West Babylon, one of the most populated hamlets in Long Island’s Town of Babylon, was once filled with a towering windmill and tulip fields tended to by Dutch farmers. After World War I, the area became a booming commuter town. The legendary American poet Walt Whitman even called West Babylon home in the 1830s when he taught at a school where the Great South Bay Shopping Center now stands.
The hamlet welcomes anyone looking for quick commutes into New York City and access to popular outdoor destinations. “New homeowners are drawn to the area for one reason: It’s close to Babylon and beaches,” says JoAnn Cilla, the broker-owner of JoAnn Cilla Real Estate. “The prices are pretty affordable, and there are decent taxes, too, because you don’t get the village tax that Babylon has. Plus, there’s easy access to the city with the Southern State Parkway.”
On Marie's Island in West Babylon, NY there is a large windmill and a West Babylon sign.
Commuting to and from West Babylon is easy via the Southern State Parkway.
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Commuting from three LIRR train stations
Over 40,000 people live in the hamlet, and many commute to New York City for work. “West Babylon is conveniently located between NYC and the East End, making it an ideal place to live,” says Travis Steward, president of the Belmont Lake Civic Association and a longtime resident. “There are homes you can build anywhere, but we have three train stations nearby. It’s an hour to the city, and if you miss the train at Wyandanch Station, you can drive seven minutes to Babylon Station or 11 minutes to Deer Park Station. You can’t get that anywhere else.”
The Southern State Parkway and Sunrise Highway are major commuting routes, and Suffolk County Transit Buses run throughout the hamlet. Most residential streets have room for parking because there aren’t many sidewalks. Owning a car or bicycle is necessary for getting around. The nearest hospital is NYU Langone Health, about 3 miles east of West Babylon.
Because the southern half of West Babylon is close to the water, there’s a higher risk of flooding, particularly for homes surrounding Venetian Shores Park. Some streets are prone to flood during heavy rainfall. Otherwise, West Babylon sees all four seasons, with snow in the winter and humid summers.
Enjoy the nautical lifestyle with a waterfront home in West Babylon.
West Babylon residents can catch the train to the city via the Babylon station.
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Inland ranch-style homes or waterfront Cape Cods
Generations have called West Babylon home, with many homeowners staying in the area for life. Most homes are single-family properties with ranch-style or Cape Cod designs, but there are also co-op buildings, like Fisherman’s Wharf. “The average established home with three bedrooms and two baths goes for $575,000 to $675,000. New construction can go for $675,000 to $700,000, but there’s no new development going on right now,” Cilla says. The most expensive properties are often in the south part of town, close to the water. The hamlet’s median price is $600,000, higher than the $406,100 national median reported by the National Association of Realtors.
The Suffolk County Police Department’s First Precinct serves West Babylon. According to a 2021 report from the police department, the First Precinct had a less than 1% decrease in reported crimes from 2020 to 2021. Reported property crimes far exceeded the rate of reported violent crimes. Data wasn’t readily available to compare the precinct’s crime rates to state and national averages.
Ranch style homes with attached garages ca be seen throughout West Babylon, NY.
On this canal in West Babylon you will see fisherman cleaning the catch of the day.
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Lounging on the Venetian Shores or fishing in Belmont Lake
West Babylon has a few outdoor destinations, mainly in the south. Bergen Point Golf Course is an 18-hole course next to Bergen Bay Docks. Venetian Shores Park is the largest green space in the hamlet, with a small beach, a spray park and multiple athletic fields. The beach is private, and residents need a parking pass to visit. The park’s beach is open only to Town of Babylon residents, so anyone who wants to visit needs to purchase a beach pass through the Town of Babylon’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Belmont Lake State Park is in the northern part of town, and many visitors spend their time fishing and kayaking on Belmont Lake. The park also features trails for hiking and horseback riding through the forested area.
Venetian Shores Beach in West Babylon has a restaurant and a great splash park for kids.
Enjoy the beautiful course at Bergen Point Golf Course in West Babylon.
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Bingo nights and annual feasts at Our Lady of Grace Church
The Belmont Lake Civic Association holds many of its events at Belmont Lake State Park. “There’s always something going on here,” Steward says. “Thousands of people show up for our Belmont Lake Civic Association concert series and fall festival. More than 10,000 show for our Christmas tree lighting event where there’s a tree as tall as the one at Rockefeller Center, fireworks and ice sculptures.”
There are multiple churches throughout the hamlet, but the West Babylon Lions Club hosts an annual Saint Anthony’s Feast at Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church. The group also organizes bingo nights at the church and joins the West Babylon Fire Department for a Christmas tree lighting and parade every December.
Our Lady of Grace is one of several churches in West Babylon.
Try your luck at fly fishing at Belmont Lake State Park in West Babylon.
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Three school districts serve West Babylon
The West Babylon Union Free School District covers most of the hamlet and earns an A from Niche. Homes north of Venetian Shores Park likely fall in the A-rated Lindenhurst Union Free School District, while those in the northeast side of town are served by the North Babylon Union Free School District, which gets a B.
The West Babylon Junior High School teaches students in grades 6-8 in West Babylon, NY.
West Babylon Senior High School is a public high school in West Babylon, NY.
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Local retail and out-of-town shopping
Restaurants and stores primarily line Sunrise Highway. Steward highlights Angie’s Soul House, a restaurant that serves Caribbean-inspired dishes in a dine-out-only setting. “It’s always busy from the moment it opens. Hundreds of people wait in line for about 30 minutes, but it’s a great spot,” Steward says.
Great South Bay Shopping Center on Montauk Highway has Marshalls, Old Navy and Ulta, but most residents drive 8 miles north to the Walt Whitman Shops in Melville or 5 miles to the Tanger Outlets in Deer Park.
The Wagyu Steak House is located in the Great South Bay Shopping Center in West Babylon, NY.
West Babylon residents enjoy shopping at the Tanger Outlets at nearby Deer Park.
Megan is a life-long area resident who puts her whole heart and energy into helping her clients. Given her extensive and unique design background combined with her knowledge of the community, Megan provides both her buyers and sellers with a detail-oriented eye to guide them from start to finish through the real estate process. Megan has served as a Director on the Suffolk South Shore Chapter of LIBOR in 2020 and was the 2021 Chapter Vice President. As a Silver & Gold Award Recipient at Signature Premier Properties, the fastest growing Real Estate Agency on Long Island, Megan provides full concierge service to her clients - and loves working with Seniors, First-Time homebuyers, Veterans, Downsizers & Upsizers. Megan also provides relocation services to those moving into or out of Long Island through her vast referral network of real estate experts across the country. Earning her CBR, MPR, RETP and SRES designations, Megan is committed to providing exemplary service to her sellers and buyers. After Graduating from St. Lawrence University in 1991 and completing Sotheby’s American Arts Course in 1993, Megan began her career in the Fine and Decorative Arts at Sotheby’s New York, as an intern in the American Paintings Department. Megan then moved onto her role as Assistant to the Director of the Decorative Arts Division where she worked closely with the American Furniture & Decorative Arts and American Folk Art Departments as well as the European, English and French Furniture and Decorative Arts Departments, Porcelain, Silver and Art Nouveau/Art Deco Departments. As a Business Manager at Sotheby’s, Megan also worked closely with the Jewelry & Books and Collectibles Divisions before becoming Director of the North American Client Accounting Department. After her Sotheby’s career, Megan played an integral role in her family’s business Auleen Gardner Antiques located in Bay Shore. In 2016 Megan became the Long Island Associate for Nye & Company, a leading Fine Art and Antique Auction House based out of Bloomfield, New Jersey which provides full appraisal and valuation services for the fine arts and antiques marketplace. Megan also gained in-depth knowledge and specialized skills navigating the Developmental Disabilities (DD) services ecosystem through her personal experience as a mom of a special needs child. Megan has served as a Parent Member for the Bay Shore School District’s Special Education Committee and was a founding member of the districts SEPTA Board when it was revitalized. In 2009, Megan was elected to the Board of Trustees of Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities (ACLD) ,a leading non-profit organization on Long Island which provides full-life services for developmentally disabled children and adults. Megan also served on the Hofstra University Parent Council Bylaws Committee, as her older son currently attends the Honors College at Hofstra. Megan is a frequent writer and sought-after speaker on innovative programs and advanced therapies for special needs and developmental disabilities and has appeared on the Donna Drake show, as a guest speaker on Long Island News Radio’s “The Non-Profit Voice”, school district assemblies in Suffolk and Nassau County and was featured in Newsday’s “People On The Move” segment. Megan also is a frequent moderator on Clubhouse in the Real Estate All Day & Real Estate From The Heart Rooms.
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