Buying in Fort Salonga

"It's a huge advantage," says Jim Spampinato, a 34-year resident and agent at Coach Realtors. "You can get to the Long Island Expressway in 10 minutes and to the South Shore in about 20 minutes," he says. And you can get to the local beaches and parks in about three minutes, adds Katy Anastasio of Anastasio Associates, who has lived there 25 years.

Though the area is largely residential, a shopping strip on Route 25A is anchored by an IGA supermarket. Eateries and services are scattered about as well.

Fort Salonga straddles the towns of Huntington and Smithtown and is split between two school districts: Northport-East Northport and Kings Park. Taxes tend to be lower in the former because of the presence of the Long Island Power Authority's Northport Power Plant, Spampinato says.

Housing styles include 1970s and '80s Colonials, farm ranches, ranches and recent Postmoderns. The area is zoned 1 acre, but pre-existing half-acre lots can be found.

Prices generally range from the mid-$600,000s (sometimes lower) to more than $2 million, Anastasio says.

Towns: Huntington and Smithtown

Area: Huntington, 5 square miles; Smithtown, 4.3 square miles

ZIP code: 11768

Population: 9,955

Median age: 43.8

Median household income: $131,729

Median home value: $599,000

Monthly ticket: $299

School districts: Kings Park and Northport-East Northport