Center Moriches: Waterfront homes, history, Hamptons-like facilities are draws
The historic Ketcham Inn is home to a museum and cultural center. Credit: Newsday / Alejandra Villa Loarca
THE SCOOP Center Moriches isn't in the center of anything except two other Moricheses — it's about as east as you can go on Long Island before hitting the Hamptons. And in a way, it's Hamptons light: Same two-lane roads, sand and salt air but without the tourists or, for the most part, McMansions.
"We have practically the same facilities as the Hamptons. Yes, it's a little bit different, but you don't have the high prices," said real estate broker Gerry Sapanaro, treasurer of the local chamber of commerce, owner of Moriches Bay Realty and a more than 60-year resident. "We do have some tourists during the summer, but this is more of a bedroom community."
Descending south from Sunrise Highway, bisected by Montauk Highway on its way to a series of marina-dotted bayfront peninsulas, Center Moriches sits snug behind the barrier island Westhampton Island.
"There is definitely great pride for its Main Street and love for its proximity to Moriches Bay," said Karen Dunne Kesnig, the Town of Brookhaven councilmember for the hamlet.
Main Street in this case is Montauk Highway, with a walkable downtown clustered from roughly Hallock Lane to just west of Canal Street. One landmark is the Country Cottage Diner, which under one name or another has existed for about a century. "They open early in the morning and do breakfast and lunch, no dinner," said Sapanaro, "and that all started with the fishermen being able to get breakfast before they go out on the fishing boats."
Montauk Highway in Center Moriches is home to shops, eateries and other small businesses. Credit: Newsday / Alejandra Villa Loarca
Center Moriches is home to Suffolk's Terrell River County Park, a 263-acre preserve on the former Havens Estate with hiking trails and scenic views. Near its bayside border is the public Webby's Beach, which includes a playground. So do the green spaces Kalers Pond — the correct name, a Brookhaven representative confirmed, though its posted sign incorrectly reads "Kaler's Pond Park" — and Neville Park.
The Moriches Athletic Complex has a playground as well, along with ballfields, multipurpose fields and pickleball and volleyball courts. The Moriches Bay Recreation Facility also has ballfields and multipurpose fields, and is home to the nonprofit Moriches Community Center, offering youth programs.
Elsewhere in the hamlet, the nonprofit, volunteer Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck has served special needs individuals for more than 70 years.
Orchard Creek Marina is one of several that dot the canals around Center Moriches. Credit: Newsday / Alejandra Villa Loarca
There is a King Kullen and a Lidl supermarket, but no big box stores. Not to worry, Sapanaro assured. "We're minutes from Riverhead, minutes from the Mastics, where you'll have Kohl's and Old Navy and all the shops. We're not a half-hour away from major shopping."
One downside: The Long Island Rail Road station closed in 1998. The nearest is Mastic-Shirley, about four miles away.
Homes along Crosby Street, top, and Surrey Drive in Center Moriches. Credit: Newsday / Alejandra Villa Loarca
SALE PRICES Between July 31, 2024, and July 30, 2025, there were 58 home sales with a median sale price of $717,500, according to OneKey MLS. During that period a year earlier, there were 77 home sales with a median sale price of $599,000.
CONDOS AND CO-OPS There is one co-op, priced at $715,000, on the market.
OTHER STATS
Population 8,155
Median age 41.6
Median home value $750,000
Monthly LIRR ticket from Mastic-Shirley $433
School district, graduation rate Center Moriches, 93%
Library Center Moriches
Transit Suffolk County Transit Route 66
Sources: 2023 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS via InfoSparks by ShowingTime; LIRR; data.nysed.gov; Suffolk County Transit
ON THE MARKET
$5 million
This $5 million Center Moriches estate is 8,000 square feet. Credit: Rise Media
A 19th century estate built for Captain Joseph Hastings, this more than 6,000-square-foot, 25-room mansion on 6.3 acres with a deep-water dock on Senix Creek features a saltwater pool, hot tub and pool house. It has six bedrooms, five full bathrooms and five fireplaces. A two-story, 1,800-square-foot carriage house has its own two bedrooms and three baths. Taxes are $47,000. Brenda J. Giufurta, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 917-693-7078.
$937,000
This $937,000 Center Moriches home is a block from Webby's Beach. Credit: Corcoran
With bay views from the elevated back deck, this 2001 Colonial has four beds, 2½ baths, a formal dining room and an eat-in kitchen with quartz/quartzite counters. It also features an expansive porch, central air and an attached one-car garage. Taxes are $20,012. William J. Carroll and Letticia Lettieri, Corcoran, 631-241-8168.
$629,000
This $629,000 Center Moriches home has three bedrooms. Credit: Moriches Bay Realty
This midcentury three-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch with a basement and attached garage had a new roof, hot water heater, boiler and cesspool installed within the past decade-plus. Also, windows, a generator and insulation were installed within the past five years. It is in the Holiday Beach community, which has a $175 annual fee. Taxes are $11,608. Gerry Sapanaro, Moriches Bay Realty, 631-241-6747.
RECENTLY SOLD
$965,000
Bittersweet Lane
Style Traditional
Bedrooms 5
Bathrooms 3 full, 2 half
Built 2006
Lot size 0.69 acre
Taxes $16,192
+/- List price -$10,000
Days on market 109
$720,000
Lloyd Street
Style High ranch
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 3½
Built 1985
Lot size 0.35 acre
Taxes $12,826
+/- List price +$40,000
Days on market 4 days
$640,000
Hewitt Boulevard
Style Ranch
Bedrooms 2
Bathrooms 2
Built 1971
Lot size 0.26 acre
Taxes $12,038
+/- List price +$10,000
Days on market 77
ON ONEKEY MLS
Number of listings 40
Price range $525,000-$5.3 million
Tax range $8,577-$47,000
