Laurel: Picturesque, sparsely populated community keeps laid-back vibe
Peconic Bay Park in Laurel hosts activities like sailing school. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
THE SCOOP Sparsely populated and a favorite of boaters, Laurel is one of the more laid back hamlets in the town of Southold, Town of Southold Supervisor Albert Krupski said.
"It's a beautiful quiet place, right outside of Mattituck, which is the bigger commercial area in town," Krupski said, adding that Laurel remains mostly residential because there's a limited area zoned for commercial development.
Laurel sits on Peconic Bay, which is popular with boaters, and is home to Laurel Lake, a spot for swimming, kayaking, fishing and hiking.
"It's a freshwater lake," Krupski said of the latter. "It's very undeveloped, because we've preserved the land around it."
Along one side of Peconic Bay Boulevard are sprawling, waterfront properties, while the other side has quaint cottages with their own beach access, noted Susan Orioli, an agent with Engel & Volkers North Fork.
Laurel is home to Ev&Em Vineyards, owned by newsman Dan Abrams. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
"It's very picturesque and tree-lined along most of the areas of Laurel," Orioli said, adding that the hamlet is near vineyards and wineries and offers easy access to the Hamptons.
Situated midway between Aquebogue and Mattituck on the North Fork, Laurel was known for many years as "Middle District." When Riverhead split from Southold in 1792, the new border ran through Middle District, dividing the farming community in half. The hamlet was renamed Franklinville around the time residents formed their own Presbyterian church there in 1831. The hamlet earned its current name in 1890.
Laurel Antiques sits on Franklinville Road. Laurel was once called Franklinville. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
Early homesteaders were known to gather seaweed along Long Island Sound in winter, piling it around the foundations of their homes for insulation. The population of about 128 residents in 1890 grew to 200 by 1900, and was then described in a survey of Long Island communities as "a pretty village at peace with all the world." Today, the population stands at just over 1,300, contributing to its peaceful character.
Though there's some debate as to where Anna Symmes was born, many Laurel residents claim the future wife of President William Henry Harrison and grandmother of President Benjamin Harrison as one of their own.
Today, home prices start in the $700,000s and reach upwards of $4 million for a waterfront home with a bay beach.
Homes along Peconic Bay, top, and Bray Avenue in Laurel. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
SALE PRICES Between July 3, 2024, and July 2, 2025, there were 16 home sales with a median sale price of $1.05 million, according to OneKey MLS. During that period a year earlier, there were 11 home sales with a median sale price of $1.13 million.
CONDOS AND CO-OPS There are no condos or co-ops on the market.
OTHER STATS
Population 1,340
Median age 51.5
Median home value $1.25 million
Monthly LIRR ticket from Mattituck $468
School district, graduation rate Mattituck-Cutchogue (88%)
Library Mattituck-Laurel
Transit Suffolk County Transit Route 92
Sources: 2023 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS via InfoSparks by ShowingTime; LIRR, data.nysed.gov, Suffolk County Transit
ON THE MARKET
$4.5 million
This $4.5 million Laurel home overlooks the Great Peconic Bay. Credit: Corcoran
This 3,385-square-foot waterfront home on 1 acre has four bedrooms and three bathrooms. It features hardwood floors, double height bay windows and built-in cabinets in the living room, plus a large laundry room, a screened-in sunroom and a wine cellar. The property includes 100 feet of bay beach, three decks and a patio, a full house generator and an attached three-car garage. Taxes are $23,288. Sheri Winter Park, Corcoran, 631-765-1300.
$979,000
This $979,000 Laurel home has a deeded boat slip in a nearby boat basin. Credit: Jump Visual
Built in 1935, this 1,292-square-foot home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Features include hardwood floors, a kitchen with stainless steel appliances, new board and batten siding and a new irrigation system. The 0.24-acre property has water views, a slate patio, detached two-car garage and a deeded boat slip in a nearby basin. Taxes are $7,165. Susan Orioli and Therese Ferguson Zuhoski, Engel & Volkers North Fork, 631-298-7953.
$775,000
This $775,000 Laurel house is 1,456 square feet. Credit: Douglas Elliman Realty
This renovated 1,456-square-foot Cape has four beds, three baths, hardwood floors, wainscotting and recessed lighting throughout. It features a kitchen with stainless steel appliances and quartz counters, a dining room with built-ins, an unfinished full basement and gas heat. The 0.14-acre property has a fenced-in rear yard with a raised deck. Taxes are $5,946. Richard Connelly and Susan Connelly, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 631-953-5750.
RECENTLY SOLD
$2.95 million
Peconic Bay Boulevard
Style Unknown
Bedrooms 5
Bathrooms 4
Built 1916
Lot size 2.3 acres
Taxes $23,383
+/- List price -$250,000
Days on market 192
$849,000
6th Street
Style Ranch
Bedrooms 2
Bathrooms 2
Built 1967
Lot size 0.21 acre
Taxes $6,025
+/- List price -$40,000
Days on market 114
$402,000
Main Road
Style Cottage
Bedrooms 2
Bathrooms 1
Built 1823
Lot size 0.45 acre
Taxes $5,790
+/- List price +$2,001
Days on market 63
ON ONEKEY MLS
Number of listings 5
Price range $749,000 to $4.5 million
Tax range $5,048 to $23,288
