Alex is the founder of 9Kilo Moving, which he started to help people easily find and choose the right moving company to make their move as stress-free and seamless as possible. He has spent over 20 years working in the moving industry, so he knows every aspect of the business and uses his knowledge to write about the industry and give moving advice. More on about us page
The Hamptons is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you recall Long Island. It’s true that part of it is the land of celebrities. Beyoncé, Scarlett Johansson, and even Iron Man himself (Robert Downey Jr.) have huge oceanfront homes in the beautiful region of Long Island.
Not everyone gets to boast about being next door neighbors with such big personalities so that’s certainly an aura you get to enjoy by living here. But this is definitely the rosy picture of what it is to live here, so let’s look at some of the practicalities to consider while moving to Long Island.
CALCULATE MY MOVE
Long Island lies in the northeastern part of the United States. And if there’s one thing that we all should know about the weather in this region is that clear bright sunny skies are periodic. This is mainly why clear sunny days in Long Island are held in high regard and appreciated. So, if you see the sun shining bright, it’s time to head out and relish that day.
To give a better more in depth understanding of the temperatures you should expect every season, here is a short breakdown of things:
About Long Island Summers - The summer months last from June to September and you can expect temperatures to be in the range of 68°F to 82°F. Summers are the best time to visit Coney Island and have picnics at Brooklyn Bridge Park. We suggest sunbathing and enjoy time at the beach while the sun shines.
About Long Island Winters - The winters in Long Island are pretty mild when compared to other places in the state of New York. Rain and storms are a part and parcel of the winter conditions of the city. You can expect to see a considerable amount of snow in December and January. On an average, temperatures fall in the range of 25°F to 38°F during the winters. Snowfall infrequently exceeds 1.7 inches even in the coldest month, which is January.
About Long Island Autumn - Fall is a pleasant time in Long Island and the region turns beautiful. The average temperature is somewhere between 44°F to 69°F so it’s not too hot nor too cold. Caumsett State Park, Connetquot River State Park, and Old Westbury are some best spots to catch peak fall foliage.
Few things To Bear In Mind
When it comes to intra-city travel, it’s ideally considered better to have a car to commute within Long Island. One of the main reasons for this is the weather patterns that make depending on public transport an unpleasant experience. The other is that most public transit options are oriented towards getting residents to New York City.
On the plus side, the city is extremely walkable and has a remarkable score of 95 on 100 in terms of walkability. This score was presented to the city by the platform WalkScore and it also gets the tag to be a walker’s paradise. This means you could practically walk to your destination and don’t really need to depend on four wheels to get around.
Now let’s look at the different modes of public transport you can depend on for your commute:
If you ever need to get connected to Midtown Manhattan or Brooklyn, remember that you can always count on the subway to be your ride. This is the most convenient option you’ll have as a resident of Long Island. In total there are 8 subway lines that run through stations in the city.
This rail line runs from Manhattan upto Suffolk County in Long Island. So once again, this is another viable option if you need to go back and forth between New York City and Long Island. There are just 2 of these commuter rail stations within city limits, so it’s a busy one.
NYC Ferry predominantly operates in New York City but luckily a few routes pass through points in Long Island. You can take the ferry service at Hunter’s Point South and Gantry Plaza State Park to reach Manhattan, Brooklyn, Astoria, and Roosevelt Island. The places you can connect to by taking the ferry are certainly limited.
The city is also bikeable with a score of 82 on 100. This is great news for those of you who consider themselves to be cycling enthusiasts. If you ever need to get to New York City you can take the Queensboro Bridge bike path and you even have easy access to the Pulaski Bridge bike path to reach Brooklyn.
If you want to take the bus, you can do so as there are roughly 15 bus lines operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Regional Bus Operations. It’s possible that this is the least convenient mode because it’s a doable option only if you live in close proximity to the areas the bus line services.
Residents in Long Island have easy access to John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Long Island MacArthur Airport. These are the 3 major airlines serving the area.
Many residents turn to NYC for better pay and take advantage of a larger job market in comparison to Long Island. It’s true that NYC is the goldmine for jobs. Also, seeing that you’d be residing right next to a global hub for job opportunities, it does make sense to tap into the bigger city for jobs.
All in all, most of the public transit options make things easier to get residents to New York City. Besides the bus, the other modes don’t help much in getting people from point A to B within the city.
This is why a large number of residents choose to commute to New York for work and this isn’t a wrong approach to take considering New York is an hour away. But since you’re moving to Long Island and not New York City, it’s obvious that you’d be more curious about what Long Island has in store for you. So let’s shift the limelight to look at some of the things the city has to offer.
For starters, the Hauppauge Industrial Park is one of the largest industrial parks in Long Island and is definitely worth boasting about. It’s a place to reside for more than 1,300 established companies creating big opportunities for old and new residents. Some of the biggest employers of the city are:
There’s a whole variety of lucrative job opportunities in the city, but most of the companies are linked to the fields of technology and finance. If you ever feel that the industry you work with lacks a presence in Long Island, you always have the chance to reach Manhattan and most of New York for opportunities.
When you think about living in Long Island, you’ve to plan out your expenses and think about how you’d be able to afford to live here. Probably every resident goes through the stage of intensely understanding the costs of living because it is without a question an expensive place to live in.
But how expensive it gets is the real question. To give you an approximate idea of costs you should look forward to, let’s together go over different aspects that you have to consider by starting with housing costs.
See also: Cheap Cities to Move to in the U.S.
The value at which homes are sold in Long Island stands at $847,571 as per the website Niche. If you plan on being a homeowner, you have to buckle up to deal with prices that hit past the roof. If you pick an upscale place like Old Westbury, the median value for homes reaches more than $2 million. The region is also home to Sandpoints which is the wealthiest part of the whole state of New York.
The rent prices are hitting the roof in Long Island. On an average expect to pay somewhere between $1,600 to $1,903 a month to rent an apartment. This price range is way higher than the national average which stands at just $1,062. The average rent in Brooklyn is $1,426 and Manhattan is $1,740, both are popular places but with much cheaper rental prices. The bottomline is that rent prices are astronomical in Long Island, there’s no room to doubt that.
Now that you know how expensive it is to live in Long Island it’s only human to wonder how much you must earn to live here comfortably. On average, the median household income here is at $86,311. This means that most households annually bring in this much money home. But to live comfortably a household with 2 adults and 2 kids would need to bring home at least 6 digit figures somewhere around $139,545 annually.
Groceries, utility bills, gas, and entertainment costs are all above the national average in Long Island. Gas prices are somewhere between $2.78 to $3 per gallon. Don’t be surprised if even as a single adult you have to budget $2,000 or more a month on your utility bills, gas, and groceries.
The neighborhood of Jericho is situated in Nassau County. This is the most popular county that residents pick when they think of moving to Long Island. It’s a good spot to choose because there’s a train station within walking distance so this makes commuting much easier. This part of Long Island also has one of the best school districts, making it a great place to raise a family.
Median Value Of Homes - $797,400Median Rent - $2,008
Roslyn would be perfect for you if you’re looking for something affordable. The real estate prices here are humble and below the average. This part is filled with good quality schools and several which makes it family friendly. There are a dozen historical landmarks dotted around this neighborhood which makes it pretty interesting.
Median Value Of Homes - $450,000Median Rent - $2,521
Home to Stony Brook University, this neighborhood is a desirable place to live for young adults. The university and number of students contribute to keeping the atmosphere here pep and lively. The vibe is way more cosmopolitan than other parts in Long Island and this is probably because of how diverse the environment is.
Median Value Of Homes - $453,100Median Rent - $1,221
With a population of over 26K people, it’s certain that more and more people are constantly attracted to the atmosphere in Plainview. It’s an active town so if you’re an outgoing person and love exploring this could be the place for you. It’s easy to fall in love with the people here especially since there’s a strong sense of community. You would also have access to train stations in the vicinity and this makes commuting to NYC a breeze.
Median Value Of Homes - $594,000Median Rent - $1,566
Looking for a place with ample green and open spaces? Look no further because Garden City will be able to do justice to this requirement. This neighborhood has a bird sanctuary, golf clubs, and several community parks. You’ll also have access to both Adelphi and Hofstra University from here. By living here, you’d even have beaches less than 30 minutes away from home.
Median Value Of Homes - $860,000Median Rent - $3,342
Most households in Long Island earn an amount of $86,311 annually. If you’re a single adult, it’s possible to live comfortably on a 100K annual salary. For 2 adults with 2 kids, an annual combined income of $139,545 is considered ideal.
The quality of life is great and there’s more than a dozen good school systems. There can be an imbalance in the cost of living to income ratio and the region is expensive to live in. On the plus side you could be minutes away from a beach or just some scenic seaside views.
Long Island is a blend of both the city vibe and a relaxed lifestyle and so, a good place to live in. The sunny weather throughout the year along with plenty of beaches and a relaxed lifestyle is what Long Island is known for. Whether it’s the wine, pizzas, or bagels, the place is flooded with plenty of foods and beverages for foodies. You also get to visit the most beautiful places like the sunset at Fire Island and easy access to the most famous New York City. Although the property taxes may seem high, the city will never let you get bored as you have dozens of activities like swimming, hiking, horseback riding, etc. to keep you busy.
Long Island sure is a great place to move to with sunshine all year round and lots of beaches to explore. If you want to live in the cosmopolitan part of the city, then Stony Brook is your place where you can find good educational and employment opportunities. But if you’re looking forward to moving with your family, you can consider moving to Jericho, Roslyn, Planview, or Garden City.
Long Island, NY is dangerous when it comes to crimes as the city has a violent crime rate of 9.63 per 1,000 people every year according to the research conducted by Crimegrade. If you reside in the southwestern neighborhoods of the city, your chances of being a victim of violent crime will be around 1 in 66 people or 1 in 458 people depending on which part of the city you’re residing in.
Several factors will affect your overall cost of living in Long Island. Speaking of your housing costs, your median house price will be around $847,571 as per the data shared by Niche. Do keep in mind that this price spurs up to almost $2 million if you choose to reside in the lavish area of Old Westbury. Your monthly rent can fall in the price range of $1,600 to $1,903 or even more and hence is higher than the national average. Even your other utility bills will be above the national average where you’ll be spending almost $2,000 or more on a monthly basis for your utilities.
Roosevelt in Long Island is the most affordable place to live in. As per the research conducted by Zumper, a rental studio apartment will cost you around $1,381 per month which is less than the national average of $1,439. The rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Roosevelt is around $1,711 per month whereas a two-bedroom apartment will cost you around $2,100 on a monthly basis.
Sagaponack in the Southampton region along the Atlantic Ocean can be considered the richest place in Long Island where your median home value will be as much as $3,875,000. Other than that, there's Suffolk County’s Bridgehampton where your median home value will be around $3,325,000. Other rich areas in Long Island are Old Westbury, Manhasset, Water Mill, etc.
East Hampton Town can be considered the safest place to live in Long Island. As per the research conducted by NeighborhoodScout, it has a low violent crime rate of 0.88 per 1,000 people and a property crime rate of 29.98 per 1,000 people.
Hempstead in Long Island has the highest crime rate. According to the data shared by NeighborhoodScout, it has 5.39 violent crimes per 1,000 people and around 10.52 property crimes per 1,000 people.
New York City and Long Island both fare well when it comes to crime, with some of the safest communities of NYC in Long Island itself.
Hempstead, Freeport, and Riverhead are considered the bad areas of Long Island as they have repeated occurrences of violent crimes like murder, rape, robbery, and assault.
Hempstead in Long Island is one of the more crime-ridden areas of Long Island. As per the data shared by NeighborhoodScout, the violent crimes in Hempstead are higher than the US national average.
Long Island is ranked among the most expensive places in the US to live in. So if you want to live comfortably in Long Island, you’ll need to earn at least $139,545 annually in order to meet all your living expenses in the city. To give you a monthly estimate, it comes up to $11,629 per month.
Because of its lavish neighborhoods like Nassau and Suffolk counties, Long Island sure is one of the wealthiest places in the entire US. No wonder these counties were listed in the list of top 25 richest cities in America by Forbes. That’s why you’ll find that the median home cost in these lavish places goes up to almost $2 million.
A salary of $50k or less is considered low income in Long Island. Since it is ranked among the richest places in the entire US, it’s not possible to meet even the basic necessities like housing costs and essential utilities. The lowest median home value itself is almost $847,571. So you’ll need a 6-digit salary to be able to meet all your living expenses here.
Our Take On Long Island
If you’ve always wanted to be part of upscale seaside communities then Long Island is certainly the place for you. The sparsely populated neighborhoods and the beaches bring out a peaceful atmosphere to the place. This is probably the reason why it is a desirable location for retirees.
Now that you have a gist of the place and what it would look like to move here you’re halfway set for the practical aspects of the move. The next process would be selecting movers to help you get there. That’s another area that we can help you with so go ahead and refer to our article Best Moving Companies In Long Island. (Please add the link of this article at the time of uploading it)
See also: Best Moving Companies in Long Island | Best Long Distance Moving Companies in New York
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