Have you already decided or are you thinking about moving to a different place in New York?
Maybe you’re tired of the chaos of the city? Maybe you want a new landscape? Shop at new businesses and try new restaurants.
Perhaps you should live in Nassau or Suffolk and there’s plenty of reasons below why you should.
So before calling up the moving truck read below some important factors to think about like property taxes, traffic, and more.
Nassau and Suffolk in general have four continues and two Native American reservations, two airports, great hiking trails, and numerous quaint villages and towns.
Yes, Nassau and Suffolk in Long Island have much to offer those who want the best of nature, arts, and entertainment, and so much more.
High Property Taxes
While deciding to purchase the perfect house don’t forget to find out about the property taxes. Depending on where you decide to purchase a home in Long Island, property taxes here can be quite high.
Be sure to keep in mind property taxes can also go up over the years so you want to make sure you are moving into an area that you can afford now as well as into the years to come.
Additional Long Island Taxes
While Long Island, in general, has high property taxes Nassau County has some of the highest property taxes in the country because of its excellent schools and proximity to New York City and the beaches.
Property taxes and high New York State income taxes, as well as the standard federal taxes, should be considered as well when making a move here.
If you live in Long Island, but work in New York City you might also be subjected to the New York City income tax. But, if you live and work on Long Island you do not have to pay a county tax.
While you might not have to pay a county income tax, you will have to pay sales tax in addition to a high state tax if you make purchases in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
In general, be forewarned, Long Island has high taxes compared to other areas in the state and country.
Getting Around
The area has all kinds of transportation serving Long Island thanks to its proximity to New York City.
There’s no reason you can’t easily commute from Long Island to New York City via the Long Island Railroad, as millions of people do every year.
The LIRR is the second busiest commuter railroad in North America but it is a busy place and trains can be crowded during peak hours.
If you want to travel within Long Island, there are three bus lines: the Nassau inter-country express that provides transportation throughout Nassau County and some areas of Suffolk County, the Suffolk County Transit that provides transportation throughout Suffolk County, and the Huntington Area Rapid Transit that serves the Town of Huntington.
Flying out into Long Island? There are three large airports – JFK Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Long Island MacArthur Airport.
Queens is part of Long Island and JFK is a major international airport servicing around 75 million passengers a year while LaGuardia averaged around 20 million.
The much smaller Long Island MacArthur Airport takes care of around 2 million passengers a year and is the only airport in Nassau or Suffolk County offering regularly scheduled commercial flights.
Various ferries around the island connect Long Island and Connecticut. Depending on what ferry you decide on, some offer the ability to ride on with your car. There are seasonal ferries that transport to popular beaches including Fire Island, Block Island, and Montauk.
Going by car is also an option as some multiple expressways and parkways will take you from A to Z. Long Islanders also use the Long Island Expressway but be forewarned it is a major traffic grid.
Cost of Living
And just because you aren’t in Manhattan proper where things are super high, this doesn’t mean it's cheaper in these counties.
Long Island is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States more so than New York City. The median house price is around $500,000. Even if you don’t buy, apartments aren’t cheap either.
Job Market
Although it might not have as many jobs as New York City, the Long Island job market has grown steadily over the years but has been affected by the pandemic.
Small businesses make up Long Island and pre-COVID 19 companies with under 20 employees account for a big percent of Long Island’s companies with child-care, banks, law firms, doctors’ offices, etc. all play a key role in the local economy.
Many small delis and clothing stores were here that were also part of the local economy, but the job market overall is not so great because of the lockdowns.
Things to See and Eat
One of the biggest draws to Long Island is all the activity, there’s plenty to do here.
From museums to performing arts centers, and art galleries this is the place to get some culture.
There’s plenty of music venues too like bars and concert halls to keep you busy and entertained.
Are you a nature buff? If so Long Island has tons of natural beauty including its beaches for surfing, sailing, and other water activities.
There’s also plenty of hiking trails along the shore or in one of the lush green forest.
Long Island is also great for eating and has everything a foodie can want from tons of fine dining restaurants (many five-star-rated ones) offering it all from Japanese to Mexican to French.
Don’t forget about the many local hole-in-the-wall restaurants and dives that are easy on the wallet and have hot dogs, burgers, and whatever else you crave.
Is It for You?
As you can see Long Island and Nassau and Suffolk counties have many positives, but it also has traffic, taxes, overcrowding, and of course, not the greatest weather especially in the winter when it snows, rains, hails, and more.
But Long Island does have much to offer families as well as just marrieds if you can find what you want within your budget, are ok with paying the high taxes, and dealing with the traffic on any given day especially if you are a commuter.