What Living in Oyster Bay, NY is Like | [2022] 🏖️ COMPLETE Moving to Oyster Bay Guide
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The large town of Oyster Bay, NY is a popular place to live located about 30 miles east of downtown New York City. Oyster Bay is bordered by Babylon, Darien, Greenwich, Hempstead, Huntington, North Hempstead, Stamford, Bronx, Eastchester, Islip, Mamaroneck, Pelham, Rye, and Smithtown.
After European colonization, the area now known as Oyster Bay was part of the colony called New Netherland owned by the Dutch. Only a few years later in the 1640s, ownership of the land was disputed between the Dutch and English until the land was eventually purchased by the English in 1660.
The area officially became the Township of Oyster Bay in 1667 when it was granted as part of the New York colony. It was under the control of the British for most of the American Revolution until they lost the war in the late 1700s.
Oyster Bay now makes up more than 169.4 square miles in Nassau County and has seen incredible growth over the years.
The town of Oyster Bay is often called by the nickname “TOBAY”.
Known for being home to many famous individuals over the years, some of the most notable people who have lived in Oyster Bay include former US President Theodore Roosevelt, singer-songwriter Billy Joel, award-winning reporter Marie Colvin, conservative media personality Sean Hannity, and even former crime boss John Gotti Jr.
Is Oyster Bay a good place to live? Details about the area’s history and past residents are only part of what you need to know before moving to Oyster Bay, NY.
Table of Contents
1. People of Oyster Bay, NY – Population & Demographics
How many people live in Oyster Bay? There have been a few points where the area has seen major growth with nearly 250,000 people relocating to Oyster Bay between the 1950s and the present. The Oyster Bay population is 298,397 with a median age of 45 years old.
Oyster Bay demographics are made up of 74% Caucasian, 13% Asian, 9% Hispanic or Latino, and 2% Black or African American. Local ancestry in Oyster Bay includes backgrounds such as 28% Italian, 19% Irish, 12% German, 6% Polish, 4% Russian, 4% English, and others.
The gender ratio in Oyster is closely split with about 51% female and 49% male. When it comes to marital status, about 48% of people living in Oyster Bay are married couples. There is an average of 2.89 people per household in the town of Oyster Bay.
The median household income in Oyster Bay is $132,225 per year, making it a highly affluent community of residents.
2. Oyster Bay Neighborhoods
Where should you live in Oyster Bay? Covering a large area, you’ll find that the town of Oyster Bay is split into 18 villages and 18 hamlets.
When you look into many of these communities, some of the best Oyster Bay neighborhoods are:
Hicksville
Commonly recognized for having some of the best amenities in Oyster Bay, Hicksville is home to great shopping places like Broadway Commons.
- Population: 42,709 residents
- Homes for sale in Hicksville
- Average price of a home: $585,000
Oyster Bay
While it has the same name, Oyster Bay is one of the 18 hamlets in the town. Ranked among the safest hamlets in the area, Oyster Bay has a crime rate that is 67% lower than the New York average.
- Population: 5,836 residents
- Homes for sale in Oyster Bay
- Average price of a home: $855,000
Bethpage
With multiple top-rated schools, Bethpage is one of the best neighborhoods in Oyster Bay for families.
- Population: 17,627 residents
- Homes for sale in Bethpage
- Average price of a home: $617,500
Jericho
The business center at Jericho Plaza offers a handful of great places to work and makes Jericho one of the top Oyster Bay neighborhoods.
- Population: 13,889 residents
- Homes for sale in Jericho
- Average price of a home: $900,000
Local Oyster Bay zip codes are 11542, 11545, 11547, 11548, 11560, 11568, 11576, 11579, 11590, 11709, 11714, 11732, 11735, 11753, 11756, 11758, 11762, 11765, 11771, 11783, 11791, 11797, 11801, 11803, and 11804. There is a 516 area code for most phone numbers in Oyster Bay.
The main time zone in Oyster Bay, NY is Eastern Standard Time (EST). It switches to the Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) zone during daylight savings time between March and November. The elevation in Oyster Bay is about 180 feet above sea level.
3. Cost of Living in Oyster Bay, NY
The average cost of living in Oyster Bay is 72% higher than the national average and 48% higher than the New York state average. Newcomers moving to Oyster Bay should expect to pay more for most expenses such as utilities, transportation, groceries, healthcare, and the housing market.
How much does it cost to live in Oyster Bay, NY? Here are some of the average amounts you should plan on paying, according to Numbeo.
Oyster Bay Typical Living Expenses
- Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant $17.00
- McDonald’s Burger Meal $9.00
- Milk (regular 1 gallon) $4.00
- Eggs (1 Dozen) $3.04
- Bread (1 loaf) $2.93
- Chicken Fillets (1 lb) $5.17
- Domestic Beer (1 pint) $6.00
- Average Cost of Gasoline (per gallon) $2.55
- Movie Ticket (1st run) $16.00
- Average Cost of Utilities (per month) $152.12
4. Crime Rate in Oyster Bay
Is Oyster Bay a safe place to live? The crime rate in Oyster Bay is 77% lower than the national average. Violent crime in Oyster Bay is 69% lower than the US average, making the town look even more inviting to newcomers.
Residents living in Oyster Bay only have a 1 in 178 chance of becoming a victim of crime. There are about 563 crimes per 100,000 people in the area per year. The town of Oyster Bay, NY is a safe place to live.
There are about nine different police departments serving and protecting the Town of Oyster Bay. Hundreds of police officers are on the force spread across the community.
If you want to keep up with local safety statistics, you can always monitor this Oyster Bay crime map.
5. Oyster Bay, NY Weather
Like other communities in the southeastern part of New York state, Oyster Bay has a humid subtropical climate. The weather in Oyster Bay is warm and humid during the summer months, while winters turn freezing with wind and snow.
The average temperature in Oyster Bay during winter varies between lows in the 20s to the upper 30s. As summer rolls around, the temps warm up to between the mid-60s and mid-80s. Oyster Bay weather gets an average of 45 inches of rain and 23 inches of snow per year.
Depending on the experience you’re looking for, the best time to visit Oyster Bay is during June, August, and September, which offer the best weather.
6. Things to Do in Oyster Bay
As such a massive area, it’s easy to find plenty of fun outdoor activities, popular points of interest, and other exciting places to visit in Oyster Bay.
Top Attractions
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- Adventureland – Ranked as one of the can’t miss things to do in Oyster Bay, this popular attraction features a mini roller coaster, kids rides, a waterslide, arcade games, food, and more.
- Planting Fields Arboretum – Spanning 409 acres, this area surrounds a Tudor Revival mansion which often hosts seasonal concerts as well as beautiful gardens.
- Eisenhower Park – Among the biggest parks in Oyster Bay, this outdoor landmark has 930 acres that include a golf course, tennis courts, swimming pool, and plenty of open space.
- 20th Century Cycles – While it may appear to just be another call motorcycle shop, this popular destination is owned by Billy Joel, the iconic singer and songwriter.
Entertainment, Museums, & Arts
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- Sagamore Hill National Historic Site – This popular place to visit in Oyster Bay has a museum, walking trails, a visitor center, and access to the beach.
- Nassau County Museum of Art – Enjoy a look at a beautiful collection of outdoor art, gardens, sculptures, and more at this 145-acre grand estate.
- Theodore Roosevelt Museum at Old Orchard – A historic house in Oyster Bay that was built by Theodore Roosevelt and used as his personal residence for many years, now converted into a museum.
Parks & Outdoors
There are more than ten popular parks in Oyster Bay along with a handful of beaches, community pools, and more. All of these locations are maintained and managed by the Town of Oyster Bay Parks Department.
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- Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park – A gorgeous local park in Oyster Bay that offers visitors sports fields, children’s playgrounds, a beach, and boat access to Oyster Bay Harbor.
- Muttontown Preserve – Often considered one of the most beautiful locations on all of Long Island, this preserve covers 550 acres of open fields, woods, and other landmarks in Oyster Bay.
- Shu Swamp Nature Preserve – Considered a sanctuary for many forms of plant life and wildlife, this destination offers lots of gorgeous outdoor activities in Oyster Bay.
Shopping
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- Plainview Shopping Centre – An outdoor shopping mall in the town of Oyster Bay featuring a great variety of shops and local restaurants
- Broadway Commons – This mall has been around for many years and offers more than 100 stores, a handful of great restaurants, and a local movie theater.
7. Places to Eat in Oyster Bay
You’ll never go hungry as you look through the amazing list of top-rated Oyster Bay restaurants that can be found across town.
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- Opus Steakhouse – As one of Oyster Bay’s top places to eat, this popular spot offers more than 500 wines that can be paired with the mouthwatering menu of Mediterranean cuisine.
- Mill Creek – This popular restaurant in Oyster Bay offers delicious seafood, juicy steaks, and more American fare that goes perfectly with their selection of refreshing drinks.
- QDOBA Mexican Eats – If you’re in the mood for a custom-made burrito or taco, don’t miss out on this fantastic Mexican restaurant in the area.
8. Oyster Bay Real Estate
The local real estate market in Oyster Bay is not very competitive as homes tend to be listed for an average of 79 days before going pending. The homeownership rate in Oyster Bay is 88.3%, meaning most people in the area buy their housing instead of leasing it.
As you search through Oyster Bay, NY homes for sale, you’ll see homes have fairly high pricing depending on where you look and nearby amenities. The average price of a home in Oyster Bay is $855,000. There is a median sale price of $468 per square foot for these properties.
Oyster Bay property tax rate is 2.240%, which means an $855,000 home will have about $19,152 in property taxes per year.
Less than 12% of residents living in Oyster Bay rent. The average price of rent in Oyster Bay is $2,697 per month.
9. Oyster Bay Schools
There are about 65,648 kids between the ages of 0 and 18 years old, adding up to more than 22% of the population. Oyster Bay is an excellent place for families to live.
Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District is the area’s main district, though there are a couple of other smaller districts as well. A few of the best Oyster Bay schools are:
- Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School
- St. Dominic Elementary School
- Tiegerman Middle School
- Oyster Bay High School
- St. Dominic’s High School
Nearby colleges and universities in Oyster Bay include Long Island University, the Webb Institute, and the New York Institute of Technology.
The local Oyster-Bay East Norwich Public Library has free access for students and other residents to check out books and other media.
10. Jobs in Oyster Bay
Anyone looking for Oyster Bay jobs will find many well-known employers offering positions across the area. Some of the best places to work in Oyster Bay include:
- McKinsey & Company
- Apple
- National Audubon Society
- American Express
- EverPresent
If you’re thinking about commuting from Oyster Bay to New York, you can expect to travel 30 miles each way, which takes between 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic in both directions.
If you are searching for a job in Oyster Bay, check out available careers on Indeed.
The average salary in Oyster Bay is 69,000 per year with an average hourly rate of $16.81 per hour. There is a 6.5% income tax rate in Oyster Bay. The current Oyster Bay unemployment rate is 5.2%.
11. Transportation in Oyster Bay
Are you wondering how to get around Oyster Bay? On average, households in Oyster Bay have two cars, making it more common for people to drive themselves wherever they need to go. This tends to be the easiest and quickest way to travel around the area.
There are multiple options for Oyster Bay transportation if you’re looking for public services. Colonial Transportation offers taxis and shuttles as well as charter bus services. The Long Island Rail Road offers trains to New York, Brooklyn, and other destinations along their line.
People living in Oyster Bay also have access to local rideshare services including Uber and Lyft.
The nearest airport to Oyster Bay is Republic Airport, which is located in Farmingdale. Both John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport are conveniently located within 22 miles of Oyster Bay as well.
12. Sports in Oyster Bay – 100 words
Anyone moving to Oyster Bay will have the chance to cheer on all of the local New York professional sports teams.
Only a few miles away in New York City, all Oyster Bay residents can visit multiple sports venues including:
- Yankee Stadium, where the New York Yankees (MLB) play
- Madison Square Garden, home court for the New York Knicks (NBA) and the New York Rangers (NHL)
- Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets (NBA)
New York has a history of winning so people living in Oyster Bay will get to root for professional teams like the Yankees who have 27 World Series titles, the Mets with 2 World Series titles, the Knicks with 2 NBA Finals titles, the Giants with 4 Super Bowl titles, the Rangers with 4 Stanley Cup titles, and many more.
Town of Oyster Bay, NY Map
Living in Oyster Bay Pros & Cons
- Pro: There is an incredible selection of fun things to do in Oyster Bay.
- Pro: Oyster Bay is often considered a great place to raise children.
- Pro: It’s easy to find safe neighborhoods and nice places to live around town.
- Con: The cost of living in Oyster Bay is quite expensive, even compared to other parts of New York.
- Con: You can expect a good amount of snow in winter and rain throughout the year.
Moving to Oyster Bay, NY
Now that you know many of the top reasons to move to Oyster Bay, are you ready to make this area your new home? If you need reliable Oyster Bay movers, there’s no better team than Zippboxx! Get in touch with us today by calling (631) 600-0000 or complete the Request a Quote form for a free Oyster Bay moving quote!