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Dix Hills is unique by shopping-crazed Long Island standards. The hamlet of 26,000 has strict zoning regulations, which attempts to keep a tight rein on development. With the exception of a few gardening centers, retail shopping is nearly non-existent. Residents must travel beyond the confines of the sixteen-square mile area to purchase groceries and other necessities. There is no local LIRR service either; commuters must travel to Wyandanch orHuntington Station to catch the train.

Open spaces and parks are easy to find. The Town of Huntington, which includes Dix Hills, oversees recreational activities and supervises several parks, including a golf course at the public Crab Meadow Golf Course, and Gold Star Battalion Beach, on Huntington Bay. Dix Hills Park also has a golf course, along with an indoor ice rink, outdoor pools and a playground. The area’s Little League uses the ten fields at Otsego Park, which also has a roller hockey rink and playground. Strathmore Park, largely undeveloped, features hiking trails. A portion of the 813 acre Oak Bush Plains at Edgewood, a preserve occupying the grounds of a former psychiatric hospital, is located in Dix Hills.

Students residing in the northeastern section of Dix Hills attend school in the Commack School District, whose high school was rated #1 in Suffolk County this year by U.S. News and World Report. Rolling Hills Primary School serves the students in Dix Hills, who move on to intermediate, middle and high school in Commack. Commack participates in the International Baccalaureate program, a challenging multi-disciplinary college preparatory program. Scores on standardized state tests are high across grades and subjects. The remaining students attend the Half Hollow Hills Central School District, which draws students from Dix Hills, Melville, Deer Park and Wheatley Heights. It includes 10,000 students in seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. High passing rates on state exams at the elementary and middle school level, as well as high Regents passing rates draw homebuyers to the area. At the high school level, students can choose from twenty-six Advanced Placement courses. Collaborations with local colleges allow students to begin earning college credit. A planetarium at Half Hollow Hills West High School draws visiting students from the district’s elementary and middle schools.

A minimal number of smaller, inexpensive homes on small lots are available, but most homes are higher priced and sit on an acre of land. Those less expensive homes are priced beginning in the low $300,000 range. Buyers whose budgets are around and above the $500,000 range will have more options; current prices top out around $2.5 million. Many homes were constructed during the 1960s and 1970s; some are even newer. The relatively young age of homes means there are more contemporary styled houses than in neighboring areas.

Deer Park, an unincorporated hamlet in the Town of Babylon, has evolved from an agricultural community to one of Long Island’s shopping havens. Founded in 1853 by Charles Wilson, a prosperous farmer, the area was once known as New York State’s “Fruit Basket” for the volume and variety of fruit it produced. Deer Park remained largely agricultural until the late 1940s, when the substantial increase in demand for affordable housing transformed the area into one of Long Island’s many suburban towns.

Today, Deer Park is home to 28,000 residents, and the area receives a daily influx of visitors who come to take advantage of Deer Park’s many shopping opportunities. In 2008, Tanger at the Arches, a large complex with over 100 discount and designer shops, opened after years of controversy and anticipation. However, the Arches generates tax revenue, and TangerKids Grants has recently provided two of Deer Park’s elementary schools with money for instructional technology. In addition to Tanger, the area features several big-box retails and restaurants.

Shopping isn’t all Deer Park has to offer. Several parks, mostly overseen by the Town of Babylon, give residents a range of recreational choices. The Town publishes an annual guide, which describes the many programs, activities and facilities available to residents. Though Deer Park is land-locked, Cedar Beach, Gilgo Beach and Overlook Beach are a short ride away. Several parks, including Pine Acres, Birchwood and Geiger Memorial, which is partially located in Wyandanch feature playing fields for baseball, basketball and tennis courts, and playgrounds. Buttitta Memorial Pool offers swimming, and includes a roller rink, playground and food concession. Oak Bush Plains at Edgewood, an 813-acre preserve, was created on the grounds of a former psychiatric hospital. Its most unique amenity is a model airplane flying field.

Deer Park’s school district has approximately 4,300 students and three K-2 primary schools, one 3-5 intermediate school, one middle school and one high school. The district is ethnically diverse, with a 13% poverty rate. At the elementary level, scores on state reading and math exams are close to the state median, with the vast majority of students meeting standards. At the high school level, passing rates on Regents exams are also strong. Sixteen Advanced Placement courses are available, which allow students to begin earning college credit.

Housing choices include splits, ranches and capes. Deer Park is very affordable, with the vast majority of homes priced below $350,000 and almost nothing above $550,000. Quail Run is the only condominium complex, with current prices ranging between $220,000 and $350,000.

Old Bethpage is a hamlet in the Town of Oyster Bay. Initially called Bethpage, it added “Old” to its name when the neighboring hamlet of Central Park, tired of sharing a name with the Manhattan landmark, co-opted the name Bethpage. Old Bethpage wanted to remain autonomous and distinctive, and modified its name. Today, the hamlet is home to 5,500 people.

Despite its name connection with Bethpage, Old Bethpage shares a library, school district and municipal services with its sister hamlet Plainview. The Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District educates 5,200 students from the two communities. All kindergarten students begin together at the kindergarten center, and then continue to one of four elementary schools. Both Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School and Mattlin Middle School are located in Plainview. Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School has a top-notch science research program, and very high Regents passing rates.

The hamlet is well-located, with easy access to surrounding towns. Old Country Road, one of Nassau’s major thoroughfares, forms the northern border. Its eastern edge is the border of Suffolk County. The Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway has an exit which takes drivers directly into Old Bethpage. The closest LIRR station for most residents is Farmingdale, which issues permits to non-residents and also has metered parking. Bethpage’s LIRR station is also conveniently located, where parking is reserved for Town of Oyster Bay residents with permits.

Old Bethpage itself has minimal commercial activity with the exception of Old Country Road. Manetto Hill Road in Plainview has addition shopping, including the first suburban location of the popular grocery store Fairway. Broadway Mall, located in nearby Hicksville, is anchored by Target, Macy’s and Ikea, with a movie theater and over 100 stores.

Approximately two of the hamlet’s 4.1 square miles are taken by Bethpage State Park, which has five world-class golf courses. The park has hosted the U.S. Open Golf Championships twice, in 2002 and 2009. Play and picnic areas and tennis courts are also available. Battle Row County Park and Campground is a 44-acre space with 64 campsites, playing fields and bathroom and shower facilities. Plainview-Old Bethpage Community Park offers play and picnic areas, a pool and lighted tennis courts. The Town of Oyster Bay also operates two beaches, the South Shore’s Tobay Beach, and Theodore Roosevelt Park and Beach on the Long Island Sound.

Old Bethpage Village Restoration, one of Long Island's most well-known historic sites, has 209 acres with 51 historic buildings and 7 reconstructed buildings. Civil War re-enactments are held on a regular basis. The park is a popular field trip destination for Long Island schools.

Despite its name, Old Bethpage’s housing stock is thoroughly modern. The vast majority of the homes were constructed during the postwar boom of the 1950s and 1960s. Split levels and ranches dominate, currently ranging in price from around $400,000 to $700,000. Like nearly all of Nassau County, property taxes are high. There are no co-ops or condominiums.

Bayville is a small incorporated village on Long Island’s North Shore. It’s almost entirely surrounded by water. Initially a summer community, it was also home to people who worked on the large estates in adjacent towns. Today, it has a more down-to-earth vibe than its exceptionally wealthy neighbors.

Its location means most of its recreational opportunities are beach-based. Three beaches, Mill Neck Creek, West Harbor Beach and Sound Side Beach, are for Bayville residents only. Mill Neck Preserve, located near the town’s western border, is undeveloped, with marshlands and waterways.

Bayville Avenue is the main road through the village. Many of the town’s stores, restaurants and professional services are located along this stretch. The village has an active Chamber of Commerce, which works to support and promote local businesses. The Bayville Free Library, located across from Village Woods Park, has a variety of materials for borrowing. Nassau’s major roads and highways are a good distance away, making the area a bit isolated, but necessary amenities are conveniently located. There is no direct LIRR service, so residents must travel to Locust Valley to board the train; travelers on this line must change trains at Jamaica.

The Locust Valley Central School District educates 2,300 students from Bayville and its surrounding areas. The district has received national and local recognition for its excellence. In 2012, Newsweek magazine identified Locust Valley High School as #2 on Long Island, #6 in New York, and #55 nationally. U.S. News and World Report and the Washington Post ranked the school similarly. In addition to its Advanced Placement courses, students can participate in the International Baccalaureate program, an academically rigorous college preparatory program. Students at the elementary and middle school level also have high passing levels on state standardized exams. Bayville has its own elementary school in the district, but students must travel to nearby Locust Valley for middle school and high school.

Bayville’s zoning does not allow condominiums, but homes are well-priced. Currently, prices begin at around $300,000, making the area affordable, especially for a coveted waterfront town. However, prices range well beyond $1 million dollars. There is a good amount of inventory in between, allowing residents the option of trading up.

East Norwich is a small hamlet within the Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County. Geographically, it is sandwiched between Syosset and the hamlet of Oyster Bay. It occupies approximately one square mile, with 2,700 residents.

Despite its small size, East Norwich is well-located, with good access to nearby shopping and other amenities. Northern Boulevard, one of the county’s major roads, provides a route to points east and west. Oyster Bay Road is the hamlet’s other main road, taking traffic to the hamlet of Oyster Bay, which offers additional shopping and dining. Most of East Norwich’s shopping, dining and professional services are located along these two roads. There is no direct Long Island Railroad service, but there are stations nearby in Oyster Bay and Syosset, where express trains travel frequently to and from the city.

East Norwich has minimal recreational areas, with the exception of the private Pine Hollow Club, which opened in 1955 and uses a former Vanderbilt mansion for its facility. To the north, Theodore Roosevelt Park, a Town of Oyster Bay property, offers a beach, picnic and play areas, and areas for sports. Planting Fields Arboretum, also located in nearby Oyster Bay, is a state historic park on the grounds of Coe Hall, a 67-room estate with a large formal garden.

The Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District has three schools: Theodore Roosevelt for kindergarten through second grade, the James H. Vernon School for grades 3 through 6 and Oyster Bay High School for students in grades 7 through 12. The district has strong passing rates on state exams at all three levels: elementary, middle and high school. Several Advanced Placement courses are offered to qualified high school students.

Real estate in East Norwich is expensive, with current prices beginning around half a million dollars. However, the North Shore in general tends to be more expensive than the South Shore. The small size of the area limits the amount of inventory for sale at any given time. Taxes, though high, are relatively less than other Nassau County towns.

Alberston is a small hamlet with 5,200 residents in the Town of North Hempstead, occupying less than one square mile. Its small size and relative isolation, by Long Island standards, means many people have never heard of it. The town’s name comes from Townsend Albert, who settled in the area and started a farm and a grist mill.

The hamlet is primarily residential. Willis Avenue, which leads drivers to the Northern State Parkway, is the main commercial area with shops, eateries, banks and other services. To the north and the south, there are ample shopping opportunities, most notably the Roosevelt Field Mall. Albertson has its own LIRR station, which makes the trip to Penn Station in about fifty minutes. Permits are not required to park at the station.

Three school districts serve Albertson, with the majority split of students between Herricks and Mineola. A small number of students attend school in the East Williston district. Meadow Drive, which is part of the Mineola district, is located in Albertson. Herricks and East Williston are both very highly regarded, with excellent results on state exams and graduation rates.

Caemmerer Park is one of two parks. It has tennis and basketball courts, and a playground. Clark Botanic Garden is a park located on the grounds of Grenville Clark, an attorney and advisor to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The garden features about 5,000 species of plants, along with ponds and streams.

Home prices begin in the mid-$300,000 range. The small size of Albertson means inventory is limited. Many people who settle there are initially looking to be in one of the three school districts. Many of the homes, when constructed, were small. However, many of the homes have been expanded, and knocking down homes and rebuilding from scratch became a popular choice in recent years. Willis Terrace is a condo complex for seniors over 62, and there are usually a few units on the market.

Island Park is part of the geographic region of Long Island, but it isn’t on Long Island. A hamlet in the Town of Hempstead, it’s on a small island located between Oceanside and Long Beach. Its 4,600 residents reside within a 1.5 square mile space.

During the Revolutionary War, the island was strategically important, and it was the site of several attacks and at least one big battle. After the war, the island remained mostly undeveloped, populated by pigs that were brought to the island to graze, leading to the name “Hog Island.” By 1900 Island Park had become a popular resort area for people from nearby New York City. Small bungalows popped up all over the island, and later winterized and expanded as summer residents became year-rounders.

Its small size means there is little shopping, though it is fairly easy to obtain necessities. Nearby, Long Beach offers nightlife, shopping and dining, with a beach primarily for residents. However, three Town of Hempstead beaches, Point Lookout, Lido Beach, Lido West and Sands, are a short drive away. Oceanside also offers shopping and recreation. Though Island Park isn’t convenient to major parkways, it does have its own LIRR station. Travel time to Manhattan is about 50 minutes.

Students in Island Park deal with a unique situation when they finish middle school. The Island Park School District, which includes the adjacent hamlets of Harbor Isle and Barnum Island, has no high school. Students have two options: nearby Long Beach High School, or West Hempstead High School, which is about a half hour away and relatively similar with regard to academic offerings and graduation rates, though West Hempstead is smaller. The district’s K-8 population is about 700. Scores on state assessments are adequate, with 2-5% of students failing to meet standards, depending on subject and grade. Approximately one-fifth of elementary and middle school level students live in poverty.

Unsurprisingly, flooding causes issues. However, its proximity to the water also makes it a desirable place to live, with a good selection of affordable homes. Prices vary widely, from small bungalows and ranches to larger, newer homes on waterfront property.

Point Lookout is a tiny waterfront hamlet located on the eastern tip of Long Beach Island. It began as a small community of summer cottages, and grew into a year-round home for 1,200 residents. Long Beach Island is a barrier island, located between Reynolds Channel and the Atlantic Ocean. Point Lookout is the only town in New York with a uniform speed limit of 15 miles per hour.

There is a residents-only beach, as well as the public Point Lookout Town Park, which is run by the Town of Hempstead. The Town operates three other beaches; Nassau County operates one. Point Lookout residents can also take advantage of other Town of Hempstead and Nassau County recreational facilities. Down the road, Long Beach’s oceanfront is open to residents, but non-residents can purchase season or day passes. There are a few establishments which offer boat rentals for fishing.

Students who reside in Point Lookout attend the Long Beach City School District, which serves the entire island. There are 4,600 students attending seven schools: one pre-kindergarten center, four elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. The high school offers several Advanced Placement courses; students can also earn college credit through collaboration with Syracuse University. Eleventh and twelfth grade students can also participate in the International Baccalaureate program, a rigorous, multidisciplinary college prep curriculum. The majority of students met state standards as measured by standardized annual assessments.

With a few exceptions, retail establishments are limited to a grocery store and a pharmacy. There are several restaurants along Lido Boulevard and Bayside Drive. Long Beach, which is a few miles down the road, has substantial shopping. However, the Loop Parkway, which connects Long Beach Island to Nassau County, leads to the Meadowbrook Parkway and Roosevelt Field Mall. The only other way off the island is by Long Beach Road, however train commuters can use the LIRR station in Long Beach, which makes the trip to Penn Station in under an hour.

There are only 850 houses in Point Lookout, and no condos or co-ops. The oceanfront location drives up the home prices, even in the current housing market. At present, the least expensive house on the market is $399,000, for a place that would undoubtedly be cheaper somewhere else. Generally, the smaller homes were built between the 1920s and the 1940s. A limited number of larger, newer homes have been constructed within the last 30 years.

East Rockaway is a small incorporated village in the Town of Hempstead. With fewer than 10,000 residents, it’s one of Nassau’s least populated areas. It occupies one square mile on the South Shore. Originally called Near Rockaway, it was a busy hub for shipping and trading. It was a free port, meaning ships could unload cargo without paying customs duties, and its free status made it very busy.

The village is somewhat isolated, at least by Long Island standards. It is located a good distance from Sunrise Highway, the nearest major road. Drivers who need the Southern State Parkway must access it through Malverne or Rockville Centre. The village’s location, however, has helped it retain a level of charm missing from much of the South Shore, with its overabundance of strip malls. Though East Rockaway is not devoid of shopping, its retailers are generally not of the big-box variety. Rail commuters can choose from two LIRR stations, at East Rockaway and Centre Avenue. There is a two-minute difference between the two stations; travel time runs between 40 and 45 minutes.

The school district is the smallest in Nassau County, with approximately 1,200 students. There are two elementary schools, Rhame Avenue and Centre Avenue, for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Students in seventh through twelfth grade attend a combined junior and high school. In 2009, the U.S. Education Department designated Centre Avenue School a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Overall, scores on state assessments, including Regents exams, have been strong. Nine Advanced Placement courses are offered to high school students, and scores have been increasing steadily. An alternative program for struggling students has a 91% graduation rate.

Despite its small size, East Rockaway has a lot of recreational offerings. In 2011, the John Street Recreation Center opened, providing a place for area kids to participate in organized activities. The department runs sports and preschool camps. Memorial Park has a recently renovated playground, and its bandstand is the site of outdoor summer performances. Bay Park, run by the county, has 96 acres with tennis and basketball courts, athletic fields and bike and running paths. Its location along the water also allows for fishing and boating. There are no swimming beaches, but several Town of Hempstead beaches are nearby.

East Rockaway’s real estate prices vary, with a good amount of affordable inventory. However, property taxes are very high. Many of the homes were built during the 1920 and before, and these homes tend to be small. The village’s larger homes were built later, after World War II. There are several condo and co-op complexes.

Stormville is a small hamlet in the town of East Fishkill. It was named for brothers Jacob and Rupert Storm, who settled the area.

At one time Stormville was home to an airport, which has ceased operations. Today, it’s home to the Stormville Airport Antique Show and Flea Market, which runs several weekends a year. The market features over 600 vendors from eight states, and draws visitors from all over the region.

Most of the students who live in Stormville attend the Carmel School District, in neighboring Putnam County. Carmel has 4,600 students, and its state test results support its reputation as a high-performing school district. The Arlington Central School District, which covers over 100 square miles, also includes Stormville students among its population of 10,100. Significantly larger than Carmel, the district has eight elementary schools, three middle schools and one high school. Overall, most of the student population performs well on state exams, and 90% of its graduates go on to college.

Its inclusion in the town of East Fishkill allows Stormville’s residents to take advantage of the town’s recreation amenities, which include programs for people of all ages. The main facility, East Fishkill Recreation Park, has a roller rink and skateboard park. Red Wing Park has a beach. Adults have the option of joining men’s or women’s softball. There is also a roller hockey team, as well as other sports for adults and kids. During the summer, concerts are held on Friday evenings in the two parks. Stormville’s neighboring hamlet, Hopewell Junction, has both public and private golf courses.

Stormville’s homes are well-priced for middle-class buyers. The small size of the hamlet means inventory is limited.

Bedford Corners, the newest hamlet in historic Bedford, actually shares a post office and zip code with neighboring Mount Kisco. Located in the southeast corner of the town, Bedford Corners is similar to its sister hamlets. It is residential, and features large homes and estates on multiple acres.

Though quiet characterizes the area, signs of life in the form of retail shopping are close. The hamlet is bordered by South Bedford Road, also known as State Route 117, which leads to Mount Kisco’s business district. One of the few Target stores in upper Westchester is located in Mount Kisc, adjacent to a large A&P grocery store.

The hamlet is located near two parks, Leonard Park, which is part of Mount Kisco, and the Marsh Memorial Sanctuary, which is a 156 acre nature preserve with hiking trails. Bedford Corners is also home to Stonecrest, a home dating back to 1879, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

Students who live in Bedford Corners attend the Bedford Central Schools, which has 4,200 students attending five elementary schools, and a middle and high school. The district has been recognized both locally and nationally for excellence.

Residents who need to commute to the city have three station options: Bedford Hills, Mount Kisco and Katonah. Travel time averages around 50 minutes. The hamlet is also located in easy proximity to both the Saw Mill Parkway and Interstate 684.

Like Bedford and its other hamlets, Bedford Corners is expensive. Most of its properties are over a million dollars, with some homes costing in the multi-millions.

Shenorock is a tiny hamlet in the town of Somers. Its location, almost directly in the middle of the town, makes it convenient to Somers’ schools, parks, and retailers. The hamlet is entirely residential, with a population of 1,900.

During its early days, the hamlet was primarily a summer community of modest houses and cottages. Vacationers were drawn by the area’s rural beauty and its many small lakes. Lake Shenorock, a 14 acre lake, was one of them. Today, however, the lake is unusable. In 1977, the lake went into use as a reservoir, so swimming was prohibited. In 2003, the lake became open to the public again, but it needs an expensive clean-up. However, outside funds may become available to clean it. The United Owners Association of Shenorock is working to revitalize the lake and renovate an old clubhouse.

Shenorock is part of the Somers Central School District, which has a student population of 3,500. Since there is only one school for each level, students share their entire school experience together. Primrose School, which has a full-day kindergarten, also houses first and second graders. Somers Intermediate has grades 3 through 5. Students at Somers Middle School take standardized exams in math, reading, science and social studies, and the majority of students meet standards. Somers High School offers the required Regents courses, as well as Advanced Placement classes, which allow students to begin earning college credits.

Once the lake is functional, it will likely become the neighborhood’s recreational hub. In the meantime, Somers has other options. Reis Park, located next to the Somers Library, has playing fields and courts for basketball and tennis, along with a playground and running trails. The former estate of William and Mildred Lasdon became Lasdon Park, which has a horticultural library in the main house, along with formal gardens and walking trails.

Shopping in Shenorock is minimal, and the situation is only marginally better in Somers, but most residents like this aspect of the town. Somers Commons is the largest shopping center, with a Stop and Shop grocery store as its anchor. There is a fitness club and several smaller stores, along with a few eateries. The smaller Somers Town Shopping Center includes a dry cleaner, nail salon, bagel store along with a few additional shopping and dining choices.

Shenorock’s small size means limited real estate inventory. At this time, there are no homes for sale in the hamlet. However, when homes do come on the market, they tend to be slightly more expensive than the rest of the town.

Millwood is a sister hamlet to Chappaqua, located in the town of New Castle. There are about 1,200 residents.

In 1958, passenger train service to the Millwood train station ended; freight service ended a few years after that. The tracks were paved over, and the North County Trailway was born. A portion of the 22.1 mile path passes through Millwood, giving cyclists, runners and walkers a safe, scenic place to exercise.

Though the trail is popular throughout Westchester, Millwood residents have additional options. The town of North Castle organizes summer camps and year-round programs through its recreation department. There are several parks as well; Millwood is home to two. Gedney Park has a picnic area, a playground, playing fields and walking trails. It is the only park in North Castle with a pond for ice skating in the winter. Millwood Park is smaller, but has a playground and tennis courts.

During the last decade, concerns about Millwood’s lack of development led to the formation of the Millwood Task Force. The organization was charged with examining ways to improve the tax base and introduce needed retail options without ruining the area’s rural qualities. Public utilities, including ConEdison, own one-fourth of Millwood’s land. Areas supplying New York City’s drinking water are also protected from development. This has made the hamlet less developed than neighboring Chappaqua, but three small shopping centers were approved and built. One of them includes an A&P supermarket.

Millwood is located entirely within the Chappaqua Central School District, which has an outstanding reputation. Three elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school educate the district’s 4,200 students. At the elementary level, most students in Millwood attend Westorchard, and move on to Seven Bridges Middle School, which was recently built to accommodate the growing population. Horace Greeley High School offers 18 Advanced Placement exams, which allows students to obtain college credit. U.S. News and World Report ranked Horace Greeley at #46 in its 2008 edition of America’s Best High Schools.

Though the hamlet’s original train station is gone, residents can catch the train to the city at Metro-North’s Chappaqua station. Travel time to Grand Central is about fifty minutes. The Taconic Parkway is the nearest highway.

Compared to Chappaqua, homes in Millwood are smaller, and on smaller lots. However there are still many options above a million dollars and what’s considered affordable in North Castle is still expensive. There are multiple condominium complexes. House-hunters who wish to be in the Chappaqua School District but are dissatisfied with its lack of lower-priced options may find a larger selection of more affordable homes.

The City of Rye, formerly known as the Village of Rye, was chartered in 1942, making it New York State’s youngest city. Like many of Westchester’s waterfront communities, Rye’s roots sprouted in the late 19th century, when wealthy city residents built vacation homes along the shore of the Long Island Sound. By the 1920s, the rise of the railroad turned Rye into a “bedroom community” with an increase in new home construction.

Today, Rye is an affluent community, home to 15,000 residents. In 2010, Coldwell Banker identified it as the country’s 3rd most expensive place to buy a home. It offers two great school systems, lovely surroundings, great dining, arts and recreation, and an easy commute to Manhattan. Travel time from the Rye station runs between 40 and 50 minutes.

The Rye City School District educates the majority of the public school students. All three of the district’s elementary schools are New York State Schools of Excellence and National Blue Ribbon Schools. Rye Middle School is also a Blue Ribbon School. The high school, which has its own television studio, is regularly named by U.S. News and World Report as a Top 100 School. Students must fulfill a community service requirement in order to graduate.

A small number of students attend the Rye Neck schools, which is also held in high regard. Rye Neck High School is also a Blue Ribbon School; there is also one middle school and two elementary schools. There are 1,500 students in the Rye Neck district, which draws most of its population from Mamaroneck.

The historic Playland amusement park is Rye’s most notable recreation area. It features the Dragon roller coaster, which is the oldest of its kind in the Northeast. Several properties are owned by the city, including the Rye City Marina and Rye Nature Center. The Rye Golf Club, though also city-owned, is a members-only club on 126 acres. It has an 18-hole golf course, a pool and a snack bar. Smart development has given the city a charming shopping and dining district, with a Starbucks mixed in with independently owned shops and restaurants.

Rye’s home are expensive; the majority of homes for sale are well over a million dollars. Condominiums and co-ops, which are usually an affordable option for those wanting to get a foothold in an expensive town, are very expensive here as well.

Pelham, the village, is north of Pelham Manor. Together, the two villages make up the town of Pelham. The village is densely populated, with less than a square mile of land and almost 7,000 residents. Its proximity to the city, neat suburban streets and excellent schools make the village highly desirable, with a price tag to match.

Despite its great qualities and desirability, taxes are a concern. The entire town has a very small commercial base, which passes the burden on to the residents. In an effort to generate more commercial taxes and encourage residential development, the village has earmarked a plot of land for development. The project is in the very early stages, with village officials and developers meeting to discuss how to best use the land, which is in very short supply. The proposed project would be a mixed-use property with 110 one- and two-bedroom apartments.

The Pelham Union Free School District educates the 2,900 students who reside in Pelham Village and Pelham Manor. The district has four elementary schools: Siwanoy, Anne Hutchinson, Prospect Hill and Colonial. There is one school for students in sixth through eighth grade, Pelham Middle School, and one high school, Pelham Memorial. On the most recent state exams, pass rates were above 97% on almost all tests for elementary and middle school students. Results on Regents exams, which are required for high school students, were similarly strong.

Pelham Village residents have good shopping options in nearby Pelham Manor, with two main shopping centers. The Pelham Manor Shopping Center has a BJ’s Warehouse Club, Michaels, and Sleepy’s as its main retailers. The Post Road Shopping Center is anchored by a 75,000 square foot Fairway, a unique grocery store with a café. Modells, Home Goods and a few clothing stores round out the offerings at Post Road. Fifth Avenue in the village has a good assortment of stores and restaurants.

The Pelham Metro North station is located in the village, within walking distance for many residents. During peak hours, the trip to Grand Central takes about a half hour. The village is also well-located for car travel, with the Hutchinson River Parkway and Interstate 95 nearby.

Homes are expensive in Pelham Village, though it has a bigger selection of affordable options than Pelham Manor. Despite the downturn in the housing market, the median price has increased in Pelham.

Baldwin Place is a residential hamlet in the town of Somers, population 20,000. It occupies the northwestern part of the town around Route 6, which is one of the main roads leading from Putnam County to northern Westchester.

The Somers Commons shopping center is the hamlet’s retail hub. The Commons is anchored by a large Stop and Shop grocery store, the largest in the town. There is also a New York Sports Club, a few eateries, Home Goods, and a Goodwill store. With the exception of a few other small shopping areas, there is minimal retail in Somers. However, nearby towns have enough to make up for what Somers lacks. Residents generally prefer to travel a little to shop because they value open space and quiet.

The Mews at Baldwin Place opened last year on 5.7 acres next to Somers Commons. It is an affordable community for seniors with 72 one-bedroom units. Rents are based on income and vary as a result.

Many years ago, there was a Baldwin Place train station on the Putnam line. Today, the station is gone and the tracks have been replaced with the Putnam/North Country Trailway. A large portion of the trail winds through Somers, giving residents a safe and scenic route for walking, running and biking. Residents of Baldwin Place will find additional recreational amenities throughout Somers, including six parks and a private golf course.

The lack of a train station means residents of Baldwin Place must travel, sometimes a good distance, to neighboring towns with direct Metro North Service. Distance is a consideration, but so is availability of parking spaces, which are in short supply at many stations. Some find it more feasible to travel longer if a station has better parking.

Housing inventory in Baldwin Place is limited as it is a small neighborhood. Most of the homes currently on the market are relatively new construction and priced around $500k.

The village of Millbrook, NY sits at the center of the town of Washington in Dutchess County. It’s a favorite of many New York-based celebrities, who either live here full-time or part-time. Located in the more rural, undeveloped eastern part of the county, Millbrook is very small, with less than two square miles of land and a population of 1,500.

Settled by the Quakers, the village still retains its 19th century feel. It’s known for its availability of antiques; the Millbrook Antique Mall and Millbrook Antique Center draw both locals and visitors. Additional shops and restaurants line Franklin Avenue, the main road bisecting the town. One of the Hudson Valley’s most well-known wineries, Millbrook Winery, is located here as well, offering tastings, live music and other events.

Millbrook is ninety minutes from New York City. While there is no direct Metro-North service, both the Poughkeepsie and Dover Plains train stations are about twenty-five minutes away.

The village is served by the Millbrook Central School District, with approximately 1,200 students who hail from Millbrook and surrounding areas. There are two elementary schools, Alden Place and Elm Drive, as well as Millbrook Middle School and Millbrook High School. Overall, the schools perform very well, with scores at or above the state median on standardized assessments and Regents exams.

Millbrook is an upscale town and its recreation offerings fit the mold. The Millbrook Golf and Tennis Club, founded in 1900, is a private organization with a nine-hole course. Horseback riding is also very popular, as evidenced by the availability of equestrian and hunt clubs in and around the town. There are some small parks, primarily the Millbrook Tribute Garden and the Innisfree Garden, in the village as well.

Homes are expensive. The largest variety of inventory can be found around the million-dollar range. There are some attractive, well-maintained homes at more moderate prices, and there are some very inexpensive homes, though those tend to be in need of work.

Tucked into the northeastern corner of Westchester County, is the town of North Salem. It is comprised of four hamlets: Croton Falls, Purdy’s, Salem Center and North Salem. The town is known for having a small, excellent school district and several horse farms.

North Salem is located fifty miles north of New York City. Many residents travel to Manhattan daily via Metro North from the Croton Falls or Purdy’s stations.

The town’s laws regarding development are strict. There are no large shopping centers or multiplex theaters. Most recent efforts to develop and build have been successfully fought. The North Salem Open Land Foundation works to support wildlife and recreation by protecting open spaces, and have saved over 900 acres from development. The Titicus Reservoir, which is part of the Croton Watershed, supplies drinking water to New York City. Many watershed areas are also protected from development. The steps taken by the town should reassure potential home buyers that the town they settle in will probably continue to look as it does today.

North Salem’s schools have an excellent reputation. With a student enrollment of 1,300, the district is small and able to ensure adequate attention to all its learners. There is one elementary school, and the middle school and high school share a complex.

Recreational activities abound, especially for outdoorsy types. North Salem is known beyond its borders as a horsey town, with numerous farms and a network of trails crossing both public and private property. Some of the farms give riding lessons to the public, for a fee. The Hammond Museum has a large Japanese garden, complete with bamboo grove and fish pond. There are two town parks, with playgrounds and basketball and tennis courts.

The four hamlets of North Salem are largely similar in nature, with a few small differences. Middle-income homebuyers will find they have the most options in Croton Falls and Purdy’s, even though Purdy’s is smaller and only has a handful of homes for sale at any given time. North Salem’s Metro-North stations are located in those hamlets. Salem Center and North Salem are home to the town’s larger estates. None of the hamlets has strip malls or shopping centers, though there are some shops and restaurants scattered throughout the town. House-hunters who appreciate quiet and don’t mind visiting neighboring towns to pick up groceries and other necessities will find many things to like about North Salem.

Mahopac might just be the retail heart of Putnam County. Busier and more developed than much of the county, it still manages to retain a small-town feel, thanks to independently owned businesses and its location along sparkling Lake Mahopac.

Its commercial offerings have created roads that are a bit more congested than the rest of the county, but everything’s relative. Many of Mahopac’s residents moved north from the city and its congested nearby suburbs, and know any backlog along Route 6 is nothing compared to the Cross Bronx Expressway.

If the town’s retail offerings are the town’s heart, than the Mahopac Library is its soul. Significantly larger than the libraries of neighboring towns, it features sweeping views of the lake and frequently serves as a hub for political debates and other community gatherings. Thanks to its membership in the Mid-Hudson Library system, materials can be requested from any library in the system and delivered to the Mahopac library for convenient pick-up.

Mahopac is the home of the Putnam Arts Council, making the town important culturally as well. The Putnam Arts Council is an organization which supports and encourages the arts through programs for kids and adults. They exhibit the work of local artists and support performing and literary arts as well.

The Putnam Trailway winds its way through Mahopac, with runners, walkers and cyclists taking advantage of the outdoors. Unlike the segments running through Brewster and Carmel, the Mahopac section offers a few nearby places to stop for refreshments, including the Freight House Café, which overlooks the trail, the Brooklyn Coffee House, and the Bliss Dairy Bar and Grill.

Though nightlife is still lacking, access to groceries and other necessities is closer for most residents, with a bigger choice of options. Lakeside dining is available and there are numerous other restaurants to suit a range of budgets and interests. The school system gets excellent results, with strong athletic programs. If you find Carmel and Brewster a little too quiet for you, Mahopac may have what you’re seeking.