Opinions on Centereach please (Hempstead, Medford: schools, college, to live in)
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We are looking to buy a home in Suffolk County. We are looking for low taxes and good schools...as everyone is on this island! I am looking at Centereach. Can anyone living in Centereach specifically give their honest opinions on the town? How do you like the schools, your neighborhood, the area in general?
I was also looking into Medford, but I am getting the impression that the Pat-Med school district is not too good. Just for a bit more info...Sachem is out because I hear they are in financial dire straits.
I appreciate any information anyone is willing to give. As we all know, buying a home is a major decision and I am just trying to be as smart about it as possible.
Thank you!
The only place I would want to live in Centereach is the part that borders Lake Ronkonkoma. While its true that anything directly off Middle Country Road is close to all kinds of shopping, that also means theres a huge amount of traffic/congestion everytime you leave your neighborhood. Of course, you may not be bothered by that.
I wouldn't write Sachem off esp if you plan to there long term. I don't know anything about their financial dire straits and couldn't find anything when I googled. They have been the better school district for years. Yes you will pay more taxes, but depending on the house in the end the appreciation you get for being in the better school district may make that a moot point.
I would look in Lake Ronkonkoma(by the high school), Holbrook(New England Village) and maybe Holtsville off Patchogue Holbrook Rd.
All that being said I know some living in Patch/Med in a cute little neighborhood. Their girls are very bright and they are happy with the school they are in. In the lesser rated school districts, it probably comes down to which school you are actually in.
Whereever you end up, my advice would be to appeal your taxes every year.
I doubt that Sachem is in any worse financial straights than most of the other school districts on Long Island, unless they really go hosed with the 2 new schools they built.
I grew up in the area and taught in both districts. Pat Med and Centereach are comparable. Similar test scores, average family salaries, ethnic/racial breakdowns. They're both working/middle class districts. Comsewogue is smaller but similar academically and has a great Common Core-fighting superintendent.
In the area, 3 Village SD is my favorite, but you're going to pay higher taxes.
I think they are comparable too. I like Patchogue better because it's an actual town with history. Not a serious of strip malls and suburban sprawl that Centereach seems to be. Centereach near the Walmart and around the Our Savior Lutheran Church, and down Jericho Turnpike, is not an attractive area.
Little boxy houses that remind me of Shirley.
You can get a beautiful Victorian in Patchogue or a custom built home in Old Medford, which is more wooded and private. North Patchogue is yet another choice,
Centereach and Selden just turn me off.
Centereach near Three Village - I think it's called "Holiday Park" is OK.
Centereach certainly isn't a great area but it's no Mastic, far from it. And lol yes stay away from those "awful" working class whites! SMH not to mention the area is diverse with a decent sized middle class Hispanic population. Better Stick to Ohio.
There are a lot of Tea Party types. Trump supporters. They are not always the most welcoming people. I am Jewish. I wouldn't live in Centereach unless it was in Three Village.
At least Shirley has Smith Point. What does Centereach have? Strip malls and tattoo shops?
I'll stick to what I know about. It is actually possibly to have moved from LI five years ago, visit every now and then, and know about several regions of the US. At the same time! It's also possible to have been born and raised on LI, have lived there for 46 years, attended college, and grad school on LI, and have both an affinity and knowledge of the area. For life.
I moved. I did not defect to a foreign country. Jeez...
You can stick to beautiful downtown Centereach. Where ever that may be...
The only place I would want to live in Centereach is the part that borders Lake Ronkonkoma. While its true that anything directly off Middle Country Road is close to all kinds of shopping, that also means theres a huge amount of traffic/congestion everytime you leave your neighborhood. Of course, you may not be bothered by that.
I wouldn't write Sachem off esp if you plan to there long term. I don't know anything about their financial dire straits and couldn't find anything when I googled. They have been the better school district for years. Yes you will pay more taxes, but depending on the house in the end the appreciation you get for being in the better school district may make that a moot point.
I would look in Lake Ronkonkoma(by the high school), Holbrook(New England Village) and maybe Holtsville off Patchogue Holbrook Rd.
All that being said I know some living in Patch/Med in a cute little neighborhood. Their girls are very bright and they are happy with the school they are in. In the lesser rated school districts, it probably comes down to which school you are actually in.
Whereever you end up, my advice would be to appeal your taxes every year.
I'll stick to what I know about. It is actually possibly to have moved from LI five years ago, visit every now and then, and know about several regions of the US. At the same time! It's also possible to have been born and raised on LI, have lived there for 46 years, attended college, and grad school on LI, and have both an affinity and knowledge of the area. For life.
it's also possible to spend all of that time on LI (or anywhere else) and be unable to offer anything besides misinformed opinions and flat-out incorrect information.
it's also possible to spend all of that time on LI (or anywhere else) and be unable to offer anything besides misinformed opinions and flat-out incorrect information.
There are a lot of Tea Party types. Trump supporters. They are not always the most welcoming people. I am Jewish. I wouldn't live in Centereach unless it was in Three Village.
So you are implying that all Trump supporters and "tea party types" are all anti-Semites now? Seriously? stereotype much?
Yeah I'm sure there are absolutely NO democrats at all in centereach, and the Hispanic families there that make up nearly a quarter of the population I'm sure are all huge trump supporters. Get real. Just because you lived on LI years ago dosent mean you really know anything about centereach or the people who actually live there today.
What a fool. I wonder what he thinks about a tea party patriot of partial jewish heritage who is also a Trump supporter? There's many of us who like a strong, confident leader who actually puts American interests and security at top priority.
By the way, I know a family of Messianic Jews that have lived peacefully and comfortably in Centereach for more than 30 years. They get along great with their neighbors, all those "unwelcoming Trump supporters". What an arrogant fool. You don't want to live in Centereach, stay away, don't even visit. They're better off without you.
Centereach is ok i guess. 347, on the other hand, is a nightmare.
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SMH not to mention the area is diverse with a decent sized middle class Hispanic population. Better Stick to Ohio.
It is actually possibly to have moved from LI five years ago, visit every now and then, and know about several regions of the US. At the same time! It's also possible to have been born and raised on LI, have lived there for 46 years, attended college, and grad school on LI, and have both an affinity and knowledge of the area. For life. 
