Westbury, NY

Westbury has one of the most layered histories on Long Island, stretching back well before its suburban era. English Quakers settled here along old Indigenous trails in the seventeenth century, and by 1775, they took the landmark step of freeing the people they had enslaved. That decision helped foster a vibrant, self-sustaining African American community of farmers and tradespeople who later sheltered freedom seekers along the Underground Railroad. Landmarks like the historic New Light Baptist Church building on Union Avenue still anchor the neighborhood today. When the Long Island Rail Road arrived in the 1840s, Post Avenue quickly grew into the village's commercial hub, creating the walkable downtown footprint residents still enjoy.

ATTRGeorge Bradford Brainerd, (American, 1845-1887) / No restrictions

For commuters, the Westbury train station is the anchor of daily routine. Sitting right on the LIRR Main Line, it offers a direct, roughly 40-minute ride into Manhattan, making it a favorite for city workers. The village has also invested heavily in revitalizing the area around the tracks, adding new apartments and walkable dining that make it easy to live close to transit. If you are shopping for a home here, keep in mind that the local building department is quite thorough. Make sure to check property records for proper permits and certificates of occupancy on finished basements, decks, or additions, since buyers inherit the responsibility for any past unpermitted work.

ATTRKenneth C. Zirkel / CC BY-SA 4.0

One of the first things newcomers notice is how diverse and down-to-earth the community feels. Over the decades, Westbury has welcomed generations of families from the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, creating a multicultural village with a friendly, tight-knit vibe. That rich cultural mix shows up daily in the incredible food scene along Post Avenue, from Salvadoran pupuserias and Jamaican eateries to traditional Italian bakeries. Most residents own their homes, and the neighborhoods are filled with well-kept mid-century capes, ranches, and colonials along quiet, tree-lined side streets.

ATTRDanTD / CC BY-SA 3.0

Downtown is the social hub of the village, anchored by spots like The Space at Westbury, an intimate concert and event venue housed in a restored vintage theater. During the summer, neighbors gather at Piazza Ernesto Strada for weekly open-air concerts and community events. Families especially appreciate the Westbury Memorial Public Library, which features a standalone Children's Library building with its own programs and garden. Between the local arts council, community center programs, and neighborhood parks, Westbury gives you a genuine small-town feel with a convenient commute into the city.