Mill Neck

Surrounded by water from harbors, creeks and lakes on three sides and full of estates with huge parcels of land, Mill Neck has a peaceful rural atmosphere. “It’s an amazing incorporated village consisting of 4 to 5 minimum acre lots,” says Regina Rogers, a licensed real estate salesperson at Douglas Elliman Real Estate who has been in the business for 25 years. “The privacy and beauty of nature that encompasses Mill Neck brings people here.” Between the water, nature preserves and parks, the village is full of places where residents can be active and soak in nature.

Mill Neck’s large properties offer a sense of privacy and the space to build large estates. “The larger the lot minimum acreage, the larger the home or estate that can be built on the property,” Rogers says. “So typically you’ll see grand estates and beautiful, quite sizeable homes. And the architecture is quite pleasing. Each is unique in its own right. Each estate you pass is just so pretty.” Many of these estates are gated and have private amenities like pools, tennis courts and accessory buildings. “It makes it quite mysterious and beautiful,” Rogers says. “People appreciate the privacy and the peaceful atmosphere of the community.” Estates in Mill Neck start at close to $2 million and can climb upwards of $15 million. Despite their higher price tags, Rogers says these homes still sell relatively quickly as long as they’re priced well. As a result, prospective homebuyers should be prepared to make a move when they find a home they really love.

Children in Mill Neck are served by either the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District or the Locust Valley Central School District, which both have A ratings on Niche. In the Oyster Bay-East Norwich district, students attend Theodore Roosevelt School, James H. Vernon School and Oyster Bay High School, where they can participate in extracurricular activities like the literary magazine as well as coding, mathletes and robotics clubs. Children in the Locust Valley district attend schools like Ann MacArthur Primary School, Locust Valley Intermediate School, Locust Valley Middle School and Locust Valley High School. At the high school, students have the chance to participate in highly rated journalism, school newspaper and music programs. In fact, a third of the school’s 700 students are involved in Locus Valley High School’s music program. The only school located within the village itself is Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf, which has programs for children from infancy through Grade 12 and provides free American Sign Language classes to parents, siblings and extended families of deaf and hard of hearing children as well as to the community.

Mill Neck’s abundance of nature areas make it easy to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Hike through woods and across streams to the pond in the Shu Swamp Nature Preserve, hike or fish in the Upper Francis Pond Reserve or walk through the beautifully tended John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden. With its more rural, natural atmosphere, many residents also enjoy exercising along Mill Neck’s roadways. “The picturesque landscape is perfect for those who are active, who like to enjoy running, walking or cycling,” Rogers says. “It makes for a perfect backdrop. And as a former competitive long-distance, full-scholarship athlete, I really appreciate it and so do many others. We have a lot of cyclists and runners and walkers who really enjoy their daily exercise routine right here in the hills and streets of Mill Neck. It’s really a beautiful spot.” Residents also enjoy getting out on the water surrounding Mill Neck. When they’re in the mood to swim or relax on the sand, Mill Neck is minutes away from North Shore beaches like Beekman Beach. “In Mill Neck, people have access to a variety of our North Shore beaches, and they’re simply a few minutes away in Oyster Bay or Bayville or Lattingtown,” Rogers says. “Yachting, swimming and fishing take place regularly.” Plus, as residents of the Town of Oyster Bay, locals have access to Tobay Beach on the South Shore.

Mill Neck often feels remote and tucked away from the rest of the world—that’s part of its charm. In some ways, though, this remote feeling is an illusion. The village is less than 3 miles away from busy areas like Oyster Bay and Locust Valley, making it easy to go into town to grab groceries, spend a day shopping or go out to eat. For a bigger outing, the Americana Manhasset shopping mall, which is renowned for its luxury brand stores and five-star restaurants, is less than 11 miles away. Commuting is also relatively simple. Residents drive about 3 miles to Locust Valley Station, where the train takes them to New York City in about 70 minutes. While Mill Neck residents often attend events thrown in Oyster Bay or Locust Valley, they also have an annual Apple Festival. Every year since 1957, this festival raises funds for the local and worldwide deaf community. Thrown on an old, grand estate known simply as Mill Neck Manor, the festival attracts thousands of people and features entertainment like local arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment and a pie-eating contest. It overflows with food, especially apple-based foods like apple pies, fritters, cider, doughnuts and so much more. Despite this yearly excitement, Mill Neck is a quiet, beautiful and private place where you can enjoy nature every day just a few minutes—or even steps—from home.

Written By

Christina Norwood

Photography Contributed By

Jeff Rainone

Video By

Andrew Sutton