$1,141,392Average Value$283Average Price per Sq Ft3Homes For Sale
Seclusion and access to nature draw residents to Great River
Surrounded on two sides by the Connetquot River, Nicoll Bay and Great South Bay, Great River’s defining features are its seclusion and its access to the outdoors — on land and water alike. There’s no shopping in the little neighborhood, and though the closest groceries can be found in nearby East Islip a few minutes away, it’s solidly car-dependent when it comes to anything beyond a daily walk along its quiet, private streets. But residents like it that way, even when it comes to the area’s quirky arrangement when it comes to getting their mail. “You don’t have mailboxes. You have to go to the post office, and it’s the cutest little post office you’ve ever seen,” says Debra Carpluk, a licensed associate broker at Keller Williams Realty who has been selling homes here for 33 years. “It’s a great chance to get out and get your steps in for the day. People will walk to the post office — somebody goes to get their mail, maybe go to the deli, grab some lunch. It’s a good way to get to see your community, running into people.” Disabled residents, though, can sign up for door delivery with the proper documentation.
Walking the paved path past the beach in Great River.
Do you love to fish? Catch'em big at Great River Dock.
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Hiking, beaches and kayaking at Heckscher State Park
At 1,600 acres, Heckscher State Park takes up a majority of Great River’s land. It has 4 miles of hiking and biking trails, and dogs are allowed on these trails as long as they’re on a leash. The massive park also offers disc golf, camp sites, accessible playgrounds and athletic fields, which Carpluk says are particularly popular for local soccer games. The park’s beaches, which face out into the Great South Bay, tend to be a little rocky but quiet with calm water, which makes it particularly good for the little ones. With so much water around it, there are also plenty of spots to launch kayaks and canoes in the neighborhood, from spots in Heckscher Park to a little boat ramp along the Connetquot River. “We have a marina there, so people have their boats down there,” Carpluk says. “You’ll find a lot of us are boaters and, depending on the marina that we belong to, we skedaddle over to Fire Island or just go boating in the Great South Bay.”
The Bayard Cutting Arboretum is also a major facet of the community, calling itself a “museum of trees” on its site. The 691-acre park is meant to be peaceful and beautiful, so sports, pets and picnics aren’t allowed here. “It’s a great little place for seeing all the different blooms and flowers,” Carpluk says. “A lot of people go there for their wedding pictures. It’s just a great way to spend an afternoon.” Timber Point Golf Course sits between the two green spaces, offering 18-hole and 9-hole public courses and a driving range right on the water where the river and bay meet.
Enjoy a hike through the vast trails of Heckscher State Park in next door East Islip.
Go kayaking on the Connetquot River in Great River.
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Smaller inland homes starting around $650,000
Great River’s streets are quiet, residential and usually wooded, adding to that secluded feel even when homes are right across the street from one another. It’s not hard to find homes with larger yards, anywhere between a quarter of an acre to well over 2 acres. “People really get to unwind and enjoy their backyards,” Carpluk says. “Each home is as beautiful as the next. Tree-lined streets and not cookie-cutter.” Ranch-style homes are common here, as are a range of colonial styles, split-level homes and hi-ranches, but each is made of different materials and has little flourishes that sets it apart. There are a handful of more recently built new traditionals, but these aren’t as common as other home styles. Inland homes typically start at around $650,000 and climb to $1.4 million. Homes on the river are typically larger, sit on bigger properties of at least an acre and have private docks where owners can keep boats and launch kayaks. They usually cost between $1 million and $3.5 million. “A lot of people buy the smaller homes and they just build up and add on,” says Dorothy Ziccardi, a licensed real estate salesperson at Signature Premier Properties who has sold homes here for 15 years.
Great River is at moderate risk of flooding, but the real concern comes with hurricane season, where damage from high winds is a big concern — especially given all the neighborhood’s trees. The CAP Index crime score is 1 out of 10, below the national average of 4.
Great river is replete with ranch style homes.
Spacious Colonial style home in Great River.
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Art classes at Bayard Cutting Arboretum, sports and concerts at Heckscher
Bayard Cutting Arboretum offers a schedule of events, ranging from free tours of the historic grounds to garden tea parties and farm school for kids, plant sales and artist workshops focusing on mediums like painting, metal-sculpting and sculptures. Heckscher State Park also has a wide range of community events. It often hosts the East Islip Fall Classic, an annual soccer tournament that Carpluk says is big among local families. There’s also a summer concert series, and the annual New York Philharmonic concert in mid-July. “Everyone would go down to Heckscher and sit on the grass and grab a blanket, grab the kids, and listen to the Phil Harmonic with fireworks,” Carpluk says. The Great River Community Association also hosts frequent events for its members, though there’s a yearly fee for those who choose to join.
Explore the magnificent 691 acre grounds of the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River.
You can get a beautiful view of the Great South Bay at Heckscher State Park in Great River.
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A couple restaurants along River Road, essentials in East Islip
Beyond its little post office and fire department, Great River has a few restaurants. Great River Deli is a little spot with grab-and-go options, and George Martin’s Strip Steak is an upscale restaurant with a dining room that resembles a speakeasy. It operates out of a Dutch Colonial home built in the 1920s. Just outside the northwestern border of the neighborhood, Fatty McGees Bar & Grill is a sports bar with wings that locals say are to die for. For more dining options or shopping of any kind, locals need to drive into East Islip or beyond. “It’s quiet; it’s not for that person who wants to walk into town where there’s shops and restaurants,” Ziccardi says. Pats Marketplace is the closest grocery store at just 2 miles away, while Stop & Shop is just over 4 miles away. Although Great River can feel isolated, especially given all the trees lining its little streets, locals don’t have to drive too far to find more shopping, dining and entertainment options. “We are minutes from local downtown areas such as East Islip, Islip, Bay Shore,” Carpluk says. East Islip is the closest of these communities, sharing a border with Great River, while Islip is 4 miles away and Bay Shore is less than 6 miles away.
Get a juicy steak from George Martin's Strip Steak in Great River.
Enjoy a meal in the dining room of Mary's Pizza and Pasta in nearby North Great River.
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Music, art and sports in East Islip schools
Niche gives the East Islip Union Free School District an A-minus, and the district received recognition from the National Association of Music Merchants when the group awarded it one of its “Best Communities for Music Education” in 2023. Children can attend Connetquot Elementary School, which has a B, from pre-kindergarten through second grade before finishing elementary school at Timber Point Elementary School, which has a B-plus. Their next steps are East Islip Middle School and East Islip High School, which both have an A-minus. In 2024, the state and county both gave the high school’s softball team postseason honors after it reached the Suffolk County Final with a team whose oldest starter was in 10th grade.
Connetquot Elementary School has 366 students in grades PK, K-2.
East Islip Middle School shares sports fields with East Islip High School.
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Major highways, nearby LIRR station
Heckscher State Parkway and Montauk Highway run alongside the neighborhood, making it easy to connect to major roads by car. Great River also has its own stop on the Long Island Rail Road’s Montauk line. The station doesn’t have a lot of parking spots, but Great River isn’t a big neighborhood. Reaching Manhattan’s Penn Station from the station takes about an hour and 15 minutes. Nearby, Bay Shore runs ferries to Fire Island. Long Island MacArthur Airport is about 9 miles away.
Take the train from the Great River LIRR station.
Stroll through Great River's quaint downtown strip.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Great River
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
1
4
Burglary
1
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
1
4
Larceny
1
4
Crime Score
1
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Great River Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Great River, Long Island sell after 30 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Great River, Long Island over the last 12 months is $287,000, down 32% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
FOUNDATION IS IN! Framing Started. New construction Colonial on Lot 1 and Lot 2, Schoolhouse Road, East Islip. This upcoming home offers 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, with a spacious and functional layout. The Colonial design features modern finishes and quality craftsmanship throughout. The first floor includes an open kitchen, dining, and living area, family room, breakfast room and mudroom,
Positioned on one of the finest pieces of Great River real estate, this stunning waterfront home offers the perfect blend of elegance, comfort, and functionality. This unparalleled property with its mature landscaping, boasts an exceptional private dock, ideal for boating enthusiasts and outdoor living spaces for serene waterside relaxation. Step inside to find an exquisite indoor pool just off
Lease For 18-Month With No Increase!*. $99 Security Deposit* *Restrictions Apply.Luxury One Bedroom Duplex, Two Bedroom and Three Bedroom Villa Style Apartment Homes. We feature central air-conditioning, some with vinyl plank floors/hardwood floors, some carpet, eat-in kitchen with tuscany-style kitchen cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and ceramic tile kitchen floors. Crown and base
Luxury Apartments with Eat-In-Kitchens, Dining Area. Terraces. SS Appliances, Granite Countertops, Vinyl Flooring. High Hats, C&B, Ceiling Fans, ELFA Closets. Lovely Park-Like Setting. Walk To Long Island Railroad And Shops. Convenient To Sunrise Highway, Montauk Highway & Southern State Parkway. Prices/policies subject to change without notice. *Restrictions Apply.
Located on Long Island in Great River/East Islip - make Westbrook Village your new Dream Home. Westbrook Village features luxury 1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments with generous floor plans. A community with distinction, our resident amenities include: A Clubhouse and Fitness Center, Outdoor Pool and Lounge Area, Bocce Courts, Dog Park, and Playground. We are conveniently located just minutes from the
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jo Ann Boettcher,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
2,435
Median Age
45
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
19.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
22.5%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$146,566
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$168,827
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
97.2%
College Graduates
55.8%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
34.8%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
70.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
47''
Average Winter Low Temperature
25°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
37''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
34/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
13/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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.
