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.