Moving North... Metro North. What's the 411 on Westchester Co.
October 29, 2016 3:35 PM Subscribe
My wife, 3-year old son, and I are leaving Brooklyn for somewhere off the metro north. We're looking to rent. Is there anything affordably middle class, not too long of a commute, and with good schools (specifically pre-k and early elementary) in Westchester County?
Please give any suggestions for towns, neighborhoods, and even schools.
We don't know much about the area. We think we'd be open to New Rochelle OR a smaller village. We're a diverse family, so diversity is extra important. Decent food is pretty up there, too.
I work in Stamford and Fairfield, CT and can no longer take the commute. She works in downtown Manhattan, and we don't want her commute to exceed 50 min. We currently pay under $2k for a 1 and 1/2 BR (approx. 1000sq ft). Our son has been attending a wonderful pre-school, and we were planning to enroll him into one of NYC's Universal Pre-K programs. Frankly, we need a break from the tuition.
Please give any suggestions for towns, neighborhoods, and even schools.
We don't know much about the area. We think we'd be open to New Rochelle OR a smaller village. We're a diverse family, so diversity is extra important. Decent food is pretty up there, too.
I work in Stamford and Fairfield, CT and can no longer take the commute. She works in downtown Manhattan, and we don't want her commute to exceed 50 min. We currently pay under $2k for a 1 and 1/2 BR (approx. 1000sq ft). Our son has been attending a wonderful pre-school, and we were planning to enroll him into one of NYC's Universal Pre-K programs. Frankly, we need a break from the tuition.
If you work in NY, you pay NY income tax, but to some extent one state offsets the other. Stamford schools are very good and approx 50% minority. Keep in mind that the population is very diverse, and some of ths minorities are from countries you might not expect, like Japan. Also, many of the minorities are from middle class famlies. This is probably also true of some places in Westchester.
Supply and demand tend to balance out the total of housing cost, property tax and income tax. The thing that keeps housing costs is the huge number of two wage earner families that can afford a big mortgage or equivalent rent. It's a tough market for a one wage family.
posted by SemiSalt at 6:05 PM on October 29, 2016
Supply and demand tend to balance out the total of housing cost, property tax and income tax. The thing that keeps housing costs is the huge number of two wage earner families that can afford a big mortgage or equivalent rent. It's a tough market for a one wage family.
posted by SemiSalt at 6:05 PM on October 29, 2016
On second thought, new Rochelle, Mamaroneck, and White Plains are all with checking out.
posted by SemiSalt at 6:13 PM on October 29, 2016
posted by SemiSalt at 6:13 PM on October 29, 2016
If the two of you make similar incomes your tax burden will decline even if one of you works in NYS. Regardless you won't pay NYC taxes as a non resident.
posted by JPD at 6:44 PM on October 29, 2016
posted by JPD at 6:44 PM on October 29, 2016
I recommend Croton-on-Hudson. The schools are great, it's got some diversity, it's pretty middle-class, and there is a lot of inexpensive or free stuff to do. I think your dollar would go pretty far there. Plus, it's right on the train line.
posted by yellowcandy at 8:11 PM on October 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by yellowcandy at 8:11 PM on October 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
50 minute all-in commute to downtown Manhattan is not possible. As close as you can get to that timing, you want to look at Pelham and Eastchester school districts. $2,000 doesn't work but $2,500 / $2,750 could.
posted by MattD at 8:32 PM on October 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by MattD at 8:32 PM on October 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
Yeah, getting a downtown Manhattan commute under 50 minutes will be tough verging on impossible from Westchester. You have to figure out the Metro North commute time and then add the 20 or so minutes it will take you to get off the train, schlep to the subway, and actually get downtown every day.
Leaving that aside, I understand New Rochelle is good for food. So is Port Chester, and it's fairly diverse and supposedly affordable, too -- and Stamford would be a pretty easy commute (though I-95 can be just awful, it would be a short ride distancewise). I'm in Sleepy Hollow, and it's reasonably diverse but other than a bare few affordable faves the food is generally either expensive or mediocre, unfortunately. I like it here because it's beautiful and we have a solid coffeehouse on Main Street in Tarrytown and the Tarrytown train station is an express stop. But it'd be a real comedown from NYC.
posted by Mothlight at 9:31 PM on October 29, 2016
Leaving that aside, I understand New Rochelle is good for food. So is Port Chester, and it's fairly diverse and supposedly affordable, too -- and Stamford would be a pretty easy commute (though I-95 can be just awful, it would be a short ride distancewise). I'm in Sleepy Hollow, and it's reasonably diverse but other than a bare few affordable faves the food is generally either expensive or mediocre, unfortunately. I like it here because it's beautiful and we have a solid coffeehouse on Main Street in Tarrytown and the Tarrytown train station is an express stop. But it'd be a real comedown from NYC.
posted by Mothlight at 9:31 PM on October 29, 2016
Probably Croton, but Peekskill is just a little further up and more affordable. Everything reasonably close to the city is incredibly expensive, so a slightly longer commute might be more affordable in the long run
posted by eusebis_w_adorno at 11:31 PM on October 29, 2016
posted by eusebis_w_adorno at 11:31 PM on October 29, 2016
Small data point: My brother rented in Dobbs Ferry where my niece went to a pretty diverse high school and was in the International Baccalaureate program. The commute on the Hudson line is beautiful.
posted by maggiemaggie at 12:40 AM on October 30, 2016
posted by maggiemaggie at 12:40 AM on October 30, 2016
Getting across Westchester to Stamford/Fairfield from Hudson River towns like Croton and Dobbs Ferry is its own kind of commuting hell due to weather, road construction, accidents, and more. Stick with towns that are much closer to the eastern end of Westchester, which are serviced by the Harlem Line.
posted by Elsie at 5:54 AM on October 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Elsie at 5:54 AM on October 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
(Westchester resident)
Your commutes and needs wont work in Westchester.
-If your wife wants only a 50 min commute, she really can only have a... 30 to 40 min Metro North ride (to then add subway time in to get to lower manhattan), which really limits how North you can go. My husband used to do Croton Harmon (45 to GC), but then another 30 min slog to SoHo. He hated it and lasted a year.
-You do not want to be in any of the "river towns" and try to get to Stamford. Elsie is completely right- getting North/South in Westchester is a breeze and you have many options. Getting East/West is awful, and is either basically 287 or small local roads that all the other locals know, which will be a miserable problem when it snows and your son's school closes early.
- You really have either Port Chester or Stamford, and I'm guessing she is ruling Stamford out due to commute (?), although it would be interesting to see how long it would be door to door. I think Port Chester is fine, but you might be disappointed coming from the city (its not small enough to be charming, and is large enough that you are always in your car).
- Speaking of, once you start adding moving fees, taxes (if you buy not rent, and i would really recommend renting first to see if this is really for you), buying a car (you will need one), and buying train tickets & parking at a station, I don't think you will get ahead of the tuition for the next few years
posted by zara at 10:21 AM on October 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Your commutes and needs wont work in Westchester.
-If your wife wants only a 50 min commute, she really can only have a... 30 to 40 min Metro North ride (to then add subway time in to get to lower manhattan), which really limits how North you can go. My husband used to do Croton Harmon (45 to GC), but then another 30 min slog to SoHo. He hated it and lasted a year.
-You do not want to be in any of the "river towns" and try to get to Stamford. Elsie is completely right- getting North/South in Westchester is a breeze and you have many options. Getting East/West is awful, and is either basically 287 or small local roads that all the other locals know, which will be a miserable problem when it snows and your son's school closes early.
- You really have either Port Chester or Stamford, and I'm guessing she is ruling Stamford out due to commute (?), although it would be interesting to see how long it would be door to door. I think Port Chester is fine, but you might be disappointed coming from the city (its not small enough to be charming, and is large enough that you are always in your car).
- Speaking of, once you start adding moving fees, taxes (if you buy not rent, and i would really recommend renting first to see if this is really for you), buying a car (you will need one), and buying train tickets & parking at a station, I don't think you will get ahead of the tuition for the next few years
posted by zara at 10:21 AM on October 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Metro North train ride from Stamford to Grand Central during standard rush-hour is 48-50 minutes. Port Chester is 42-45 minutes. New Rochelle's average is 35 minutes.
posted by xo at 10:56 AM on October 30, 2016
posted by xo at 10:56 AM on October 30, 2016
Response by poster: Thanks for input, mefi.
Yes, we will look east of Hudson. We will be renting and already own a car. Does anyone have anything to say about Port Chester and New Rochelle neighborhoods and schools? Preschool and pre-K?
posted by demonstartivepapadonous at 5:20 PM on October 30, 2016
Yes, we will look east of Hudson. We will be renting and already own a car. Does anyone have anything to say about Port Chester and New Rochelle neighborhoods and schools? Preschool and pre-K?
posted by demonstartivepapadonous at 5:20 PM on October 30, 2016
I have many friends who love the New Rochelle schools, there are several (but not right near the station) that are low poverty/high attainment but still very diverse, although some seem to defect to one of several great Catholic schools around by high school. Note that the high school is just a gorgeous physical plant with good college admission for honors kids. New Rochelle is the home to a notably large group of wealthy / professional African Americans which contributes to community and school diversity.
You don't hear good things about Port Chester schools the same way.
posted by MattD at 7:43 PM on October 30, 2016
You don't hear good things about Port Chester schools the same way.
posted by MattD at 7:43 PM on October 30, 2016
New Rochelle is a fairly diverse. Schools are decent, do your research. Food is good, getting better all the time.
You'd have some options in terms of living if you're trying to to do a 2 bedroom at $2000/month, but more/better options if you can swing $2500 - $2750/month.
posted by OsoMeaty at 3:50 PM on October 31, 2016
You'd have some options in terms of living if you're trying to to do a 2 bedroom at $2000/month, but more/better options if you can swing $2500 - $2750/month.
posted by OsoMeaty at 3:50 PM on October 31, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
The break even on property taxes vs parochial school is really two kids. Private school is basically anything. But also don't forget you don't pay NYC taxes which is also meaningingful. Connecticut taxes are lower across the board.
the usual caveat about the NY burbs is that any diversity gets a school district a rep as bad. Not that there are no bad schools, just don't assume the received wisdom is correct.
posted by JPD at 5:08 PM on October 29, 2016