Sitting at the edge of Moriches Bay on Long Island’s South Shore, Center Moriches is a boater’s paradise. Creeks cut into it, creating four jagged “fingers” of land that are surrounded by water as they jut into the bay. The resulting abundance of homes with water access, creeks to explore and access to the bay — even access to the Atlantic Ocean through the nearby Moriches Inlet — are less than 8 miles from Westhampton, but there’s plenty in the community itself that draws people to live here year-round. “The fun thing is that it can be lively with community activity and street fairs,” says Kevin Loiacono, a licensed real estate broker and the owner of BrookHampton Realty who has lived in the Moriches area for 24 years. “It can be very quiet because people can make staycations in their homes in a lot of places. And it’s laid-back. It’s a town that you come home to that you’re happy to be home. It can be overlooked in a heartbeat, but once you get into it, you’re like, ‘This is comfortable.’ It’s not trying to be opulent like the Hamptons. It’s a good life balance.”
Walk your dog around Osprey Park.
Stroll around the lake at Kalers Pond Park.
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'A boater’s paradise' on Moriches Bay
People who love the water, particularly boaters, are drawn by Center Moriches’ creeks, bay access and proximity to the ocean. “You take the boat out in Center Moriches, and you’re immediately on vacation,” Loiacono says. “It’s quaint, there’s not a lot of boats, there’s good fishing. There’s calm water for those who like water sports like tubing and wakeboarding and waterskiing. If you look at Long Island as a whole, there’s very few towns that have ocean access. So literally, it’s a boater’s paradise.” Its status as a boater’s paradise is helped along by the many public boat ramps and private marinas that dot its coast. “Even people who don’t live on the water have access to a very inexpensive boat slip and a community area,” Loiacono says.
Webby’s Beach is a popular but often relatively quiet spot with calm water and a little playground geared toward younger children. Right up against the bay and another creek, the 263-acre Terrell River County Park is popular among hikers, with 2.6 miles of scenic hiking trails and beach access.
Boating culture is front and center in Center Moriches.
Center Moriches is the costal town by the Great South Bay.
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Inland homes in Center Moriches from $500,000
Center Moriches is known for its private community clubs like the Holiday Beach Club. These clubs offer amenities like a private beach and boat slips, and according to Joy Bryant, a licensed broker associate with Coldwell Banker American Homes who has sold homes here for nearly 30 years, Holiday Beach Club has exclusive access to The Masury, an old Victorian home turned event space, for regular community events. Communities with events like this help foster Center Moriches’ relaxed, neighborly atmosphere. “They really become very friendly because they see each other every weekend,” Bryant says. “In other communities, if you don’t get together, you don’t see your neighbors. You pull into your driveway and you go into your house. But in these beach communities, you get out and you go to the beach or get out and go to the beer night on Friday or the wine tastings, and it just promotes friendships.”
Ranch-style, hi-ranch and new traditional homes are common here, especially among the smaller and more average-sized homes. Inland homes start as low as $550,000 and usually max out at around $800,000. A home with a waterfront view — or even better, backed against one of the creeks — commands a higher price tag. A house with a view and a short walk to marinas or yacht clubs starts at around $600,000. Waterfront homes start at around $775,000 and climb to $5 million, though they can occasionally climb to $7 million. With so much waterfront in Center Moriches, these properties aren’t rare, and homes backing one of the creeks usually have a private dock where homeowners can keep their boat or launch kayaks. Larger waterfront homes tend to be custom-built, so they vary much more in style, often taking influence from Victorian, Mediterranean, or general European villa styles. Houses in Center Moriches have a higher elevation than some waterfront towns, but flooding can still happen living so close to the water and flood insurance is an essential part of buying a home here. The CAP Index crime score is 3 out of 10, which is lower than the national average of 4.
New traditional style homes are mixed in with the old in Center Moriches.
Ranch style homes in Center Moriches are very similar to those on the rest of the island.
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Frequent street fairs and festivals in downtown
“Downtown Center Moriches is a bit of a cultural draw, and they do those street fairs,” Loiacono says, adding that folks from surrounding communities attend many of these events as well. “They do holiday parades in the wintertime, they do the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.” Events like the Spring Festival often feature live music, local vendors and food trucks, and there’s also a popular summer concert series.
Vendors line several blocks of street at the Centereach Fall Festival.
Get your hands on the perfect pickle at the Centereach Fall Festival.
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Walkable downtown with restaurants, local boutiques
Center Moriches’ walkable downtown is a haven for foodies. The 100-year-old Country Cottage Diner is where many people start their days with a stack of pancakes, Sea Cove is known for its seafood, and friends often meet at Buckley’s Irish Pub for beer and burgers. Luncharitos is often packed for its Taco Tuesdays and live music or trivia night events, while Sunsets At Senix is the only waterfront restaurant. For dessert, The Rainbow Rolls serves ice cream tacos. The little downtown also has local shops, including clothing boutiques, hair salons, a Pilates studio and the Center Moriches Public Library. King Kullen and Lidl provide groceries toward the western side of the community. “Atlantic Seafood and Fish Market has the best fresh seafood,” Bryant says. Lina Lopes, a licensed associate broker at Douglas Elliman who has sold homes here for 34 years, says that there are also farm stands and wineries within a few miles of Center Moriches.
According to Deloar Khan, a licensed real estate salesperson at AVS Realty, there’s some new development going on right now in Center Moriches, but no one expects it to turn into the type of explosive growth seen on other parts of the island.
Downtown Center Moriches is a great place to window shop or stroll.
Lucharitos in Center Moriches has ample outdoor seating.
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Free summer programs at Center Moriches High
The Center Moriches Union Free School District gets a B from Niche. Children attend Clayton Huey Elementary School, which scores a B-minus, then move on to Center Moriches Middle School, which scores a B-plus. Center Moriches High School has a B and offers a free Summer Band Enrichment Extravaganza program for sixth through 12th graders. Students meet twice a week during summer to practice their instruments, then show off their improved skills at the end of the summer with a concert. According to Loiacono, the district hosts a lot of activities for the community as well.
Center Moriches High School main entrance.
Welcome to Center Moriches Middle School.
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Sunrise Highway, driving to Mastic-Shirley LIRR station
Montauk Highway serves as the main thoroughfare, but the only major highway in Center Moriches is Sunrise Highway, which runs along its northern border. The closest Long Island Rail Road station is Mastic-Shirley Station, which is just under 5 miles away. From there, the train takes commuters to Manhattan’s Penn Station in about an hour and 50 minutes. The train reaches Montauk in an hour and 30 minutes. Francis S. Gabreski Airport is just over 12 miles away and Long Island MacArthur Airport is 19 miles away.
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