Living in: Baiting Hollow

THE SCOOP Looking for a dose of the country life that won't leave you feeling too isolated? If so, consider Baiting Hollow.

Bordering the Long Island Sound on the western edge of the North Fork, Baiting Hollow isn't too far from Riverhead, where the big box stores and Tanger outlets are. And it's a short hop to the Hamptons via Route 105, says resident Valerie Goode, owner of Colony Realty in Jamesport. Goode says the community attracts commuters, second-home buyers, seasonal vacationers and day trippers.

The landscape is dotted by farm stands, nurseries and golf courses. Other popular draws are the Cooperage Inn restaurant and Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard, where visitors can taste wine and meet rescued horses. Long Island's first craft distillery, producing LiV Vodka, is located in a restored 1900s barn.

While many new houses have been built here over the last decade, the area north of Sound Avenue feels unchanged, Goode says.

Development is more obvious on the south side of Sound Avenue. A 14-lot subdivision is being built off Mill Road, says Deborah Lent of Coldwell Banker Premier Homes in Wading River. Houses of various styles and sizes on 1-acre plus lots are listed between $475,000 and $539,000.

Another subdivision off Riley Avenue will have 19 homes on 1-acre parcels. The brick-finished houses list for $675,000, says Shameer Fazal of Keller Williams Realty Landmark II in East Elmhurst.

CONDOS The Knolls of Fox Hill, listed between $299,000 and $499,900

SEASONAL RENTAL SAMPLE Waterfront one-bedroom cabana $7,500; inland, five-bedroom house with a pool listed for $25,000

WEEKLY RENTALS starting at $1,500

SALES PRICE Since last April, there were 35 sales in Baiting Hollow, according to Multiple Listing Service of Long Island data. The median price was $385,000, with a low of $55,000 and a high of $860,000. From March 2009 to March 2010, there were 39 sales with a median price of $385,000. The low price was $35,000, and the high was $900,000.

ATTRACTIONS Beach, boating, nature

Other stats

Town: Riverhead

Area: 3.2 square miles

ZIP code: 11933*

Population: 2,058

Median age: 51.3

Median household income: $66,938

Median home value: $374,900**

LIRR time to NYC: From Riverhead, 2 hours and 12 minutes at peak

Monthly ticket: $429

School district: Riverhead

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

*Includes Calverton

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