Thinking of buying in Atlantic Beach?

As festive as that may sound, Atlantic Beach is really quite mellow, local real estate agents say. "There's no hustle and bustle," says resident Annett Ellis, owner-broker of a real estate agency that bears her name. While the community has a couple of restaurants, delis and a nail salon, residents can get their fill next door, in Long Beach, Ellis adds.

The village and its neighbor to the east, Atlantic Beach Estates, a compact hamlet governed by Hempstead Town, share the same ZIP code and school district. Atlantic Beach Estates has a private beach club that offers transportation for residents, says Bonnie Miller of Paul Gold Real Estate in Long Beach.

Village residents have no more than a three-block walk to their beach, which has a boardwalk and amenities such as storage and chair and umbrella set-up service, Ellis says.

Since Manhattan is only 21 miles from Atlantic Beach, most buyers are city residents purchasing second homes, says Keith Starke of Petrey AB Corp. It saves them the long trip to the Hamptons, he adds.

Many original Spanish stucco-style houses in the village are being razed and replaced by luxury homes, Starke says.

Town: Hempstead

Area: 0.5 square mile

ZIP code: 11509

Population: 1,891

Median age: 53.5

Median household income: $102,188

Median home value: $820,000*

Monthly ticket: $254

School district: Lawrence