Gold Coast Long Island towns ranked best in US to raise kids
The north shore of Long Island has scored big when it comes to being recognized as some of the best places in the US to raise a family. According to Niche’s 2025 rankings, nearly a dozen affluent Nassau County enclaves on the Gold Coast have made the list.
Leading the pack is Kensington, a neighborhood located on Manhasset Bay near the Queens border, which secured the second spot out of 18,084 towns in the rankings. This small but elite section of Great Neck, with a population of under 1,500, boasts top marks for its overall safety and high-performing public schools.
Homes in Kensington come with a hefty price tag, with a median value of $1.4 million. The area’s earning power is equally impressive, with a median household income of $217,679. Additionally, 41% of residents hold a master’s degree or higher.
Following closely behind Kensington is Syosset at No. 11, Jericho at 21, East Williston at 30, and Manhasset at 39, which is home to the upscale Americana shopping district known as the “Miracle Mile.”
Other elite Nassau locales that made it to the top 100 include Muttontown at 51, Plainview at 68, Roslyn Heights at 73, Garden City at 75, Lake Success at 94, and Searingtown at 99. Dix Hills, the only Suffolk County suburb to make the cut, earned a ranking of 135.
Surprisingly, extremely affluent Upper Brookville, located near Muttontown, finished at a lower rank of 1,575. On the south shore, popular communities like Merrick and Wantagh didn’t make it to the top 100, with rankings of 512 and 982, respectively.
Recent notoriety surrounding Rex Heuermann may have impacted Massapequa’s ranking, as it dropped to 3,087, while nearby Farmingdale came in at 2,407. Outside of Long Island, Westchester’s Scarsdale and Ardsley secured the 13th and 14th spots, respectively.
Overall, the north shore of Long Island shines brightly as some of the best places in the US to raise a family, with affluent neighborhoods and top-notch amenities that cater to families looking for a safe and nurturing environment for their children.
