Dix Hills

Dix Hills, a hamlet located mid-island in Suffolk County, is predominantly residential. Since there are few strip malls and retail businesses in the neighborhood, residents run most of their errands in adjacent communities like Deer Park, Commack and Huntington Station. The suburban winding roads, many of which end in cul-de-sacs, spurn speedsters and discourage through traffic. Many of the properties in Dix Hills range from about a quarter acre to an acre or more. The Town of Huntington is nearly 16 square miles and has just over a quarter million residents. Per square mile, Dix Hills has about half the density of some of its immediate neighbors.

Residential real estate prices here may surprise some homebuyers familiar with western Suffolk County. Sale prices ranging from $600,000 to north of $2 million are more typical in north shore and south shore communities with waterfront views and in tony communities further east. On the low end of the spectrum, a raised ranch constructed during the post-war, mid-island housing boom go on the market for $650,000 to $750,000. In Dix Hills, square footage does not determine a home’s value. Ranch-style bungalows list for over $800,000. Most of the homes on the market in the summer of 2023 were listed for $1 million to $2.5 million, from single-story ranch houses from the 1970s to brand-new modern farmhouses. Dix Hills has limited inventory of condos, mostly built after 2000. These units range from $600,000 to $900,000 and may have HOA fees.

So, what’s so special about a neighborhood that’s not coastal, doesn’t have a large state park or wildlife preserve, and doesn’t even have a shopping mall with a grocery store? According to Niche, Dix Hills has the top public school district in the county. Of the five elementary schools in the district, three get an A-plus, and two get an A; both middle and high schools earn an A-plus. GreatSchools gives Half Hollow Hills High School West a 9/10 for college readiness, and Half Hollow Hills High School East gets an 8/10 for test scores. Part of Dix Hills is served by the Commack Union Free School District, which Niche gives an A-plus and ranks as the seventh best public school in Suffolk County. GreatSchools gives Commack Middle School and Commack High School an 8/10 for test scores. “The schools in Dix Hills are definitely a motivator for parents,” says Deloar Khan, director of sales and marketing at AVS Realty.

Many neighborhoods in Suffolk County can be called a nature lover’s paradise. No matter where you live on the narrow island, you’re not far from a beach. Mid-island neighborhoods are just minutes from state parks, golf courses and vineyards. Dix Hills Park Golf Course and Clark Gillies Arena and ice rink are within the boundaries of the hamlet. Ice rinks may have a reputation for their sprawling footprint and bland, utilitarian appearance. The Dix Hills Ice Rink, a facility that’s open year-round, has an exterior that resembles a ski lodge. It was designed to complement the surrounding suburban community. Kids and adults can take skating lessons, figure-skating classes and join an ice hockey league.

Dix Hills has a few pocket parks where locals can walk their dogs or toss a ball with the kids. Otsego Park has over half a dozen baseball fields, tennis, basketball courts and a playground. The Town of Huntington runs Dix Hills Adventure Camp at Dix Hills Park. There are three full-day summer sessions in July and August and three half-day sessions for kids going into kindergarten. Campers spend their days outside in the sun, swimming and playing sports. There are also indoor activities, like arts and crafts and ice skating.

Five Towns College offers degrees in the creative arts. Locals can attend theatrical performances, art shows and concerts throughout the year. Kids and adults can sign up for painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, ceramics and jewelry-making classes and workshops at the Art League of Long Island. The school also allows students to show their work at crafts fairs, art exhibitions and participate in musical performances.

Two major corridors run through Dix Hills, which is convenient for commuters. Todd Yovino, a licensed broker and owner of Island Advantage Realty, says that many homebuyers like having easy access to highways like the Long Island Expressway and Northern State Parkway. And for anyone concerned about noise, both roadways have sound walls and are surrounded by trees and hills. “The best part,” says Yovino, “is that you can shorten your commute by 10 to 15 minutes per leg. That adds up.”

Early residents were part of a Long Island tradition of naming communities after settlers. Several historical accounts suggest that locals referred to the area as Dick’s Hill for a landowner in the 1600s named Dick Pechegan. Eventually, the hamlet came to be known as Dix Hill.

Written By

Riki Markowitz

Photography Contributed By

Jeff Siegel

Video By

Andrew Sutton