Westbury, NY: Where Suburban Dreams Go to Spin in Circles
Welcome to Westbury, New York—the Long Island community that proves sometimes the journey is the destination, especially when that journey involves 29.1 minutes mean travel time to work on the LIRR just to reach actual civilization. This Nassau County village has somehow managed to pack 15,404 people (as of the 2020 census) into a place where the most exciting landmark literally spins around in circles. But don't let that fool you—Westbury has character, even if that character is "aggressively suburban with delusions of cosmopolitan grandeur."
A Cultural Melting Pot (That Happens to Be Strip Mall Adjacent)
Let's give credit where credit's due: Westbury is genuinely diverse. The largest racial/ethnic groups are Hispanic (34.4%) followed by White (34.2%) and Black (16.2%), creating a multicultural tapestry that would make the United Nations jealous—if the UN met exclusively in strip malls and argued about parking at Roosevelt Field. 29% of residents were born outside of the country, bringing authentic flavors from around the globe to a place where the most exotic thing locals knew before was probably a Sbarro.
The diversity is real and vibrant, with European Americans, Black Americans, Spanish Americans and Caribbeans; particularly Haitians, Guyanese, and Jamaicans all calling Westbury home. You can indeed get Dominican food next to a pizza joint next to a Jamaican spot—it's just that they're all nestled between a nail salon and a dry cleaner in a strip mall that's seen better decades. But hey, authentic abuela recipes taste just as good under fluorescent lighting, right?
The Crown Jewel: A Theater That Actually Rotates
The undisputed star of Westbury's entertainment scene is the Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, formerly known as NYCB Theatre at Westbury, a unique venue with a circular, rotating stage and 3,000 seat capacity. This isn't just marketing fluff—the venue's hallmark is its circular, rotating stage, ensuring clear sightlines from every seat, with the furthest seat only about 60 feet away.
One of the last remaining venues in the round with a rotating stage, it first opened in 1956 as the Westbury Music Fair to host Broadway-style shows 35 miles from midtown Manhattan. Back in its heyday, early performers saw Frank Sinatra, The Who, and Aretha Franklin, among others, grace the rotating stage. Those were the days when the venue actually mattered, when Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, George Carlin, Dave Chappelle, Garth Brooks, and Britney Spears all performed there.
Today? Well, it's still spinning, which is more than you can say for most Long Island entertainment venues. The theater-in-the-round format means even the back row has a close-up view of the action, ensuring everyone gets an equally intimate experience with whatever touring tribute band or comedian whose Netflix special got cancelled is performing that night.
Economics: Surprisingly Prosperous Despite Geographic Limitations
Here's where Westbury throws you a curveball: despite being dismissed as generic suburbia, it's actually doing quite well financially. The median household income is $145,185, which is impressive for a place where the biggest decision most residents face is whether to shop at Roosevelt Field or drive to the Americana. The poverty rate stands at 3.37%, suggesting that despite the strip mall aesthetics, people here are living comfortably.
The most common job groups are Management Occupations (1,171 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,089 people), and Business & Financial Operations Occupations (679 people). In other words, these are the people keeping New York City running from a safe 45-minute commute away. Housing costs come to a median of $2,367 per month, while tenants pay a median gross rent of $1,813—not cheap, but when you consider you're getting suburban tranquility with decent ethnic food and a theater where the stage literally comes to you, it's not the worst deal on Long Island.
Historic Significance: Where Aviation History Took Flight (And Never Returned)
Westbury's claim to fame in the history books is undeniable: in 1927, Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field, a couple of hundred yards south of downtown, for the history-making flight to Paris, marking probably the most famous event tied to the Greater Westbury area. The man chose to fly solo across the Atlantic rather than stick around—make of that what you will about Westbury's entertainment value circa 1927.
The first settlers arrived in 1658 in the region known as the Hempstead Plains, with many of the early settlers being Quakers. The area has deep roots, with Jericho Turnpike, which provides connection to Mineola and Syosset as well as to the Long Island Expressway, once being a trail used by the Massapequa Indians. So at least the traffic jams have historical precedent.
The community showed its character during World War II when Westbury sent 1,400 persons to serve the country—20% of the community's population, making it the highest percentage of any comparable community in the United States. They may live in suburbia, but when it counted, Westbury residents stepped up.
The Verdict: Suburban with Substance
Is Westbury the most exciting place on earth? Absolutely not. Will you spend a significant portion of your life on the LIRR if you live here? Definitely. But there's something charmingly honest about a place that embraces its suburban identity while still managing to be genuinely diverse, economically stable, and home to one of the last remaining rotating stages in America.
Sure, it's Long Island trying to be worldly while remaining aggressively suburban. Yes, the biggest excitement might be arguing about mall choices. But at least the food is authentic, the commute is predictable, and if you squint just right during a concert at the Music Fair, you can almost pretend Frank Sinatra is still on that spinning stage.
Think we were too nice? See the full roast on RoastMyTown.com and discover why Westbury's residents might prefer the view from a rotating theater seat to facing reality head-on.