Manhasset
Quick Facts
County: Nassau County
Zip Code: 11030
Approximate Population: 8,176 (2020 Census, CDP); Greater Manhasset Area ~18,000
Distance to Manhattan: ~19.5 miles
LIRR Station: Manhasset (Port Washington Branch)
Nearest Major Roadways: Northern Boulevard (NY-25A), Long Island Expressway (I-495), Shelter Rock Road
Community Overview
Manhasset is the seat of the Town of North Hempstead. North Hempstead Town Hall sits right on Plandome Road, in the center of the hamlet's commercial district. That detail says something about Manhasset's identity: this is a community with institutional weight and a downtown that functions as a true center of gravity for the surrounding area.
The commercial district runs along Plandome Road, anchored by the LIRR station. Coffee shops, pizzerias, delis, a movie theater (Manhasset Cinemas), and locally owned restaurants line both sides of the street. It's compact and walkable. You can park once and hit the library, grab lunch, pick up dry cleaning, and catch a train. A small park and gazebo sit at the center of the strip, and the community shuts down Plandome Road multiple times a year for events like Manhasset Al Fresco (a summer Sunday series with outdoor dining and live music), a Halloween trick-or-treating event at local businesses, and a holiday festival.
Then there's the Americana Manhasset, located on Northern Boulevard along what's known as the Miracle Mile. This is an open-air luxury shopping destination with tenants including Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Dior, and Cartier. It draws shoppers from across the New York metro area and is one of the most recognized retail addresses on Long Island.
The Greater Manhasset area includes several incorporated villages: Munsey Park, Plandome, Plandome Heights, parts of Plandome Manor, Flower Hill, and North Hills. Each village has its own governance and character, but all fall within the Manhasset school district and share the 11030 zip code. The result is a community that feels cohesive while offering distinct neighborhood options.
Manhasset also sits adjacent to North Shore University Hospital (part of Northwell Health), one of the region's major medical centers, located on Community Drive.
Things to Do / Lifestyle & Amenities
Plandome Road is where daily life happens. Louie's diner has been a Manhasset fixture for 60 years, the kind of place where regulars show up on the same day every week. Publicans has served burgers and beer since 1977. Kiko Ramen, La Moda, The Pita Station, and a handful of other restaurants round out the local dining scene. Manhasset Cinemas keeps a movie theater within walking distance of downtown.
The Americana Manhasset, on Northern Boulevard, operates as an open-air luxury shopping center. Beyond the flagship fashion brands, it includes dining options and hosts seasonal events. The broader Northern Boulevard corridor, known as the Miracle Mile, also includes additional retail, dining, and professional services.
The Manhasset Public Library, located at Onderdonk Avenue and Northern Boulevard, sits adjacent to the historic 1719 Quaker Meeting House. The library offers extensive programming, a children's room, and community event space.
Manhasset Valley Park, near the intersection of Northern Boulevard and Maple Street, provides green space and a playground. Mary Jane Davies Green, in the heart of the Plandome Road district, is a small pocket park that serves as a gathering point downtown.
For broader recreation, Manhasset residents have easy access to parks and facilities in neighboring communities, including the waterfronts of Port Washington and Manorhaven, Harbor Links golf course in Roslyn, and Clark Botanic Garden in Albertson. The Landmark on Main Street in Port Washington is a short drive for performing arts.
Outdoor Recreation
Manhasset itself is more of a commercial and residential community than a parks-heavy one, but residents have strong access to outdoor amenities nearby.
Manhasset Valley Park is the primary local green space, with walking paths, a playground, and open lawn area. Mary Jane Davies Green provides a small downtown park setting along Plandome Road.
Whitney Pond Park, straddling the Manhasset-Roslyn border along Northern Boulevard, offers walking paths around a pond and open green space.
For waterfront access, Port Washington is immediately to the north. Manorhaven Beach Park, North Hempstead Beach Park, Bay Walk Park, and the Sands Point Preserve are all within a short drive. The Town Dock in Port Washington provides public access to Manhasset Bay.
Harbor Links, a public executive golf course in the Town of North Hempstead, is located nearby in the Port Washington/Roslyn area. Clark Botanic Garden in Albertson offers 12 acres of cultivated gardens and walking paths.
Christopher Morley Park, a 98-acre Nassau County park, is accessible just south of Manhasset with a pool, ice rink, tennis courts, dog park, and nature trails.
Nearby Communities
Manhasset's central North Shore location puts it within easy reach of several neighboring communities. Port Washington, directly to the north on the Cow Neck Peninsula, offers waterfront parks, a walkable Main Street, and the terminus of the LIRR's Port Washington Branch. Plandome, a small incorporated village between Manhasset and Port Washington, shares the same LIRR line and school district. To the east, Roslyn features a historic village center, Roslyn Pond Park, and proximity to the Roslyn Viaduct. North Hills, to the south, includes a mix of single-family homes and newer residential developments. Glen Head and Old Westbury are accessible further east.
For a broader look at all the communities we cover, visit our communities hub.
Commute to Manhattan
Manhasset sits on the LIRR's Port Washington Branch, the only LIRR line that runs directly to both Penn Station and Grand Central Madison without a transfer at Jamaica.
LIRR Station: Manhasset
Branch: Port Washington Branch
Typical Travel Time to Penn Station: ~37 to 43 minutes; express service during rush hour can reach Manhattan in under 30 minutes
Service to Grand Central Madison: Direct, approximately hourly, ~40 minutes
Train Frequency: Trains run every 15 to 30 minutes during peak hours; approximately every 30 minutes off-peak
Driving to Midtown Manhattan: Approximately 17 to 20 miles. Without traffic, the drive takes roughly 26 to 35 minutes via the Long Island Expressway (I-495) to the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, or via Northern Boulevard through Queens to the Queensboro (59th Street) Bridge. During peak commute hours, expect 45 to 75 minutes depending on tunnel and bridge conditions.
Primary Driving Routes: Northern Boulevard (NY-25A) west through Queens; or Shelter Rock Road south to I-495 (LIE) westbound toward the Midtown Tunnel. The Grand Central Parkway is also accessible.
Bus: NICE bus routes n20H, n21, n25, and n26 serve Manhasset, connecting to Northern Boulevard corridors and points south.
The Manhasset station is located on Plandome Road in the center of downtown, making it walkable from the commercial district and many surrounding residential streets. Parking is available at the station.
History
The area now known as Manhasset was settled by 1680, on land originally inhabited by a local Native American group whose name, anglicized as "Manhasset," translates roughly to "the island neighborhood." The community was originally called Little Cow Neck, sharing the broader Cow Neck Peninsula with what is now Port Washington (then Upper Cow Neck).
Manhasset remained a farming community through the 19th century. The arrival of the Long Island Rail Road in 1898 changed the trajectory of the area, bringing commuter access to Manhattan and triggering a shift from rural to residential. By the 1920s, pioneering commuters from New York City began building homes in the area, and a commercial district developed along Plandome Road. The Gold Coast era brought large estates to the surrounding villages, some of which were later subdivided into the residential lots that define neighborhoods like Munsey Park.
The 1719 Quaker Meeting House, which still stands on Northern Boulevard adjacent to the library, is one of the oldest surviving structures in the community and a reminder of Manhasset's colonial roots. North Hempstead Town Hall has been located in Manhasset since the town separated from the Town of Hempstead in 1784.
Real Estate Overview
Manhasset's housing market is defined by high demand and limited inventory. The majority of homes are single-family detached properties. Colonials, Tudors, and center-hall layouts predominate, many dating to the 1920s and 1930s when the area's residential development accelerated. Ranch-style homes, newer construction, and renovated properties are also part of the mix.
Within the Greater Manhasset area, neighborhoods vary. Munsey Park is known for larger lots and a village-within-a-village structure with its own park and governance. Plandome, Plandome Heights, and Plandome Manor are smaller incorporated villages with their own identities. Flower Hill includes a mix of single-family homes and townhome communities, including Harbor Village. North Hills has seen newer residential development, including planned communities and condos.
Homes in Manhasset rarely list below $1 million. Entry-level pricing typically starts in the $1.2 million range, with most single-family homes falling between $1.5 million and $3.5 million. Larger or fully renovated properties can reach $4 million and above. The median home price has generally tracked above $1.3 million. Properties move relatively quickly, with average days on market tending to be 30 to 50 days depending on condition and price point.
The commercial tax base along Northern Boulevard and Plandome Road helps offset residential property taxes, which is a factor buyers often note when comparing Manhasset to other North Shore communities.
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Schools
Manhasset is served by the Manhasset Union Free School District (UFSD), which operates four schools serving students in grades K through 12. The district includes two elementary schools, Munsey Park Elementary School and Shelter Rock Elementary School, along with Manhasset Middle School and Manhasset Secondary School (high school).
The district encompasses the hamlet of Manhasset and the villages of Munsey Park, Plandome, Plandome Heights, parts of Plandome Manor, Flower Hill, and North Hills. As of the 2024–2025 school year, the district enrolls approximately 3,000 students with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13:1.
For additional details, visit the Manhasset Public Schools website or review district information on GreatSchools.org.
Who Considers Manhasset?
Buyers tend to consider Manhasset for a combination of location, school district, and walkability.
The LIRR's Port Washington Branch provides direct service to Penn Station and Grand Central Madison without a transfer. The Manhasset station sits in the center of the downtown commercial district, meaning many residents can walk to the train. That combination of direct commuter rail access and a walkable station area is uncommon on the North Shore.
The compact, functioning downtown along Plandome Road appeals to buyers who want daily conveniences within walking distance: coffee, groceries, restaurants, dry cleaning, a movie theater. The proximity to the Americana Manhasset on Northern Boulevard adds a retail dimension most suburban communities can't match.
The school district is a primary driver of buyer interest. The Manhasset UFSD is a small district (four schools, ~3,000 students), and buyers frequently cite the district as a key reason for choosing the community.
Buyers relocating from Manhattan and Brooklyn often look at Manhasset because of the direct train line and the relatively easy transition from urban to suburban living. The density and walkability of the Plandome Road area feel familiar. Buyers from Queens neighborhoods along the Port Washington Branch (Bayside, Flushing, Douglaston) also frequently consider Manhasset as a next move.
Buying or Selling in Manhasset?
Eric Berman and The Eric Berman Team at Compass operate from Manhasset. The office is located at 1468 Northern Boulevard, directly on the Miracle Mile. The team's local knowledge of Manhasset extends to the village-level detail that matters: which blocks are in which school attendance zone, how tax rates differ between the incorporated villages, and what's happening with inventory before it hits the market.
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Why list with The Eric Berman Team
Call Eric Berman directly: 917-225-8596
Frequently Asked Questions About Manhasset
Q: How far is Manhasset from Manhattan?
A: Manhasset is approximately 19.5 miles from Midtown Manhattan. By train, the LIRR provides direct service to Penn Station in roughly 37 minutes and to Grand Central Madison in about 40 minutes. Express trains during rush hour can reach Manhattan in under 30 minutes. By car, the drive takes 26 to 35 minutes without traffic via the LIE or Northern Boulevard, and 45 to 75 minutes during peak commute hours.
Q: What is the commute like from Manhasset to New York City?
A: Manhasset sits on the LIRR's Port Washington Branch, which provides direct service to both Penn Station and Grand Central Madison without a transfer at Jamaica. Trains run every 15 to 30 minutes during peak hours. For drivers, the Long Island Expressway (I-495) to the Midtown Tunnel and Northern Boulevard to the Queensboro Bridge are the primary routes. Off-peak driving takes roughly 26 to 35 minutes; during rush hour, expect 45 to 75 minutes.
Q: What types of homes are available in Manhasset?
A: Manhasset's housing stock is predominantly single-family detached homes. Colonials, Tudors, and center-hall layouts built primarily in the 1920s through 1940s make up the core inventory, along with newer construction and renovated properties. Entry-level pricing typically starts around $1.2 million, with most homes falling between $1.5 million and $3.5 million. Townhomes and condos are available in some sections, particularly in Flower Hill and North Hills.
Q: What school district serves Manhasset?
A: The Manhasset Union Free School District serves the community, operating two elementary schools (Munsey Park and Shelter Rock), one middle school, and one high school (Manhasset Secondary School). The district enrolls approximately 3,000 students. Detailed information is available at manhassetschools.org and on GreatSchools.org.
Q: What is there to do in Manhasset?
A: Manhasset's downtown along Plandome Road offers restaurants, a movie theater, local shops, and a public library. The Americana Manhasset on Northern Boulevard provides luxury shopping. Seasonal community events include Manhasset Al Fresco, a Halloween street event, and a holiday festival. Nearby outdoor recreation includes parks and waterfronts in Port Washington, Harbor Links golf course, and Clark Botanic Garden.
Q: Where is the Eric Berman Team office located?
A: The Eric Berman Team at Compass is located at 1468 Northern Boulevard in Manhasset, NY 11030, directly on the Miracle Mile. The office serves buyers and sellers across the North Shore and surrounding communities.
Q: What villages are included in the Greater Manhasset area?
A: The Greater Manhasset area includes the unincorporated hamlet of Manhasset and the incorporated villages of Munsey Park, Plandome, Plandome Heights, parts of Plandome Manor, Flower Hill, and North Hills. All fall within the Manhasset school district and share the 11030 zip code, with a combined population of approximately 18,000.
