Yes, some parts of the country have been more prone than others.
Hurricanes and tropical storms generally begin well to the southeast of the DR. Most generally at some point in their lives move northwest. Depending on where they are when they start moving northwest, they may near the southeast portion of the DR and strike somewhere in that area. Or they may continue offshore, striking somewhere along the coast of the island west of Santo Domingo.
Alternatively, they may continue in a somewhat northerly direction, passing Puerto Rico and nearing the north coast of the Domininican Republic at Samana on the ocean side of the Peninsula. They may even continue in a northwesterly direction along the north coast before heading more northerly toward the Bahama Islands and the US. Because of this predisposition, by the time they are at the longitude of Sosua and Puerto Plata, it is likely the strongest winds are offshore, though these resort areas may get periods of heavy rain. West of Puerto Plata there is little likelihood of storm related winds and rain, unless the storm is one of those rare ones that crosses the island from south coast to north coast.
This is a very basic explanation, but if, for example, you want to buy property where you are least likely to be bothered by the high winds of a tropical storm, then think Cabarete/Sosua or west.