Moving to Five Towns

At a glance

11 shuls mapped
2 kosher markets
2 mikvahs
4 day schools
3 kosher dining
Price range $$$–$$$$

Homes & apartments in Five Towns

A pre-filtered search for Five Towns. Check each listing against the map to see which shuls are within walking distance.

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Moving to the Five Towns: a practical guide

Housing and what it costs

This is a homeowner market: single-family houses dominate, generally from the $800Ks in Woodmere and Cedarhurst to well past $1.5M in Lawrence’s estate sections, with Inwood the more affordable entry point. Rentals are scarcer than in Brooklyn or Queens — garden apartments and house rentals in Cedarhurst typically run $2,500–$3,500/month for a two-bedroom when they appear. Figures are approximate as of mid-2026 — use the apartment search above for live listings.

Picking a town

Each of the five has its own flavor: Lawrence skews established and upscale around Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst and Beth Sholom; Woodmere is the family engine anchored by Young Israel of Woodmere; Cedarhurst puts you closest to Central Avenue; Hewlett and Inwood trade a shorter shul list for better prices. Check the map above — the eruv and walking distances, not town lines, define the practical choice.

Kosher and daily life

Central Avenue is one of America’s great kosher streets: Gourmet Glatt’s flagship, restaurants from pizza to steakhouse, bakeries, and Judaica end to end. Weekly shopping, Shabbos flowers, and a night out all happen within the neighborhood.

Schools

The day-school ecosystem is elite and complete: HAFTR (co-ed PreK–12), DRS for boys, SKA and Shulamith for girls, plus a ring of yeshivos and preschools. Admissions are competitive — start early, and expect school choice to influence which town you land in.

Commuting

The LIRR’s Far Rockaway branch stops in Lawrence, Cedarhurst, Woodmere, and Hewlett, putting Penn Station roughly 50–60 minutes away — one of the few full-service Orthodox suburbs with real rail commuting. Drivers reach JFK in 15 minutes, which frequent flyers learn to love.

Want help from someone local?

Tell us what you're looking for in Five Towns and we can point you to a realtor who knows the area and understands what walking distance to shul actually means.

Comparing Long Island, NY neighborhoods? Moving to Far Rockaway · Moving to West Hempstead

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Frequently asked questions

Is Five Towns a good place to live for an observant family?

One of the largest Modern Orthodox communities in North America — Lawrence, Cedarhurst, Woodmere, Hewlett, and Inwood form a self-contained Jewish universe on Long Island's South Shore, with Central Avenue as the kosher commercial spine. This guide covers what housing costs, which section to look at, kosher shopping, and schools — and the map shows the 11 shuls you'd be walking to.

How much does it cost to live in Five Towns?

Five Towns sits in the $$$–$$$$ range relative to the other communities on ShulMap. The housing section below gives the specifics. Figures are approximate and move with the market — use the home and apartment search on this page for current listings.

What Jewish amenities does Five Towns have?

Five Towns has 2 kosher markets, 2 mikvahs, 4 day schools, 3 kosher dining mapped on ShulMap, alongside 11 shuls. Walking distances shown are approximate — confirm what's comfortable for your family.

How do I find a home near a shul in Five Towns?

Start from the map on the Five Towns shul page to see which blocks sit within walking distance of the shul you'd daven in, then use the home and apartment search on this page for live listings in that area. Walking distances are approximate and are not a halachic ruling — confirm with your rav.

Walking distance: Walking-distance circles are approximate and do not assert a halachic standard. Confirm what is walkable for you locally.

ShulMap is an independent directory. Listings and routes are informational — verify all details directly with the source.