Are you thinking of moving to Long Island? Looking for a town on Long Island close to NYC with an easy commute and also have good schools?
For families moving to Long Island, schools and commuting to NYC are probably one of the main deciding factors when trying to pin down which Long Island town to move to.
When it comes to commuting to NYC, every minute makes a difference, an extra 20 minutes on the LIRR train may not seem like a lot but that equates to 40 minutes of extra commute time per day!
We did the research for you. Here are the towns in Long Island with good schools and short commutes. We also include the median home prices in these towns so you can get an idea of affordability.
The list below are Long Island towns with top-ranking schools and a short commute to NYC.
For the school ranking, we used Niche.com Best School Districts in Nassau County rankings and commute times are based on Long Island Railroad travel times. The median sale price of homes is based on 12 month housing market data ending June 2023.
Which Towns on Long Island Have Good Schools and 35 Minutes or Less Commute to NYC?
The Long Island towns with good schools and a short commute of 35 minutes or less to New York City are Great Neck and Manhasset.
Great Neck residents attend Great Neck Public School, which is ranked as the #1 School District in New York with a quick 31-minute train ride to NYC. The median sale price for homes in Great Neck is $829,538.
Manhasset, on the other hand, is districted to the Manhasset Union Free District, which is ranked as the #9 Best School District in NY, and has a 34-minute train commute to NYC. Homes in Manhasset have a median sale price of $1,557,308.
With these Long Island towns, you can have your cake and eat it too!
Which Long Island Towns Have Good Schools and 45 Minutes or Less Commute to NYC?
The Long Island towns with good schools and a commute of 45 minutes or less to New York City include Great Neck, Manhasset, Port Washington, Hewlett, Bethpage, and East Williston.
Great Neck is known for its #1 School District in New York and a 31-minute train ride to the city. Manhasset, with its #9 Best School District in NY, offers a 34-minute train commute to NYC.
Port Washington, ranked as the #23 Best School District in New York, is 41 minutes away by train.
Hewlett’s #6 best NY school ranking and 40-minute train commute, Bethpage’s #20 best NY school ranking with a 44-minute ride, and East Williston’s #10 best NY school ranking and 45-minute ride are Long Island towns with a short commute to NYC with good schools.
What’s the Most Affordable Long Island Town with Good Schools and Short Commute to NYC?
Hewlett is the most affordable Long Island town with good schools and a short commute to NYC.
With the Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free School District ranked as the #6 School District in New York, and a 40-minute train ride to NYC, Hewlett offers a great balance of education and convenience.
The median sale price for homes in Hewlett is $631,981, making it the most budget-friendly choice among the towns listed with excellent schools and reasonable commute times to New York City.
Long Island Towns with Short Commute to NYC and Good Schools
Great Neck, NY
Great Neck is known for its excellent schools. According to Niche.com, Great Neck Public School District is the best school district in New York state!
On top of that, Great Neck is an easy 31 minute commute to NYC plus it has a relatively affordable median home price of $829,538.
Aside from great schools and a short NYC commute, Great Neck has outstanding family-friendly recreational facilities including Steppingstone Park, a beautiful waterfront park with a pool, spray pad, playground, picnic areas, marina, summer camp, and summer concerts on the weekends.
There is also Parkwood Sports Complex with a town pool, tennis courts, and an ice rink, so residents can stay active all year long.
With amazing schools, a quick 31-minute train ride to NYC, and a median home sale price of $829,538, it’s a combination that’s hard to beat.
| Great Neck, NY | |
| School District | Great Neck Public School |
| Niche.com Rank | #1 School District in NY |
| Train to NYC in minutes | 31 Minutes |
| Median Sale Price of Homes | $829,538 |
Manhasset, NY
Manhasset is another Long Island Town with a short commute and good schools. Located on Long Island’s North Shore, Manhasset is an easy 34 minute train ride to NYC on the LIRR train.
The Manhasset Union Free School District is one of the best schools in New York state with high SAT scores and impressive college attendance rates. According to Niche.com, Manhasset is ranked the #9 Best School District in NY.
Recreational opportunities abound with summer concerts, the upscale “Miracle Mile” shopping area, various parks, country clubs, yacht clubs, and the Long Island Science Museum at Leeds Pond Preserve.
The great schools and the fast commute of the upscale Long Island town come with a price tag. Manhasset has a median home price of $1,557,308.
| Manhasset, NY | |
| School District | Manhasset Union Free District |
| Niche.com Rank | #9 Best School District in NY |
| Train to NYC in minutes | 34 Minutes |
| Median Sale Price of Homes | $1,557,308 |
Port Washington, NY
Port Washington is a coastal Long Island beach town known for its short commute to NYC and great schools. Located in Nassau County, the LIRR train from Port Washington to Penn Station is a quick 41 minutes. And the 21-mile drive on the Long Island Expressway is 42 minutes.
Aside from the short commute, Port Washington schools are top-rated. The Port Washington Union Free School District is highly regarded and includes five elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school.
It’s ranked #23 among the best school districts in New York by Niche.com.
The town offers a variety of housing options from waterfront condos to colonial houses, with a median sale price of $1,057,799.
Port Washington is studded with marinas, yacht clubs, and golf courses and has a charming downtown district with shops and restaurants.
Local attractions include the 216-acre Sands Point Preserve with guided hikes, mansion tours and summer outdoor concerts.
| Port Washington, NY | |
| School District | Port Washington Union Free District |
| Niche.com Rank | #23 Best School Districts in NY |
| Train to NYC in minutes | 41 Minutes |
| Median Sale Price of Homes | $1,057,799 |
Jericho, NY
Jericho, NY is famous for excellent schools. Consistently ranked as one of the best schools district on Long Island and in New York, many families move to Jericho for the schools.
The average SAT score at Jericho High is well above the national average, earning the Jericho Union Free District the #2 ranking in New York on Niche.com.
While Jericho doesn’t have its train station, it’s a 43-minute LIRR train ride to Penn Station from nearby Hicksville Station. Hicksville is a neighboring town, a 5-minute drive from Jericho.
With a median sale price of $1,053,056, housing in Jericho ranges from luxury condos to single-family homes.
| Jericho, NY | |
| School District | Jericho Union Free District |
| Niche.com Rank | #2 Best School District in NY |
| Train to NYC in minutes | 43 Minutes (Hicksville station) |
| Median Sale Price of Homes | $1,053,056 |
Hewlett, NY
Hewlett is one of the most affordable Long Island towns with great schools and a short commute to NYC.
Located on the South Shore of Long Island, Hewlett is known for its great schools.
The Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free School District is highly regarded, earning a #6 ranking among New York school districts on Niche.com.
Hewlett is a haven for commuters, with a LIRR train station right town. The LIRR train ride is 40-minute to New York City.
Hewlett has a mix of waterfront homes as well as more affordable single-family homes with a median home sale price of $631,981.
| Hewlett, NY | |
| School District | Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free School District |
| Niche.com Rank | #6 School District in NY |
| Train to NYC in minutes | 40 Minutes |
| Median Sale Price of Homes | $631,981 |
Bethpage, NY
Bethpage is a Long Island town that is affordable with great schools and a short commute to NYC.
The Bethpage Union Free School District is a top rated school. Niche.com ranks it the #20 Best School District in New York.
Living in Bethpage is not only about the highly rated schools, Bethpage is also an easy commute to NYC. The LIRR train ride to Midtown Manhattan is 44 minutes.
But the best part is the affordability, Bethpage is one of the most affordable Long Island towns for families looking for good schools and a short commute. The median sale price of homes at Bethpage is $638,019.
| Bethpage, NY | |
| School District | Bethpage Union Free School District |
| Niche.com Rank | #20 School District in NY |
| Train to NYC in minutes | 44 Minutes |
| Median Sale Price of Homes | $638,019 |
East Williston, NY
East Williston is a Long Island town with great schools and a short NYC commute. It’s a very small town, just half a square mile that is a 45 minute LIRR train ride to NYC.
The East Williston Union Free School District ranked #10 in New York on Niche.com, is small but prestigious. The district’s high school, Wheatley School, has small classes and strong academic programs, comparable to private schools.
Aside from the top-rated schools and a short commute, East Williston is also a close-knit community with celebrations, concerts, and special events taking place on a small green near the library.
The short commute and great schools as well as the scarcity of homes coming up for sale have made the home prices at East Williston quite high with a median sale price of $1,269,050.
| East Williston, NY | |
| School District | East Williston Union Free School District |
| Niche.com Rank | #10 School District in NY |
| Train to NYC in minutes | 45 Minutes |
| Median Sale Price of Homes | $1,269,050 |
Syosset, NY
Syosset is a Long Island Town with great schools and an easy commute to NYC. Located in the town of Oyster Bay, it is a diverse town spanning 5 square miles with one of the best schools on Long Island.
The Syosset Central School District is consistently ranked as one of the best schools, ranking as the #3 school district in New York according to Niche.com.
Commuting from Syosset to NYC is easy with 51 minute train ride to midtown. Syosset residents also have the option to commute from nearby Hicksville station, where there are more trains to New York.
With a median sale price of $902,143, Syosset offers a range of housing options plus top-ranking schools and a convenient NYC commute making it an attractive place to live.
| Syosset, NY | |
| School District | Syosset Central School District |
| Niche.com Rank | #3 School District in NY |
| Train to NYC in minutes | 51 Minutes |
| Median Sale Price of Homes | $902,143 |
Roslyn, NY
Roslyn is a charming Long Island town known for its great schools, easy NYC commute and historic charm.
The highly regarded Roslyn Union Free School District is ranked as the #4 School District in New York.
Roslyn is an easy commute to New York City, with the LIRR train ride to Manhattan about 51 minutes.
Downtown Roslyn exudes an old-fashioned town feeling with scenic Gerry Pond Park, historic landmarks, and an old-fashioned clock tower.
Aside from downtown, Roslyn residents also enjoy the convenience of the shops and restaurants on Old Northern Boulevard.
The median sale price in this picturesque town is $990,577.
| Roslyn, NY | |
| School District | Roslyn Union Free School District |
| Niche.com Rank | #4 School District in NY |
| Train to NYC in minutes | 51 Minutes |
| Median Sale Price of Homes | $990,577 |
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