Cheapest Places to Live on Long Island | 💰🏡 Affordable Long Island Towns

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City guides Blogs |December 5, 2022 |by Rob Marchese

Long Island is known for many things, including its beautiful beaches, historic sites, lighthouses, and the Gold Coast, but affordability is not one of them. Long Island is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States – but the cost of living on Long Island depends a lot on where you live.

Are you thinking of moving to Long Island and searching for affordable housing? As a general rule, the cheapest place to live on Long Island is the South Shore in Suffolk County or the central part of the island, but there are some affordable hamlets in Nassau County. Here are 13 of the cheapest places to live on Long Island and buy a house with a median home price of $550,000 or below.

Islip – Affordable Long Island Town with Beautiful South Shore Beaches

• Population: 18,418
• Town: Islip
• Median home price: $550,000 (+13% year-over-year)
• Median household income: $111,549

Islip is one of the best towns to live in on Long Island if you’re looking for a reasonably affordable cost of living and a great quality of life. Islip has some of the most popular South Shore beaches, including Islip Beach and Sayville Beach, plus Fire Island National Seashore is easy to reach by ferry from Islip! East Islip is home to Heckscher State Park, one of the best parks on Long Island, with a playground, disc golf, hiking, and bay beaches with gentle waters.

The Islip housing market is diverse with historic Cape Cods built in the 1920s to 1940s, co-ops built in the 1970s, and high ranches built in the 60s and 70s. You’ll find single-family homes starting in the $400s just minutes from the many attractions of the South Shore! As a renter, you’ll find limited options with only one apartment building with rent starting at $2,300.

Learn more about why you’ll love living in Islip, NY with our complete guide.

 

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Lindenhurst – Cheap Homes in Long Island on the Water & Near Marinas

• Population: 27,148
• Town: Babylon
• Median home price: $525,000
• Median household income: $106,548

Lindenhurst is a charming, family-friendly village on the South Shore with affordable housing and great beaches. You’ll find modest single-family homes on the water or close to the shore starting in the low $500s. Lindenhurst is one of the best places to live in Suffolk County NY for boat owners with many marinas and a fishing pier.

Ronkonkoma – Family-Friendly & Affordable Long Island Suburb in Central Long Island

• Population: 18,955
• Town: Islip
• Median home price: $525,000 (+21% year-over-year)
• Median household income: $114,216

The hamlet of Ronkonkoma, home to the Lake Ronkonkoma Recreation Center and the Long Island MacArthur Airport, is a mostly blue collar community with so much to offer. Residents enjoy easy access to public transit and the regional airport, plus a vibrant restaurant scene. There’s plenty of outdoor recreation at Lake Ronkonkoma and the adjacent Connetquot River State Park Preserve – not to mention the fantastic beaches on the North Shore and South Shore both easily within reach.

The Ronkonkoma real estate market is competitive, but you’ll still find good deals compared with most Long Island towns. In the desirable Lake Hills section of town, you’ll find spacious Colonial homes built in the 1960s and 70s in the mid-$500s to low $700s – a steal for Long Island. Smaller ranch homes are perfect for young families and start in the $400s.

West Babylon – Newer Affordable Housing in Long Island Near Attractions

• Population: 43,213
• Town: Babylon
• Median home price: $522,500 (+4% year-over-year)
• Median household income: $110,751

West Babylon is a great place to live if you appreciate a close-knit community and quiet, safe neighborhoods. The hamlet has a commercial district along NY 27A with shopping and restaurants, and it’s next to Belmont Lake State Park, a big draw for paddle boating, fishing, and hiking. You’ll be just a few minutes from East Farmingdale with shopping destinations like a Walmart Supercenter and Target, plus the American Airpower Museum and the Adventureland amusement park. The West Babylon housing market is quite diverse, with many newer single-family homes on large lots priced well below the Long Island median.

 

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Hempstead – Cheap Houses for Sale in Nassau County NY Near Museums, Colleges & Shopping

• Population: 59,169
• Town: Hempstead
• Median home price: $520,000 (+8% year-over-year)
• Median household income: $74,680

Hempstead village in the Town of Hempstead is one of the cheapest places to live on Long Island if you want to stay in Nassau County. Located next to Hofstra University and Molloy University, Hempstead has something for everyone. It’s close to one of the largest hospitals on Long Island, with several museums and dozens of restaurants and shops. You’ll be close to Queens, the North Shore, and the South Shore, with a median home price $80,000 below the median for Long Island.

Lake Ronkonkoma – One of the Cheapest Places to Live on Long Island Near Transportation & Recreation

• Population: 18,619
• Town: Brookhaven (small parts in Islip and Smithtown)
• Median home price: $518,000 (+13% year-over-year)
• Median household income: $92,147

Mostly in the Town of Brookhaven, Lake Ronkonkoma has a central location that’s hard to beat and affordable housing – a winning combination. Modest single-family homes start in the $300s, with spacious homes on large lots priced in the $400s and $500s.

There’s a lot to appreciate about Lake Ronkonkoma aside from cheap houses in Long Island. It’s served by the desirable Sachem Central School District – a major plus as the best school districts on Long Island are usually out of reach for most buyers. Lake Ronkonkoma also offers excellent recreational activities and is a great location for commuters.

Holtsville – One of the Most Affordable Long Island Suburbs for Families

• Population: 18,937
• Town: Brookhaven (partly in Islip)
• Median home price: $512,500 (+8% year-over-year)
• Median household income: $118,883

The hamlet of Holtsville is often ranked the best place to live in Suffolk County NY for families and millennials thanks to its attractions and convenient location. It’s home to the Holtsville Wildlife & Ecology Center, a small animal park, Topgolf for high-tech entertainment, and Island 16 Cinema de Lux to catch the latest movie releases. Holtsville doesn’t have its own railroad station, but there’s an LIRR station in Medford just two miles away.

There are no apartments in Holtsville, but it’s one of the cheapest places to buy a house on Long Island, with a median home price almost $90k below the Long Island median. You’ll find two- and three-bedroom single-family homes in the $400s, with condos starting in the $200s.

Brentwood – Large, Affordable Long Island Suburb with Cheap Apartments for Rent

• Population: 62,387
• Town: Islip
• Median home price: $485,000
• Median household income: $105,739

Brentwood is the largest Long Island hamlet with more than 60,000 people, and it’s one of the best places to search for cheap apartments on Long Island and affordable homes for sale. You’ll find apartments starting at just $1,500 and a median home price below $500k.

Brentwood is right in the middle of everything and close to both the North Shore and South Shore, plus top attractions like the Adventure Park at Long Island, Adventureland, Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel, Heckscher State Park, and Connetquot River State Park Preserve. In town, you’ll find the Sky Zone Trampoline Park – a big perk for families – and the Suffolk County Community College Grant Campus for higher education.

Medford – Cheap Homes for Sale & Ideal Location on the Long Island Expressway

• Population: 24,247
• Town: Brookhaven
• Median home price: $459,000
• Median household income: $104,773

Medford has something to offer everyone: it’s the cheapest place to live on Long Island on the Long Island Expressway, and it boasts tons of attractions. Families appreciate the Medford Athletic Complex and County Fair Entertainment Park, plus big box retailers like Target, Sam’s Club, and TJ Maxx right in the center of town. You’ll appreciate an easy commute with the Long Island Expressway and NY 112 running right through the center of the hamlet, plus the Medford station on the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road.

Copiague – Affordable Housing on the South Shore with Restaurants, Beaches & Parks Nearby

• Population: 23,429
• Town: Babylon
• Median home price: $449,000
• Median household income: $96,801

Copiague is a large hamlet on the South Shore right at the start of the Montauk Highway (27A). It’s one of the best places to live on Long Island, thanks to affordable housing ($150k below the Long Island median!), the beautiful Copiague Beach, great parks, and a station on the Babylon Branch of the LIRR. The crown jewel of this hamlet is Tanner Park, home to a skatepark, marina, and one of the town’s most popular beaches.

 

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Amityville – Charming Village on the Great South Bay with Affordable Housing

• Population: 9,500
• Town: Babylon
• Median home price: $445,000 (-7% year-over-year)
• Median household income: $92,882

Amityville is one of the best places to live on Long Island for families, with some of the most affordable housing in Long Island combined with a great school district, diverse community, and convenient transportation. Families are served by the Amityville Union Free School District where 87% of graduates receive a Regents Diploma, and almost one-third receive Advanced Designation. It’s easy to get around via the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road and a station that’s a main hub for regional bus service.

The median home price in Amityville NY is just $445,000 – $155k below the median for Long Island. You’ll find Amityville condos listed in the $200s to $400s depending on the location with single-family homes starting in the $400s. There are a number of condo communities in the village, including Village Estates, one of the most desirable 55+ gated communities on Long Island.

Yaphank – Affordable Long Island Suburb for Outdoor Enthusiasts

• Population: 5,974
• Town: Brookhaven
• Median home price: $432,500 (+29% year-over-year)
• Median household income: $100,703

The hamlet of Yaphank on the South Shore is a dream come true for outdoor enthusiasts. It has some of the cheapest houses on Long Island close to the beach, parks, nature preserves, and golf courses. Southaven County Park offers riverside hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and play areas plus the Southaven County Skeet, Trap & Sporting Clays facility. Just outside the hamlet is the large Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge with scenic river views and the Long Island Skydiving Center.

Yaphank has a very competitive housing market, with 75% of homes selling over list price and the median price up 29% year-over-year. You’ll pay about $273 per square foot. What does your budget get you in this quiet hamlet? You’ll find condos in the $200s and spacious four-bedroom homes on large lots in the $700s.

North Bellport – Cheap Houses on Long Island Near the Shore

• Population: 11,900
• Town: Brookhaven
• Median home price: $408,500 (-3% year-over-year)
• Median household income: $82,103

Centrally located just minutes from the beach on the South Shore, North Bellport is one of the most affordable Long Island towns, with a median home price nearly $200k below the Long Island median. The hamlet is served by the South Country Central School District and the Montauk Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It’s mostly residential, with lots of shopping at Bellport Outlet Stores and major chain stores. You’ll be just a couple minutes from outdoor recreation and parks in Yaphank and quiet beaches like Mirimar Beach and Row Boat Beach.

Map of Cheapest Places to Live on Long Island

Have you found the right village to call home? If one of these affordable Long Island towns and hamlets is calling to you, get in touch with our friendly team at Zippboxx movers today for a free moving estimate. We’ll help you get settled in your new neighborhood in no time with affordable rates!

Rob Marchese

Rob Marchese is one of the founders of Zippboxx Moving and Storage. Since the start of the company it's been Rob's mission to change the way the moving industry is perceived.  The number one goal is to make the moving and storage process as stress free as possible for each and every customer. "The way we do this is by honesty, transparency, and providing a high quality of service."