Harbor and Sound, minutes apart.
Setauket Harbor, West Meadow Beach on Long Island Sound and the Flax Pond salt marsh are all a short drive from the center of East Setauket, with kayak launches close by.
Town guide · Town of Brookhaven
East Setauket, NY
Some towns you drive through. East Setauket is one you come home to.
A local guide by Donna Barilla, Long Island Realtor since 2007. Updated November 2026.East Setauket is part of the Three Village area on the North Shore, next to Stony Brook and Stony Brook University and near Setauket Harbor. It is also home base for Donna: Signature Premier Properties' office sits on Route 25A in East Setauket.
- Town
- Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County
- ZIP code
- 11733
- Schools
- Mostly Three Village CSD; some southern sections in Comsewogue
- Rail
- Stony Brook and Port Jefferson stations on the LIRR Port Jefferson Branch
- With Donna
- 5 closings
Long Island SoundAtlantic Ocean
SmithtownCommackEast SetauketCoram
For saleComing soonUnder contractSold by Donna
The question
What school district is East Setauket in?
The schools
Most of East Setauket is served by the Three Village Central School District, which also serves Stony Brook, Setauket, Old Field and Poquott. Some southern sections are in the Comsewogue district, so confirm the district for a specific address.
The question
What is the closest LIRR station to East Setauket?
The commute
East Setauket residents typically use the Stony Brook or Port Jefferson stations on the Long Island Rail Road's Port Jefferson Branch.
The question
What is the Three Village area?
The Three Villages
Three Village refers to the communities of Setauket, East Setauket, Stony Brook and Old Field, along with Poquott and nearby areas, which share a school district, library and fire district. The name comes from the original three villages of Setauket, Stony Brook and Old Field.
- TownTown of Brookhaven, Suffolk County
- ZIP code11733
The question
Has Donna Barilla sold homes in East Setauket?
Donna's record
Yes. OneKey MLS records show Donna has closed 5 transactions in East Setauket, Setauket and South Setauket, representing both buyers and sellers, on homes listed between $514,000 and $999,999. She has also closed sales in neighboring Stony Brook and Port Jefferson.
- Listing agentMink Lane
- Buyer's agentStony Wood Road, Setauket
- Buyer's agentThomas Lane (condo)
- Listing agentTracker Lane, South Setauket
- Buyer's agentOld Town Road
The story of East Setauket
Where Brookhaven began, and where Washington's spies lived.
- 1655
The first settlement
Setauket was the first settlement in what became the Town of Brookhaven. In 1655, English colonists from New England arranged to buy the Setauket area from the Native people who lived here.
- 1777
A raid across the Sound
On August 22, 1777, General Samuel Holden Parsons crossed Long Island Sound from Connecticut at night with about 500 troops and attacked a fortified Loyalist post at the village center. After about three hours of fire, his troops withdrew back across the Sound.
- 1778
The Culper Spy Ring
From 1778 to 1783, Setauket's Abraham Woodhull gathered intelligence from British-held New York City for George Washington. Austin Roe carried it east, and Caleb Brewster rowed it across the Sound by whaleboat. Local legend says Anna Strong signaled his hiding spots with a black petticoat on her clothesline.
- 1807
The painter of Long Island
William Sidney Mount was born in Setauket in 1807 and spent his career painting rural life around Setauket and Stony Brook. The Long Island Museum in Stony Brook holds the largest collection of his work.
- 1870
Ships from Setauket
Shipbuilding here dates back to the 1660s and peaked in the 1800s. The Adorna, launched in 1870, was the largest square-rigged sailing ship built on Long Island outside Brooklyn.
- 2014
Setauket on TV
AMC's TURN: Washington's Spies, which aired from 2014 to 2017, told the Culper story with Setauket as its main setting. Culper Spy Day still brings the history to life every fall.
Things to do
Weekends in East Setauket.
Harbor walks, a colonial farm, a spy museum and the Sound, all a few minutes from Route 25A.
- 01East Setauket
Sherwood-Jayne Farm
A farmstead from about 1730 with original hand-painted wall frescoes, hayfields and an orchard, plus a 3-mile nature trail open year-round from sunrise to sunset. House tours run June through October.
- 02East Setauket
Three Village Historical Society History Center
Home of SPIES!, an interactive exhibit on the Culper Spy Ring, in the historic Bayles-Swezey House.
- 03Setauket
Setauket Pond Park and Shore Road Beach
A boardwalk and viewing platform over Setauket Harbor, and a small sandy beach nearby with picnic tables and a kayak launch.
- 04Setauket
Frank Melville Memorial Park
A 24-acre park from 1937 with a working mill wheel, stone bridges, walking loops around the mill ponds and free summer concerts on Sundays.
- 05East Setauket
Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway Trail
A paved trail of about 3 to 4 miles for walking, running and biking, with a trailhead and parking off Route 25A on Limroy Lane.
- 06Stony Brook, nearby
West Meadow Beach
More than a mile of Long Island Sound beach with a 1.2-mile paved path and a spray park, next to the Flax Pond salt marsh.
- 07Stony Brook, nearby
The Long Island Museum
American art, history and a carriage collection, plus the largest collection of William Sidney Mount paintings anywhere.
- 08Stony Brook, nearby
Stony Brook Village Center
Shops and dining around the harbor, the Stony Brook Grist Mill, and the 82-acre Avalon Park and Preserve.
After dark
Dinner, drinks and a night out.
Evenings out here run along Route 25A, from the village green to Stony Brook Village and down to Port Jefferson Harbor.
- 01East Setauket
Culpers 1778
A steakhouse named for the spy ring, opened in 2025 in Old School House Square.
- 02Stony Brook, nearby
Mirabelle Restaurant & Tavern
French bistro and contemporary American cooking inside the historic Three Village Inn.
- 03Stony Brook, nearby
The Jazz Loft
A nonprofit jazz club and museum with live shows and jam sessions on its weekly calendar.
- 04Stony Brook University
Staller Center for the Arts
Concerts, touring performers, films and Met Opera Live in HD screenings on campus.
- 05Port Jefferson, nearby
Theatre Three
A professional stage on Main Street with a full season of shows and an annual holiday run of A Christmas Carol.
- 06Port Jefferson, nearby
Montauk Brewing Co. brewpub
A brewpub that opened in Port Jefferson in August 2026.
Open and verified as of November 2026. Places change, so check hours before you go.
What makes it special
Only in East Setauket.
A village green from 1655.
The Old Setauket Historic District protects the core of the original settlement, with a New England-style village green and mill pond.
A university and medical center next door.
Stony Brook University and Stony Brook University Hospital sit just west. The hospital is Long Island's only Level I adult and pediatric trauma center.
A ferry to New England.
Next door in Port Jefferson, car ferries cross Long Island Sound to Bridgeport, Connecticut, several times a day.
Quick answers
East Setauket, in a sentence or two.
What is there to do in East Setauket, NY?
Popular spots in and around East Setauket include Sherwood-Jayne Farm, Three Village Historical Society History Center, Setauket Pond Park and Shore Road Beach, Frank Melville Memorial Park and Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway Trail. A farmstead from about 1730 with original hand-painted wall frescoes, hayfields and an orchard, plus a 3-mile nature trail open year-round from sunrise to sunset. House tours run June through October.
Where do people go out at night in East Setauket, NY?
Evenings out here run along Route 25A, from the village green to Stony Brook Village and down to Port Jefferson Harbor. Spots include Culpers 1778, Mirabelle Restaurant & Tavern, The Jazz Loft, Staller Center for the Arts and Theatre Three. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.
What is the history of East Setauket, NY?
Setauket was the first settlement in what became the Town of Brookhaven. In 1655, English colonists from New England arranged to buy the Setauket area from the Native people who lived here. On August 22, 1777, General Samuel Holden Parsons crossed Long Island Sound from Connecticut at night with about 500 troops and attacked a fortified Loyalist post at the village center. After about three hours of fire, his troops withdrew back across the Sound.
I'm relocating. What should I know about moving to East Setauket, NY?
Flying in to look? Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma is the nearest commercial airport, and the LIRR's Port Jefferson Branch stops at Stony Brook and Port Jefferson. Donna's office is right here on Route 25A, so planning a showing day is easy. New residents have 30 days to get a New York driver license and register their car. Donna's full relocation checklist is at https://donnabarillasellsli.com/relocation.
Relocating
Coming or going, Donna's got the checklist.
Moving to East Setauket
Flying in to look? Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma is the nearest commercial airport, and the LIRR's Port Jefferson Branch stops at Stony Brook and Port Jefferson. Donna's office is right here on Route 25A, so planning a showing day is easy.
The moving-in checklistLeaving East Setauket
Selling from out of state? Donna's office is a few minutes away on Route 25A, so she can handle showings, contractors and access while you're gone, and keep your attorney on the same timeline.
The moving-out checklistFree download
Donna gives every client the same facts about every town. Where you live is your call, always. Town guides describe places, history and logistics, never the people who live there, in keeping with the federal Fair Housing Act and the New York State Human Rights Law. NYS Housing & Anti-Discrimination Notice.
Sources for this guide
- Town
- Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County
- ZIP code
- 11733
- Schools
- Mostly Three Village CSD; some southern sections in Comsewogue
- Rail
- Stony Brook and Port Jefferson stations on the LIRR Port Jefferson Branch
Other town guides
Book a time with Donna
Let's talk about East Setauket.
Tell Donna what's on your mind and when works for you. She'll reply personally, usually the same day.
Prefer to reach her directly?
Office: Signature Premier Properties, 750 Route 25A, East Setauket, NY 11733