With a snaggletooth coast cut through by canals, an ideal location and abundant parks, plus access to the Atlantic Ocean by boat, it takes only a glance to see why Freeport is the second largest village in all of New York. “Freeport is a beautiful waterfront community,” says Paul Conforti, a broker at Douglas Elliman Real Estate. “The waterfront is really the big draw.” It’s been this way since the 1640s, when Freeport was an oystering town. Even Freeport’s name is a reference to the fact that it didn’t charge ship captains customs duties in the 1800s. In the early 1900s, Freeport began to draw wealthy vacationers and theatrical performers, the latter of whom formed an unofficial artists’ colony. It never lost its ties to the sea, though; fishing continued, and from 1937 to 1945, there was a shipyard in Freeport that built boats for the United States Coast Guard, the Navy and for Prohibition-era rumrunners.
Today, Freeport still has a decent commercial fishing industry. It’s not as robust as commercial fishing on the eastern end of Long Island, but it’s still one of the most notable spots so close to New York City, pulling in clams, flounder, fluke and squid. Mount Sinai South Nassau is a hospital less than 3 miles from Freeport. Along with local schools, it serves as a major employer, as 28.2% of residents work in education, health care or social assistance. Another 11.7% of residents work in retail, and 10.5% work in professional, scientific, management, administrative or waste management.
Freeport residents take their boats out for a spine all year long.
Many of the residents of Freeport travel around by boat.
The boat mentioned in the Guiness record book from 1985 is on display in Freeport.
There is a small sandy beach at Cow Meadow Park in Freeport.
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Boating and fishing, waterfront parks and athletic spaces
Unsurprisingly, boating and fishing are ways of life in Freeport, with marinas and private docks along its uneven coast and lining its canals. “They have a great inner bay area,” Conforti says. “It’s great to be a boater in Freeport. It’s three minutes from Jones Beach Inlet by water, you can get out into the ocean for fishermen. It’s a big fishing town.” Overland, Jones Beach itself is less than 8 miles away, making it possible to drive there for a day of fun in about 11 minutes. Back at home, Freeport’s many parks provide plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors on dry land. There are a few pocket parks scattered throughout the village, but most of its parks are a little bigger with multiple amenities. John J. Randall Park hosts local games and practices on its athletic fields and has a community swimming pool. There’s another outdoor pool at the Freeport Recreation Center, which also has indoor athletic spaces — including an indoor ice-skating rink. Right on the water, Cow Meadow Park provides the best of both worlds. It has fishing piers and a small beach as well as a playground, dog park and basketball and handball courts.
Residents of Freeport go out for an adventure or just a meal by boat instead of by car.
People love to walk and workout along the water at Seabreeze Park in Freeport.
Residents love to just sit and relax at the refurbished Milburn Creek Park in Freeport.
Large green spaces at John J Randall Park in Freeport are often used for soccer games.
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Exploring the Nautical Mile, major retailers further inland
One of Freeport’s most notable features is the Nautical Mile, which is a stretch of local boutiques, restaurants and bars running alongside Woodcleft Canal. Since these spots are on the water, residents can drive their boats right up to them, paying to dock them just like they’d pay for a parking spot along the street. “There are a lot of waterfront restaurants and a lot of marinas,” Conforti says. Those who don’t have boats can still drive or walk along the Nautical Mile. Restaurants on the Mile often have live music in the evenings or on the weekends, making them the village’s biggest source of nightlife. Major retailers, grocery stores, and even more restaurants are found a little more inland, just off Sunrise Highway and Merrick Road, ensuring that residents have everything they could possibly need right in the village.
The Nautical Mile in Freeport, runs alongside Woodcleft Canal.
The Freeport Princess Yacht takes people out of the Nautical Mile to enjoy a day on sea.
Day trips out to sea are available along the Nautical Mile in Freeport.
Many of the restaurants and bars on the Nautical Mile in Freeport have outdoor seating.
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Annual festivals and parades near the water
Every year around June, Freeport hosts its biggest event: the Nautical Mile Festival, which draws between 3,000 and 4,000 people. The village closes the street to cars and opens it all up to foot traffic so festivalgoers can explore local vendors, fill up on food from restaurants along the Mile and enjoy amusement park rides, games and giveaways, all to the background of live music. Other events are also common, including regular summertime fishing tournaments and a holiday boat parade in December.
Locals love attending the Freeport Halloween Family Festival.
Find the rarest of Amethyst at the Gem and Mineral Show in Freeport.
A creative balloon maker keeps vistors to the Freeport Halloween Family Festival entertained.
Every year local Freeport residents stop by the Halloween Family Festival at the Rec.
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Waterfront homes, condos and municipal utilities
Freeport has a mix of landlocked and waterfront houses, the latter of which are often backed up against canals with their own small docks. “If you’re near Nautical Mile it’s a little more upbeat, but the good thing is that there’s variety. There’s options,” says Yadlynd Cherubin, an associate broker with Keller Williams Realty of Greater Nassau and the owner of Legacy Team with 20 years of experience selling homes. “There are some sections that are quieter, more landscaped and manicured. You also have some waterfront properties, you have some condos, there are co-ops.” The median home price in Freeport is $573,500, which is higher than the national median of $416,700. Updated homes on the water typically cost the most.
Because Freeport is a village, there is a village tax, but it also has a few benefits that other communities may lack. According to Conforti and Cherubin, Freeport has its own water and electric companies; it’s one of only three communities on Long Island that have a municipal electric system. “When you have your incorporated water and electric, and it brings your cost down significantly,” Cherubin says. “You can spend more money on yourselves and your home and doing other things as opposed to paying utilities.”
Many homes in the south part of Freeport are waterfront on one of the many canals.
Waterfront homes with private docks in the backyard are highly sought after in Freeport.
Residents of Freeport go out for an adventure or just a meal by boat instead of by car.
Many Freeport residents have raised their homes and rebuilt their boat docks.
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Risk of storm damage, decreasing crime in Nassau
Whether or not they’re on the water, homes tend to be raised on cement blocks or built with just garage space on the first floor to help protect against flooding. There’s a major risk of flooding and wind damage in Freeport, especially during hurricane season. Getting insurance to protect homes is an essential part of living here.
Crime in Nassau County has decreased over the past couple of years, dropping close to pre-pandemic levels; in the first six and a half months of 2024, the county saw a 14.46% drop in all crime compared to the same period in 2023. Major crimes specifically fell by 13.29%. Freeport has its own village police department.
Many residents have raised their homes onto cement slabs since Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012.
Its very common to see first floor garages in Freeport homes since Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
The southern most part of Cow Meadow Park in Freeport is all marsh land.
Elevated homes are common in Freeport, even on those that are not waterfront.
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Freeport schools, funding for pre-K program
The Freeport Union Free School District has a B-minus from Niche. The district has five elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. In 2020, the district received a $750,000 grant to broaden its pre-kindergarten program.
The Leo F Giblyn School in Freeport, is a magnet school of International Cultures.
The Caroline G Atkinson School in Freeport, is a public school for grades 5-6.
Freeport's John W Dudd Middle School provides students with a safe learning environment.
Freeport Public High School serves students in grades 9-12.
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Commuting to work by highway or LIRR
Sunrise Highway and Meadowbrook State Parkway run through Freeport, and it takes just a few minutes to hop onto the Southern State Parkway. This gives the 66.8% of commuters who drive to work alone easy highway access. For those who commute on the Long Island Rail Road, Freeport has a station right in the village. From there, it reaches Manhattan’s Penn Station in about 45 minutes. John F. Kennedy International Airport is just over 16 miles away. Flights leaving the airport head to nearly 200 destinations across six continents.
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