Let's just get this out of the way. Life in Long Island is never going to be as exciting as life in the Big Apple. These two parts of the Empire State are completely different from one another and this can be seen in the fates of their hockey teams. While the New York Islanders play in Long Island and are known for their steady but unspectacular play, its Manhattan counterparts, the New York Rangers are renowned for their flashy spectacular nature.

However, continuing this hockey metaphor to its natural conclusion: the New York Rangers are a messy mixture of volatile personalities and overly expensive players that aren't producing. This is kind of what New York City is a lot like. For all of its great heights, New York City does not offer a high quality of life for its residents.

Towns like East Patchogue in beautiful Suffolk County will never have the attractions to compete with New York City, but is the type of community where everybody enjoys a high standard of living. According to the 2000 census, East Patchogue has a total population of 20,824. With its excellent school system, extensive parks, and safe neighborhoods, East Patchogue is an excellent place to live if you're raising a family.

A place where strangers actually smile at one another while walking through the town's beautiful streets, East Patchogue has an relaxed, inclusive nature that defines the small towns of the Empire State.