Moving to Southampton: Pros, Cons & What to Know
Moving to Southampton means moving to one of the oldest English settlements in New York State -- a real, genuinely historic South Fork village with a more institutionally-anchored economy than several nearby Hamptons markets, a decisively elevated retiree community, and genuinely extreme housing costs.
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Learn moreA real, genuinely historic 1640 settlement, distinct from a purely resort-town founding story
Southampton was settled in 1640 by English Puritans from Lynn, Massachusetts who landed at Conscience Point -- genuinely one of the oldest English settlements in New York State, though the Town's broader claim to being the FIRST is honestly disclosed as disputed by the Town of Southold.
A genuinely tiny incorporated village, distinct from the much larger surrounding Town
Southampton village had 4,550 residents at the 2020 Census (a separate source cites 3,965) -- confirm which entity a given figure describes relative to the much larger, ~55,210-resident Town of Southampton.
Budget for genuinely extreme housing costs
Southampton village's own ZHVI reached $3,554,238 -- comparable in magnitude to East Hampton village's own extreme figures -- even as the broader area's average home value ran a comparatively lower (though still high) $2,219,047.
A real, more institutionally-anchored economy
Unlike Sag Harbor and East Hampton, Southampton hosts Stony Brook Southampton Hospital (the East End's own Level III trauma center) and Stony Brook Southampton (a real university campus) directly in the village.
Key takeaways
- Southampton was settled in 1640 -- genuinely one of the oldest English settlements in New York State.
- Southampton village (4,550-3,965 residents) is genuinely tiny relative to the surrounding Town (~55,210).
- Southampton village's own ZHVI ($3,554,238) is comparable to East Hampton's own extreme housing costs.
- Southampton hosts the East End's Level III trauma center and a Stony Brook University campus directly in the village.
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