Low-key vibe with Atlantic Ocean beaches
For many people, Westhampton is their first true glimpse of the Hamptons. There is, however, a caveat. “It’s really a super nice area, but some people don’t call it the Hamptons because it’s not past the canal,” says Ed Gaetjens, a licensed real estate salesperson with Saunder’s & Associates who has sold in the area for about six years. “It’s way, way closer to the city than any of the other Hamptons. But it has a really nice downtown scene, great restaurants, much more low-key vibe than the Hamptons.” Despite its direct access to the Atlantic Ocean, Westhampton is more of a year-round community than the other Hamptons because many residents have their primary residences here and live in them year-round. And according to Vicky Reynolds, an associate broker at Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty with over 10 years of experience, Westhampton has undergone a renaissance in recent years, from the downtown makeover to more practical improvements to the hamlet’s infrastructure. “They tore up the whole village, installed a brand-new sewer system and put all the electric lines underground,” Reynolds says. “It was beautiful.”
Swimming at Rogers Beach, seal watching at Cupsogue Beach
“Westhampton is famous for its beaches,” says Reynolds. “We’re known for how big our beaches are and how close they are to the village, which is just seven minutes away.” Rogers Beach is the closest to the village center. It requires a resident permit to enter but offers amenities like public bathrooms, summertime lifeguards and a concession stand. Just a few miles away, Cupsogue Beach County Park is also incredibly popular. This beach has similar amenities during the summer, plus free concerts. During the winter, it’s a prime place to spot seals. “Aside from that, there’s the Westhampton Yacht Club, which is where I learned to sail,” Reynolds says. Heading inland, the 788-acre Westhampton Dwarf Pine Plains Preserve offers seasonal recreational opportunities for hunters and birdwatchers. It also has a short, easy hiking trail. Nearby, the 305-acre Quogue Wildlife Refuge offers 7 miles of hiking trails and a nature center where they house injured birds and mammals that can’t return to the wild.
Single-family homes from $1 million
While colonial styles of homes are particularly popular in Westhampton, ranch-style homes and Cape Cods are also relatively common. Some homes sit on well over an acre, while others’ yards are less than half an acre. “It’s much more affordable to live in Westhampton,” Gaetjens says. An inland three-bedroom home that could use a few updates starts at around $1 million. Most waterfront homes are bigger, often having between five and 10 bedrooms, and typically cost between $7 million and $15 million. There are exceptions, though, and a small three- or four-bedroom house on the water might occasionally go for somewhere between $3 million and $5 million. Condominiums are also available in wide range of prices. A a one-bedroom could go for $300,000, while a three-bedroom may cost as much as $2 million. The CAP Index crime score is 3 out of 10. The national average is 4.
Exploring the Fall Festival, summer concerts
Westhampton has several events throughout the year, including a St. Patrick’s Day Parade and fall and winter festivals. “They close off Main Street and people come down and walk around,” Gaetjens says of the Fall Festival, which features local artists. “It’s fantastic.” Free concerts on the beach are also a feature of summers here.
Westhampton’s refreshed downtown
According to Reynolds, the improvements to Westhampton’s downtown and infrastructure brought new restaurants to town — and unlike other parts of the Hamptons, these restaurants are open year-round. Post Stop Café is located in a defunct post office and maintains a vintage look and has a covered patio with seating. Flora is a New American restaurant known for the presentation of its dishes, including a beloved dessert called “the flower pot.” Served in a flower pot, it includes ice cream, cookies, Nutella mousse and caramel covered with crumbled Oreos meant to complete the look. Not all of Westhampton’s restaurants are new, though; Beach Bakery & Grand Café has been a go-to spot for coffee, croissants and desserts for over 30 years. “There are some really, really good restaurants,” Gaetjens says. “Westhampton also has an active arts community too, there’s a great theater there.” The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center hosts events including concerts, plays, live podcasts and author appearances. The little downtown also offers abundant shopping with plenty of local boutiques. Westhampton Beach Farmers Market at Village Green offers fresh produce and Lidl provides groceries close to home.
Highly rated Westhampton High
Niche gives the Westhampton Beach Union Free School District an A and lists it among the top 10 districts in Suffolk County. Children can attend Westhampton Beach Elementary School, Westhampton Middle School and Westhampton High School, all of which have A ratings. The high school, which Niche lists among the top 10 public high schools in Suffolk County, offers students robotics, mock trial and newspaper clubs.
LIRR station and local airport
From the Long Island Rail Road’s Westhampton Station, the train reaches Penn Station in just over or just under two hours — depending on which route commuters take — and Montauk in just over an hour. Old Country Road runs through the neighborhood, and it takes just a few minutes to get onto New York State Route 27, also called Montauk Highway, from the neighborhood. For bigger trips, the local Francis S. Gabreski Airport is located at the edge of the neighborhood. “I think that if you’re looking for a place that has a Hamptons vibe but not the Hamptons commute, this is a great place for you,” Gaetjens says.
Written By
Christina Norwood
