Plainview, NY 268 Apartments for Rent

Many actors and sports personalities have called Plainview home. Among them are Harrison Chad, who played Boots on "Dora the Explorer"; Diane Franklin of "The Last American Virgin"; and Danielle Harris, who screamed her head off in some of the "Halloween" movies.

Plainview, New York, is a hamlet, but no, it has nothing to do with the famous play. Its hamlet designation just means it's part of an unincorporated town that has an official name but lacks its own government (and true identity). Plainview has a population of over 26,000, not including pets, and consists of only about 5 square miles. The area features many parks, a radio station, and a public television station, but shares fire departments with Old Bethpage, which is another New York Hamlet. The area isn't quite big city enough to have its own police force, so the Nassau County Police Department keeps the peace.

Moving to Plainview

As far as size goes, Plainview is small or medium-sized, depending on who does the measuring. Home sale prices and rental rates here outpace averages across the entire country. Don't let that news scare you off, however.

Most residents do own their homes, and the vacancy rate hovers around 2 percent, so if you have the bucks to throw down, don't delay in starting your apartment search. Allow yourself at least 6 months to find an apartment rental, and show up for tours with proof of income and references at the ready. Competition is fierce.

Neighborhoods

Here are some of the popular neighborhoods in Plainview:

Town Center: If you tour this neighborhood, you'll find a lot of medium-sized to larger properties as well as some apartment complexes.

Old Country Rd / Pasadena D: This area features a large number of homes built between 1940 and 1970 as well as some apartment buildings.

Old Country Rd / Plainview R: If you find an apartment rental or home you like, whip out the old checkbook and sign the lease right away. Other people are surely gunning for the same space. Most properties here are homes and townhomes, though, so a home rental may prove easier to find.

S Oyster Bay Rd / Jamaica Av: It offers some small apartment buildings and a lot of medium-sized homes, so there's a chance you can find an apartment here.