shore were 40.7% higher in 2022 than in 2012, while the average wage was 33.2% higher.
• Median household incomes ranged from $24,000 in the eastern part of the area to more than $160,000 in the southwestern part.
• Enrollment for North Shore K-8 school grades declined at a slightly lower rate (11%) than citywide (12.2%).
• Of the more than 63,000 North Shore households, 26.7% had no broadband internet access in 2018-2022, a rate similar to boroughwide (23.1%) and citywide (26.5%).
• The North Shore benefits from a diversity of cultures: 37.2% of the area’s residents identify as White, nearly a quarter identify as Black or African American, 11% identify as Asian, and 16.7% identify as some other race. Residents born in Latin America and Asia each made up one-third or more of the area's foreign-born population in the five-year period of 2018-2022.
• In addition to numerous cultural assets, the North Shore is home to two of the three historic districts in the borough, St. George/New Brighton and St. Paul’s Avenue-Stapleton Heights.

Report 
An Economic Snapshot of Staten Island’s North Shore

Additional Report 
An Economic Snapshot of Staten Island