Laurel is a wine country escape with beaches and outdoor appeal
Vineyards, farms and a nature preserve attract buyers to Laurel, a North Fork community in Long Island’s wine country. Beaches and agrotourism fuel a busy summer and fall season, and many buyers here are searching for second homes to escape from the city. New York is roughly a two-hour drive away, and the Long Island Rail Road and Hampton Jitney bus add accessibility. With its quiet vibe and nearby attractions, Laurel is a nature lover’s retreat on the North Fork.
How much it costs to buy in Laurel
Homes in Laurel vary widely, from modest bungalows to spacious waterfront homes. “Our buyers want that second home experience, but they don't want the more expensive and crowded South Fork,” says Janet Bidwell, a licensed real estate salesperson with Douglas Elliman Real Estate who has 22 years of experience selling homes in the area. "But that does not mean it's inexpensive on the North Fork." The median home sale price is in the lower $900,000s, lower than that of the nearby communities of Mattituck and Jamesport. Waterfront homes are the most expensive, ranging from the mid-$900,000s to around $1.6 million, while inland homes range from the lower $600,000s to the upper $900,000s.
Bidwell says that buyers should also be prepared to pay a land preservation tax at closing. "It's called the Peconic Bay Land Preservation Fund. The tax is used to purchase the rights to develop vacant land from the landowners. Once the development rights are purchased, the land cannot be built on," she says. "If you purchase in Laurel or any of the five East End townships, you will be helping to maintain the East End's rural feel."
Busy beach and farm seasons contrast with quiet winters
Laurel is a popular area for vacationers and second-home buyers who mainly stay here in the busy summer and fall months. In addition to beaches that bring summer crowds, agrotourism brings even more tourists who come here to pick pumpkins or get a Christmas tree. Bidwell says some people live here year-round, and that it’s very quiet in winter. “We usually have fairly mild winters,” she says. “We have the water all around us, so it kind of moderates the temperature.”
Nearby beaches and other outdoor hangouts
Laurel borders the Peconic Bay, and Long Island Sound is nearby, giving residents access to several beaches. If you want to get outside, head to:
- Peconic Bay Park, where you can launch a kayak and hang out by the water
- Veterans Memorial Park and Beach, the closest swimming spot
- The Mattituck Yacht Club, which offers sailing lessons for kids and adults
- The Laurel Lake Preserve, which has 14 miles of hiking trails around a freshwater lake
To go to a beach in Mattituck or Laurel, you’ll need to buy a resident beach parking permit if you plan to drive; residents can walk onto the beach for free.
Highly rated schools are in Mattituck and Cutchogue
Kids can attend the highly rated Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District, where they can start at Mattituck-Cutchogue Elementary School in Cutchogue and then go to Mattituck-Cutchogue Junior/Senior High School in Mattituck. The high school has been named to the Advanced Placement Program School Honor Roll for having high participation in its 16 AP courses.
Flooding is possible but uncommon
Some homes in Laurel are in high-risk flood zones, but Bidwell says that flooding isn’t common. “It would take a very big storm. Like when we had Hurricane Sandy, there was a lot of flooding,” she says. “That was in 2012, and we haven’t really had anything like that since.” She still recommends that homebuyers ask their real estate agent about flood risk and check FEMA maps. If your new home is in a flood zone, you’ll probably have to buy flood insurance or take over the current owner’s coverage.
Get to New York by car, train or bus
There are several ways to make the trip to New York. Here are some of your options:
- Drive there in two hours by getting on Interstate 495 in Calverton, but be forewarned that traffic can make the drive take longer.
- Take the LIRR train at stations in Mattituck or Riverhead, a trip that takes around two and a half hours but only has a few trains a day.
- Get on the Hampton Jitney bus in Laurel and get there in just under two and a half hours, but traffic can slow it down and it’s more expensive than the LIRR.
Bidwell says that most residents opt for the Jitney, because it’s more reliable, but it’s not a trip that people make regularly.
Where to find local wineries, farm stands and restaurants
Laurel is mostly rural and is in the North Fork’s wine country, so you can find farm stands like Hallock’s Cider Mill and wineries like Ev&Em nearby. Cliff’s Elbow Too is the second location of Cliff’s Elbow Room, a popular Jamesport restaurant. “That’s where they have very famous marinated steaks,” Bidwell says. “The place has been here forever.” More restaurants and grocery stores are in Mattituck, and national retailers like Target are in Riverhead.
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Written By
Annie Franklin
