Founded in the mid-17th century, this quaint village was the first settlement in Brookhaven. Rich in history, this hamlet is filled with all the beauty an outdoors lover could want: parks, beaches, farms, and all sorts of flora and fauna.   It includes Setauket, East Setauket, and South Setauket, each with its own style. The area is largely residential with single-family homes and condos. Just over 13,000 people live here, and they've ranked it the #1 happiest place to live on Long Island, according to a Zippia.com survey.

The Community of Strongs Neck: This peninsula of land on the north shore of Setauket, originally known as “Little Neck,” was sold at auction to the Strong Family in the late 1700s, which is what spurred its name change. This area is most famous for the Culper Spy Ring, led by George Washington during the Revolutionary War to provide information about British Army activity. While some of the historical landmarks are still intact, this waterfront community saw a huge increase in development during the 1970s. Strongs Neck now has a mix of smaller homes and larger luxury properties. Many homes offer deeded beach rights, and property owners are often seen traveling the street in golf carts enjoying the laid-back beach scene Strongs Neck is known for.

Incorporated Village of Poquott:  The village of Poquott was incorporated in the 1930s, and its area is just over half a square mile, with 350 households. Established originally as farmland and then as the home of a tourist attraction summer amusement park, it’s now almost entirely populated by full-time residents. Even so, the area still has the feeling of a beachside community, offering both charming beach cottages and large waterfront estates. If you live here, you can enjoy private beaches (Walnut Beach and Van Brunt Manor Beach), exclusive mooring rights, a community playground, communal gardens, and tennis, plus a true “small-town neighborhood” atmosphere.