Lindenhurst

In 1983, rock legend Pat Benatar belted out “Love is a Battlefield.” She could have been talking about her Lindenhurst hometown. Three decades after recording that iconic song, Hurricane Sandy drowned the star's beloved childhood neighborhood in 4 to 6 feet of water, sparking fires throughout the south shore community and decimating entire blocks. One newscaster, compared the damage to “a battle zone,” making Benatar’s pop hit even more prescient.

The same thing that makes Lindenhurst such an enchanting place to live is also what makes it vulnerable to once-in-a-century weather events like Hurricane Sandy. More than half a dozen canals flow inland from Great South Bay to Montauk Highway. The bay and canals are great for fishing, swimming and water sports, but you don’t want to be around when Mother Nature is having a bad day.

Another reason that Lindenhurst is so appealing, says Deloar Khan, licensed real estate salesperson and team leader at AVS Realty, is the lower cost of living. “Nassau County is a few neighborhoods west of Lindenhurst and the property taxes there are higher. So, if you’re moving to Long Island, Lindenhurst is less expensive, even though you’re still on the south shore.”

On the north side of Lindenhurst, the closer you get to Sunrise Highway, real estate prices range from about $500,000 to upward of $900,000. Housing costs on the south side of the neighborhood are a bit higher, ranging from about $600,000 to more than $1 million.

Sandy may have wreaked havoc on homes in Lindenhurst, but you can still find vintage houses pre-dating the mid 1900s. A classic colonial-style home can cost nearly $600,000 while one built after 2000, but before Sandy, fetches about $650,000. Most houses in Lindenhurst are original mid-century ranch-style and hi-ranches. After Sandy, new construction and restored single-family residences on the bay are hitting the market from $800,000 to well over $1 million.

There are numerous public elementary schools in Lindenhurst. It’s hard to find a section of the neighborhood that’s not within walking distance of one of them. According to Niche, Lindenhurst Union Free School District is in the top 6% of districts in the entire country. Albany Avenue School got an A for teacher performance and an A- for academics from Niche. West Gates Avenue School was rated eight out of 10 from GreatSchools and test scores at Daniel Street School ranked 9 out of 10. In 2023, a student club at Lindenhurst High School was awarded a certification of recognition from the mayor for distributing nearly 150 backpacks filled with school supplies to kids throughout the district.

For grownups who work in Manhattan, there’s a Long Island Rail Road station in the neighborhood, including plenty of free parking. The best part is that during peak travel times, it takes less than an hour to commute from Lindenhurst to Grand Central Terminal. And if you’re going into the city at night, there are a few limited-stop legs direct to Midtown in just over 60 minutes.

There are many restaurants in the community, especially on South Wellwood Avenue. But Khan says that one of the best diners on Long Island is in the neighborhood. Lindenhurst Diner, your quintessential New York diner, has retro neon lights and shiny chrome trim. The restaurant won the Bethpage Best Diner on Long Island four times. When the eatery took home the award in 2023, the BestofLongIsland.com guidebook said, “A team of chefs led by executive chef Nicholas Hannides make everything from scratch every day, including their soups, sauces, dressings, and so much more.”

While it would be disingenuous to suggest that residents didn’t struggle to rebuild after Sandy’s wrath, 10 years later, Khan confidently asserts that the residential real estate market in Lindenhurst is booming. What can you say? Those bay and canal views are simply irresistible, which is another pop song from the ‘80s, but was not performed by a Lindenhurst local.

Written By

Isabella Pontecorvo

Photography Contributed By

Johnny Milano