Buying in Middle Island

THE SCOOP Searching for a dose of the country life? If so, check out Middle Island. Though this hamlet has grown, it's still fairly bucolic, with a landscape punctuated by wooded areas such as the white pines forest at Prosser Pines County Nature Preserve as well as a portion of the 6,000-acre Rocky Point Preserve. And there's the 320-acre Cathedral Pines County Park along the headwaters of Carmans River.

A town hearing regarding an effort to protect Carmans River is scheduled March 29, says Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Connie Kepert.

Walmart is the largest retailer here. And though shops and eateries line Middle Country Road, Middle Island lacks a downtown district. However, that may change. Kepert says there are plans to create a "pedestrian-oriented center" made up of shops, residences, athletic fields and a row of restauran ts that would face Artist Lake. "We've had hearings," Kepert says, adding, "Different applications are in different stages of the process."

Home buyers have a variety of style options: There's an ample choice of condos and co-ops here, says Shawn Hough of Hough & Guidice Realty Middle Island, as well as single-family homes in original neighborhoods and newer developments. Newly constructed houses also are available.

"Prices are staying kind of steady," says Donna Lomenzo, broker with Coldwell Banker Neyland Realty."

CONDO LISTINGS $49,900 to $269,000

CO-OP LISTINGS $50,000 to $169,000

HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATIONS Attached and detached homes: $149,900 to $375,000

SALES PRICE Since last February, there were 63 sales in the 11953 ZIP code, with a median price of $250,000, according to Multiple Listing Service of Long Island data. The low price was $80,000 and the high was $440,000. From February 2009 to January 2010, there were 48 sales. The median price was $279,995, with a low of $65,000 and a high of $540,000.

ATTRACTIONS Hiking, biking, camping, fishing and horseback riding; Artist Lake; Spring Lake Golf Club and Middle Island Country Club are public courses. Middle Island Dog Park on Middle Country Road.

OTHER STATS

Town: Brookhaven

Area: 8.3 square miles

ZIP code: 11953

Population: 10,509

Median age: 39.3

Median household income: $65,116

Median home value: $242,500*

LIRR time to NYC: From Port Jefferson,

1 hour, 36 minutes to 1 hour, 53 minutes at peak

Monthly ticket: $334

School district: Longwood

SOURCES: Census estimates; mlsli.com; Long Island Rail Road

*Based on sales in the past six months, according to Multiple Listing Service of Long Island