What’s Living in Babylon NY Like? [2022] 🤷♂️ | COMPLETE Guide to Moving to Babylon Long Island
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Thinking about moving to Long Island? The Town of Babylon is one of the best places to live on the Long Island South Shore with charming village downtowns, beautiful beaches, exciting entertainment and shopping districts, and regular community events. Babylon is known for its shopping, restaurants, old fashioned Christmas, and crafts fair as well as some of the top visited state parks and beaches on Long Island.
Curious why Babylon NY is called Babylon? It was originally known as Huntington South. Nathaniel Conklin moved to the region and named it New Babylon around the turn of the 19th century after the ancient city of Babylon. It was officially formed as a town in 1872.
Here’s what you’ll love about living in Babylon, Long Island and what you need to know for a successful move.
Table of Contents
Where Is Babylon?
Babylon, New York is in Suffolk County, NY on the South Shore of Long Island. The town includes parts of Fire Island, Captree Island, and Jones Beach Island. It’s bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the south and Nassau County to the west. The Town of Babylon is about 20 miles from Queens and 30 miles from Manhattan.
Map of Babylon
Use this Babylon map to learn more about its location and explore fun things to do on the South Shore!
Babylon, NY Population & Demographics
The Town of Babylon population is 218,223 according to the 2020 Census with a population density of about 4,038 people per square mile. It’s the third largest among Suffolk County towns.
Babylon, New York is an affluent community with a median household income of $100,580. Slightly lower than the Suffolk County median, that’s almost 1.5x higher than average for New York.
Babylon NY demographics:
- Median age: 40.8
- Sex ratio: 51 females to 49 males over 18
- Homeownership rate: 78%
- Educational attainment: 88% high school grad or higher; 29% bachelor’s degree or higher
- Foreign-born population: 18.4%
Demographics vary significantly by village and hamlet in Babylon. For instance, Amityville demographics show a higher median age of 48, lower median income of $91,500, and a more educated population with 37% holding at least a bachelor’s degree. West Babylon demographics are similar to the overall town with a slightly higher median household income.
There are a few famous people from Babylon, NY including rapper Rakim, singer Pat Benatar, actor Alec Baldwin, and comedian Rodney Dangerfield who was born in Deer Park, NY.
The Town of Babylon is made up of three villages, twelve hamlets, six islands, and two other communities.
| Town of Babylon Population by Village & Hamlet | |
| Community | 2020 Population |
| Amityville Village | 9,500 |
| Babylon Village | 12,188 |
| Lindenhurst Village | 27,148 |
| Copiague | 23,429 |
| Deer Park | 28,837 |
| East Farmingdale | 6,617 |
| Gilgo | 130 |
| North Amityville | 18,643 |
| North Babylon | 17,927 |
| North Lindenhurst | 12,000 |
| Oak Beach – Captree | 260 |
| West Babylon | 43,213 |
| Wheatley Heights | 5,140 |
| Wyandanch | 12,990 |
| Amity Harbor | 9,500 |
Town of Babylon Villages & Hamlets | Where to Live
Not sure where to live ahead of moving to Babylon, NY? Here are the best places to live for families, commuters, retirees, and more.
Village of Lindenhurst
Lindenhurst, New York is the largest of the three villages in Babylon. It’s known for its large number of bars and it’s one of the most affordable places to live in the Town of Babylon for renters and homeowners. Just make sure you check flood maps as some areas are prone to flooding and have high flood insurance costs.
Amityville NY
The South Shore village of Amityville offers a fun downtown area and beautiful beaches with a very low crime rate. There’s also a LIRR station on the Babylon branch in Amityville that makes commutes easier.
North Babylon NY
North Babylon is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and commuters. It’s close to the popular Belmont Lake State Park with low crime, but it’s one of the most expensive places to live in Babylon.
Deer Park NY
Deer Park, New York is a great place to live if you want to be close to all the action. It’s home to the Tanger Mall, some of Long Island’s top attractions, and it has an LIRR stop that makes it perfect for commuters. Families appreciate living in Deer Park, Long Island not just for its amenities but also the desirable Half Hollow Hills school district. Just be aware of high property taxes in the district!
Cost of Living in Babylon, NY
Is Babylon, NY expensive? The average Babylon cost of living is 40% above the national average, but it’s still more affordable than Nassau County. Overall, the Long Island cost of living is 47% higher than the U.S. average, but Nassau County is 60% more expensive than average.
High real estate prices, Suffolk County property taxes, and rent are responsible for the high cost of living in Babylon, New York. However, your living cost will vary significantly depending on the hamlet or village thanks to differences in home prices and school district taxes.
Town of Babylon Taxes
The average Suffolk County, NY property tax bill is $9,472. The Town of Babylon property tax rate depends on the village and school district. You can estimate your Town of Babylon tax bill by checking Babylon tax rates for 2021/2022.
The Town of Babylon assessment ratio (RAR) is 0.87 so your home will be assessed at 0.87% of its market value. A home with a median price of $517,000 would be assessed at $4,498.
Note that the Town of Babylon has 10 school districts. Tax rates range from 199.2968 (Half Hollow Hills) to 241.1253 (Wyandanch) for every $100 of assessed value. This does not include STAR exemptions or credits.
At a minimum, you will pay at least eight property tax rates for the county general fund, Suffolk County community college, police, highway, town taxes, and more.
There are also village taxes for Amityville, Babylon, and Lindenhurst. These taxes are calculated using higher assessment ratios.
If you are considered a Town of Babylon first-time home buyer, make sure you take advantage of the Babylon down payment assistance program. You can get up to $25,000 as a forgivable grant. You will also want to apply for the Town of Babylon STAR program to reduce your property taxes.
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Babylon Crime – Is Babylon NY Safe?
Concerned about crime? You’ll love Town of Babylon living with low crime well below the national average. Here are the safest places to live in Babylon.
- Village of Babylon crime rate: 64% less crime than the national average with only 172 violent crimes per 100,000
- Amityville crime rate: 49% less crime than the national average with 1,203 total crimes per 100,000 people
- Lindenhurst crime rate: 26% less crime than the national average and 8% less violent crime with an estimated violent crime rate of 357 crimes per 100,000 people
- West Babylon crime rate: 25% less crime than the national average with 1,751 total crimes per 100,000
- Copiague crime rate: 16% less crime than the national average with 1,960 total crimes per 100,000 people
- Deer Park crime rate: 28% less crime than the national average with 1,694 total crimes and 347 violent crimes per 100,000 people
While living in Babylon, NY, you will be served by the Babylon Department of Public Safety with law enforcement officers including park rangers, fire marshals, bay constables, and public safety officers.
You can learn more about the Long Island crime rate here!
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Babylon Climate – What’s the Babylon Weather Like?
While living in Babylon, you’ll enjoy a humid subtropical to humid continental climate. Summers are warm and humid while winters are cold and wet to snowy. You’ll want to invest in a good rain jacket, umbrella, and snow scraper – you’ll get 45” of annual rainfall in Babylon and about 23” of snow.
The average January low is 24 degrees and the average July high is 82 degrees. About six days a year see high temperatures over 90 degrees. The temperature drops below freezing about 90 nights per year, mostly from late November through mid-March.
The best time to visit Babylon is June or August to September to avoid the intense July heat and cold winter months.
Things to Do in Babylon, NY
You’ll find plenty to keep you busy after moving to Babylon, NY with ocean beaches, lakes, theme parks, gorgeous state parks, and more to explore.
There are regular community events that make Babylon a great place to live for families. The famous Babylon Old Fashioned Christmas every year transforms the village into a quaint destination. The Babylon Village Christmas event features s’mores, hot chocolate, a tree lighting ceremony, a shopping village, and more. Every September, Argyle Park is home to the Babylon Street Fair with food and vendors.
You’ll also love attending a weekly Babylon block party during the summer with live music, outdoor dining, face painting, family movies, and other activities. Check out all the Babylon village events here!
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Babylon Long Island Attractions
- The Adventure Park at Long Island in Wheatley Heights NY is one of the best things to do on Long Island with kids! Try your hand at zip lining and rope courses amid the trees.
- Adventureland is one of the top family-friendly attractions on Long Island with a mini roller coaster, waterslide, arcade, and kiddie rides in East Farmingdale.
- The Rinx at Wyandanch Plaza is a popular ice skating rink in downtown Wyandanch Village.
Babylon Entertainment & Museums
- Town of Babylon History Museum at Old Town Hall
- American Airpower Museum in the Republic Airport in East Farmingdale features WWII planes, fly-alongs, and a flight simulator.
- The Argyle Theatre at Babylon Village is one of the largest performing arts theaters on Long Island.
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park offers dodgeball and freestyle bouncing in Deer Park.
- Monster Mini Golf in Deer Park is a fun mini-golf chain with a monster theme, glow-in-the-dark indoor golfing, and arcade games.
Babylon Parks & Recreation
The Town of Babylon Parks and Recreation department offers endless programs and recreational activities while overseeing facilities including parks, playgrounds, Babylon pools, ocean beaches, spray parks, boat launch ramps, marinas, and the Babylon golf course. You can learn about Town of Babylon recreation here.
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Note that there are three Babylon beaches. You will need a Town of Babylon beach pass for seasonal access for residents. Overlook Beach is resident-only.
Many Babylon pools are open to the public and require paid admission, but the Babylon Village Pool is residents only.
- Venetian Shores Park in Lindenhurst offers roller hockey, tennis, basketball, football, and a playground plus a boat launch ramp, fishing, beach access, and the popular Venetian Shores Spray Park (a resident-only facility).
- Overlook Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Town of Babylon. This resident-only beach is located at Cedar Beach Marina.
- Phelps Lane Pool is part of Phelps Lane Park in North Babylon NY. The most popular and oldest of all Babylon pools, it boasts double water slides, a kid’s pool, showers, shade arbor, concessions, Wi-Fi, and more.
- Geiger Park is home to the popular water park in Deer Park NY. This spray park is managed by the town.
- Argyle Park is the main Babylon park and popular for dog-walking and fishing.
- Robert Moses State Park is one of the most visited Long Island beaches on Fire Island with pitch-and-putt golf and the famous Fire Island Lighthouse.
- Belmont Lake State Park in West Babylon New York boasts miles of trails, paddle boating, and fishing.
- E. Donald Conroy Golf Course is just outside downtown Babylon Village along Sumpwams Creek.
- Colonial Springs Golf Club in East Farmingdale is a 27-hole championship golf course that recently received a $4.5 million renovation.
Shopping in Babylon
- Tanger Outlets Deer Park is one of the largest shopping centers on Long Island. The outlet mall features dozens of top retailers, Christmas Tree Shops, and Regal Deer Park & IMAX.
- Great South Bay Shopping Center in North Babylon is anchored by ALDI, Marshalls, and Bed Bath & Beyond with many retailers, restaurants, fitness centers, and service providers.
- Sunrise Mall in Massapequa is right next to Amityville and Lindenhurst with more than 100 service providers and stores.
Restaurants in Babylon – Top Places to Eat in Babylon
From family-friendly eateries to fine dining, you’ll find it all after moving to Babylon Village or one of the other great communities in the Town of Babylon. Here are a few of the best Babylon restaurants to add to your list.
- Babylon Carriage House. In just 20 years, the Carriage House Restaurant has become a Long Island institution. This is a great destination for a special occasion with a lively bar crowd and elegant continental fare. Babylon Carriage House, 21 Fire Island Ave, Babylon, NY 11702 (631) 422-5161
- Olympic Diner. This popular and long-standing Deer Park diner serves up late-night plates, comfort food, and a great breakfast. Olympic Diner, 1536 Deer Pk Ave, Deer Park, NY 11729 (631) 242-1902
- Seagull Restaurant and Bar. One of the most famous West Babylon restaurants, this relaxed waterfront seafood restaurant offers surf ‘n’ turf on the dock. Seagull Restaurant and Bar, 301 Bergen Ave, West Babylon, NY 11704 (631) 620-3340
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Babylon Real Estate & Rental Market
Are you planning to buy a home on Long Island or rent while living in Babylon? Be prepared for high home prices and rent – but you’ll find the Babylon, NY real estate market depends on the village and area.
The average home price in Babylon, New York is $517,000. The Town of Babylon average rent is $2,450 according to RentCafe, far above the U.S. average of $1,630. The homeownership rate of 71% is higher than average which makes it hard to find rentals in the area.
Here’s how average rent versus home prices compare depending on the area.
| Average Rent & Home Prices in Babylon New York | ||
| Median Home Price | Median Rent | |
| Town of Babylon | $517,000 | $2,450 |
| Babylon Village | $570,000 | $2,450 |
| West Babylon NY | $555,000 | $2,120 |
| North Babylon NY | $550,000 | $2,320 |
| Deer Park New York | $545,000 | $2,125 |
| North Lindenhurst NY | $540,000 | $1,790 |
| Lindenhurst NY | $515,000 | $1,790 |
| Amityville NY | $513,000 | $2,285 |
| Wyandanch NY | $490,000 | $1,785 |
| Copiague NY | $455,000 | $2,185 |
Babylon Schools
There are 125+ Long Island school districts and 10 districts in the Town of Babylon alone! Before moving to Babylon, Long Island, you’ll want to know which school district will be best for your children.
- Amityville School District
- Babylon School District
- Copiague Public Schools
- Deer Park School District
- Farmingdale Public Schools
- Half Hollow Hills
- Lindenhurst Public Schools
- North Babylon School District
- West Babylon School District
- Wyandanch Union Free School District
You can also choose to send your children to one of several private schools in Babylon including the Southbay Junion Academy or the St Martin-Tours School in Amityville.
If you’re considering higher education while living in Babylon, you’ll find many nearby options:
- Farmingdale State College
- Five Towns College (Dix Hills, NY)
- Suffolk County Community College – Brentwood Campus
- Molloy College – Suffolk Center (Farmingdale)
- Adelphi University – Hauppauge Center
Jobs in Babylon NY
Ready to explore Town of Babylon employment opportunities before moving to the area? Babylon’s central location on the South Shore makes it an economic center for Long Island with thousands of employers. Residents also enjoy employment opportunities at nearby job centers in Melville and Hauppauge.
The average salary in Babylon, NY is $24.29 per hour or $70,000 per year according to Payscale.
You’ll find career options in retail, professional services, healthcare, transportation, aviation, hospitality, education, and more!
Major job centers and employers in Babylon, Long Island include:
- Republic Airport with over 500 employees
- State University of New York (careers)
- New Horizons Business Center (Amityville)
- Price Parkway (Farmingdale)
- Marcus Industrial Park (Deer Park)
- Half Hollow Hills, Lindenhurst, and other Babylon school districts
You can explore Town of Babylon jobs and jobs on Indeed to get started with your job search.
Transportation
The Town of Babylon has a good transportation network with several major roadways including Ocean Parkway, Robert Moses Causeway, and Southern State Parkway. The regional Republic Airport is within the town limits and the Long Island Macarthur Airport is nearby in Ronkonkoma.
There are several options for using Long Island public transportation after moving to Babylon to get to regional job centers and New York City.
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The Town of Babylon is served by the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) with four Babylon stations in Amityville, Copiague, Lindenhurst, and Babylon. The Main Line runs through the northern section of town with Deer Park, Wyandanch, and Pinelawn stations. You can see the Babylon train schedule here.
Suffolk County Transit buses also serve the town. See SCT bus schedules here.
Does living in Babylon, Long Island sound perfect? If you’re ready to relocate to the town, count on Zippboxx for a seamless and stress-free moving day. Give us a call for a free, affordable moving estimate and the superior customer support you deserve!