Commack’s original Native American name was “Winnecomac,” which means “pleasant lands.” It’s thought that the name was meant to reference the rich soil that made the area ideal for farming, but as Commack has grown and left both its farming days and its full name mostly behind, it’s taken on a different meaning. Today, many people are drawn to Commack, which is shared by the Town of Smithtown and the Town of Huntington about 43 miles from Manhattan, for its bigger property sizes and convenience. “It doesn’t really extend their commute time that much; it’s like a central hub to the Northern State and the LIE, and it’s got a lot of family restaurants,” says Debbie Kopack, an associate real estate broker at Douglas Elliman with 20 years of experience selling homes. Practical matters may bring many to Commack, but once they get here, they discover a friendly atmosphere. “All the listings I’ve gotten, all the neighbors are out talking to each other, so there’s definitely a community vibe,” Kopack says. “Everyone looks out for each other. I love it over there.”
Get all your fresh groceries at Trader Joe's without leaving Commack.
Bring the family out to dinner at Miller's Alehouse in Commack.
Costco Wholesale in Commack is a popular destination for groceries and household items.
And they're off and running at the Annual Run For Your Life 5K Race in Commack.
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1960s houses with breathing room
Commack’s residential streets lack sidewalks, but they’re wide and quiet. “It’s just a lovely neighborhood,” says Devang Patel, a licensed real estate salesperson at Douglas Elliman who has been selling homes here for six years. “The homes are very nice, they’re very well-kept, the neighborhoods are nice. Most homes on the block look similar.” Split-levels and hi-ranch homes built in the 1960s are particularly common. Lots often range between a quarter and a third of an acre, so houses tend to have a good amount of breathing room without losing that classic suburban vibe. Small fixer-uppers can dip into the $600,000 range and bigger, updated new traditional homes typically max out at around $1.5 million. The Hamlet is a gated community built around a private golf course. The detached condos and houses here sell for between $850,000 and $1.75 million.
This modern colonial in Commack encompasses several styles including a gambrel roof.
This Cape Cod style home in Commack features two shed dormers and impeccable landscaping.
Beautiful victorian homes with wrap around porches are common in Commack.
In Commack, 93% of residents own their own home.
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A hub of major highways, medical centers
Three major highways intersect in the center of Commack — Sunken Meadow State Parkway, Jericho Turnpike and Veteran's Memorial Parkway. To the south, the Northern State Parkway and the Long Island Expressway run through the city, too. All this highway access provides easy access to every corner of Long Island and a straight shot to New York City. “That makes a big difference when you are working in the city or someplace in proximity to the highways, trains and everything,” Patel says. “It makes it a lot easier. You don’t have to get on the back roads and spend time sitting for signals if you can hop onto an expressway or a parkway and get to a place faster.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 73.3% of residents drive to work alone, so it’s a vital feature for many. For those who prefer not to drive, the Long Island Rail Road’s Northport Station is 4 miles away. Long Island MacArthur Airport is about 12 miles away, offering direct flights to 13 domestic destinations and many more connections for domestic and international flights.
Not all residents have long commutes, though. The USCB reports that 30.6% of residents work in educational services, health care and social assistance. Commack has a host of medical offices, urgent care centers and a cancer treatment center. St. Catherine of Siena Hospital and Northport VA Medical Center are both about 6 miles away.
It is easy to get around Long Island via one of the many highways that are near Commack.
The Northern State Parkway offers Commack residents an easy way to commute.
Commack offers several urgent care facilities for children and adults.
Many of the shopping centers in Commack have urgent care centers in them.
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Shopping centers with big box stores, restaurants
There’s no walkable downtown in Commack, but there’s still plenty of shopping in its collection of shopping centers stretched along Jericho Turnpike and Veterans Memorial Highway. Big box stores and grocery stores fill these shopping centers, along with a handful of chain and local restaurants. Italian, Greek and traditional American fare reign supreme here, scattered among pizza and bagel shops.
Commack features several home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Lowe's.
Head over to Target in Commack for home essentials.
Commack has several shopping plazas with shopping and dining options.
One of the many grocery shopping option in Commack is Trader Joe's.
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Pocket parks and Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve
Commack is dotted with little parks that have a playground and an athletic field or courts. There’s one exception, but it’s a big one — Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve. Some homeowners buy their homes on the Smithtown side of Commack specifically for the Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve, which is open only to residents of that town. The 133-acre preserve is home to rescued farm animals that visitors get to care for and feed. There are nature trails and a splash park. It's a popular place for children's birthday parties and daily visits alike. "We have people that come in daily,” says Kate Murphy, the animal preserve caretaker. “They walk in, bike in, bring their kids in strollers — they live in the neighborhood. We call them our regulars.” Beaches on the North Shore are only about 8 miles away, but some are resident-only beaches for either Huntington or Smithtown; residents of each town will need to pay attention to which beaches they can access.
Burr Winkle Park is a great neighborhood in Commack with ballfields and playgrounds.
Kids love the playground at Sunshine Acres Park in Commack.
Smithtown residents of Commack enjoy a family day at Hoyt Farm.
The animals at Hoyt Farm in Commack have a sense of humor.
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Commack Day Festival, Hoyt Farm events and local sports
Every fall, Commack Day Festival brings residents out to enjoy live music, food trucks and activities like bounce houses, axe throwing and a rock wall. The Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve also throws plenty of events. During maple sugaring season in February and March, visitors get hands-on experience making maple syrup, and there’s the annual Halloweekend festival. Kopack says the event is always sold out. It brings over 1,500 residents for activities like face painting, hayrides, crafts and a haunted house. Local sports leagues also a big deal here, setting a more regular drumbeat of events for local parents. The fun can bring meaningful outcomes, like the annual fundraiser basketball game between the Harlem MagicMasters versus local school teachers, administrators and staff. Funds go toward the Commack Educational Foundation, and everyone has a blast.
Daniel J. Flynn Memorial Park in Commack offers baseball fields and a playground.
Commack has a very strong baseball league.
Commack day is a great way to connect with all members of the community.
Local dance studios perform at the annual Commack Day celebration.
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Highly rated, green energy-minded Commack schools
Commack Union Free School District serves the entirety of the city regardless of what town residents live in. Niche gives the district an A-plus and ranks it among the top 10 districts in Suffolk County. The district has a student-to-teacher ratio of 12-to-1. The district’s only high school, Commack High School, is a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School and is part of the district’s green energy initiative, with solar panels installed across the entirety of its roof. Niche lists it among the top 5 public high schools in the county.
Commack High School has an impressive athletics department.
Approximately 1,300 students attend Commack Middle School.
The North Ridge Primary School in Commack serves students in grades K through 2.
Sawmill Intermediate School in Commack serves students in grades three through five.
Just like the rest of Long Island, hurricane season impacts Commack. The season often brings bouts of rain and overcast skies. When hurricanes hit, Commack’s inland nature means the risk of flooding is low, but there’s still a severe risk of high winds.
Because Commack is split between the towns of Huntington and Smithtown, it’s also split between police precincts. The portion in Huntington is served by Suffolk County’s 2nd Precinct and the Smithtown portion is served by the 4th Precinct. Crime throughout Suffolk County is going down, and that holds true for both of these precincts. Between 2020 and 2021, the 2nd Precinct saw a 23.1% decrease in violent crime and a 15.7% decrease in property crime. In the same period, the 4th Precinct had a 26.1% decrease in violent crime and an 8.4% decrease in property crime. Suffolk County has attributed the reduction in violent crime, at least partially, to the Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative, or GIVE.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
