Wheatley Heights

North shore and south shore neighborhoods on Long Island are notable for their beaches and waterfront views. Sometimes, that leaves home buyers scratching their heads regarding the advantages of living in neighborhoods in the middle of the island. Wheatley Heights doesn't quite fit this paradigm because the public school system here is one of the best. According to Niche, in categories ranging from academics to teachers, clubs and activities and college prep, Half Hollow Hills Central School Districts scores A-pluses across the board. All but two elementary schools in this district get an A+, and those schools aren't too shabby in terms of academic achievement. Both still get As from Niche.

It's important to note that Wheatley Heights is a small neighborhood. There are no schools within the boundaries of the community; most are located in nearby Dix Hills, including Ostego Elementary School, Paumanok Elementary School, Vanderbilt Elementary School, Candlewood Middle School and Half Hollow Hills High School East and West. West Hollow Middle School is in Melville. Consider some of these rankings: Paumanok, Ostego and Vanderbilt are the number two, three and four primary schools in the county, according to Niche. In terms of test scores, on a scale from one to 10, GreatSchools gives Vanderbilt a 10, Ostego gets an eight, and Paumanok receives a nine. The number-one middle school in Suffolk County is Candlewood, and West Hollow ranks fourth. GreatSchools gives Candlewood and West Hollow Middle School a nine for test scores. Half Hollow Hills West is the top public high school in the county, while East comes in second place. Both get an eight from GreatSchools for test scores. All of these schools are about a seven-to-15-minute drive from Wheatley Heights.

Many Suffolk County neighborhoods experienced a housing boom after World War II. Wheatley Heights stayed rural for about another decade or so. Most houses – typically ranch-style homes, colonials and Cape Cods -- were built in the 1960s and 1970s. Though, there are some outliers. Prices for single-family homes range from $500,000 to $700,000. There are also some condos available in the neighborhood. These first-floor garden apartments and second-floor walk-up units were constructed in the 1970s and tend to fetch between $200,000 to $400,000. The most you'll spend in Wheatley Heights is about $750,000 for a large, raised ranch with a two-car garage.

While some neighborhoods are known for their bustling restaurants, bars and boutiques, it's the exact opposite for Wheatley Heights. This is the neighborhood you go to when you crave peace and quiet. But it is a quick drive to Farmingdale, where you'll find shops and brand-name chain stores like Target, BJ's Wholesale Club and The Home Depot. On the east side of the neighborhood is the ShopRite of Deer Park.

The Adventure Park at Long Island, located in Wheatley Heights, is an aerial ropes course with over 200 bridges, ladders and platforms. It's a popular destination for families, grownups and anyone who enjoys adventure. Butterfly Park is a hilly, wooded oasis with a pond. There are a few smaller parks throughout the neighborhood, including Kevin Ver Pault Memorial Park and Hermann Griem Park, which have baseball fields, tennis courts and playgrounds.

Wheatley Heights has no notable restaurants or coffee shops, but you can grab a slice at Little Joe's Pizza. It's in a tidy shopping strip with a deli, wine and spirits shop, dry cleaners and hair and nails salon. You'll find it next to the local post office and across the street from Martin A. Kessler Veterans of Foreign Wars association, which hosts community events, like seasonal festivals featuring food, crafts and clothing vendors and holiday celebrations.

One of the biggest advantages of living in a mid-island neighborhood, says Todd Yovino, licensed real estate broker and owner at Island Advantage Realty, is the ease of travel. Wheatley Heights is about halfway between the Long Island Expressway and Southern State Parkway. The closest Long Island Rail Road train station is Farmingdale, which offers a few express routes to Grand Central and Penn Station in under an hour. There are a lot of neighborhoods on Long Island that are closer to Manhattan, but that doesn't necessarily mean your commute is shorter. "If you save just 15 minutes on your way to work," says Yovino, "by the end of the month, that adds up a lot."

Written By

Riki Markowitz

Photography Contributed By

Jeff Rainone

Video By

Andrew Sutton