Bayport offers a small town feel nestled on the Great South Bay
A couple relaxes at Bayport Beach near Homan Creek dock on Aug. 14, 2014. Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
THE SCOOP: Bordering the Great South Bay, Bayport is often described as a historic, quiet, close-knit community. "It's a small, provincial area," says lifelong resident Tom Ruddy, owner-broker of Saltbox Realty.
"We don't have a downtown like Sayville, but there is a strip mall with everything you need," says resident Carol CarneyFinke, of Leeza Byrnes Realty.
While there is another small commercial center on Middle Road, Ruddy says chances of a McDonald's settling in Bayport are slim. "There is an ultra-strong civic association and chamber of commerce that resists anything major happening that would disrupt the way of life here."
Bayport is a haven for boaters, residents say. There's a boat ramp at Homan Creek Dock on Paulanna Avenue next to Bayport Beach, where there is a gazebo and playground.
The hamlet is also home to Bayport Aerodrome, a 60-acre historic grass airfield owned and operated by the Town of Islip. The Bayport Aerodrome Society focuses on the preservation of aviation history. "On weekends, you can see antique planes flying over the bay," says CarneyFinke.
Neighborhoods feature varied architectural styles, from compact cottages to grand waterfront Victorians. Homes north of Montauk Highway start in the low-$200,000s; those south of Montauk Highway start in the $500,000s, says Leesa Byrnes, owner-broker of the agency that bears her name. Parcels usually range from about 75 by 100 feet to three acres.
Ruddy says many residents are multi-generation, but when a newcomer discovers Bayport, they fall in love with the area.
CONDOS AND TOWN HOUSES: Five listings between $344,500 and $455,000
SALES PRICE: From July 1, 2013, to Aug. 5, 2014, there were 36 sales with a median price of $365,000, according to Multiple Listing Service of Long Island data. The low price was $265,000, and the high was $997,000. From July 1, 2012, to Aug. 5, 2013, there were 61 sales. The median price was $383,000 with a low of $200,000 and a high of $730,000.
ATTRACTIONS: Outlaw Acres, an equestrian center on Sylvan Avenue; Bayport Memorial Park on Middle Road
MORE BAYPORT STATS
Town: Islip
Area: 3.7 square miles
ZIP code: 11705
Population: 8,896
Median age: 43.5
Median household income: $77,211
Median home value: $365,000*
LIRR time to NYC: From Sayville, 1 hour, 16 minutes to 1 hour, 38 minutes at peak
Monthly ticket: $363
School district: Bayport-Blue Point
SOURCES: 2010 Census; mlsli.com; LIRR;
*Based on sales in the past six months, according to MLSLI
