Moving to NY - where to settle down? (Yonkers, White Plains: rental market, low crime)

[waterlily10]

Hi!

I've just posted a thread on preschools and I'm posting the same under different states' forums.

We're a family with 2 baby/toddler and we're looking at places to settle down when we move to the east coast next year (husband to work in Midtown Manhattan). I'll appreciate your input to help us where to look.

We currently live in SoCal in a wealthy diverse community with a superb school system and we'd love to find a town similar to what we've found here.

on our wish-list:
1) location-wise: approx. 1/2 hr train to Grand Central with short trek to train station (I can probably drive husband to the station should parking be an issue)- we're open to suggestions in NY or CT or NJ
2) good schools (preschools for the time-being)
3) low crime, family-friendly environment
4) rent: approx. $6,000/month - 4 beds house (more if justified but given the economic situation, we want to be prudent)
5) culturally diverse would be ideal (or at least Asian groceries or Chinese language schools nearby: please let me know where they are!)

The thing that struck me when reading some posts is that the towns which I'm looking at (Bronxville, Scarsdale) would fit the bill save that many people seem to find their residents "snobbish", especially Bronxville (not open to diversity?). We're a "minority" on top of being foreigners. I don't wish to see my children bully in school.

Thank you in advance

[Viralmd]

I'm thinking Pelham, but it's not terribly diverse....

[bmwguydc]

I agree with Pelham, and if you can stand a few more minutes on the train, Larchmont. On the Hudson side, Ardsley or Irvington would fit the bill, but again, it's not a terribly diverse area.

[havoc315]

Sounds like you have already done your homework.
Scarsdale would meet your requirements. I don't know about Chinese language schools, but there are various Asian markets nearby in Hartsdale, Yonkers and White Plains. (All minutes from Scarsdale).
In terms of diversity for your children, according to one survery, Scarsdale High School is 85% white, 11% Asian. Bronxville is less diverse -- 96% white, 4% Asian.

I tend to think you would be more comfortable in Scarsdale. The train meets your commuting requirements. There is no shortage of decent pre-school throughout Westchester.

There are a few other communities that could suit your needs, but Scarsdale may be the best. Ardsley is centrally located, but it does not have its own trainstation. So you would need to secure parking in Scarsdale or Dobbs Ferry. Irvington is a nice river town and could suit your needs (student population 85% white, 8% Asian).

Of the more affluent and elite areas of southern Westchester (which you can afford in your budget), Scarsdale may be the best bet. It does not have a huge rental market, but you can probably find a decent rental available. And if you plan to stick around for more than a couple years, it's actually a pretty good time to buy.


In terms of Asian markets -- There are a couple in Yonkers/Hartsdale/Scarsdale on Central Avenue. There is a really good one in White Plains on Hamilton Avenue, in the same mall that has the Department of Motor Vehicles.

On another note-- I don't think New Jersey would work for you. New Jersey trains do NOT run into Grand Central. From New Jersey, you can either take PATH trains from Hoboken, or you can take trains into Penn Station. If you're commuting to Midtown East, then Grand Central is greatly preferable.

[LightningMcQueen]

If you can afford $6000 per month on rent then Scarsdale fits. I wouldnt be concerned about your family being Asian. I'm inferring that you are from your original post. Percentage wise, Scarsdale schools have a relatively high Asian population, probably due to the fact that Asians tend to set a higher standard on education. Check out schoolmatter.com for more info.

I pass by Scarsdale on my train commute to and from NYC and there is a visiable percentage of Japanese folks who live around the area. We happen to be Korean, and I would try to get my son started in Scarsdale if I could afford it. Also, Flushing NY, about 30 minute drive over into Queens has a ton of Asian markets.

Also, the stuff you hear about snobbery and such, this kind of stuff exists in every level of society, especially so in wealthier places, but I also think it's a matter of perspective. If you feel like an outsider for whatever reason, then you might perceive more snobbery when it really is just your insecurity that might be the cause. I also hear about it and read about it, but I take a lot of it with a grain of salt.

[passdoubt]

Westchester isn't very diverse compared to the comparatively-wealthy suburbs in New Jersey or on Long Island. Scarsdale is about as Asian as Westchester gets, which isn't much. The problem with your criteria is that you're locked into Westchester if you want to be a half an hour from Grand Central. How about suburbs on the LIRR or NJTransit that bring you into Penn Station? There's a current project to connect more tunnels that would allow LIRR trains to access Grand Central, but it'll be some years before it's completed.

I might get lambasted for suggesting this, but the wealthier parts of the North Shore of Long Island or even the edges of Outer Queens might be more up your alley. Douglaston, while technically within Queens, is a very quiet, affluent suburban area with a lot of Asians. It's less than a half an hour to Penn Station by the LIRR. Bayside and Little Neck are also posh nabes in the area and increasingly diverse. And on the other side of the Queens Border, in Nassau County, Great Neck has a mix Asians, Iranians, and Jewish families. But still very affluent, safe, great schools.

If you lived in these areas you could very easily take a quick trip into Flushing, which is basically a huge Asian "Chinatown" type area full of Chinese and Korean markets, restaurants, etc. Wealthier Asians who settle in Flushing eventually end up moving out to these suburbs when they get more money, thus the increasing diversity in that part of the Island as of late.

In Westchester, you're not really close to any big Asian population centers... I imagine that Asian families in Westchester probably cross the Tappan Zee to Bergen County in New Jersey to stock up on ethnic goods. That one store in the White Plains Mall isn't very significant (although they do have good deals on produce at times).

[Viralmd]

Originally Posted by passdoubt

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In Westchester, you're not really close to any big Asian population centers... I imagine that Asian families in Westchester probably cross the Tappan Zee to Bergen County in New Jersey to stock up on ethnic goods. That one store in the White Plains Mall isn't very significant (although they do have good deals on produce at times).

Actually, there are many Japanese families throughout Westchester. So many that there are not only the 'Saturday Schools' for families returning to Japan who want their children to perform on the level of other Japanese students, but there are also several outlets for Asian foods and supplies, one in Hartsdale, on Central Avenue.

[dbGuy]

Westchester Asian population has increased tremendously. When speaking Asian, i mean chinese, japanese, korean, filipino, indonesian, vietnamese, indian and so on (the whole asian continent).. I know because Im asian myself (filipino) that grew up in Yonkers/Scarsdale border. I've also worked in downtown NYC and commuting has always been easy from westchester (except that it can get very crowded).