Montauk
Neighborhood Reviews
Surfing, fishing and swimming in the Atlantic
Montauk is surrounded by water on three sides. Its northern coast is marked by the dips of Fort Pond and Napeague bays, while the Atlantic Ocean follows its southern coastline and curves around its eastern tip. “Of all the hamlets out here, Montauk has the biggest surf community by far; I don’t think any of the other hamlets out here even compare to that,” Van Asco says. “In that same vein, there’s not really anywhere else in the Hamptons that has a launchpad for offshore fishing like Montauk does. You just launch right into the Atlantic. Even people who don’t fish own boats for personal use and are just tugging around the harbor out there.” Dutch Plains Beach is particularly popular among surfers, while Kirk Park Beach sees more of the typical swimmers and sunbathers. “Fort Pond Bay is better for young kids,” says Fallon Nigro, a licensed real estate sales person with Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International and a native of Montauk. “But there are lifeguards at almost all the beaches. The Town of East Hampton has an excellent junior lifeguard program.”Beyond the coast, five nature preserves spanning over 5,500 acres cover much of Montauk. All these parks are open for hiking, birdwatching and picnicking, and many allow activities like horseback riding and cross-country skiing. Camp Hero State Park is the site of a famous lighthouse, and Hither Hills State Park allows camping.
The ebb and flow of Montauk’s seasons
Montauk is famous across Long Island as a go-to summer destination, but life looks very different here when cold weather hits. Many businesses close in October, and those who live in the town part time head out. “The population goes from 30,000 people in the summer to 5,000 in the winter,” Nigro says. “My graduating class at Montauk Elementary had 56 students.” This helps Montauk maintain aspects of its fishing village charm even after it has become such a vacation destination. Residents who only live in town for part of the year still very much feel like part of the community, though. “A lot of these people have been coming for years,” Van Asco says. “Their parents came and their grandparents came. So there’s a lot of connections out here. I know a lot of people who are just here in the summer but I’m very close with them, and then they’re gone for six months of the year. Some of those are even my best friends for my whole life. It’s like when summer arrives, and all your friends are back at camp.”Single-family homes from $1.5 million
Most of Montauk’s residential, tree-lined streets lack sidewalks. Many homes here were originally — and continue to be — custom-built, so although colonial styles are still common, there’s also an abundance of modern homes and contemporary-style houses dating from the 1980s to the present day. “There’s just a cool vibe to a lot of the houses,” Van Asco says. “It’s just vintage out there. Each section of Montauk has its own little vibe to it.” Even homes that aren’t directly on the water often have beach access. In the Hither Hills section, residents can follow paths to gain access to semi-private stretches of beach that are hard for nonresidents to reach because there’s no parking. “You get this pristine stretch of ocean beach and there’s maybe 30 people there,” Van Asco says. “It’s just how this neighborhood was built; it has all these little access points to the beach.”Although home prices in Montauk are far from cheap, Van Asco and Ed Gaetjens, a licensed real estate salesperson with Saunder’s & Associates who has sold in the area for about six years, agree that its distance from New York City makes them a little lower than in the rest of the Hamptons. Three-bedroom fixer-uppers start at around $1.5 million, but Van Asco says most landlocked homes sell for around $2.5 million or $3 million. Six- to eight-bedroom homes on the water often cost much more, ranging from about $10 million to $37 million. One-bedroom co-ops or condominiums start as low as $400,000. Montauk Shore Condominiums offers small manufactured homes near the waterfront for between $3 million and $5 million. The CAP Index crime score is 2 out of 10, which is below the national average of 4.
Blessing local fishermen
The Blessing of the Fleet at the start of the summer fishing season has been one of Montauk’s biggest events since 1956. “All the fishermen get into a fleet and leave the harbor in unison with all their families on board,” Van Asco says, adding that religious leaders from a diverse array of faiths gather to bless each ship together. “It’s a sight to see — all the ships cruising out together and the fishermen and everyone involved. It’s one of those things you think about that you really love doing every year.” According to Gaetjens, the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is also a huge event, drawing thousands even during the off-season.Fresh seafood at Montauk's restaurants
As Montauk’s popularity has grown, new restaurants and stores have added to the sleepy charm of established businesses spiraling out from the plaza in the center of town, called “The Green” by locals. Harvest on Fort Pond offers Italian classics with waterfront views, and The Point Bar & Grill is a laid-back sports bar by day and a party spot by night, offering events like trivia nights, live music and dancing. Nearby, the dog-friendly Montauk Brewing Company offers a wide range of beers and a low-key atmosphere. Right by on the water, Clam and Chowder House at Salivar’s Dock and Gosman’s both serve up fresh seafood caught daily. “Fisherman still bring in their daily haul to send to the rest of America but a lot of it stays here, so you have the freshest seafood in the area,” Nigro says. Air & Speed Surf Shop is a popular spot to grab surfing supplies and fish markets are plentiful, with farmers markets joining the mix during the warm months. Montauk IGA provides groceries at the edge of the little downtown.A ratings for Montauk School to East Hampton High
Children attend Montauk Public School, which gets an A from Niche, from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Niche also rates the school among the top five public middle schools in Suffolk County. Once they reach ninth grade, children switch to East Hampton Union Free School District to attend East Hampton High School. Both the district and the high school earn A ratings from Niche, and the site lists East Hampton High among the top 10 public high schools in the county.Commuting on Route 27, LIRR to Manhattan
New York State Route 27 runs right through the neighborhood. Montauk is the last stop on the Long Island Rail Road, which takes roughly three hours to arrive at Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan. “For most people, coming from the city or wherever, it might be too far,” Van Asco says. “But I think once you fall in love with it and the area, it’s really hard to want to live anywhere else.”
Written By
Christina Norwood
Photography Contributed By
Anthony Costa
Video By
GL Moses
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Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Richard Connelly
Richard Connelly
Responds QuicklyDouglas Elliman Real Estate
(631) 450-3744
77 Total Sales
1 in Montauk
$995,000 Price
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Felix Gutierrez
Felix Gutierrez
Responds QuicklyDouglas Elliman Real Estate
(888) 231-0328
44 Total Sales
1 in Montauk
$519,000 Price
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Kevin Iglesias
Kevin Iglesias
Responds QuicklySignature Premier Properties
(631) 769-2640
269 Total Sales
1 in Montauk
$1,500,000 Price
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Edward Mulderrig
Edward Mulderrig
Responds QuicklyCompass Greater NY LLC
(631) 250-8643
14 Total Sales
1 in Montauk
$2,060,000 Price
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Angela Boyer
AB
Angela Boyer
Responds QuicklySothebys Int'l Realty Hamptons
(631) 528-2441
12 Total Sales
1 in Montauk
$5,200,000 Price
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Lisa Palermo
Lisa Palermo
Signature Premier Properties
(631) 892-2619
37 Total Sales
1 in Montauk
$760,000 Price
Schools
Source:
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
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- Pre-K to 8th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Shadmoor State Park
- Bike Trails
- Fishing
- Hiking
Hither Hills State Park
- Fishing
- Picnic Area
- Beach
Camp Hero State Park
- Bike Trails
- Fishing
- Trails
Montauk Point State Park
- Fishing
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Montauk County Park
- Bike Trails
- Camping
- Picnic Area
Fort Pond Bay Park
- Fishing
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Big Reed Pond & Nature Trail
- Lake
- Trails
Montauk Skatepark
Lions Field Ball Field
Transit
Train
Montauk Station
Bus
Montauk Lighthouse
Bus
Gosman's Dock
Bus
Old Montauk HWY & Maple St
Bus
Gurney's Inn Resort & Spa
Bus
Montauk Village
Bus
Hither Hills State Park
Reviews
Niche Reviews
6/8/2017
Niche Review
For 9 months enjoy quiet seaside solitude and uncanny beauty. For 3 moths enjoy the diversity of thousands of tourists from the world over. Many varied restaurants, excellent uncrowded golf and world class fishing, fabulous beaches and many hiking trails.
5/30/2016
Niche Review
Crimes don't really happen. It's more drunk driving but the cops react quick to it.
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Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Montauk | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 1 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 1 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 1 | 4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 4 |
| Burglary | 2 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 4 |
| Larceny | 2 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 2 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Montauk Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Montauk, Long Island sell after 40 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Montauk, Long Island over the last 12 months is $580,000, up 69% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$579,000
Median Sale Price
$580,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$515,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$342,450
Median Studio Sale Price
$949,500
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
18
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
69%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$416
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
583
Number of Homes for Sale
3
Median Year Built
1984
Months of Supply
2.00
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,355
Above the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,030
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,103
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
658
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
370
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
27,442
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
7,389
Median Age
49
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
17.7%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
26.2%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$136,073
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$164,750
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
96.9%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
45.7%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
14.9%
% Population in Labor Force
60.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
28°F
Average Summer High Temperature
80°F
Annual Snowfall
35''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
38
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
17
/ 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.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Amagansett
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Springs
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East Hampton
Luxe homes near the Atlantic Ocean near hiking and biking
East Hampton North
Inland Hamptons community with forested roads, nearby ocean and harbor beaches
Northwest Harbor
Secluded woodland neighborhood in the Hamptons with large properties
North Fork
North Fork is a laid-back version of the Hamptons
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