The Hamptons can be an amazing and interesting place to live year-round. In the summer the population triples and vacationers flood in to enjoy the sights and beaches. In the winter, most of the attractions are limited and snow covers the landscape.
Where Is The Best Place To Live In The Hamptons?
The best place to live in the Hamptons is entirely up to you to decide. Here are some tips that might help you decide which town to move to if you are thinking of taking the leap.
Montauk⇣
Pros – Great beaches, surfing, nightlife, restaurants, slightly lower cost of living compared to East Hampton.
Cons – Summer tourism, it’s located on the furthest point of Long Island, limited parking.
East Hampton/ Amagansett ⇣
Pros – They are located in the middle of the Hamptons, beautiful beaches, art, shopping, great restaurants, nightlife, celebrities, schools, very safe.
Cons – Can be expensive, summer tourism, limited parking.
Springs ⇣
Pros – Located near East Hampton, one of the least expensive places to live in the Hamptons.
Cons – Known to have a drug problem.
Southampton ⇣
Pros – School system, great beaches, surfing, nightlife, restaurants.
Cons – Summer tourism, it’s located on the furthest point of Long Island, limited parking.
Bridgehampton ⇣
Pros – Lower cost of living compared to the rest of the Hamptons, beaches, school system, nightlife.
Cons – Summer tourism, limited parking.
Sag Harbor ⇣
Pros – Great restaurants, art, sunsets, boutique shopping, close to Shelter Island, schools.
Cons – Less appealing beaches, summer tourism
Remember: the property taxes in Nassau County are some of the highest in the country because of the great school systems, how close it is to New York City and the well kept beaches.
What’s It Like To Work In The Hamptons Over The Summer?
Working in the Hamptons over the summer can be very profitable. Most businesses open for the summer and have to hire staff to accommodate for the large number of vacationers. A lot of these businesses will provide housing for staff because the cost of living is so high.
Many workers come from Europe, Eastern Europe and South America to work for a summer. For example, schools in Ireland provide work visas for students to come work in the US for a summer. This creates a very diverse ecosystem that is a lot of fun to work in.
How Much Can You Make Working In The Hamptons For a Summer?
I was primarily server at a high end restaurant in Montauk which required restaurant experience to get the job. I was making around $2000 a week depending on if it was a holiday weekend or not. If you can land a bartending job you can triple that per week, good luck if it’s your first time working in the Hamptons (most bartenders are grandfathered in).
What Jobs Are Available In The Hamptons Over The Summer?
I would start by looking at Gurney’s Resort, they offer all types of positions from restaurant positions to events, which do not require any experience. Gurney’s also can provide housing for a small monthly fee.
Next I would call around looking at restaurants or venues such as Surf Lodge (Montauk) and Nick and Toni’s (East Hampton). These places are busy and employees make good money.
If you can’t find a place that will take a resume, go on yelp and find the best rated businesses, then go on their website and look at their careers tab to apply for summer positions.
What’s The Weather Like In the Summer In The Hamptons?
The summer in the Hamptons is perfect beach weather. Warm days that make you want to jump in the ocean. Perfect evenings that invite you to a patio for food and drinks. The humidity is higher in the summer, sometimes hitting 100% so make sure to dress light. There are also quite a few bugs so bring repellent.
Does It Snow In The Hamptons?
In the winter, the Hamptons freeze over, snow covers the towns, and many businesses close. This should not steer you away! The Hamptons become very laid back and relaxing. The snow covers the towns and beaches, which is quite beautiful. The locals tend to come out in the winter, it’s good to know people and have connections in the Hamptons.
Are The Beaches In the Hamptons Open To Non-residents?
Beach parking is open to non-residents at most beaches but there will be a fee. Beach parking can be tricky, just make sure to read the signs to see if parking is available for non-residents. Most, if not all beach parking will have a fee of around $30-50 per day.
How to get a yearly beach parking permit in East Hampton?
You will most likely have to go to the town hall to apply for a permit. I never purchased a year-long permit because I was too late to apply, so make sure you do so before the summer starts.
What Airport Do I Fly Into To Get To The Hamptons?
My suggestion is flying into MacArthur (Islip) Airport. It’s a smaller airport that Southwest and American Airlines fly into and out of. My second choice would be La Guardia, avoiding JFK because of how large and time consuming it is. If you can find flights into East Hampton Airport then do it, I never had much luck with my budget.
Do You Need A Car In The Hamptons?
In my opinion, you do need a car if you plan on experiencing the Hamptons the right way. Especially if you are living here. Each town has their own unique attractions and are roughly a 5-20 min drive from each other. Uber does exist but rates are exponentially increased and are sometimes even hard to find a ride.
I would recommend driving to, or renting a car when visiting the Hamptons for more than two days. If you’re planning on living here, I would definitely buy a car or try to find a roommate who owns one, it will help more than you think!
Tips for living in the Hamptons:
- Take the Hampton Jitney bus into Manhattan. Bus departure times vary about every hour. The last bus comes back around 11pm so make a day of it and go explore.
- When driving at night, be very careful of the deer! Not even kidding, they will sprint into or in front of your car. There is a large overpopulation of deer in the Hamptons and they can be dangerous.
- Because of the overpopulation of deer, there is an overpopulation of ticks. When you are hiking or just walking through the wilderness make sure to check if you have a nibbler.
- The Winter can be the slow season for businesses, and lots of places close, save money for the slow season if you work in the tip industry. We used this time to learn how to cook!
- It snows in the winter, be ready!
- Riverhead is the closest town that has corporate shopping, make a day of it and and go shopping. “Costco and the Tanger Outlet Mall.”
- There is a place that is open year round called The Clubhouse in East Hampton. Has bowling, food, games and even trivia night!