As New York City home prices continue to skyrocket, it’s natural that millennials who are looking for more space for the money are likely to look outside of Manhattan as their family grows. And thanks to its proximity to the city, beautiful beaches, and highly regarded school system, Long Island is often the destination of choice for young families on a home hunt.
So, what are some of the best neighborhoods in Long Island for young families?
There are a few things you’ll want to consider when making that decision. Access to transport, such as the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR,) might be on your list, along with school district ratings, local amenities, job opportunities, and cost of living. You might also consider what neighborhoods are attracting young families or have active communities.
Even if you’re limiting your search to Suffolk and Nassau counties, you’ll still have a lot of areas to cover. To help with your search, read on and discover some of the best places to live in Long Island.
Smithtown
Along Long Island’s north shore, you’ll find the family-friendly hamlet of Smithtown. With tree-lined streets, a host of highly-ranked schools, and easy access to both the LIRR and the Hamptons, this affluent hamlet is high on your best Long Island towns list.
Smithtown is a great place for families who love nature, wildlife, and culture. You can take in a show at the Performing Arts Center, hike in Caleb Smith State Park, or explore the Blydenburgh Park Historic District.
While average household incomes easily exceed the hundred-thousand mark, median home values still fall below half a million, making it one of the more affordable Suffolk county neighborhoods.
Bellmore
Bellmore is a peaceful, quiet hamlet on Nassau County’s south shore. It’s a charming waterfront community close to Manhattan, JFK, and Jones Beach Park – a neighborhood haven that holds numerous events and concerts throughout the year. Bellmore has several school districts, which include the highly-rated John F. Kennedy High School. The Mathematical Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools are also held annually in Bellmore.
Homes in this popular suburban setting for young families average just over $500,000.
Greenport
Greenport has been around since the mid-1600s, hitting the map as a major shipbuilding center soon after. It is on the north fork of Long Island. This little town is still home to a busy harbor, with beautiful homes and numerous yachts to boot. With a plethora of boutiques and restaurants, beautiful vineyards, and high safety rating Greenport is easily one of the best neighborhoods in Suffolk County, or even in all Long Island.
Greenport is about four hours to NYC by train and has its own train station. You can also catch a ferry to Shelter Island, which lies between the North and South Forks of Long Island and includes wetlands, forests, beaches, golf courses, and marinas.
Greenport Union Free School District provides high-quality public education.
Homes in Greenport average just over $600,000.
Roslyn
If you’re after an affluent, family-friendly neighborhood, look no further than Roslyn, a village in Nassau County on the North Shore of Long Island. Easily one of the best communities in Long Island, Roslyn is on the map thanks to its incredible school system, whose students can boast some of the highest SAT scores in New York.
The Roslyn Union Free School District includes a high school, middle school, 2 elementary schools and an early childhood center. Even though Roslyn Public Schools serve seven different communities, their enrollment rate falls only around 3,000 students – meaning your kids will get a lot of personal attention.
As for the commute? Simply catch a train from the Roslyn station, and you’ll be in Manhattan in no time or take your car, and in as little as 40 minutes, you’re in midtown. The downside? Homes in Roslyn average in the high $900,000s, making them often inaccessible for lower budget buyers.
Massapequa
Another great hamlet in the southern part of the Town of Oyster Bay in southeastern Nassau County is Massapequa. It is located about an hour away from Manhattan, and there are two train stations, making it a viable commute to the city.
Massapequa has a lot of great restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. For nature lovers, there is the Massapequa Preserve, a beautiful greenway trail for walking, biking, and hiking. And for water lovers, Tobay Beach – an exclusive beach on a quiet bay with calm, shallow waters.
Massapequa is the largest K-12 school system in Nassau County and has six elementary schools, as well as a middle and high school.
The median sales price for homes in Massapequa is around $495,000.
Buying a house is a difficult task – and choosing between more than 200 villages and hamlets to find your new home might seem downright daunting. Understand your own needs, and your family’s requirements, and pare down the options – it can make the buying process considerably simpler.