Moving to Long Island...how to decide which town? (New York: houses, neighborhood)

[sarahelkady]

My family is looking to move to Long Island very soon and we were researching different towns and looking at different homes. We have a 4 month old baby and needless to say, life will revolve around her. Is it safe to make a move based on quality of schools as a top priority?

We hear the Jericho has the top rated schools in LI and we are looking to make a move there hopefully. Is this the right thinking pattern? Are there things we may be overlooking? Help from Long Islanders with kids anywhere please.

Thanks!

[dman72]

Originally Posted by sarahelkady

My family is looking to move to Long Island very soon and we were researching different towns and looking at different homes. We have a 4 month old baby and needless to say, life will revolve around her. Is it safe to make a move based on quality of schools as a top priority?

We hear the Jericho has the top rated schools in LI and we are looking to make a move there hopefully. Is this the right thinking pattern? Are there things we may be overlooking? Help from Long Islanders with kids anywhere please.

Thanks!

For the most part, yes. You might end up on a sketchy street in a really good school district, but those things you have to look out for when you are looking for a house, and you usually can get a "feel" for the neighborhood when you go there.

I don't think Jericho really has a bad street.

Some highly rated districts, like Great Neck and Roslyn, do have an area or 2 that are not that desirable, but that will be painfully obvious just from driving there.

[StephM]

Where will you be working? What is your price range?

Jericho is a very highly rated school district but you need at least 600k to buy into it.

[sarahelkady]

Thanks for think quick responses! My husband works in Manhattan so we want to stick with Nassau county so the commute wont be too unbearable. Our budget is 500,000 for now, since its 1 income until I start working again. We found a couple of homes in that price range in Jericho.

So what I am hearing is that most areas in Long Island are in decent school districts, with some exceptions.

[Crookhaven]

Originally Posted by sarahelkady

Thanks for think quick responses! My husband works in Manhattan so we want to stick with Nassau county so the commute wont be too unbearable. Our budget is 500,000 for now, since its 1 income until I start working again. We found a couple of homes in that price range in Jericho.

So what I am hearing is that most areas in Long Island are in decent school districts, with some exceptions.

Ahem...

"on Long Island"



crooks

[dman72]

Originally Posted by sarahelkady

Thanks for think quick responses! My husband works in Manhattan so we want to stick with Nassau county so the commute wont be too unbearable. Our budget is 500,000 for now, since its 1 income until I start working again. We found a couple of homes in that price range in Jericho.

So what I am hearing is that most areas in Long Island are in decent school districts, with some exceptions.

Go to this site, check Nassau and Suffolk Countys..basically, if you are in the top half of the schools ranked, you will be fine. The top 75%....some sketchy but still okay..bottom 25%..avoid.

New York Public School Rankings

[sean sean sean sean]

Originally Posted by dman72

Go to this site, check Nassau and Suffolk Countys..basically, if you are in the top half of the schools ranked, you will be fine. The top 75%....some sketchy but still okay..bottom 25%..avoid.

New York Public School Rankings

The "ranked" data on that site is from 2001, a lot of things have changed since then.

Fortunately, some generous soul took the time to compile the 2006 rankings in the exact same manner that website does, except totally free!

http://www.city-data.com/forum/1805859-post33.html

Ignore the free lunch percentages. I was asked to include that and the next time I do something like this they won't be there. They have nothing to do with quality of education.

[StephM]

Originally Posted by sarahelkady

Thanks for think quick responses! My husband works in Manhattan so we want to stick with Nassau county so the commute wont be too unbearable. Our budget is 500,000 for now, since its 1 income until I start working again. We found a couple of homes in that price range in Jericho.

So what I am hearing is that most areas in Long Island are in decent school districts, with some exceptions.

You might want to look into Syosset as well

[dman72]

Originally Posted by sean sean sean sean

The "ranked" data on that site is from 2001, a lot of things have changed since then.

Fortunately, some generous soul took the time to compile the 2006 rankings in the exact same manner that website does, except totally free!

http://www.city-data.com/forum/1805859-post33.html

Ignore the free lunch percentages. I was asked to include that and the next time I do something like this they won't be there. They have nothing to do with quality of education.

They haven't changed that much. Islip moved up from where it was..that's good to see. Hauppauge kicking butt with low taxes to boot, although..it has no "town", but you can't have everything.

[AlexisT]

500K will be very tight in Jericho. I'd check Syosset, which also has a very good school system and is actually a bit closer to the train (from Jericho, you have to drive to Hicksville). Plainview is also a good buy, excellent schools, and I think a little less pressured money-wise.

Schools are important, but I would weigh other things as well. Come out here and check the towns out.

Keep in mind that on LI, if you buy the cheapest houses in older subdivisions, you're setting yourself up for a lot of work. There are houses that have been owned by the same people for 40-50 years and have not been redone or even necessarily kept up well.