Merrick is a waterfront community that balances its friendly, small-town feel, abundant green spaces and downtown full of restaurants and shopping with an ideal location near major Long Island attractions. “We have beautiful waterfront properties, we have great parks, we have great schools, but I think people move here mostly because we’re a very suburban water-oriented community,” says Seth Pitlake, a real estate salesperson at Douglas Elliman Real Estate and member of Merrick’s Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve got some of the best power-boating water, we’ve got some of the best parks in the area and we’re just minutes from Jones Beach and Lido Beach. If you’re coming to the South Shore of Long Island, this is where you want to be to have that proximity, especially for the summertime.” In fact, Merrick is the last exit on the highway before you reach the beaches, with less than 8 miles between the center of town and Jones Beach. Merrick’s central location and accessibility extend into the off-season thanks to its easy access to Meadowbrook State Parkway and Sunrise Highway, as well as Merrick Station right in the center of town. From the station, the train reaches New York City in about 45 minutes, making for a comparatively easy commute for the many residents who work in the city.
Many large hi ranch style homes along the numerous canals of Merrick have boat slips for residents to dock their boats.
Many shops and restuarants line the streets of downtown Merrick.
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A competitive market for waterfront homes
Thanks to its jagged coastline and handful of canals, Merrick has a large number of waterfront homes. Single-family homes vary greatly in size and price, ranging from around $475,000 for a small starter home to as much as $2.4 million for a luxury waterfront house or estate. “Almost anyone can really come and find a price range that’s affordable to live in Merrick,” Pitlake says. The median home price hovers at around $785,000. The housing market in Merrick is currently dealing with record-low inventory paired with extreme demand for homes in the area, which has led to a lot of competition for the houses that do go up for sale. “Every time a house comes out, we’re still seeing bidding wars and multiple offers because of the lack of inventory,” Pitlake says. “It’s a tight market, but there are still things going on the market for sale. As soon as something comes on, it’s a 30-day or less sale. Things are going very, very quickly.”
Merrick has a CAP Index crime score of 1 out of 10, significantly lower than the national average of 10.
Many families living in Merrick own small boats that they dock in their backyards.
Luxurious waterfront colonial homes in Merrick let you leave all your worries at the front door.
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Highly rated school districts in Merrick
Kids may attend elementary schools within two districts that serve the area, Merrick Union Free School District and North Merrick Union Free School District. Students can then transition to the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, where they attend Merrick Avenue Middle School and John F. Kennedy High School, both of which have A-plus ratings on Niche.
The Birch School in Merrick has 538 students in grades K-10 with a student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1.
John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore has 1,024 students in grades 9-12 with a ratio of 11:1.
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Abundant waterside recreation
When residents aren’t out on the water, they often spend time at the bayside Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve, where they can say hello to the goats and ducks before setting off to enjoy the outdoors. “It overlooks the open bay, so when you’re up on what we call the Merrick Mountain, you can actually see Jones Beach,” Pitlake says. “You can rent kayaks from there and there are hiking and walking trails, so it’s really a nice addition to the neighborhood. It’s something unique no one else has. It’s become part of the community.” The area is also scattered with smaller parks containing playgrounds and sports fields, and dedicated golfers show up at the public Merrick Golf Course in almost any weather.
Residents enjoy the beautiful greens at the Merricks Public Golf Course.
There are 18 exercise stations along the trail the Norman Levy Park in Merrick.
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A downtown district with local fare and shopping
Merrick’s thriving downtown is its shopping and dining hub that reflects the area’s small-town feel. “People who move here spend a lot of time in the town; you don’t have to go elsewhere,” Pitlake says. “We really have everything. You never have to leave.” Residents grab groceries at Lidl, Trader Joe’s or Stop & Shop. Alternatively, they can choose to dine out at a local restaurant like Frankie’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, which recently expanded thanks to its popularity, or 6 Elements Sushi-Asian Cuisine & Bar. There are also a handful of incredibly popular waterfront restaurants like SALT, which is popular for its calamari dishes.
Stop and Shop in Merrick is the go-to grocery store for the local residents.
Lidl recently opened a new location In Merrick.
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Annual events celebrate this Long Island community
The small-town feel and sense of community in Merrick is helped along by its many yearly events like the Fall Festival thrown by the Chamber of Commerce. “They close off Merrick town from Sunrise Highway to probably a mile and a half or two miles up,” Pitlake says. “And they have all the local vendors, all outside vendors, plus they do a full carnival at the train station.” Other community events include a St. Demetrios Greek Festival and a range of holiday events in December, including a menorah lighting, Christmas tree lighting and a caroling event. People in Merrick also often come together to give back to the community. “We do have one of the largest Kiwanis clubs, which is a service organization, and every year they do a back-to-school drive where they do the backpacks for all the kids that are needy in the schools. They also do food drives and we have a local food pantry. It’s a very give-back-to-the-community type of place.”
Local musicians rock the Merrick Fall Festival.
Santa helps illuminate the Christmas Tree and Menorah in Merrick.
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Driving north on Meadowbrook State Parkway and the Merrick LIRR Station
New York City commuters start the drive heading north on Meadowbrook State Parkway, heading toward east-west connectors like the Long Island Expressway on the roughly 35-mile ride to Manhattan. John F. Kennedy International Airport is about 17 miles away. The Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road bisects Merrick, running parallel to Sunrise Highway and providing a roughly 45-minute ride into Penn Station. For more local destinations, residents might make use of Merrick’s extensive sidewalks or board a Nassau Inter-County Express bus from a stop along Merrick Road.
Written By
Christina von Claparede-Crola
Photography Contributed By
Jeff Siegel
Video By
Nathan Allen
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Cathy Stone,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Merrick, NY sell after 38 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Merrick, NY over the last 12 months is $815,000, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Spacious Expanded Cape in North Merrick – Room to Make It Your Own!Welcome to this warm and inviting 5-bedroom, 3-bath Expanded Cape, offering over 2,500 sq ft of well-designed living space on a 65 x 100 lot located in North Merrick.Step inside to a large living room with a fireplace, a formal dining room with potential for a butler’s pantry, and an oversized eat-in kitchen with sliding
This 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home in the exclusive area of deep south merrick, has been updated throughout the entire home with an open floor plan and refinished white oak flooring. The interior includes new moulding, new interior doors, a stone fireplace, and upgraded electrical with recessed lighting, outlets, and switches.The kitchen features new white cabinets, quartz countertops, and
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Welcome to 2005 Abbot Avenue, Merrick, NY 11566A beautifully maintained home nestled in the heart of North Merrick within the award-winning North Merrick School District. This inviting residence perfectly blends comfort, functionality, and a flexible layout that suits today’s lifestyle.Step through the welcoming entrance foyer into a bright, open main level featuring a spacious formal
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Completely gut renovated sun drenched Merrick Gables Ranch boasting gorgeous kitchen w white shaker cabinetry, quartz countertops, gas cooking , ss appliances, island dining and dining area, primary en-suite plus two additional bedrooms & full bath. Enormous family room w never ending high cathedral ceilings plus additional den/office, full finished basement w laundry room & OSE. This is a great
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Newly Renovated 3-BR / 1-Bath Apartment, Beautiful & updated Kitchen, updated Bath, Nice Floors, Gas cooking, Shared Laundry, Tenant Pays own Utility Bills, very convenient location near Major Hwys, Shopping, LIRR 7 min drive, No Pets, No Smoking, (Income+ Credit Verification Required) Available Immediately.
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