Five Towns is a group of hamlets and villages in Nassau County, which is located on the South Shore of western Long Island in New York. Although the area is named "Five Towns," there are more than five neighborhoods in this area, and none of them are towns. The five most prominent areas in Five Towns are Lawrence, Cedarhurst, Woodmere, Inwood and The Hewletts, which all belong to the Town of Hempstead. The name Five Towns came about in 1931, when residents from these five areas banded together to form an organization by the same name. The name stuck. Other areas often included in this grouping are Atlantic Beach, Woodsburgh and North Woodmere. Five Towns is one of the most affluent areas in the state of New York, and Woodmere is the largest community.

Lawrence, Cedarhurst, Woodmere and The Hewletts each have their own large population of Orthodox Jews. Due to the large numbers of Jews, there are many religious day schools, kosher restaurants, synagogues and Jewish shops located in Five Towns. There is also a significant Roman Catholic community in the area.

There are lots of different kinds of housing options in Five Towns, ranging from sprawling mansions to average suburban split levels. Real estate prices in Five Towns vary depending on the area, but one thing is consistent - there are very few houses available below $150,000. Inwood has one of the lowest median incomes on Long Island, while Lawrence is considered to be a very aristocratic area. Although the area is incredibly affluent, there are some poorer neighborhoods as well along with some very noisy ones - many neighborhoods are located directly under the flight path of planes going to and from Kennedy International Airport.

Cedarhurst is considered to be the cultural and commercial hub of the area. Its Central Avenue is the main shopping area and a popular destination for fashion conscious shoppers. There are several other major shopping areas within Five Towns as well as several hotels. Five Towns can be reached via the Long Island Rail Road - The Far Rockaway Branch has a stop for each "town." The commute to Manhattan can take anywhere from half an hour to forty-five minutes depending on the place of departure