East Rockaway is a somewhat small coastal village (i.e. on the ocean, a bay, or inlet) located in the state of New York. With a population of 10,028 people and two associated neighborhoods, East Rockaway is the 183rd largest community in New York.

Housing costs in East Rockaway are among some of the highest in the nation, although real estate prices here don't compare to real estate prices in the most expensive communities in New York.

A relatively large number of people in East Rockaway telecommute to their jobs. Overall, about 13.62% of the workforce works from home. While this may seem like a small number, as a fraction of the total workforce it ranks among the highest in the country. These workers are often telecommuters who work in knowledge-based, white-collar professions. For example, Silicon Valley has large numbers of people who telecommute. Other at-home workers may be self-employed people who operate small businesses out of their homes.

East Rockaway is also nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Quite often, nautical areas such as these attract visitors and locals who come to enjoy the scenery and various waterfront activities.

One downside of living in East Rockaway, however, is that residents on average have to contend with a long commute, spending on average 33.37 minutes every day commuting to work. It is, however, a pedestrian-friendly village. Many of its neighborhoods are dense enough and have amenities close enough together that people find it feasible to get around on foot. In addition, local public transit is widely used. For those who would prefer to avoid driving entirely and leave their car at home, it may be an option to use the transit instead.

Even though East Rockaway is a smaller village, it has many people who hop on public transportation – mostly the train for their daily commute to work. Typically, these people are commuting to good jobs in the surrounding cities.

East Rockaway is one of the most well-educated cities in the nation. 46.55% of adults in East Rockaway have at least a bachelor's degree. Compare that to the average community in America, which has just 21.84% with a bachelor's degree or higher.

The per capita income in East Rockaway in 2022 was $59,364, which is wealthy relative to New York and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $237,456 for a family of four.

East Rockaway is a very ethnically-diverse village. The people who call East Rockaway home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of East Rockaway residents report their race to be White, followed by Black or African-American. Important ancestries of people in East Rockaway include Italian, Irish, German, Polish, and Russian.

The most common language spoken in East Rockaway is English. Other important languages spoken here include Spanish and Italian.