New poster looking for relocation help (Islip, Babylon: apartment, renting, neighborhoods)

[EllPat113]

Let me start by saying I have been lurking on these boards for quite some time. I am a married women living in Bayside, Queens. My husband and I are expecting our first child in March, and would like to relocate to Long Island. We love Bayside, but we are not sure how the area will be 5-10 years down the road, and would like to move either before the baby is born, or shortly after.
I guess you could say our problem is that we have no one specific area we are looking at. The only thing we know we don't want is to go far out east (end of the LIE and beyond). But as far as north shore, south shore, nassau or western suffolk, we don't care. This is what we do care about:
-A nice, family oriented community, with nice parks, libraries, and fun things to do with kids.
- Solid schools. We may choose catholic school down the road, but since we aren't deciding that for a few more years, we need to make sure public schools are good should we go that route.
- Strong Catholic community. We are very traditional Italian & Irish Catholics. We would like to join a strong parish. We are certainly open to religious diversity, but would not want to be in the minority.
- Easy access to Manhattan. My husband works on Wall St., and would like to keep his commute time to about an hour.
- A nice downtown area. I am not crazy about strip malls and the like, but would not want to be nowhere near a shopping area either.

We have family living in the towns of West Islip, Commack, Manhasset and Wantagh. All are raising young children, and are very happy with everything, including the schools. We are going to look into these towns, but are not limiting ourselves to them either.
If anyone has any advice or help at all, I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you in advance.

[fopt65]

Originally Posted by EllPat113

Let me start by saying I have been lurking on these boards for quite some time. I am a married women living in Bayside, Queens. My husband and I are expecting our first child in March, and would like to relocate to Long Island. We love Bayside, but we are not sure how the area will be 5-10 years down the road, and would like to move either before the baby is born, or shortly after.
I guess you could say our problem is that we have no one specific area we are looking at. The only thing we know we don't want is to go far out east (end of the LIE and beyond). But as far as north shore, south shore, nassau or western suffolk, we don't care. This is what we do care about:
-A nice, family oriented community, with nice parks, libraries, and fun things to do with kids.
- Solid schools. We may choose catholic school down the road, but since we aren't deciding that for a few more years, we need to make sure public schools are good should we go that route.
- Strong Catholic community. We are very traditional Italian & Irish Catholics. We would like to join a strong parish. We are certainly open to religious diversity, but would not want to be in the minority.
- Easy access to Manhattan. My husband works on Wall St., and would like to keep his commute time to about an hour.
- A nice downtown area. I am not crazy about strip malls and the like, but would not want to be nowhere near a shopping area either.

We have family living in the towns of West Islip, Commack, Manhasset and Wantagh. All are raising young children, and are very happy with everything, including the schools. We are going to look into these towns, but are not limiting ourselves to them either.
If anyone has any advice or help at all, I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you in advance.

Really think twice about moving to LI, especially if you are possibly considering Catholic schooling for your children. The property taxes alone on LI can be more than private school tuition. At least (if living in NYC) school tuition doesn't go on forever, but property taxes do on LI and they go up EVERY year.
In terms of demographic changes, they are also happening on LI, so unless you are able to move to an ultra exclusive area like Garden City or some north shore towns, you will also be wondering about the possible changes down the road in your LI neighborhood.

[baylovers]

Given the criteria you've given I would suggest Rockville Centre. Very nice area with many families, good strong parish and convenient to railroad & highways.

[exNHPer]

If money isn´t a problem, then I would look around the New Hyde Park area, especially around Manhasset Hills. The Parish of Notre Dame is right in the area and Notre Dame Elementary School is adjacent to the church. NHP has a large catholic Irish and Italian populations, and although there are not as many kids there as in the past, I´m sure it is worth the look. Excellent connections to the city as well.

[EllPat113]

Thanks for the replies!
We are expecting to pay between 800,000 and 1.5 million for a house, so Garden City might be a possibility. So far our list of towns to look into:
Manhasset/Manhasset Hills
Port Washington
Rockville Centre
Wantagh
Garden City
Massapequa
Merrick
Glen Head
Syosset
Plainview
Commack
Huntington (Harborfields Schools)
West Islip
maybe Smithtown/St. James

any input on these neighborhoods, or any other suggestions?

[victorny]

That list is really diverse. Nassau and Suffolk are so different, North Shore and South Shore are so different. And none of them are "right" or "wrong", it really depends on what you like.

I've lived in the Harborfields school district for a long time and can only say good things. I wouldn't limit yourself just to Huntington, Centerport is great and is in the Harborfields school district, which is among the highest rated in Suffolk. And if you did decide to go the Catholic School route you would be close to St. Anthonys.

The area has a lot of what you're looking for. There are two Catholic Churches, both of which are well attended and have a strong community around them. The Harborfields public library is among the best I've ever seen, particularly if you have young kids. They have a great variety of activities.

The town of Greenlawn (which is in Harborfields basically between Centerport and Huntington) is very nice, it almost has an east end feel to it. There's not a ton going on, but some cute shops and some restaurants. And you're close to Huntington which has a great "town" area as well as the Walt Whitman mall and really any kind of shopping you'd ever need to do.

The only area where it might be lacking is the commute. The train is about an hour to Penn, so to get to Wall Street you're obviously going to be over an hour for the door to door commute.

Good luck, most of the communities you mention are very nice and I'm sure you'd do well in any of them.

[Glad2BHere]

Originally Posted by EllPat113

Thanks for the replies!
We are expecting to pay between 800,000 and 1.5 million for a house, so Garden City might be a possibility. So far our list of towns to look into:
Manhasset/Manhasset Hills
Port Washington
Rockville Centre
Wantagh
Garden City
Massapequa
Merrick
Glen Head
Syosset
Plainview
Commack
Huntington (Harborfields Schools)
West Islip
maybe Smithtown/St. James

any input on these neighborhoods, or any other suggestions?

With all the Suffolk and even most South Shore communities you listed, your commutes will certainly be over an hour door to door to Manhattan. I would say RVC, Garden City or Manhasset based on your criteria for sure. Esp if you want a commute to Manhattan w/in an hour.

[lilibrarian]

Based on your info, I think you should give GC a close look. I think you'd be quite comfortable. There are two large and active parishes with schools attached, and on the secondary level you'd be quite close to Chaminade, Sacred Heart and Kellenberg. Public schools are quite good. Lot 'o Irish/Italian Catholics, lots o' Wall Streeters.

You do have lots pf lovely communities on your list. Best of Luck to you.

[Jrprofess]

Originally Posted by EllPat113

Thanks for the replies!
We are expecting to pay between 800,000 and 1.5 million for a house, so Garden City might be a possibility. So far our list of towns to look into:

Manhasset/Manhasset Hills - Some would say it is changing, my only beef is the congestion.
Port Washington - same as above, plus a little less convenient to get to some places when driving (north on Searingtown). Train line of Port Washington is fanastic though.
Rockville Centre - Probably spot on based on your criteria
Wantagh - nice area
Garden City - also spot-on based on budget and criteria. Very catholic.
Massapequa - very strong community feel.. Very catholic. Very italian.
Merrick - know less about this area, but understand it to be more split between jewish and catholic.
Glen Head
Syosset - very strong schools. Very jewish/asian based on people and teachers in the community. This is by no means bad, but you mentioned the italian/irish catholic requirement.
Plainview - same as above...although it is "splitsville" and I am not a fan of splits. To each their own of course.
Commack - very strong schools - probably more than an hour into the city, probably split 50/50 jewish catholic (just an uninformed observation). You have family there I believe.
Huntington (Harborfields Schools) If you go for Harborfields go to Centerport or the northern part of Greenlawn. Seemingly nicer areas than the sections of Huntington that go to the same district. Those Huntington areas are right up against some rougher areas of South Huntington/Huntington Station. Others in the area could probably better inform you and correct my opinion. The commute would be a potential stretch for your husband.

West Islip - Further east, longer into the city. Bullet train from Babylon is great, but you will be more than an hour door to door. Very catholic/italian area.
maybe Smithtown/St. James - too far east for your husband's commute, but a great area that meets your other requirements. (I am biased as I live in the area, but no longer need to commute into Manhattan daily).

any input on these neighborhoods, or any other suggestions?

Sayville is a nice community as well, with the longer commute though. Northport/East Northport are great as well, but the city commute would not be an hour. Best of luck in your search. I lived in Bayside for a while and loved the proximity to the city and the area from a social standpoint. But that was pre-kids and during my apartment renting days.

[Port North]

Originally Posted by EllPat113

Thanks for the replies!
We are expecting to pay between 800,000 and 1.5 million for a house, so Garden City might be a possibility. So far our list of towns to look into:
Manhasset/Manhasset Hills
Port Washington
Rockville Centre
Wantagh
Garden City
Massapequa
Merrick
Glen Head
Syosset
Plainview
Commack
Huntington (Harborfields Schools)
West Islip
maybe Smithtown/St. James

any input on these neighborhoods, or any other suggestions?

If you can afford it pick Garden City. The only other community on your list that comes close is Manhasset.