Baxter Estates is a village in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered part of the Greater Port Washington area, which is anchored by Port Washington. The population was 991 at the time of the 2020 census.
The Incorporated Village of Baxter Estates is located on the Cow Neck Peninsula, within the Town of North Hempstead, and is recognized as a Tree City USA.
History
What is now Baxter Estates was originally inhabited by the Matinecock Native Americans, and there is evidence that a Matinecock wigwam village within its territory once existed in the vicinity of Baxter Pond. Hessian troops were quartered on this property – also known as the Baxter Homestead – during the American Revolutionary War.
In 1895, Port Washington's first public library was established in the Baxter Homestead. The Port Washington Public Library would eventually move to what is now the Polish American Museum in unincorporated Port Washington, before moving to its current location along the north side of Main Street; this facility is located within Baxter Estates.
In 1931, Baxter Estates incorporated as a village in order to retain home rule, after Port Washington proposed incorporating as a city and absorbing the territory – about the same time as nearby Flower Hill, which similarly wished to remain independent from the then-proposed City of Port Washington.
In 2010, the Village of Baxter Estates opened the present Baxter Estates Village Hall on Main Street, replacing the former facility – originally built in the 1950s – at the corner of Shore Road and Harbor Road. This new facility, which overlooks Manhasset Bay, is located adjacent to Sunset Park and consists of multiple floors; the village occupies the lower level and leases the space above it to businesses.
On February 5, 2017, the Baxter Homestead was destroyed in a major fire while its owner, Sabrina Wu, was in the process of submitting plans to demolish it. This raised suspicion that the blaze was intentionally set, and an investigation was executed.
In 2024, the village secured a $7.7 million grant from New York state for repairs to the seawall along Shore Road, adjacent to the Baxter Estates Village Beach. The project will additionally see the construction of improved recreational facilities – including a boardwalk over the water, directly linking Bay Walk Park in Port Washington North with Sunset Park in Baxter Estates. The plan – including the boardwalk over Manhasset Bay – were approved by the Town of North Hempstead later that year.
Etymology
The village is named for the Baxter family – a prominent local family which owned a significant amount of land in the area – including the former homestead at the corner of Central Drive and Shore Road.
Additionally, Baxter Estates is located on the western portion of the Cow Neck Peninsula, roughly midway between its southern base and northern tip. This moraine was formed by glaciers during the Wisconsin Glacial Episode, and is named for Harbor Hill in Roslyn; Harbor Hill is the highest geographic point in Nassau County.
Drainage
Baxter Estates is located within the Manhasset Bay Watershed, which, in turn, is located within the larger Long Island Sound/Atlantic Ocean Watershed.
Climate
Baxter Estates has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa), bordering on a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa). Average monthly temperatures in the village range from 33.0 °F in January to 75.9 °F in July.
Plant zone
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the village is located within hardiness zone 7b.
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Baxter Estates village, New York – Racial and ethnic composition<br><small></small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(NH = Non-Hispanic)</small>
!Pop 2000
!Pop 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |Pop 2020
!% 2000
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|White alone (NH)
|747
|743
|style='background: #ffffe6; |700
|74.25%
|74.37%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |70.64%
|-
|Black or African American alone (NH)
|23
|12
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7
|2.29%
|1.20%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.71%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)
|1
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0
|0.10%
|0.10%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
|Asian alone (NH)
|72
|60
|style='background: #ffffe6; |74
|7.16%
|6.01%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.47%
|-
|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)
|0
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0
|0.00%
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
|Other race alone (NH)
|0
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4
|0.00%
|0.10%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.40%
|-
|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)
|16
|14
|style='background: #ffffe6; |33
|1.59%
|1.40%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.33%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino (any race)
|147
|168
|style='background: #ffffe6; |173
|14.61%
|16.82%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17.46%
|-
|Total
|1,006
|999
|style='background: #ffffe6; |991
|100.00%
|100.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%
|}
2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 991 people residing in the village. The racial makeup of the village was 81.08% White, 1.30% African American, 6.01% Asian, 3.50% from other races, and 7.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.82% of the population.
Census 2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,006 people, 376 households, and 262 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 386 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 84.00% White, 2.68% African American, 0.10% Native American, 7.16% Asian, 3.98% from other races, and 2.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.61% of the population.
There were 376 households, out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $84,592, and the median income for a family was $111,074. Males had a median income of $56,250 versus $51,250 for females. The per capita income for the village was $44,718. About 3.0% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Village government
As of July 2025, the Mayor of Baxter Estates is Nora Haagenson, the Deputy Mayor is Charles Comer, and the Village Trustees are Charles Comer, Alice M. Peckelis, Maria Branco and Alexander Price.
Representation in higher government
On the town level, Baxter Estates is located in the Town of North Hempstead's 6th council district, which as of April 2026 is represented on the North Hempstead Town Council by Mariann Dalimonte (D–Port Washington).
On the county level, Baxter Estates is located in Nassau County's 11th Legislative district, which as of April 2026 is represented in the Nassau County Legislature by Delia DiRiggi-Whitton (D–Glen Cove).
On the state level, Baxter Estates is located within the New York State Assembly's 16th State Assembly district and the New York State Senate's 7th State Senate district, which as of May 2026 are represented by Daniel J. Norber (R–Great Neck) and Jack M. Martins (R–Old Westbury), respectively.
On the federal level, Baxter Estates is located in New York's 3rd congressional district, which as of April 2026 is represented by Thomas R. Suozzi (D–Glen Cove). Like the rest of New York, it is represented in the United States Senate by Charles E. Schumer (D) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D).
Politics
In the 2024 United States presidential election, the majority of Baxter Estates voters voted for Kamala D. Harris (D). Harris carried the village by roughly 67% of the hamlet's vote, while Donald J. Trump (R) received approximately 32% of the remaining votes. As such, all children who reside within Baxter Estates and attend public schools go to Port Washington's schools.
Bus
As of May 2026, Baxter Estates is served by two Nassau Inter-County Express bus routes: the n23 and the Port Washington Shuttle.
Utilities
Natural gas
thumb|National Grid USA construction work within Baxter Estates in 2022
National Grid USA provides natural gas to homes and businesses that are hooked up to natural gas lines in Baxter Estates.
Power
PSEG Long Island provides power to all homes and businesses within Baxter Estates, on behalf of the Long Island Power Authority.
Sewage
Baxter Estates is located within the Port Washington Water Pollution Control District, which operates the sanitary sewer system serving the village.
Water
Baxter Estates is located within the boundaries of the Port Washington Water District, which provides the entirety of the village with water.
Police
The Village of Baxter Estates is served by the Port Washington Police District.
Landmarks
thumb|The [[William Landsberg House in 2016]]
- The William Landsberg House is located at 5 Tianderah Road. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Tallulah Bankhead – Actress; lived in the historic Baxter House.
- George Pickow – Photographer; Jean Ritchie's husband.
- Susan Quittmeyer – Opera singer; grew up on Ridgeway Road.
- Jean Ritchie – Folk singer; lived on Locust Avenue.