Islip Terrace: Mostly residential, proximity to highways, houses below median prices draw buyers
Homes along Audwin Drive near Brook Circle in Islip Terrace, which is mostly residential. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
THE SCOOP A petite community of just 2.61 square miles, Islip Terrace is an almost exclusively residential hamlet known for its access to highways, natural beauty and quiet vibes.
"There's very little commercial in Islip Terrace," said Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter. "There are no high rise condos or anything like that: It's a real residential hamlet."
Many people today seeking a quiet community are attracted to Islip Terrace, said Patricia Duggan of Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
"About 92% of residents are homeowners," Duggan said. "It has a good location, easy access to Sunrise Highway and Southern State Parkway. It's close to Connetquot River Park Preserve, Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Heckscher State Park and the Great South Bay."
Buyers in the area find a mix of home styles, mostly ranches, Capes, high ranches and Colonials, with typical home prices in the $600,000s.
A small business district sits along Carleton Avenue in Islip Terrace. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Utilizing part of a $10 million grant from New York State's Downtown Revitalization Initiative, the town recently installed a dozen handicapped-accessible ramps, replaced curbing and sidewalks and made all the ramps on Carleton Avenue ADA compliant.
The hamlet, which shares a zip code with North Great River to the east, has about 5,200 residents and no school district of its own: Students go to neighboring East Islip Union Free School District.
"A lot of people that commute to the city, they have a choice of going to Great River or Islip [Long Island Rail Road] station," said Carpenter, adding that many people in the community are connected through their local churches and the fire department.
Beaver Dam Park in the center of Islip Terrace has sports courts and playgrounds. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Beaver Dam Park, a popular spot in the community, has a basketball court, baseball field and a new playground and sidewalks.
The area is also home to Providence on the Park, a 55-and-over rental development, as well as equestrian centers near Connetquot Avenue and bridle paths in the Connetquot River State Park Preserve.
In the early 1900s, the hamlet was known as "Germantown," named for the many German residents who were drawn to the area by Andrew Wolpert, a German-born real estate agent who sought out his fellow countrymen.
In the aftermath of World War I, members of the community were under pressure to change the name. When the local post office opened in 1922, the hamlet was officially renamed Islip Terrace.
Homes along Roslyn Street near Carleton Avenue in Islip Terrace. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
SALE PRICES Between Aug. 13, 2025, and Aug. 12 this year, there were 67 home sales with a median sale price of $650,000, according to OneKey MLS. During the same period a year earlier, there were 56 home sales with a median sale price of $640,000.
CONDOS AND CO-OPS There are no condos or co-ops on the market.
OTHER STATS
Population 5,168
Median age 40.5
Median home value $632,000
Monthly LIRR ticket from Islip $394.50
School district, graduation rate East Islip (96%)
Library East Islip
Transit Suffolk County Transit Route 17
Sources: 2024 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS via InfoSparks by ShowingTime; LIRR; data.nysed.gov; Suffolk County Transit
RECENTLY SOLD
$855,000
Fairview Avenue
Style Colonial
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 2½
Built 2009
Lot size 0.32 acre
Taxes $14,345
+/- List price -$14,000
Days on market 165
$600,000
Lynbrook Street
Style Colonial
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 1½
Built 1954
Lot size 0.17 acre
Taxes $11,826
+/- List price +$20,001
Days on market 80
$405,000
Carleton Avenue
Style Colonial
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 2
Built 1918
Lot size 0.21 acre
Taxes $8,330
+/- List price -$20,000
Days on market 83
ON ONEKEY MLS
Number of listings 2
Price range $400,000 to $600,000
Tax range $9,761 to $13,865
