[hockeymom1968]

Hi
we are trying to decide between westport CT and edgemont/scarsdale. It seems like you can get more house in westport. How do the schools compare? Is westport religiously diverse? How is the commute to NYC (125st station on metronorth)

Thanks!

[dazzleman]

Train service is good, but Westport is further. Essentially, you're trading a longer commute for more house.

Schools are good in both places. Westport is religiously diverse, if you're asking if it has a Jewish population as well as Christian.

[thesmith]

Have a friend that lives in Westport, her biggest complaint is that it is super WASPy and boring, but Im ready for boring with a backyard. That being said, it is beautiful and calm. If you are buying have you done a real estate tax comparison? Westport is a far commute- hour on the train. We are having same discussion here, stay in city vs Westport area. Apples and oranges. Where are you living now?

[Stylo]

That is a big range. Why not consider Greenwich too? Quicker commute, although a bit more expensive.

Westport to 125th is not bad though, ~50-55 minutes. mta.info | MTA Schedules

If you want to maximize home-for-the-money even more and don't mind a longer commute, go a few minutes up the train line to Fairfield. Great town.

[7 Wishes]

If you're comparing to Scarsdale/Edgemont you should also cross-post in the Westchester forum.

[Mike 75]

Scarsdale is known for having a fantastic school system with astronomical property taxes. Westport has some of the best schools in the state and the property taxes will be 1/3 to 1/2 of Scarsdale's. Obviously the Westport commute will be longer.

[7 Wishes]

Regarding the property tax issue, just want to note the CT car tax to be fair. CT has a property tax on cars, NY (technically, see below) doesn't. Depending on where you live and what car you drive (and how old it is) you can pay hundreds if not a couple of thousand a year. The difference in Scarsdale vs. Westport property tax is still bigger than the car tax though (NY also has a "car tax" but it's less and a lot more "hidden".....it appears once every 2 years on your car registration renewal as a "use tax" and doesn't vary by location, only by car.....to give an idea on 2 cars for me both around 10 years old the 2 year use tax on one of them is about $130 and about $90 on the other).

[Wilton2ParkAve]

Originally Posted by 7 Wishes

Regarding the property tax issue, just want to note the CT car tax to be fair. CT has a property tax on cars, NY (technically, see below) doesn't. Depending on where you live and what car you drive (and how old it is) you can pay hundreds if not a couple of thousand a year. The difference in Scarsdale vs. Westport property tax is still bigger than the car tax though (NY also has a "car tax" but it's less and a lot more "hidden".....it appears once every 2 years on your car registration renewal as a "use tax" and doesn't vary by location, only by car.....to give an idea on 2 cars for me both around 10 years old the 2 year use tax on one of them is about $130 and about $90 on the other).

Potentially the car tax could reach a couple of thousand per year? I own four cars and I don't reach $2,000 per year-- and I'm the exception. Still doesn't quite close the $20,000 gap in property taxes on a comparable property in Scarsdale.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Wilton2ParkAve

Potentially the car tax could reach a couple of thousand per year? I own four cars and I don't reach $2,000 per year-- and I'm the exception. Still doesn't quite close the $20,000 gap in property taxes on a comparable property in Scarsdale.

I agree that the property tax will be a HUGE difference. That said, I have 2 vehicles and mine were close to $1500 last year.

[Wilton2ParkAve]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I agree that the property tax will be a HUGE difference. That said, I have 2 vehicles and mine were close to $1500 last year.

Our mill rate is a bit less in Wilton--- and I also realized that one of my vehicles is classified as a classic car.