Hampton Bays sits at the western edge of The Hamptons on eastern Long Island, where Great Peconic Bay to the north and Shinnecock Bay to the south keep the water part of everyday life. This hamlet, part of the Town of Southampton in Suffolk County, carries a personality that mixes working fishing port with relaxed coastal community. Commercial fishing remains a genuine part of the local economy, and the small downtown corridor along Montauk Highway anchors daily errands and casual outings alike.
The hamlet covers roughly 14 square miles and holds a population of just under 19,000 residents. Originally settled in 1740 under the name "Good Ground," Hampton Bays grew from a cluster of smaller hamlets into the cohesive community it is today. SUNY Suffolk County's Eastern Campus is about 13 miles away, giving the area a connection to higher education without the density of a college town.
The rental market reflects the area's coastal, suburban character.
