Main Street and apartments near the LIRR attract buyers

THE SCOOP Farmingdale has a vibrant downtown with a wide selection of restaurants and retail options, easy access to highways and transportation, and a close-knit community spirit.

The popular city center is decorated with the seasons. During the warmer months, potted plants hang from the village street lamps. The community comes together for parades and Music on Main events in the summer, where the streets are closed to traffic.

“Residents are always there to help each other. It's a great community,” said Nancy Mangieri, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker American Homes and a lifelong Farmingdale resident.

Mangieri also noted Farmingdale's proximity to Bethpage's boardwalks and hiking and biking trails. But a more recent draw has been the development of downtown around the Long Island Rail Road.

“People moved here with the creation of transit-oriented development,” Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand said, referring to the new zoning that paved the way for more than 400 rental apartments in the community.

Each morning, four LIRR express trains take passengers to Manhattan in 45 minutes, Ekstrand noted.

Power lines have recently been placed underground throughout the village. Improvements have also been made to school sports facilities and public parks.

The hamlet's agricultural history dates back to 1695, when Englishman Thomas Powell purchased 15 square miles of land from the Marsapeque Native American tribe. By dividing the land into lots, the Powell family farmed it for over a century.

Formerly known as Hardscrabble, the hamlet was renamed Farmingdale in 1835 due to the area's many farms by real estate speculator Ambrose George. Agriculture expanded to the New York State School of Agriculture, now Farmingdale State College, founded in 1912.

After World War I, farmland gave way to aircraft companies closely tied to the war effort. Republic Aviation Corp. of Farmingdale built the legendary P-47 Thunderbolt for the United States Air Force; the Ranger Aircraft Engine division of Fairchild Airplane Manufacturing Co. produced engines, and Liberty Aircraft Products Corp. manufactured airplane parts for Grumman.

Today, Farmingdale buyers will find ranches, Capes, and split-level homes.

CONDOS AND COOPERATIVES There are two condos, priced at $575,000 and $699,000, and five co-ops, priced between $232,000 and $349,000, on the market.

SELLING PRICE Between May 29, 2023 and May 28, 2024, there were 230 home sales with a median sale price of $601,500, according to OneKey MLS. During this period a year earlier, 282 homes were sold, with a median sale price of $568,250.

OTHER STATISTICS

Population 8,428

Middle age 43.7

Median home value $600,000

Monthly LIRR ticket from Farmingdale $287

School district, graduation rate Farmingdale (95.9%)

Library Farmingdale

Transit NICE bus lines 70, 71

Sources: 2022 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS via InfoSparks by ShowingTime; LIRR, data.nysed.gov

ON THE MARKET

$849,000

This updated 1,895 square foot duplex has three beds and 2½ baths. It sports hardwood floors, a dining room with custom cabinetry, and a gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a built-in wine cooler, and quartz countertops. Updates include a new roof, siding, windows, central air conditioning, boilers, oil tank and attic fan. The gated 0.17 acre property features a paver patio, semi-in-ground pool and attached two-car garage. An offer is pending. Taxes are $13,359. Dame Cascone, Century 21 AA Realty, 516-826-8100.

$799,000

Built in 1956, this approximately 1,600-square-foot expanded Cape features four beds, two baths, hardwood floors, and a kitchen with stainless steel appliances and cherry cabinets. Features include ductless air conditioning units, automatic blinds, boiler and 2 year old hot water storage tank. The 0.18 acre fenced property features a saltwater pool, hardwired security system with cameras, exterior Sonos speakers and TV hookup. Taxes are $10,739. Ricardo Pena and Nicholas Campasano, The Agency Northshore NY, 631-870-0753.

$599,999

At 1,248 square feet, this three-bed, 1 ½-bath ranch-style home features hardwood floors, a master bedroom with two closets, a full basement, and a heater and a gas kitchen. Located on a quiet cul-de-sac, the fenced 0.16 acre property includes an attached one-car garage and shed. Taxes are $12,459. Kathryn Pullen, Coldwell Banker American Homes, 561-293-2323.

RECENTLY SOLD

$715,000

Style Colonial

Bedrooms 3

Bathrooms 2½

Built 1998

Lot size 0.15 acres

Taxes $14,756

+/- List price +$66,000

Market days 161

$630,000

Style Cape

Bedrooms 3

Bathrooms 2

Built 1948

Lot size 0.14 acres

Taxes $14,849

+/- List price +$630,000

Market days 39

$530,000

Style Colonial

Bedrooms 4

Bathrooms 1½

Built 1924

Lot size 0.11 acres

Taxes $13,143

+/- List price -$19,990

Market days 91

ON ONEKEY MLS

Number of announcements 15

Price scale $232,000 to $899,990

Tax range $9,429 to $13,620