Can someone offer a comparison between Pearl River and New City?? (Spring Valley: school districts, live in)

[BeNicePlease]

We're looking to move our family within the next year. Both of us are interested in that small town feel (but not too remote) as well as excellent schools. We will be commuting to the city as well.

Can anyone offer any advice as to the "feel" of the town in New City as opposed to Pearl River. Does anything stand out as a big difference between the two?

Lots of childrens activities (karate, dance....) is important as well.

Why would you pick one over the other.

Many thanks for any advice anyone can offer our family!!

[rusty78]

Originally Posted by BeNicePlease

We're looking to move our family within the next year. Both of us are interested in that small town feel (but not too remote) as well as excellent schools. We will be commuting to the city as well.

Can anyone offer any advice as to the "feel" of the town in New City as opposed to Pearl River. Does anything stand out as a big difference between the two?

Lots of childrens activities (karate, dance....) is important as well.

Why would you pick one over the other.

Many thanks for any advice anyone can offer our family!!

Pearl River is a highly desired area......where it is not uncommon to spend more for a smaller home......but those that move there claim they would live no where else......the schools are some of the best in the nation...and commuting is commuting...it basically ducks...roughly 30 to 60 minutes...depending upon the time of the day...as far as the feel of the town...a much closer...tightly nit community...vs...New City

[havoc315]

They both have very good school districts. New City (Clarkstown schools) has the longer track record of prestige. Pearl River was a lesser school district, which took giant leaps forward in the last 10 years or so. Clarkstown is also a pretty large school district, while Pearl River is small (Middle school and High school are housed together).

Putting aside schools, Pearl River is a much closer knit community. New City is more sprawling suburb, without true sense of "town."
New City is slightly more upper middle class and slightly more diverse than Pearl River. Pearl River is traditionally more working class (home to many NYC firefighters), more heavily Irish Catholic. Where Pearl River tends to be more Irish Catholic, New City tends to be more Jewish.

There won't be a lack of children's activities in either location. For the most part, all of Rockland County is 1 large sprawling suburb, with no 2 points really much more than 15 minute apart.

Same with commuting. Pearl River does have a train station. New City has some buses, but may also be closer to the bus hub in Spring Valley, or the Tappan Zee express stops. Of course, you may end up driving from New City, to 1 of the train stations. Or if you live in Pearl River and the train doesn't work for you, you may find yourseld driving to 1 of the bus park & rides.

[BeNicePlease]

Thank you so much for this information, it was very helpful and I appreciate it.