This is the inner ring of Long Island suburbia, and in some ways its blueprint. Levittown, built here after World War II, more or less invented the modern American suburb.
The North Shore tells a fancier story. Fitzgerald set The Great Gatsby on these Gold Coast estates, with Great Neck standing in for West Egg. A few of the old mansions survive as museums, like Old Westbury Gardens.
Jones Beach is the summer anchor, a Robert Moses project with miles of sand and a concert venue right on the water. Most residents in Hempstead, Freeport, and Mineola commute into the city on the Long Island Rail Road.
One thing to know before you move here: the property taxes are among the highest in the country.
About 10% of Nassau County homes use heating oil. Comparing quotes from local suppliers is the easy way to keep costs down.