Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

My DH & I are thinking of buying a house in the Lake Grove area, but we both work in Port Washington. It took us 40 mins in the HOV lane yesterday to get to Lake Grove to see some houses. But if we hadn't taken the HOV lane it probably would have taken us more like a hour / hour 15min. Is it worth it to live in Suffolk and continue to work in Nassau? Why do you love Suffolk so much? We are just trying to really get our thoughts together about this. We saw a house last night that we really liked, but we just aren't sure about it. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

i don't think that suffolk to nassau is a far commute (even lake grove to PW). most LI'ers travel to the city on a daily basis and have a FAR longer commute.

Message edited 3/21/2007 11:21:57 AM.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

I commute from KP to NYC everyday.
Some people think that's unbearable, but I don't really mind it so much. It's 1:30 door to door one way on LIRR and Subway.

It's all about what you can bear.
at least you can car pool and take turns driving with your DH>

Why not look for a house more north shore, and maybe the LIRR would be an option.

Message edited 3/21/2007 11:24:16 AM.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

Message edited 6/15/2007 10:52:21 AM.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

I live in W. Babylon and drive to PW.. it takes me about 35 minutes but I work from 8-4... to me it was a big deal about having a long commute.. I think it adds to my stress level to be stuck in traffic... The deciding factor with us was that the house was right by the SS.. I think as long as you have easy access to all major expressways you are better off.. but the LIE is always a killer and the least amount of time spent on it is better.
The reason we live in Suffolk is because DH has to be close to his job in Lindenhurst or we would have moved closer to my job.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

I live in Ridge-exit 68 on the LIE & all the way north. I work in Masssapequa & it takes me at least one hour to get there. We moved here three years ago & the commute isn't that bad. I know there are people in my neighborhood that work in NYC...it must take them two hours to get there.
My DH works in the Hamptons, with traffic it takes him an hour.

i LOVE where I live & I would get a new job before I moved west. Most of Nassau is way too congested for me.
I have always lived in Suffolk in varies towns.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

DH works in Melville and we live in Holbrook. He takes the LIE every morning and evening, along with everyone else. He hates it. We plan to move further west, but still be in Suffolk County. He says that the worst of his commute is east of the Commack area.

We both grew up in Suffolk and we have family here. Plus, Nassau tends to be more expensive than Suffolk for homes. We would like a good amount of land and we just couldn't afford that in Nassau.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

I used to live in Commack and commute to port washington. I had a 7-3 shift, it took me about 40 minutes door to door.

What I like about suffolk over nassau is that you get more for your money - more land, more house, etc.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

DH works in Garden City and commuted everyday from Holbrook. it sucks, it takes him an hour to get home. but in the AM only about 35 minutes because he leaves before 7am. he deals with it though - we could never afford anything in Nassau (not anything we would want anyway). you can't always get what you want. people have much worse commutes. I would rather do that everyday than commute on the LIRR!!!

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

I love Suffolk so much because I have a larger house on half an acre with the same taxes as if I bought a tiny cape on 60X100 in Nassau. (for the same price!)

I commute from E. Setauket to Melville- it takes about 40 mins - I leave at 645am and leave work at about 545.

try not driving during rush hour...
FH works in bayside, and it only takes him about 50 mins each way bc he's a teacher and doesnt drive in traffic.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

It's a very big issue.

You could look into towns that are closer to the LIE, the northern state or 25a, instead of towns that you have to drive a ways after you get off the highway to get to. How about E. Northport, Melville, Plainview, Syosset, Commack or Kings Park?

Message edited 8/4/2007 9:00:13 AM.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

Both DH & I commute from Holbrook to NYC everyday (about 1.30 hour door-to-door). To be honest, the commute doesn't bother me and we've been doing it for 5 years now (from Nesconset, CI station). It depends on what you consider a long commute.

Why I love Suffolk
-cheaper taxes for the size of your house & property
-not as many villages (with all their seperate taxes)
-less conjestion (for now at least)
-schools are generally just as strong as Nassau
-not really in the boonies if you are in Western/Middle Suffolk
-free parking at almost all the LIRR stations (and a lot more of it!!)

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

My dh commutes from Holbrook to Wantagh everyday. He takes Sunrise which is less congested and it takes him, the most 40-45 minutes.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

I worked in Suffolk and lived in Nassau and I would never again.

I found a new job. It was not worth it for me. Time is more precious to me then anything.

I now work 5 mins from home.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

Well Port Washington and Lake Grove are more north than the LIE. I would say try the commute on the Northern State and see if it makes a difference.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

I live in Commack and I work in Jericho. My husband works in Garden City. We try to carpool to work in the HOV at least 3 times a week and always in bad weather. But when I have to drive on my own it still isn't a bad ride, 35 - 40 minutes on average. We were so spoiled before buying in Commack, we both lived less than 8 minutes from our jobs. But to us, it's worth the ride. I actually need it sometimes, a little time in the car before I get home and start running around crazy doing dinner, laundry, cleaning, excercise etc, my nights are just as hectic as my days so some down time in a car helps me relax actually! And we love our house and our neighborhood so it's definetely worth it to us.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

I live in West Babylon & work in Manhasset. Honestly the WORST part of my commute is going from south shore to north shore. We also looked in Smithtown, but the homes were out of our range. If we had been all LIE I think we'd actually have an easier commute. It takes me 35 minutes in the AM (7:30 am) and about 45 minutes home at 5:30 pm.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

one of my friends commutes from babylon to garden city and hates it!

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

When I lived in L.I, I lived in Coram and commuted to Great Neck. I cried each and every day... hated, hated, hated the commute.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

I'm in Smithtown and commute to East Meadow but I work 7a-7p so I miss most of the traffic. I stay clear of the LIE no matter what though.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

Our house is in Nesconset and I commute to Farmingdale. I don't mind it. It usually only takes me 30-35 minutes. I leave at 6 am and there is no traffic and then depending on what time I leave depends on what time I get home. I can leave at 2:30 though because I am a teacher. But I often tutor until 430 or 5.

DH works in Stony Brook or Riverhead. So for us this was a good location. We wanted to be close to family who live further out east but I wanted to be no more than about 30 minutes from work to home.

What appeals to us about Suffolk is the house you can get for your money and the property. I don't want to be right on top of my neighbors. Also, as a teacher I didn't want to be too close to the district I work in.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

My dh & I live in sayville--he travels to seaford about 30 mins not so bad and I travel to east meadow which can take about 40 mins or more depending on what time you leave. We dont think it is bad at all and when we thought about buying we found it was worth the drive to have a bigger piece of property in a great school district. The drive to us wasn't that big of a deal--it really depends though on whats most important to you & your DH.
GOOD LUCK

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

I am facing the same problem right now. I live in Farmingdale work in Syosset and it takes me 15 minutes to get to work. I will be moving to W. Islip soon and will have to adjust to a 30-45 mins. commute.

Message edited 3/21/2007 9:21:35 PM.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

I commute from western Nassau to Brooklyn every day, and it's a little over an hour. It's doable, though if I had kids, that would make it harder.

I do take the train though, so I can read and catch up with work while I'm travelling. I think driving would be harder.

Re: Living in Suffolk & working in Nassau - How do you do it?

I live in Medford and work in Hicksville. I take the train most days...I can read and relax. It takes about an hour if I train it or drive.
I'm lucky though, I work right near the train station in Hicksville.