Best Places to Live on Long Island

If you are moving to Long Island, NY, you need to consider living in one of these great neighborhoods on Long Island!

Home to beautiful beaches, historical lighthouses, premier golf courses, and some of the best food in the state Long Island is a great place to live. With a population of 7.647 million people, this Island is densely populated with lots of families and young professionals looking for a more liveable area of New York with easy access to the city and other boroughs.

This Island is located just east of New York City, stretching into the water for over 118 miles. Living on Long Island provides an urban lifestyle with easy access to public transportation, eclectic restaurants and shops, parks, and beaches. As you travel east along the shores, housing and neighborhoods start to look slightly different. City apartments and townhomes closer to New York City turn to upscale homes with posh stores, top culinary restaurants, and some of the best beaches you can find.

Whether you want to live in a more family-friendly neighborhood with access to top schools and attractions or a cheaper place to live with an easy commute into New York City, there is a neighborhood for you on Long Island. Read below to learn more about Long Island's best neighborhoods if you are moving to New York.

Check out these top places to live on Long Island!

Great Neck

Great Neck is a region on Long Island located on the northern shore that includes nine villages. This area of Long Island is considered one of the best places to live in the entire State of New York and one of the top affluent towns in the country. Known for its stunning beaches, top-rated schools, lush green parks, and substantial jaw-dropping homes, this is a fantastic place to live if you can afford it.

The current median home value in Great Neck is around $1.2 million, ranging from charming historic homes to brand-new contemporary waterfront estates. Most people here choose to own their home, but there are also some rental options.

Check out some of the local favorite things to do and see in Great Neck!

Local Favorites:

• Steppingstone Park - This beautiful park is on the water, boasting stunning views and lots to do! During the summer, there are endless camps, programs, shows, and activities for the whole family to enjoy. But don't worry because there are unlimited docks, gardens, picnic areas, playgrounds, pools, spray pads, and boating opportunities year-round.
• Village Green and Rose Garden - A diverse area home to a rose garden, butterfly garden, walking paths, fountain, gazebo, and playground.
• Peter Luger Steak House - A neighborhood favorite since 1887, this steakhouse serves Michelin-star dishes in a historic brick building.
• Kings Point Park - A recreational heaven with a baseball diamond, basketball court, picnic tables, soccer fields, tennis courts, hiking trails, playgrounds, and grills to enjoy a putlock or BBQ after a day full of activities!

Huntington

Located on the Island's North shore in northwestern Suffolk County, this town are a waterfront community full of harbors, marinas, beaches, and parks. What was once an agriculture and shipping hub is now a vibrant town offering residents a sparse suburban feel and access to many hip restaurants, shops, art galleries, entertainment venues, and more.

The median home value in Huntington is around $767k, with homes being right on the water or very close. Downtown is full of life, with something always happening between art shows, live music, live movie showings, or just tourists and residents enjoying the many culinary delights and many bars or taverns.

Check out some of the local favorites in this waterfront town!

Local Favorites:

• Huntington Beach Pier - One of the top attractions for this town, this pier stretches 1,850 feet and attracts locals and tourists to its waters to watch surfers catch some impressive waves, fish from the pier, and watch one of the best sunsets on the Island has to offer.
• Downtown Huntington Beach - Not many towns can say their downtown has a mix of one of the best beaches to visit amongst mouthwatering eateries, shops, and events to enjoy.
• Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve - This beautiful natural reserve holds 1,300 acres of land home to many animals, plants, and species in diverse and natural habitats.
• Oheka Castle - This historic home is the largest owned property in New York, with 127 rooms and 109,000 sq. feet of stunning land with gardens and unique landscaping. Today, you can visit the grounds and tour this gorgeous mansion or stay in one of the hotel rooms available. It is also a popular wedding venue and backdrop for many professional photoshoots, television series, and films.

Manhasset

Located on the North shore of Long Island, this bay was once used for fishing and shellfish harvesting by the Algonquin Matinecock tribe for thousands of years. Many families live in this suburban area with easy access to beaches, restaurants, and cafes, and located within highly rated school districts.

The median home value in Manhasset is around $1.8 million, with large homes with more land surrounding a quaint and charming downtown area and beautiful parkland. Many families, retirees, and young professionals live here due to the stunning selection of homes in a very safe and welcoming place while being only a 37-minute direct commute into Manhattan.

Check out some of the local favorites in Manhasset!

Local Favorites:

• Whitney Pond Park - This scenic park surrounds a large pond with trails to walk on, multiple sports courts, and events held year-round.
• North Hills Country Club - One of the many golf courses surrounding this area, North Hills is part of a country club that first started in 1927 with a rich backstory. Enjoy the gorgeous greens or relax at the pool, bowling alley, tennis courts, clubhouse with grills, and much more.
• Americana Manhasset - A upscale shopping mall with shopping, restaurants, events, and personal shopping options.
• Nassau Country Museum of Art - This indoor/outdoor museum is located outside Manhasset and aims to inspire and educate individuals through art and cultural exhibits and programs. The museum is inside a beautiful mansion holding many works from all over the world, while the outside grounds also have a sculpture garden.

Massapequa

This area of Long Island got its name from the Native American word "Marspeag," meaning great Waterland. Located within the town of Oyster Bay in the southwest part of the Island, this neighborhood is inland and along the water. Although its main claim to fame is its local All-American Hamburger Drive-in, this area has more than just classic American food. Massapequa provides residents with a rural feeling and is known to be very safe, with lots of restaurants and parks to enjoy for residents living there.

The median home value in Massapequa is around $659k, making it a slightly cheaper area to live on Long Island, with many families and young professionals choosing to reside there. With lots of natural lands, there are many parks with hiking trails to enjoy and the waterfront, giving you the best of both worlds.

Check out some of the local favorites in Massapequa!

Local Favorites:

• All American Burger - This old-school fast food restaurant sells the best burgers, fries & shakes in the state!
• Philip B. Healey Beach - A public beach that offers sandy areas to lay out, picnic, or bathe in Oyster Bay.
• John J Burns Park - This park offers an array of activities, from a large playground to tennis, basketball, and baseball courts to walking and hiking paths and a boat launching ramp.
• Massapequa Diner - Since 1950, this classic diner has served breakfast and comfort food with fun decor.

Merrick

Located on the south shore of Long Island, this small neighborhood is known for producing notable individuals and businesses, such as Lindsey Lohan and Amy Fisher, to the origin of Ben and Jerry's ice cream.

Living in Merrick provides residents with a sparse suburban feel and easy access to large cities such as Manhattan but beautiful restaurants, coffee shops, and parks within the neighborhood. Merrick is 92% white residents that own their homes, making it not a very diverse location, but still a great area with beautiful homes, excellent school districts, and fun things to do, such as golf courses on the water.

The median home value in this area is around $759k, with many families and commuters living here that want waterfront access and a better quality of life but still live near the city. Check out some of the local favorites to check out in Merrick below!

Local Favorites:

• Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve - A park on top of a hill that used to be a landfill is now a beautiful park showcasing spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline and Long Island.
• Long Island Children's Museum - This museum offers 14 interactive exhibits and live performances for the entire family to enjoy! Learn, build, interact, play, and climb inside this museum.
• Eisenhower Park - This public park has 930 acres of land full of large green open spaces and activities to enjoy. Within the parkland, there is a swimming pool, many recreational courts, a golf facility, picnic areas, fitness trails, and events that occur throughout the year.
• Cradle of Aviation Museum - This aerospace museum holds many exhibits, a planetarium, galleries, and an interactive space quest!

Plainview

Located near the North shore but not directly on the water, this neighborhood has low crime rates, extensive and lush parks, and is known to have a similar feeling to the upper west side of Manhattan with posh homes and stores.

Plainview is a more expensive area with median home values of around $799k and a median household income of $146,853. Many families and retirees choose to reside in this small 5.7 square mile area with many attractions, parks, and shops available. Living in Plainview gives you a sparse suburban feel; most residents also choose to own their homes.

Check out some of the local favorites to visit in Plainview below!

Local Favorites:

• Island Rock - Long Islands' premier rock climbing gym with 100+ routes, rappel tower, crack climbs, and boulder cave. Whether you are an experienced climber or just starting, this is a great place to enjoy a challenge!
• Museum of American Armor - This museum showcases American history through exhibits, events, and education. The goal of this museum is to preserve American history for many generations. Go back in history here and pay tribute to those who risked their lives for ours.
• Manetto Hills Park - A beautiful park with hiking and mountain biking trails to enjoy through thick forests of trees.
• Social Play Haus - This fun and unique restaurant have a full cafe and bar for the adults and an indoor play area for the kids!

Stony Brook

Stony Brook is located on the North shore of Long Island and is home to Stony Brook University and the highly ranked Stony Brook University Medical Center. This neighborhood provides residents with a rural feel, and many families and retirees live here due to the many restaurants, coffee shops, parks, and highly-rated schools.

The median home value in Stony Brook is around $599k, making it one of the cheaper neighborhoods in Long Island that is still a great area to live. Although there is easy access to public beaches in this neighborhood, there isn't much to do besides lay out or swim, and the water is icy most of the season. But the waterfront still provides a beautiful area to spend the day or picnic!

Check out some local favorites in this neighborhood!

Local Favorites:

• Long Island Museum - This museum holds year-round and seasonal exhibits from artists to help inspire and help all ages understand American art, history, and diverse communities.
• Avalon Nature Preserve- A natural conservation area with five diverse habitats containing different flora and walking trails.
• Sand Street Beach - This wonderful beach has a mix of forest land with sandy spots to lay out or enjoy the water. Explore the area by foot or boat!
• The Jazz Loft - Enjoy live music, education, and dancing! This museum and performance space holds live jazz events and improv jams almost every week for the public to enjoy as well as ensuring to preserve and educate about the history of jazz music.

Best Neighborhoods on Long Island, NY-Final Thoughts

Long Island is a great place to live, with access to beautiful parks, beach waterfronts, great restaurants and cafes, and a better quality of life but easy access to Manhattan and other New York City boroughs. If you want a great area to raise a family with highly-rated school districts and safe neighborhoods or a better home with more space and a quieter area Long Island is for you.

If you or anyone you know is moving to Long Island, contact us here to connect you with one of our Realty Specialists and get you settled into your new home.