REAL ESTATE TRENDS · LONG ISLAND, NY
Out-of-Town Buyers Are Reshaping Huntington, Northport, and Dix Hills: Inside Long Island's 2026 Housing and Rental Boom
By Valerie LaBianca | Updated August 2026
Out-of-town buyers are no longer a niche slice of the housing market, on Long Island, they're increasingly the market. What used to be a postcard mailed to an out-of-state investor twenty years ago has become a nationwide behavior pattern: buyers browsing listings from hundreds or thousands of miles away, often making offers on homes in Huntington, Northport, and Dix Hills before they've set foot on Long Island at all.
Nationally, out-of-market shoppers accounted for 61.9% of all online home views across the 100 largest U.S. metros in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from just 48.6% before the pandemic in 2019, according to Realtor.com's latest cross-market shopping report. That is a structural shift in how Americans search for homes, not a temporary blip, and it is landing squarely on Long Island's North Shore.
Source: Realtor.com, "Out-of-Town Shoppers Now Drive Demand in 87 of the Largest U.S. Markets" (Feb. 26, 2026), via PR Newswire.
Long Island's 2026 Market: Tight Inventory, Rising Prices
Long Island entered the summer of 2026 as one of the tightest housing markets in the country. One Key MLS recorded just 4,192 active listings across Long Island in February 2026, a record low and nearly 20% fewer than the 5,202 listings available at the same point in 2025. That scarcity is the single biggest force behind pricing on the North Shore right now.
Countywide, Nassau's average sold price reached $875,000 in May 2026 (up 2.9% in a single month), while Suffolk County, home to Huntington, Northport, and Dix Hills, held at $701,250, with days on market falling to just 28. Mortgage rates have eased somewhat but remain a factor: Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed average at 6.52% as of June 11, 2026, still enough to keep many current homeowners "locked in" to older, lower rates and reluctant to sell, which only tightens supply further.
Sources: Long Island Business News / One Key MLS; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (June 11, 2026).
Realtor.com's own 2026 outlook echoes this: the Northeast, including the greater New York suburbs, has become a top destination for buyers priced out of Manhattan and Brooklyn, with "refuge markets" pulling in shoppers from major, high-cost metros. In the top out-of-state destination markets nationally, roughly 40% of listing views in the third quarter of 2025 came from buyers searching from outside the metro area, up from 31% before rates climbed in early 2022.
Source: Realtor.com, "Top Housing Markets for 2026" (Dec. 10, 2025).
Huntington, NY (11743): Still a Seller's Market
Huntington remains one of the most in-demand submarkets on Long Island's North Shore. As of April 2026, the median sold price in Huntington sat at $970,000, up 1.77% month-over-month, with a sold-to-list ratio of 97.7% and inventory holding at just 2.84 months of supply, up 12.3% year-over-year but still well inside seller's-market territory. Homes were selling in about 31 days on average, and the broader estimated property value for the area reached $903,470, a 4.7% year-over-year gain.
Source: Educators Realty / RPR / One Key MLS, Huntington NY Market Report (April 2026).
Redfin's July 2026 snapshot puts Huntington's average home price at $1.06 million, with a Compete Score of 89 out of 100, meaning the market remains "very competitive." Within the core 11743 ZIP code specifically, Redfin reported a median sale price of $999,000 in mid-2026, up nearly 13% year-over-year, with homes averaging just over three weeks on market and multiple-offer situations common. Zillow's average home value for 11743 stood at roughly $903,500, up 1.3% over the trailing year.
Sources: Redfin, Huntington & 11743 Housing Market data (July 2026); Zillow Home Values, 11743.
Huntington Station, just south of the village, continues to offer a more accessible entry point, Redfin placed its average sale price around $670,000 in July 2026, down slightly year-over-year, giving first-time buyers and LIRR commuters a foothold in the broader Huntington market without the village-adjacent premium.
Source: Redfin, Huntington Station Housing Market (July 2026).
Northport, NY (11768): Waterfront Demand Is Pulling Prices Higher
Northport's small-village charm, working harbor, and Northport-East Northport school district continue to draw both relocating families and out-of-area buyers. In March 2026, the median sale price in ZIP code 11768 was $936,000, with the median price per square foot up 12.7% year-over-year to $462, even as the headline sale price dipped slightly, reflecting a shift toward smaller, more efficient homes changing hands. New listings in the ZIP carried a median asking price of $1.45 million.
Source: Redfin, 11768 Housing Market data (March–May 2026).
Village-proper listings tell an even stronger story. Redfin's Northport city-level data showed a median sale price around $1.1 million to $1.15 million in late 2025 into 2026, with homes routinely fielding double-digit offer counts and days on market stretching out only because buyers are being more selective about condition, not because demand has cooled.
Source: Redfin, Northport, NY Housing Market data (2026).
Dix Hills, NY (11746): Long Island's Luxury Anchor
Dix Hills, part of the Town of Huntington and served by the top-rated Half Hollow Hills school district, remains one of Suffolk County's premier luxury enclaves. As of January 2026, the median home price stood at $1,299,000, with an average sale price of $1,330,186 and homes spending roughly 51 days on the market. By the three months ending in May 2026, Redfin reported a median sale price of $1.2 million, with price per square foot up 15.1% year-over-year to $477 , even as overall closed prices dipped slightly, a sign that smaller and mid-sized homes are drawing more of the recent activity.
Sources: Homes.com, Dix Hills Housing Data (Jan. 2026); Redfin, Dix Hills Housing Market (June 2026).
Dix Hills' fundamentals continue to support premium pricing: roughly 26,000 residents, median household incomes above $200,000, and median home values that have nearly tripled since 2000 (from about $388,000 to well over $1 million today). Annual property taxes average close to $10,000, reflecting both the town's services and school quality.
Source: Cosmo Group Realty, Dix Hills NY Real Estate & Luxury Guide (2026), citing U.S. Census data.
Why Affordability Is Pushing Buyers to Search Beyond Their Home Metro
The math behind the out-of-town buyer surge is straightforward. A household needed roughly $110,000 in annual income in the third quarter of 2025 to comfortably afford a median-priced single-family home including property taxes and insurance, nearly double what was required five years earlier, according to an Investopedia analysis of Oxford Economics data. On Long Island specifically, where Nassau's median has pushed toward $875,000–$890,000 and Suffolk toward $700,000–$720,000, that affordability gap is exactly what's sending New York City renters and buyers further out, and sending some Long Islanders themselves looking toward more affordable pockets within Suffolk County, like Huntington Station or parts of Dix Hills, rather than Nassau.
Source: Investopedia analysis of Oxford Economics data (2025); Jones Hollow Realty Group, Long Island Market Update (June 2026).
Rental Demand Follows the Same Migration Pattern
Migration and rental demand move together, buyers relocating to a new area typically rent first to "test-drive" the community before purchasing. That pattern is playing out across Suffolk County, where the rental vacancy rate sits at roughly 4%, a historically tight figure that keeps upward pressure on rents as more renters compete for a limited pool of units.
Source: AffordableHousingOnline.com / U.S. Census data, Suffolk County rental statistics (2026).
Current asking rents across Suffolk County average around $2,085 for a studio, $2,503 for a one-bedroom, and $3,544 for a two-bedroom, according to Rentometer's mid-2026 data, though listing-based platforms like RentHop show two-bedroom units trending closer to $3,360 and larger three- and four-bedroom homes commanding sharply higher premiums as families relocating from New York City and out of state compete for space near top school districts.
Sources: Rentometer, Suffolk County average rent (data as of July 2026); Rent Hop, Suffolk, NY rent report (July 2026).
Where the Migration Is Coming From, and Going
United Van Lines' 2025 National Movers Study shows the broader migration pattern still favors smaller and mid-sized metros over dense urban cores, with inbound moves led by states like South Carolina and Oregon. Closer to home, Realtor.com's 2026 top-markets report found the strongest combined price and sales growth concentrated in Northeast "refuge markets" , smaller metros that draw heavily from a single high-cost hub like New York City, a dynamic that mirrors exactly what's happening as buyers priced out of Manhattan and Brooklyn set their sights on North Shore Suffolk County towns like Huntington and Northport.
Sources: United Van Lines, 2025 National Movers Study; Realtor.com, Top Housing Markets for 2026 (Dec. 2025).
Zip-code-level data backs this up directly: Realtor.com's analysis of 2026's hottest ZIP codes found that in some New York-adjacent suburbs, over a quarter of listing views were coming from buyers actively searching out of New York City, confirmation that the exodus toward space, schools, and relative value is an ongoing, measurable trend rather than a pandemic-era anomaly.
Source: Realtor.com, "Hottest ZIP Codes in the U.S. for Homebuyers in 2026," via Quartz (2026).
Older Movers Are Increasingly Choosing to Rent
Not every relocating household is buying immediately. Seniors are one of the fastest-growing renter demographics nationally, and many older adults relocating to Long Island, including toward Suffolk County's quieter, well-serviced hamlets, are opting to rent rather than take on a mortgage, property taxes, insurance, and maintenance later in life. That trend supports steady demand for well-located single-family rentals in towns like Huntington, Northport, and Dix Hills, not just multifamily buildings.
What This Means for Buyers, Sellers, and Investors on the North Shore
● Sellers in Huntington, Northport, and Dix Hills continue to hold real leverage, inventory is historically tight and well-priced, move-in-ready homes are still fielding strong offers, even as days on market have lengthened compared to 2024's frenzy.
● Buyers relocating from out of state or from New York City should expect competition, particularly for turnkey homes in the mid-to-upper price ranges near top school districts like Half Hollow Hills, Northport-East Northport, and Huntington UFSD.
● Investors and landlords benefit from a persistently tight rental market, a roughly 4% vacancy rate in Suffolk County means well-maintained single-family rentals near the LIRR and top schools are likely to lease quickly.
● Anyone weighing a move should factor in financing costs, with 30-year mortgage rates still hovering near 6.5%, working with a knowledgeable local agent on pricing and negotiation strategy matters more than it did a few years ago.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Huntington, Northport & Dix Hills Housing Market
Is Huntington, NY a buyer's or seller's market in 2026?
Huntington remains a seller's market in 2026. Redfin gives Huntington a Compete Score of 89 out of 100, and homes in the 11743 ZIP code were selling with a median sale-to-list ratio near 100% as of mid-2026, though days on market have lengthened compared to 2024.
What is the median home price in Northport, NY right now?
As of March 2026, the median sale price in the 11768 ZIP code (Northport) was $936,000, according to Redfin, while village-proper listings often trade closer to $1.1–$1.15 million.
How much does it cost to rent in Suffolk County in 2026?
Average asking rents in Suffolk County in mid-2026 run roughly $2,085 for a studio, $2,503 for a one-bedroom, and $3,500+ for a two-bedroom, according to Rentometer, with a tight rental vacancy rate of around 4%.
Why are out-of-town buyers driving up prices in Huntington and Dix Hills?
Out-of-market shoppers made up 61.9% of online home views across the largest U.S. metros in late 2025, per Realtor.com, and Long Island's North Shore is a prime landing spot for buyers priced out of New York City who want space, top schools, and relative value within commuting distance.
Is Dix Hills, NY considered a luxury real estate market?
Yes. Dix Hills' median home price was $1.2–$1.3 million in early-to-mid 2026, supported by the top-rated Half Hollow Hills school district, median household incomes above $200,000, and homes with values that have nearly tripled since 2000.
What mortgage rate should Long Island buyers expect in 2026?
Freddie Mac reported the 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaging around 6.5% through mid-2026, down modestly from higher points in 2025 but still a meaningful factor in monthly affordability for Nassau and Suffolk County buyers.
Are home prices dropping on Long Island in 2026?
No, prices are still rising in most core Long Island markets even as the number of closed sales has softened compared to last year. Persistently low inventory, not falling demand, remains the market's defining feature in 2026.
Final Thoughts
The data tells a consistent story: Huntington, Northport, and Dix Hills sit right at the intersection of two powerful 2026 trends, a nationwide surge in out-of-town home shopping and a historically undersupplied Long Island market. For sellers, that combination continues to translate into strong pricing power. For buyers and renters relocating from New York City or beyond, it means moving decisively, getting pre-approved early, and working with an agent who knows these specific North Shore submarkets block by block.
Whether you're weighing a sale, searching for your next home, or exploring investment opportunities in Huntington, Northport, Dix Hills, or elsewhere on Long Island, having current, market-specific data, and an experienced local team, makes all the difference in a market moving this fast.
VALERIE LABIANCA
LICENSED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON
Office: 631.499.9191
Mobile: 631.793.2255
1772 E. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, NY 11743
JOSEPH DONOFRIO
LICENSED ASSOCIATE REAL ESTATE BROKER
Direct: 631.831.2121
Office: 631.499.9191
Mobile: 631.831.2121
1772 E. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, NY 11743
