Moving to Massapequa Park??? (Oyster Bay, East Massapequa: house, safe area, buying)

[Newbie27]

Hi Everyone, just joined this site to find out more info on Massapequa park. We have just put an offer on a our first home in Massapequa park but have been having second thoughts after reading some of the posts people have been saying about the area. The house is west on carmans rd around the area of The carmans plaza shopping mall. We have 2 kids so I need to know we are moving to a good neighbourhood. We are in the sd #23 which I heard is the best but need to know is it safe area? Please any more info you can give me is much appreciated.TIA

[Smash255]

I am very familiar with the area (spent basically my whole life there) nothing wrong with it whatsoever. Very nice neighborhood and the area is safe. Feel free to send me a dm if you would like.

[Walter Greenspan]

A map of the Village of Massapequa Park in the Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County:


Massapequa Park is one of those many village and hamlets on Long Island where many of the places with the community name in their mailing address are not in the village: places that have a "Massapequa Park, NY 11762" mailing address that are not in the Village of Massapequa Park are in the Hamlet of Massapequa, the Hamlet of North Massapequa and the Hamlet of East Massapequa.


Newbie27, in case you are unfamiliar with the local geography, I've sent you an explanation of the very, very confusing geography of "Lawn Guyland" as a DM (Direct Message).

[kevink1955]

I grew up in that area, has not changed much in the last 40 years. The only thing is while you may have a Massapequa Park address you may not be in the Village of Massapequa Park, Also verify the school district is 23 as the northern part of that area is in farmingdale schools.

Its a good area, my Mom still lived there till she passed away 10 years ago. I still visit the old neighbors and nothing has changed

[Walter Greenspan]

Originally Posted by kevink1955

The only thing is while you may have a Massapequa Park address you may not be in the Village of Massapequa Park.

True. There are places with a "Massapequa Park, NY 11762" mailing address that are in the Hamlet of North Massapequa or in the Hamlet of East Massapequa.

You can find out in which community (city, village or CDP) a place is actually located, which is oftentimes different from the community named in that place's mailing address, by using the Census Bureau's online address search function. (CDP or Census Designated Place is the Census Bureau equivalent for a hamlet in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.)

Originally Posted by kevink1955

Also verify the school district is 23 as the northern part of that area is in farmingdale schools.

And, among other things, the Census Bureau's online address search function also indicates in which school district an address is located.

[Newbie27]

Thanks all, I have checked and we are in the massapequa union free sd. It says we are located east massapequa CDP. Why does it matter if you are in the village or the hamlet of massapequa park?What is the difference? Is it a bad thing to be in the hamlet, i dont understand..

[Smash255]

Originally Posted by Newbie27

Thanks all, I have checked and we are in the massapequa union free sd. It says we are located east massapequa CDP. Why does it matter if you are in the village or the hamlet of massapequa park?What is the difference? Is it a bad thing to be in the hamlet, i dont understand..

I grew up (and lived to a year ago) in the same area, East Massapequa CDP, Massapequa Park zipcode, Massapequa School District. Its not a bad thing to be in the hamlet, and its more technical than anything else. The only difference between the two has to do with the taxes, who you pay some of that to, and that difference is minute.

For example where the house you are buying is you would pay taxes to Nassau County, Town of Oyster Bay and Massapequa School District. If you were in the village of Massapequa Park you would pay taxes to the same three places, and your Town of Oyster Bay Taxes would be slightly lower, but you would also be paying taxes ti the village of Massapequa Park. All in all it becomes a wash.

[Jetties]

Originally Posted by Smash255

I grew up (and lived to a year ago) in the same area, East Massapequa CDP, Massapequa Park zipcode, Massapequa School District. Its not a bad thing to be in the hamlet, and its more technical than anything else. The only difference between the two has to do with the taxes, who you pay some of that to, and that difference is minute.

For example where the house you are buying is you would pay taxes to Nassau County, Town of Oyster Bay and Massapequa School District. If you were in the village of Massapequa Park you would pay taxes to the same three places, and your Town of Oyster Bay Taxes would be slightly lower, but you would also be paying taxes ti the village of Massapequa Park. All in all it becomes a wash.

One other thing, if you plan on taking the LIRR you will have to get on a list to get a parking permit for the Massapequa Park Train station - not a big deal as the Massapequa train station is right up the street, the lot is huge and you can get a regular TOB pass for that.

[Walter Greenspan]

Originally Posted by Newbie27

It says we are located east massapequa CDP.

Then, you're house is in East Massapequa ("Massapequa Park, NY 11762" mailing address).

On LI, You Ain't Where You Think You Are, rev. 2 may help you understand the great geographic confusions caused by non-conforming ZIP Code postal zones.


A map of the Hamlet of East Massapequa in the Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/50/East-massapequa-ny-map.gif (broken link)

East Massapequa is one of those many villages and hamlets on Long Island where none of the places in the community have the hamlet name in their mailing address: places in the Hamlet of East Massapequa have a "Massapequa, NY 11758", "Massapequa Park, NY 11762" and "Amityville, NY 11701" mailing address.

Originally Posted by Newbie27

Why does it matter if you are in the village or the hamlet of massapequa park?What is the difference? Is it a bad thing to be in the hamlet, i dont understand..

First, there is no "Hamlet of Massapequa Park": places that have a "Massapequa Park, NY 11762" mailing address that are not in the Village of Massapequa Park are in the Hamlet of Massapequa, the Hamlet of North Massapequa or in the Hamlet of East Massapequa.


Second, a village is a self-governing municipality while a hamlet is an unincorporated area that is governed on an at-large basis by the town(s) that it is in.

NYS Geographic Glossary and Excellent Long Island Geographic Resource may be of some help to you in understanding the geography of "Lawn Guyland".

[Smash255]

Originally Posted by Jetties

One other thing, if you plan on taking the LIRR you will have to get on a list to get a parking permit for the Massapequa Park Train station - not a big deal as the Massapequa train station is right up the street, the lot is huge and you can get a regular TOB pass for that.

Yup that is true as well. In fact when I first started working in the city (and was living at home at the time) I would go to the Massapequa train station, and my dad went to Massapequa Park since he had the permit. Its basically 1/2 mile between the two stations so its not a big deal.