Moving to Poughkeepsie Area - Need Advice (New York, Union: real estate, apartment complexes)

[gdubya2000]

I'm looking at moving to the Poughkeepsie area with my wife and three kids (2 high school and 1 elementary). We're looking for an area with a strong school system that is within reasonable driving distance (up to 20 miles). We'll likely rent a house until we get a feel for area. I appreciate any advice about which areas we should look at or stay away from. Thanks.

[piperspal]

I lived in that area for a little over four years until moving about 90 minutes north. I really miss Dutchess county....Anyway, stay out of the city of Poughkeepsie. Just about everything else is great, even the Town of Poughkeepsie. But the city itself, well, fine to work in, fine to go out to a few riverside & downtown spots as long as you are walking with friends....but so NOT safe if you are alone at night. Guess one could say that about any city .

Do you have a budget to stick to? IE; parts of Hopewell are affordable, while other parts are for millionaires ( comfortable millionaires). Pretty much the standard for all towns in that area. Arlington/LaGrange is very nice, spread out with lots of new developments. Wappingers is tidy, small - probably the most affordable overall. Sections of Fishkill are like that as well.

Not sure anymore about the schools, but if you don't get the skinny from any posters here, check the archives of HudsonValley Magazine. They put out a special issue every year ranking the schools; they also do an issue ranking hospitals & doctors. HudsonValley Mag. is by far one of the best "local" magazines around - highly recommend it. It will give you more ideas on how to spend your free time than you'll ever be able to use!

I think you'll get a lot of comments - I hope so anyway - from folks who still live there & bet they will almost all be positive. I am still there weekly on business, but I've fallen out of the day to day goings on. Best of luck to you.

Oh - I should say that my nieces went to John Jay HS (Fishkill) & have done very well for themselves - got into good colleges, were very active in school activities, etc.

[SLP247]

Originally Posted by gdubya2000

I'm looking at moving to the Poughkeepsie area with my wife and three kids (2 high school and 1 elementary). We're looking for an area with a strong school system that is within reasonable driving distance (up to 20 miles). We'll likely rent a house until we get a feel for area. I appreciate any advice about which areas we should look at or stay away from. Thanks.

Welcome Friend.

I live and work in LaGrange and cover all of Dutchess. This area is truly beautiful and there are many rental options. There are three school systems in this area. Arlington, Poughkeepsie and Wappingers. Since I am a Realtor, I can not steer you toward one school or another, but I'd be happy to show you them. I usually set up school tours for people moving into the area.

As already posted, we have sections out here that will have homes $600k and up then there are others with home prices all over the place. Rentals can be found throughout the area, but you should start by picking a school district you would like to be in first.

After the schools, the next thing you want to figure out is your commute. Where will you be commuting to and how: Car, Bus or Train. Then price comes in last and that will set the locations for you.

We look forward to having you all in our community.

[BobsGL1800]

Originally Posted by gdubya2000

I'm looking at moving to the Poughkeepsie area with my wife and three kids (2 high school and 1 elementary). We're looking for an area with a strong school system that is within reasonable driving distance (up to 20 miles). We'll likely rent a house until we get a feel for area. I appreciate any advice about which areas we should look at or stay away from. Thanks.

Since you will be renting, you probably won't care about the extremely high school taxes in the Arlington school system. If you ever think of purchasing in this school district, just watch out for the increase in school taxes almost every year. Many times they jump up at least 20%. That was enough for us to finally give up and move out here 18 months ago. Best thing we ever did.

[SLP247]

I live in the Arlington School District and I do not have kids! Arlington is an Amazing for sure. I describe it as a college campus. Selling real estate all over three counties I can tell you that EVERYONE thinks THEIR school taxes are high, which I will not challenge them on. However, high is relative. The Arlington district offers a lot to students. When deciding on purchasing a home, the informed buyer will look at taxes with as much weight as the type and price of the home they purchase. At some point the location and school districts will become less important for us and we move...usually south!

Total Taxes in the Arlington District are almost 1/2 of what my friend in Westchester pay. We each find the benefits outweigh the negatives when we purchase a home fully informed.

[damara72]

Hello..I am living in the Town of Poughkeepsie. I have been here for 13 years. My kids go to Wappingers schools. I have one in 2nd grade, one in 6th grade and one in 8th. I have to say we love it here. The school system is great. Lots of parental involvement....The state test scores for wappingers have been good check them out...Wappingers is a large school system check out each school and their test scores. It will give you an idea about the general atmosphere of the school.let me know if you have any specific questions...

[Abi1_98]

My son is in Hagan Elementary School, Spackenkill district.
He loves his school and so we do. Nice area to live but not easy to rent a house.

[SLP247]

@Abi1_98,

We handle a lot of rentals, what's not easy about it? Just looking to see things from the other side.

[mom2gurls]

Arlington schools are the ones to go into, hands down. Some places to look for rentals in subdivisions would be dalton farms, cameo farms, right along route 55/taconic intersection, parts of 82/route 55.

Arlington high schools principal won the New York State principal of the year award for 2008. Very academic and hands down prepares you for college.

[WHITEWOLF508]

I have lived in Dutchess over 50 years and would like to welcome you to one of the best areas in the nation.

Imagine a rectangle with the long side pointed up.

The left side is the river corridor-IBM Country- You start in the North with Red Hook and Rhinebeck and work your way south through Hyde Park, Town of Poughkeepsie, City of Poughkeepsie, Town again, Pleasant Valley and then wAPPINGERS fALLS, Fishkill and Beacon. Go Ten miles in from the river and you have this area. It is primarily suburban with many developments and apartment complexes. Wappingers, Arlington and Spackenkill are all excellant schools.

Moving into the center of the county, you have wealthier areas like Clinton Corners, Stanfordville, LaGrangeville, Union Vale, Beekman and Millbrook. The difference between the schools is amazing. The Millbrook district is tiny while Arlington is huge. This is more an area of small villages and farms.

The eastern part of the county has traditionally been the poorest. The towns are Northeast(Millerton), Amenia, Dover Plains and Pawling. Again, you have small schools and a rural life. Because the train now comes up to Dover, the area has economically improved greatly. It is actually becoming yuppified.

THere are many shopping areas both in the county and within an hour's drive, The NYC entertainment venues are reachable easily and the local scenery is wonderful. The climate is generally moderate 4 season with very few extremes.

good luck on your choice