Goodbye NYC...Hello LI!:) (Islip, Babylon: apartment, for rent, safe neighborhood)

[katerinaver]

I've finally made the commitment to move out of NYC!

Looking to rent. Since I know VERY little about LI (other than an occasional visit here or there), would appreciate locals input.

I would love to live next to the beach or some kind of water.

Looking at the following towns:

-Long Beach
-Glen Cove
- Port Washington
- Huntington
- Sayville
- Oceanside
-Merrick
-Seaford
- Babylon
- Great Neck
- Roslyn
- Lindenhurst
- West Islip
- Farmingdale
- Wantagh
-Massapequa
- Valley Stream
- Levittown

(I know long list. Hopefully I can narrow it down with your help!)

I would like to spend $1700 max for rent (for studio or 1 brm)
Be next to or close to water
Be next to LIRR (since I need to commute to NYC). 1-1.5 hrs max commute preferred.
Looking for a safe neighborhood
Suburban but preferable with some sort of downtown.

Please help narrow down my search!

Would appreciate if you could say a few pros/cons of a few of these towns.

Thanks

[hillstone]

$1700 is no way to rent a 1 bedroom apartment in Great Neck, Roslyn

[Forest_Hills_Daddy]

Long Beach has an LIRR station, which is walking distance to the boardwalk and restaurant row. Bay Shore has the ferry that goes to Fire Island.

[hillstone]

Looks like Long Beach is where you want to

[S.I.B.]

Many of the areas you mentioned are close to the bay, not the coean. Unless you have a boat, leaving "near the water" doesn't do much for you unless you're near the ocean.

Long Beach is your best bet - by far.

[katerinaver]

Originally Posted by S.I.B.

Many of the areas you mentioned are close to the bay, not the coean. Unless you have a boat, leaving "near the water" doesn't do much for you unless you're near the ocean.

Long Beach is your best bet - by far.

Does the bay have small beaches as well?

[Coney]

Depending on whether you have to take a subway or walk after the LIRR, some of those towns will not meet your 1.5 hour max limit commute.

It does seem like Long Beach will be your best bet. Will you have a car or do you have to be within walking distance of the LIRR? Add in time to drive and park to the LIRR station.

[nuts2uiam]

Rent amount is going to be a problem if you want to be able to walk to the beach. That number will not get you much in terms of choice.

[ShouldIMoveOrStayPut...?]

Originally Posted by S.I.B.

Many of the areas you mentioned are close to the bay, not the coean. Unless you have a boat, leaving "near the water" doesn't do much for you unless you're near the ocean.

Not necessarily! Many of the communities listed have town or village municipal pools, bathing beaches, public fishing docks and other areas of waterfront access and recreation. In many cases they would likely be a short to medium distanced walk or bike ride away.

[Forest_Hills_Daddy]

Originally Posted by ShouldIMoveOrStayPut...?

In many cases they would likely be a short to medium distanced walk or bike ride away.

Yes, this is true. The OP can look up on the Long Island Greenbelt and Greenway. And the walk/ride itself could be an enjoyable experience. Here's a map of and links about the Greenbelt (north/south) and Greenway (east/west):

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/n...reenbelt-trail

https://fatmap.com/routeid/130176/na...3848,satellite

https://www.tpl.org/sites/default/fi...20Appendix.pdf

https://www.tpl.org/our-work/long-island-greenway

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertain...e-way/2818210/