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It really isn't a bad area at all. Crime rates are low and it is affordable. Sure there are some dumpy looking parts, but there are also some pretty nice parts, like over by Smith Point west of William Floyd Parkway and "East Yaphank." Mastic and Mastic Beach are much trashier, Shirley isn't nearly as bad and is overall a pretty quiet town. The only knock I can really give it is that the school district isn't that good. Aside from that, it's a pretty decent, affordable, working class area.
It really isn't a bad area at all. Crime rates are low and it is affordable. Sure there are some dumpy looking parts, but there are also some pretty nice parts, like over by Smith Point west of William Floyd Parkway and "East Yaphank." Mastic and Mastic Beach are much trashier, Shirley isn't nearly as bad and is overall a pretty quiet town. The only knock I can really give it is that the school district isn't that good. Aside from that, it's a pretty decent, affordable, working class area.
It gets a bad rap because it's a lower class area, served by 2 very poor school districts (Longwood and Floyd). It's heavily populated by renters who have little regard for the homes they are living in. And it borders the Mastic area, shares the same stores so you are still interacting with those "much trashier" areas that you mentioned.
Coming from a middle to upper middle class area, it is very apparent the difference in class of people. A woman I work with from a wealthy area of Nassau stopped off at William Floyd Pkwy on the way out east.....basically said how she couldn't believe how trashy so many of the people were, she thought she was in a rural area of South Carolina. Obviously she's a snob, but that area gets its reputation for a reason.
Shirley does have a indistinguishable white trashy vibe. Every time I drive through it I feel like I'm in upstate NY. You will notice several homes with multiple non running cars on the lot. Most of the streets don't have sidewalks. Rarely you will see a well manicured lawn. You don't have to be a snob to notice the distinct difference between the people there and people from other parts of the island.
However, I generally don't feel unsafe there and being that close to the beach gives it some charm. I think renting out a Summer home there would be fun.
Coming from a middle to upper middle class area, it is very apparent the difference in class of people. A woman I work with from a wealthy area of Nassau stopped off at William Floyd Pkwy on the way out east.....basically said how she couldn't believe how trashy so many of the people were, she thought she was in a rural area of South Carolina. Obviously she's a snob, but that area gets its reputation for a reason.
Coming from a middle to upper middle class area, it is very apparent the difference in class of people. A woman I work with from a wealthy area of Nassau stopped off at William Floyd Pkwy on the way out east.....basically said how she couldn't believe how trashy so many of the people were, she thought she was in a rural area of South Carolina. Obviously she's a snob, but that area gets its reputation for a reason.
I'd rather live in rural SC any day over overblown, overpriced Nassau County. Or Suffolk for that matter.
At least the people in rural trashy SC will be polite!
It gets a bad rap because it's a lower class area, served by 2 very poor school districts (Longwood and Floyd). It's heavily populated by renters who have little regard for the homes they are living in. And it borders the Mastic area, shares the same stores so you are still interacting with those "much trashier" areas that you mentioned.
Longwood isn't that bad. It's really not heavily populated by renters either. According to the latest census, the percentage of rental occupied housing units are comparable to places like Farmingville, Holtsville, Rocky Point and Centereach. Like I said, there are dumpy looking parts with neglected homes, but there are also parts that are nice looking. Most of the people living there are working class, the low class mainly live in the Mastics.
Basically, what I am saying is that you often see people (both on this forum and in real life) group Shirley in with places to avoid along with the likes of Central Islip, North Bellport, Mastic, etc. In reality, Shirley is much more similar to towns like Selden, Farmingville, Ronkonkoma, Rocky Point and Sound Beach.
Longwood isn't that bad. It's really not heavily populated by renters either. According to the latest census, the percentage of rental occupied housing units are comparable to places like Farmingville, Holtsville, Rocky Point and Centereach. Like I said, there are dumpy looking parts with neglected homes, but there are also parts that are nice looking. Most of the people living there are working class, the low class mainly live in the Mastics.
Basically, what I am saying is that you often see people (both on this forum and in real life) group Shirley in with places to avoid along with the likes of Central Islip, North Bellport, Mastic, etc. In reality, Shirley is much more similar to towns like Selden, Farmingville, Ronkonkoma, Rocky Point and Sound Beach.
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