Westbury

For generations, Old Westbury has been synonymous with wealth and luxury. “It’s a renowned village for wealthy individuals that have been coming here for decades,” says Ellen Zipes, an associate broker at Compass Real Estate who has been selling in the area for 35 years. “We have probably one of the wealthiest ZIP codes in the country and certainly here on the Gold Coast on the North Shore of Long Island. It’s a very famous village, but part of the fame is how private it can be.” Notable and successful people have long taken advantage of this sense of privacy, including John Hastings, the architect who designed the New York Public Library, and the Phipps, Grace and Vanderbilt families. Old Westbury is no different today. “We have a lot of celebrities who have moved here — athletes, musicians, a lot of high-profile individuals — and then a lot of young professionals who want to be here. All kinds of people who like to have their privacy, but they like to take advantage of the commute,” Zipes says. Despite its rural atmosphere, the village is just 10 minutes from commuting options as well as shopping and restaurants. Its sense of privacy doesn’t necessarily mean it lacks a sense of community, though. “They have town meetings, they have their own board meetings, their own village hall, so it’s a very connected town,” Zipes says. “You can be very involved in it, or you can be very private; it’s up to you. It’s just a great place to live.” Old Westbury’s homes are often grand and range from sprawling colonials and French Normandy houses to newer contemporary-style homes. Although a few areas of Old Westbury have homes on a single acre, most of it is zoned for at least 2 acres or 4 acres and many homes are on more than that, giving each estate plenty of breathing room from its neighbors. “The homes are big and beautiful,” Zipes says. “It gives a more rural feeling, even though we’re centrally located.” According to Marie Salerno, an associate broker at Douglas Elliman with over 20 years of experience, some larger estates have driveways that stretch an acre into the property before reaching the house. Estates here start at about $2.3 million and rise sharply from there. “The sky’s the limit right now,” Zipes says of the village’s prices. “We have one home that’s on the market right now for $23 million.” Many of the more expensive estates are located in one of the village’s three gated communities and often have private amenities on the property like swimming pools, tennis courts, indoor gyms and more. “It’s a very well-known community and very affluent, so Old Westbury has always been one of the first stops that people make when they’re moving to the suburbs of the North Shore,” Zipes says. “The homes do sell relatively quickly, and they always maintain value.” The CAP Index crime score is a 1 out of 10. The national average is 4. Old Westbury is served by a patchwork of four different school districts: the Jericho Union Free School District, East Williston Union Free School District, Roslyn Union Free School District and Westbury Union Free School District. The Jericho, East Williston and Roslyn districts all have A-plus ratings on Niche and are among its list of the top 10 best districts in the state, with Jericho claiming first place on the list and Rosyln claiming second. The Westbury district has a C-plus rating on Niche. Children in Jericho schools can attend Cantiague Elementary School, Jericho Middle School and Jericho High School, all of which have A-pluses. Jericho High, which is a 2022 Blue Ribbon School and which Niche also lists as the second best public high school in Nassau County, offers extracurriculars like sports as well as choreography, engineering and Model U.N. clubs. SUNY College and The New York Institute of Technology each also have campuses in Old Westbury. Residents often join the Old Westbury Golf and Country Club or the Glen Oaks Club, where members gain access to amenities like golf courses and tennis courts. According to Zipes, the village used to be known as “old horse country,” adding to its rural atmosphere. There are fewer horses around now than there were 10 or 15 years ago, but they still hold a prominent place in the community. “We still have Westbury Equestrian Center, and there are horse trails on all the properties,” Zipes says. The Meadow Brook Polo Club is also a popular summertime destination. “They play polo every summer,” Zipes says. “It’s a beautiful event, just watching that sport with those magnificent horses.” Old Westbury Gardens, a 200-acre botanical garden, is also a focal point for the community. “It’s the former estate of the Phipps family fortune,” Salerno says, noting that the historic mansion was turned into a museum. “It has gorgeous gardens. There are a ton of flowers that blossom; it’s very magical. They attract visitors from all over during certain times of the year.” The only restaurant within the village, Old Westbury Diner serves American diner classics and has a gluten free menu and a dedicated gluten free fryer. Roslyn’s and Westbury’s quaint downtowns are each about 10 minutes away, and both are full of restaurants, local boutiques and — in Roslyn’s case — museums. Jericho also offers shopping and dining about 4 miles from home, from big box stores to The Milleridge Inn, which is a longstanding local restaurant and inn located inside a house whose original two rooms, which still stand today, were built in 1672. Salerno says it’s particularly popular during the holidays. Just a little further, about 5 miles from home, the popular Americana Manhasset Mall houses luxury brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Dior. “It has fabulous high-end shopping,” Salerno says. “Broadway Mall, which is also 10 or 15 minutes away, is very traditional. There’s a Target there, an Ikea.” Manhasset's Miracle Mile is also about 6 miles away. Groceries are available at Whole Foods or H Mart in Jericho and Ideal Food Basket in Westbury. The Long Island Rail Road’s Westbury and Mineola stations are each 5 miles or less from Old Westbury’s center. The commute to New York City’s Pennsylvania Station takes about 40 minutes. Interstate 495, also known as the Long Island Expressway, Northern State Parkway and Jericho Turnpike pass through the village, making it easy to travel by car. Old Westbury Gardens offers guided tours to guests and often hosts events for the community, including yoga and art events, stargazing and Sunday afternoon concerts. “They have special events, whether it be for holidays or flowers in the spring,” Salerno says.