Islip Terrace

Moving to Long Island from New York City was a popular thing to do after the turn of the 19th century, especially for New York City elites. At the time, urban life was dirty, smelly and antagonizing for people who had breathing problems and a variety of other health issues. Long Island, on the other hand, with its bay breezes and pine forests, was exactly what the doctor ordered. After a real estate developer purchased a plot of land north of East Islip, he put the word out to New Yorkers of German heritage to move out to the newly constructed hamlet, christened Germantown. After World War I, the community decided to change the name. The definition of terrace is a paved or planted area. According to the East Islip Historical Society, developers thought that this would a good way to describe the strip of land above East Islip.

While Islip Terrace always managed to keep its population from growing too fast, the surrounding Town of Islip has grown exponentially, especially after World War II. That’s one of the perks of living in Islip Terrace. While you get plenty of peace and quiet, when you want to go out to eat, go to the bars, or spend the day at a park or beaches, all the excitement is just a few minutes away.

Residential real estate in Islip Terrace starts at just over $400,000 and tops out at around $850,000. A 1950s ranch-style house on a quarter acre costs about $415,000. A neo-colonial, hi-ranch-style house from the mid-1960s costs starts at $550,000. Center-hall colonial-style houses built after 2020 go on the market at $850,000.

All of the homes in Islip Terrace are zoned for the East Islip School District, which makes it easy for new residents to figure out where kids will go to school once the moving van drives off. There are four public schools in the neighborhood, including Ruth C. Kinney Elementary School, which Niche graded a B. East Islip Middle School got an eight out of 10 for test scores from GreatSchools. Niche gave East Islip High School an A- and in 2023, the school’s robotics team competed in a high-level, tri-state tournament and finished in the top 10.

While students in Islip Terrace don’t have far to travel to school, for grownups who work in Manhattan, it’s a different story. It’s a 53-mile, one-way trip to New York City. During rush hour, that could be a nearly two-hour commute, if not longer. On the other hand, it's a 2-mile commute to Great River or Islip Long Island Rail Road stations — both are on the Montauk line. From there, it takes about 80 to 90 minutes to arrive at Grand Central Terminal.

Islip Terrace is a small neighborhood and is primarily residential. The closest restaurant is Applebee’s on Sunrise Highway. However, there are numerous owner-operated eateries, coffee shops and businesses on Main Street, Islip and Carleton avenues a few blocks away in East Islip. Il Piccolo Villaggio Ristorante is a traditional, white-tablecloth Italian trattoria known for its homemade pasta. Just be sure to make a reservation if you don't want to stand in a long line waiting for a table.

Dang BBQ was commended by Newsday for serving classic barbeque with “over the top variations.” The first thing most people rave about in their four and five-star reviews is how much food you get. Heading over to Carleton Avenue, you’ve got Riley Fibbers. This is a great place for anyone who burns the midnight oil. The bar has a late-night menu with apps, wraps and burgers. The pub and kitchen close at 2 a.m. on weekdays and 4 a.m. on weekends. There are even more restaurants, pubs, ice cream parlors and corner gourmet grocery stores on Main Street.

Beaver Dam in Islip Terrace is a compact park with a baseball diamond and basketball court. It’s a good place to have a game of catch before the sun goes down. But what if you want a little more room to roam? What if you want bay or ocean views? Along the south shore, which is anywhere from 3 to 5 miles away, are multiple beaches and marinas, Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge and a disc golf course at Heckscher State Park. If you’re really craving an adventure, pack an overnight bag and buy a roundtrip ferry ticket to Kismet, Saltaire or Fair Harbor on Fire Island. Or make it a day trip. It’s less than 15 miles by car to travel from Islip Terrace, over the Great South Bay Bridge to Robert Moses State Park.

Photography Contributed By

Jake Gold

Video By

Ruo Zheng