East Williston: High-ranking schools, community activities draw buyers
East Williston Village Green is a focal point of the small community. Credit: Rick Kopstein
THE SCOOP With only about 2,600 residents in barely a half-mile square all perfectly walkable to its Long Island Rail Road station, the Village of East Williston is a quiet enclave where, say civic boosters, everyone knows everyone.
"It's like the theme song from 'Cheers' — everybody knows your name," said Anthony Sparacia, a Queens teacher who lives in East Williston and is president of the local Little League.
"It's almost like living in a gated community," agreed fellow resident Bonnie Parente, an attorney now in her sixth year as mayor. "We're a very small village not known for nightlife or food, and because of that we don't have the problems that might come with a commercial district. We are simply an old-fashioned village where people go to lie their heads after a long day in New York City or elsewhere."
The village's neighborliness manifests in such annual activities as the Halloween-season Ragamuffin Parade, where children dress in costume and march near the village hall, and 5k runs on Memorial Day and Thanksgiving Day. Those are "not about trophies, not about speed," said the mayor, "but about getting out and being with your neighbors before you go spend time with your families."
The volunteer fire department offers residents a 10% reduction in property taxes after two years of service, two hours a week.
Some of East Williston's few businesses sit along Sagamore Avenue near the LIRR station. Credit: Rick Kopstein
The village hall and its neighboring village green are a focal point. The hall serves not only for official business but for events ranging from standup comedy for seniors to the Village Court Experience program for high school and college students interested in the law. The Billboard Players theater group also stages plays at The Community Church of East Williston.
Sports include tennis and pickleball at Frank Devlin Park, and the private Wheatley Hills Golf Club. Youngsters play Little League baseball and girls fast-pitch softball at Devlin and at Sagamore Ballfield in Roslyn Road Park. "We've won multiple district championships in Little League, and two girls district championships this past spring," boasted Sparacia.
Homes along Sumter Avenue, top, and Bengleyfield Drive in East Williston. Credit: Rick Kopstein
In the East Williston Union Free School District, 84% of elementary students test at or above the proficiency level for reading, and 87% at or above that for math, according to government data. The figures are 82% and 87% for middle school students and 99% and 89% for high schoolers. The student teacher ratio is 9:1.
All these factors, plus the paucity of houses for sale, have made home prices there among the highest on Long Island. The few three- to five-bedroom properties currently for sale start at about $1.25 million and reach $2.75 million.
SALE PRICES Between Nov. 5, 2023, and Nov 4, 2024, there were 20 home sales with a median sale price of $1.29 million, according to OneKey MLS. During that period a year earlier, there were 15 home sales with a median sale price of $1.075 million.
CONDOS AND CO-OPS There no condos or co-ops on the market.
OTHER STATS
Population 2,630
Median age 43
Median home value $1.314 million
Monthly LIRR ticket from East Williston $253
School district, graduation rate East Williston 98.4%
Library East Williston
Transit NICE Bus Route 27
Sources: 2022 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS via InfoSparks by ShowingTime; LIRR, data.nysed.gov
ON THE MARKET
$1.2 million
This nearly $2 million East Williston home was built in 1929. Credit: Howard Hanna Coach Realtors
At the end of a red-brick walkway sits this five-bedroom, 3½-bath home with solar panels on the roof. Built in 1929, it has an eat-in kitchen with a granite-topped island with its own sink. In addition to a dining room is a breakfast room. There are a fireplace, finished basement and walk-in attic. Outside rests a large stone patio with an outdoor kitchen, plus a detached two-car garage. Taxes are $30,714. Christine Lavelle, Howard Hanna Coach, 516-330-1835.
$1.4 million
This nearly $1.4 million East Williston home has three bedrooms. Credit: Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty
Built in 1920, this three-bedroom 1½-bath home has central air conditioning with Energy Star equipment, and grounds with a built-in sprinkler system. In addition to an eat-in kitchen, formal dining room and living room is a sunroom. There are a fireplace, finished basement and two-car garage. Taxes are $16,834. Susan E. Hucke, and Jill Brown, Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty, 516-523-0587 and 516-805-5277.
$1.25 million
This $1.25 million East Williston home is 1,946-square-feet. Credit: Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty
With the lowest current asking price for entrée into East Williston, this four-bedroom, 2½-bath Colonial constructed in 1938 offers 1,946 square feet. Modernized with central air conditioning, it has a fireplace, full basement, walk-up attic, formal dining room and two-car garage. Taxes are $19,748. Loredana V. Scrobe, Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty, 516-603-9215.
RECENTLY SOLD
$3.21 million
School Street
Style Colonial
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 3 full 2 half
Built 1952
Lot size 1.04 acre
Taxes $43,452
+/- List price +$211,000
Days on market 152
$1.23 million
Ridge Road
Style Colonial
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 1½
Built 1936
Lot size 0.23 acre
Taxes $16,189
+/- List price +$80,000
Days on market 75
$885,000
Downing Street
Style Cape
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 1½
Built 1940
Lot size 0.14 acre
Taxes $15,085
+/- List price -$65,000
Days on market 112
ON ONEKEY MLS
Number of listings 4
Price range $1.25 million to $2 million
Tax range $19,691 to $30,714
