Coram: Diverse, affordable community hoping for commercial boost
Alexa Fodrowski, of Middle Island, plays catch with fellow Longwood High School student Brayden Plugues, of Coram, at Diamond in the Pines park in Coram. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
THE SCOOP Coram, the largest hamlet in the Town of Brookhaven, is centrally located and affordable, with a diverse community hoping for a commercial boost.
The community is near roadways and town attractions like the Holtsville Ecology Site and Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai, noted Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner.
"One of the things that's not very often talked about Coram is that it's very culturally diverse," Bonner said.
Kareem Nugdalla, president of the Coram Civic Association, who grew up in the hamlet, called Coram "one of the last bastions of the American dream."
When he was looking to find a place to raise his family, Nugdalla chose Coram, where he said he lives comfortably in a large Colonial with a swimming pool.
"My money goes further living in Coram," Nugdalla said. "The residential neighborhoods are beautiful. What's missing here is the businesses."
Currently, the civic association is hoping retail in the hamlet will be kickstarted with the redevelopment of Middle Country Road with multi-family/retail projects. The organization is also vying to set up shuttle service to Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma for easier access to their train lines.
Route 112 in Coram is home to small shopping centers. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
The civic association is hoping for a boost to Middle Country Road, which is currently home to Coram Diner, left, and Coram Country Lanes. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
The name Coram was derived from the Native American word wincoram, meaning a passage between hills or a valley.
Playing a significant role in the Revolutionary War, Coram was the site of a 1780 inferno ordered by Gen. George Washington that burned 100 tons of hay slated to feed the horses of the British. A decade later, President Washington stopped for lunch in the hamlet on his way to East Setauket.
By 1790, Brookhaven Town officials looking for a more convenient polling place than Setauket named Coram Brookhaven's town seat, a designation that lasted nearly 100 years. Every April, farmers in horse-drawn wagons would meet at Lester H. Davis' house to vote, trade horses and gossip.
Today, the Davis Meeting House, which was recently renovated, is open to the public.
Home buyers will find mostly ranches and high ranches, with prices starting at $410,000 and going up to $889,000.
Homes along Sequoia Drive, top, and Yosemite Lane in Coram. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
CONDOS AND CO-OPS There are 20 condos, priced between $269,990 and $624,997, and seven co-ops, priced between $170,000 and $279,000, on the market.
SALE PRICES Between June 26, 2023, and June 25, 2024, there were 317 home sales with a median sale price of $420,000, according to OneKey MLS. During that period a year earlier, there were 371 home sales with a median sale price of $395,000.
OTHER STATS
Population 42,169
Median age 40.7
Median home value $400,000
Monthly LIRR ticket from Port Jefferson or Ronkonkoma $378
School districts, graduation rates Longwood (87.8%), also Comsewogue (91.3%), Middle Country (92.7%), Mt. Sinai (97.4%)
Libraries Longwood, Middle Country, Comsewogue
Transit Suffolk County Transit Routes 52A, 52B, 55
Sources: 2022 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS via InfoSparks by ShowingTime; LIRR, data.nysed.gov
ON THE MARKET
$889,000
This $889,000 Coram home is a new construction. Credit: Modern Age Realty
This newly constructed 2,700-square-foot contemporary home features four bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms and an open floor plan. The kitchen has Shaker-style cabinets and custom quartz counters, and the bathrooms sport quartz counters and imported Italian tile. It also has first- and second-floor primary suites and a full, semi-finished basement. Surrounded by 2½ acres of woods, the 1-acre property includes an attached one-car garage. Estimated taxes are $12,000. Catherine Bukowski, Modern Age Realty, 631-569-4513.
$650,000
This $650,000 Coram home sits on over one-third of an acre. Credit: Long Island Virtual/Blake Schwartz
This ranch-style home features 2,545 square feet of space, five bedrooms, three bathrooms, hardwood floors and a large eat-in-kitchen with stainless steel appliances. The 0.35-acre fenced property includes an attached two-car garage, paver patio and shed. Taxes are $13,742. Raymond Ippolito and Chris Zagarino, 360 Realty Group, 516-809-7900.
$449,000
This $449,000 Coram home is roughly 1,000 square feet. Credit: EPM Real Estate Photography
This approximately 1,000-square-foot ranch is completely renovated and has two bedrooms, one bathroom, hardwood floors throughout and a full, unfinished basement. The 0.52-acre lot includes an attached two-car garage Taxes are $7,878. Oakar Reinstein and Ryan MacPherson, Realty Connect USA, 631-784-3078.
RECENTLY SOLD
$770,000
Waverly Place
Style Colonial
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 2½
Built 2002
Lot size 0.35 acre
Taxes $16,300
+/- List price +$1,000
Days on market 156
$589,500
Whitfield Lane
Style Ranch
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 1½
Built 1968
Lot size 0.35 acre
Taxes $12,715
+/- List price -$10,499
Days on market 177
$311,000
Fife Drive
Style Ranch
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 1
Built 1973
Lot size 0.28 acre
Taxes $6,891
+/- List price -$89,680
Days on market 112
ON ONEKEY MLS
Number of listings 72
Price range $170,000 to $889,000
Tax range $7,878 to $14,007
