Shirley NY Homes for Sale

Shirley NY Homes for Sale: Your Moving Guide

Shirley joins the intertwining hamlets of Mastic and Mastic Beach to make up the town of Brookhaven. The appeal of Shirley—which brings residents the most panache among the three hamlets—is the reason residential real estate here ranges from $400,000 for a 1970s-era raised ranch to more than $1 million for a modern waterfront home with farmhouse appeal.

A quiet beachside life attracts middle-class families and the occasional weekender to Shirley. Homes here offer residents beachfront properties with waterfront views, boat mooring options, and suburban coastal neighborhoods. Shirley boasts a unique, rural charm without sacrificing access to urban centers like Patchogue Village and Medford Lakeside Shopping Center.

Background and history

At the top of the 20th century, the neighborhood we now know as Shirley was a popular getaway for a handful of New York City elites. In the 1960s, a developer named Walter T. Shirley envisioned building a community of bayside bungalows for working-class families. His company churned out a few thousand ranch-style cottages before Walter died, but not until after he gave the neighborhood his surname.

One of the reasons Walter chose this area to develop an affordable neighborhood after Long Island’s post-war housing boom was due to its proximity to canals, the bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. Since the beginning, locals here have enjoyed the ability to dock and launch their boats, fish, swim, hike, and bike at Smith Point Marina.

With the Atlantic Ocean just a short drive over the William Floyd Parkway bridge, Shirley connects locals with access to Smith Point County Park beach, campgrounds on Fire Island, and nine miles of trails at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge. During fall, residents are happy to witness the foliage explode in various shades of brilliant colors.

Housing, living, and income

A town of 8,168 homes and apartments, Shirley mostly consists of modest, single-family Capes, ranches, and bungalows. More than half of residences are 3-bedoom homes built between 1970 and 1999.

Expect a competitive housing market where the average home sells for $428,282 after 54 days on the market. The median home value is $391,705 and 88.8% of residents own their homes. At the same time, a $92,426 median household income eases some of the burden of high homeownership expenses on Shirley residents.

Men take home the most in manufacturing ($74,600), public administration ($74,489), and wholesale trade ($71,46) while women fare better in public administration ($90,938), transportation and warehousing ($49,583), and wholesale trade ($467,727).

The total cost of living for housing, food, childcare, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities is $50,940 for a single adult.

Things to do in Shirley

The South Port shopping center is a local hot spot where residents of the hamlets of Shirley, Mastic, and Mastic Beach shop for groceries, spirits, pet food, fresh baked bagels, and more. South Port is also home to Island Empanada, a modest Latin American deli that specializes in crispy empanadas filled with savory beef, chicken, mac and cheese, seafood, and veggies.

The town of Shirley claims a unique distinction as the site of sweeping parkland and national wildlife refuges. A galaxy of nature, animals, birds, and flora, Shirley connects locals with miles of hiking trails interspersed with ideal bird habitats and opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, and boating.

Explore your love of nature at Smith Point County Park where a wide ocean beach sits on the eastern end of Fire Island. The Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge—one of the last undeveloped estuaries on the island—gives you a place to fish along Carmans River.

Enjoy annual festivals throughout the year including the 50-year running festival at Wildwood State Park on July 4^th weekend featuring classic car shows, firework displays, and carnival rides.

Schools

Most Shirley students attend the William Floyd Union Free School District, where a renowned music curriculum gives performers the chance to put on county and statewide concerts. In 2023, the district earned a spot on the NAMM Foundation’s list of the Best Communities for Music Education.

Public schools in Shirley include Moriches Elementary School, William Floyd Elementary School, Nathaniel Woodhull Elementary School, Dayton Avenue School, William Floyd Middle School, William Paca Middle School, and William Floyd High School.

Best dining in Shirley

Wings Cafe invites you to relax and enjoy perfectly cooked egg sandwiches, omelets, burgers, pancakes, flija, coffee, and more. Well known for its great service and friendly staff, Wings Cafe is a place to savor delicious meals at democratic prices in an enjoyable atmosphere.

Mastic Pupuseria and Taqueria serves authentic Mexican food including tasty, stewed steaks, pupusas, and tacos. A gracious staff meets low prices that together attract locals to savor a taste of Mexico.

Smoke Shack BBQ started as a food truck in 2017, satisfying the appetites of lovers of all things barbecue. The father-son duo behind the idea was inspired by Nana Jennette Cantone’s homemade barbecue sauce recipe and successfully conquered the unique challenge of running a restaurant from inside a truck.

Mama Lisa Restaurant was founded in 1999 by Gaetano and Mose Costigliola, sons of Carlo Costigliola and owner of Umberto’s Italian restaurant, which thrived in Patchogue for over fifteen years. Family style recipes originated in Italy and passed down through the family earned Mama Lisa a tremendous and loyal customer base from the beginning.

La Buena Vida is a Spanish cuisine lover’s paradise. Savor perfectly cooked tapas, grilled octopus, filet mignon, flans, crème brûlée, and cheesecakes along with delicious white sangria, wine, or margaritas. A cozy atmosphere meets a gracious staff, attractive prices, and beautiful decor that together earned the restaurant 4.5 stars on Google.

Okeno Sushi is known for its Japanese cuisine. Share tasty salmon sushi, tempura rolls, and octopus with your friends and have a good time here. Don’t forget to order delicious liqueur alongside great tea. Great service, friendly staff, affordable prices, a nice atmosphere, and spectacular décor scored Okeno 4.6 stars on Google.

Buy a Shirley home with Team Rita.

Ready to explore Shirley homes for sale? Contact us today to search our database of local Suffolk County housing inventory, schedule an open house, or explore our featured properties for sale.

Author Bio

Rita Tsoukaris joined Realty Connect USA in 2023. Her passion for helping people achieve their home ownership dreams has earned her team the number one spot for Long Island homes for sale since 2015.