North Hills
Quick Facts
County Nassau County (Town of North Hempstead)
Zip Code11040 (shared with New Hyde Park postal area)
Approximate Population~5,500
Distance to Manhattan~20 miles
LIRR Station & Branch No station within the village; nearest stations are Manhasset (Port Washington Branch) and Roslyn (Oyster Bay Branch)
Nearest Major RoadwaysLong Island Expressway (I-495), Northern State Parkway, Shelter Rock Road, I.U. Willets Road, Searingtown Road
Community Overview
North Hills is an incorporated village in the Town of North Hempstead, set in the hilly terrain of Nassau County's North Shore. The village covers approximately 2.8 square miles and has a population of roughly 5,500 residents, making it one of the more spacious villages in western Nassau County relative to its population.
What defines North Hills is its residential character. The village has no traditional downtown, no commercial Main Street, and no significant retail within its borders. Instead, it is almost entirely composed of gated and private residential communities interspersed with remnants of the Gilded Age estates that once dominated the area. Streets are wide, tree-lined, and largely private. Many neighborhoods are set behind gates with dedicated security, amenity centers, and shared green space.
North Hills is positioned between several of Long Island's most active commercial and cultural corridors without being directly on any of them. Northern Boulevard, the Americana Manhasset, and downtown Roslyn are all within a short drive. The Long Island Expressway and Northern State Parkway both pass through the village, providing direct highway access without routing commercial traffic through residential streets.
The village government maintains a low-profile, service-oriented approach. Lowell H. Kane Park, a village-owned park exclusively for North Hills residents, and a free commuter shuttle to the Manhasset LIRR station are among the services the village provides. Village Hall, located at 1 Shelter Rock Road, serves as the administrative hub.
The overall feel of North Hills is quiet, private, and intentionally separated from the commercial activity that surrounds it. Residents who live here have chosen it specifically for that quality.
Things to Do in North Hills
North Hills itself does not have restaurants, shops, or entertainment venues within the village. The community is entirely residential by design. But its central location means that several of Long Island's strongest dining and shopping corridors are minutes away.
Roslyn, directly to the north, has one of the North Shore's most active downtown districts. Old Northern Boulevard is lined with restaurants — Gatsby's Landing, Hendrick's Tavern, T BAR, Kyma, Felice, and Il Mulino among them — along with boutiques, cafes, and the Roslyn Movie Theatre.
Manhasset, to the northwest, is home to the Americana Manhasset — one of the premier luxury shopping destinations in the Northeast — and the Plandome Road dining corridor, which includes MP Taverna, Toku, and a range of casual and fine dining options.
The Wheatley Plaza Shopping Center on Northern Boulevard (Greenvale/East Hills border) and additional retail along Northern Boulevard provide everyday shopping, grocery, and service options.
For cultural offerings, the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn Harbor is a short drive north, and the Buckley Country Day School — located within North Hills — hosts occasional community events.
Outdoor Recreation in North Hills
Christopher Morley Park, located at the northeastern corner of the village on Searingtown Road, is one of Nassau County's most well-equipped public parks. Operated by Nassau County, it features a public outdoor swimming pool, a nine-hole golf course, an ice rink, athletic fields, tennis courts, volleyball courts, a fitness trail, picnic areas, and a pond surrounded by wooded trails. The Roslyn Farmers Market operates at the park on Wednesdays from late May through December.
Lowell H. Kane Park is a smaller, village-owned park exclusively for North Hills residents and their guests. It features a playground with updated equipment and rubber surfacing, a basketball court, and open green space.
The hilly terrain and mature tree canopy throughout North Hills provide a park-like setting on residential streets, even outside formal park boundaries. For waterfront access and additional trails, Hempstead Harbor and the parks in Port Washington are a short drive north.
Nearby Communities
North Hills sits at the intersection of several established North Shore communities.
Manhasset borders North Hills to the northwest. Its LIRR station on the Port Washington Branch, the Americana Manhasset, and the Plandome Road commercial corridor are all within a few minutes of the village.
Roslyn and Roslyn Heights lie to the north and northeast. Downtown Roslyn's dining, shopping, and cultural scene is the closest commercial center to most North Hills residents.
Greenvale and Glen Head are to the north and east along Northern Boulevard, extending the North Shore corridor toward Oyster Bay.
New Hyde Park and Albertson border North Hills to the south, offering more modestly scaled housing and commercial activity along Hillside Avenue and Jericho Turnpike.
Great Neck lies to the west, accessible via Northern Boulevard, and provides another dining, retail, and LIRR corridor. For a full list of Nassau County communities served by The Eric Berman Team, visit the Communities page.
Commute to Manhattan from North Hills
North Hills does not have its own LIRR station, but two stations are within a short drive.
The Manhasset LIRR station on the Port Washington Branch is approximately 3.5 miles northwest of the village center. Express trains from Manhasset reach Penn Station in roughly 30 minutes. The Village of North Hills operates a free commuter shuttle between Village Hall (1 Shelter Rock Road) and the Manhasset station on weekday mornings (6:30 to 9:00 AM) and evenings (4:55 to 8:00 PM). A village-issued permit is required.
The Roslyn LIRR station on the Oyster Bay Branch is approximately 2 miles north. Trains connect through Mineola to Penn Station, with a total commute of approximately 50 to 60 minutes.
By car, the Long Island Expressway (I-495) runs directly through the village, and the Northern State Parkway passes along its southern border. Midtown Manhattan is approximately 20 miles west. During off-peak hours, the drive to Midtown takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes.
History of North Hills
The land that is now North Hills has deep roots in Long Island's early history. The Matinecock people maintained a village in the area, and Shelter Rock — a massive glacial boulder deposited approximately 11,000 years ago — served as a landmark for centuries. Located on Shelter Rock Road, it was once the most photographed rock formation in the United States and remains the largest glacial boulder on Long Island.
Farming took hold in the area by the mid-1600s. A long fence was built along what later became Northern Boulevard, enclosing the Cow Neck Peninsula (present-day Manhasset and Port Washington) for grazing. During the 19th century, one of the largest local farms was owned by Isaac Underhill Willets, for whom I.U. Willets Road is named. His farmhouse was later converted into the clubhouse for The Links Golf Course, and that property is now The Links at North Hills residential community.
By the early 1900s, North Hills had entered the Gold Coast era. Large estates were acquired by families including the Vanderbilts, Pulitzers, and Whitneys. The property now occupied by Deepdale Golf Club was once the Joseph P. Grace II estate. The first meeting of the village's Board of Trustees was held in that home in 1929. Lawrence Hobart Shearman, a prominent attorney whose estate is now the Buckley Country Day School, served as the first mayor.
North Hills was incorporated as a village in 1929, primarily to gain home rule powers and prevent tax increases from the Town of North Hempstead. The decades that followed saw the gradual transition from large estates to planned residential communities. The Gates at North Hills (built around 1977), The Links (built around 1990), and the Ritz-Carlton Residences (completed around 2018) represent successive waves of this transformation.
North Hills Real Estate Overview
North Hills offers a housing mix that is unusual for Nassau County. Rather than a typical grid of single-family homes, the village is dominated by gated communities, townhouse developments, and luxury condominium complexes, alongside a smaller number of detached single-family homes on private roads.
The major residential communities include:
The Links at North Hills — a gated community of over 200 townhouses and detached homes built in the 1990s, with a clubhouse, fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis and basketball courts, racquetball courts, a playground, and a dog park.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences — a luxury gated condominium development of 244 units completed around 2018, featuring a 25,000-square-foot clubhouse, concierge, valet, private theater, golf simulator, indoor and outdoor pools, spa, fitness center, and car service to the LIRR.
The Gates at North Hills — a townhouse community built around 1977 with a pool, tennis courts, and basketball court.
Additional communities include Acorn Ponds, Summit at High Point, Stone Hill, Spruce Pond, The Hamlet at North Hills, The Chatham, and Gracewood, among others.
Home prices in North Hills generally range from roughly $800,000 for condos and townhouses to well over $3 million for larger detached homes and premium condo units. The market is competitive, and the range of housing types attracts a broader buyer pool than most single-community villages.
Search homes for sale in North Hills to see what is currently available.
If you own a home in North Hills and are considering a sale, request a free home valuation to understand what your property is worth in today's market.
Schools in North Hills
North Hills is split among four public school districts. The district that serves a given property depends on its location within the village:
Great Neck Union Free School District — serves the western portions of North Hills
Herricks Union Free School District — serves the southeastern portions
Manhasset Union Free School District — serves the northwestern portions; Shelter Rock Elementary School is located within the village
Roslyn Union Free School District — serves the northeastern portions
Each of these districts operates its own K–12 schools. Information about enrollment, boundaries, curriculum, and programming is publicly available on each district's website and through GreatSchools.org.
Because North Hills spans four districts, buyers should verify which school district serves any specific property before making a purchasing decision. This is one of the most important due-diligence steps when buying in North Hills.
The Buckley Country Day School, a private school, is also located within the village.
Who Considers North Hills?
Buyers who tend to look at North Hills are typically drawn to a few specific features of the community.
The gated, private community format appeals to buyers who want security, shared amenities (pools, fitness centers, clubhouses, concierge services), and a maintenance-included lifestyle. This is especially relevant for buyers transitioning from Manhattan co-ops and condos who want a suburban setting without taking on the full scope of single-family home maintenance.
The village's position at the center of the North Shore — with Manhasset, Roslyn, and Great Neck all within a few minutes — appeals to buyers who want proximity to dining, shopping, and the LIRR without living directly on a commercial corridor. The free village shuttle to Manhasset station is a practical benefit for commuters.
Access to multiple school districts — Great Neck, Herricks, Manhasset, and Roslyn — gives buyers options that few other single villages can match. Properties in North Hills that fall within the Manhasset or Great Neck districts, in particular, draw significant attention.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences attract buyers looking for a hotel-service lifestyle with full concierge, valet, and resort-style amenities. This is a product type that has very few comparables on Long Island.
Buyers downsizing from large North Shore single-family homes frequently consider North Hills townhouse and condo communities as a way to stay in the area while reducing property maintenance and gaining access to community amenities.
Buying or Selling in North Hills?
Eric Berman and The Eric Berman Team at Compass specialize in Long Island's North Shore communities, including North Hills and its surrounding villages. With detailed knowledge of the village's gated communities, school district boundaries, HOA structures, and pricing dynamics across each development, Eric provides clients with the kind of granular, property-level insight that national platforms and out-of-area agents cannot offer.
Whether you are buying a condo at the Ritz-Carlton Residences, a townhouse at The Links, or a detached home in one of the village's private enclaves — or selling a property in any of these communities — The Eric Berman Team brings a data-driven, client-first approach to every transaction.
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Call Eric directly at 917-225-8596.
Frequently Asked Questions About North Hills
What is the commute from North Hills to Manhattan?
North Hills does not have its own LIRR station. The nearest stations are Manhasset (Port Washington Branch, approximately 30 minutes express to Penn Station) and Roslyn (Oyster Bay Branch, approximately 50 to 60 minutes with a transfer at Mineola). The village operates a free weekday commuter shuttle between Village Hall and the Manhasset station. By car, the Long Island Expressway puts Midtown Manhattan approximately 20 miles west.
How much do homes cost in North Hills?
Home prices in North Hills generally range from roughly $800,000 for condos and townhouses to well over $3 million for larger detached homes and premium units. The Ritz-Carlton Residences typically list from approximately $1.8 million to $3 million and above. Pricing varies significantly by community, unit size, and amenities.
What school districts serve North Hills?
North Hills is split among four public school districts: Great Neck, Herricks, Manhasset, and Roslyn. The district that serves a specific property depends on its location within the village. Buyers should verify school district boundaries before purchasing, as this is one of the most critical factors in North Hills real estate.
Is North Hills walkable?
North Hills is primarily a car-dependent community. It has no downtown, commercial center, or retail within the village. Residents drive to nearby Roslyn, Manhasset, or Greenvale for dining and shopping. Within gated communities, however, sidewalks and internal walking paths are common, and Christopher Morley Park provides walking trails and recreational access at the village's northeastern edge.
What types of homes are in North Hills?
North Hills is dominated by gated communities and planned developments. Housing types include luxury condominiums (such as the Ritz-Carlton Residences), townhouses (such as The Links and The Gates), and detached single-family homes on private roads. The village also includes a smaller number of estate-scale properties on larger lots.
What is there to do near North Hills?
North Hills is surrounded by active communities with strong dining, shopping, and cultural offerings. Downtown Roslyn and the Manhasset commercial corridors are both within a few minutes. The Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn Harbor, Christopher Morley Park, and the Americana Manhasset are among the closest attractions. The village itself is focused on residential living and privacy.
Does North Hills have a homeowners association?
Most residential communities within North Hills have their own HOA or condo/co-op board that manages common areas, amenities, and community rules. Each development operates independently. HOA fees, amenity access, and governance structures vary by community and should be reviewed during the purchase process.
