The question
Should I buy on Long Island's North Shore or South Shore?
The short answer
It depends on what you want your weekends and your commute to look like. The North Shore has the Sound, hills and harbor villages. The South Shore has ocean beaches, the bays and boating. Neither one is better. They're different.
The long answer
The North Shore
Rolling hills, harbors and calm Long Island Sound beaches, with historic villages like Port Jefferson, Stony Brook and Northport. Many North Shore hamlets have a classic, older New England feel.
The South Shore
Open Atlantic beaches, the Great South Bay, Fire Island ferries and a laid-back beach-town feel. Boating and bay life are a big part of the lifestyle.
The middle of the Island
Towns in between, like Coram, Selden, Lake Grove and Ronkonkoma, can offer more space for the money and quick access to both shores and the Long Island Expressway.
Questions to ask yourself
- Do you picture ocean waves or a quiet harbor?
- Is commute time or village character more important to you?
- Do you want to walk to a downtown, or have more room between houses?
- Which beaches and parks do you want access to? Some are for town residents only.
