Relocating to Westchester NY (Rye, Yorktown: houses, construction, school districts)

[Californiaesque]

My husband and I are seriously considering a relocation from Bakersfield, CA (Least expensive cost of living in CA) to New York. Assuming my job was in Rye Brook, and husband's in Newburgh, any suggestions for nice communities to consider? Based on my internet research, Carmel seems nice.

I am utterly floored by the extremely high taxes. What is the money used for? I'm sorry for the naive question that obviously has a complex answer.

[Californiaesque]

I should be more specific about nice - good freeway access, reasonable amount of open space, reasonable access to retail goods, interesting places to eat. We don't have kids. 3 BDRM homes in the 300,000 - 400,000 range.

[karen824]

Regarding the question about post-3 PM care for preschoolers: you need to really research each town and find out what they offer. For instance, we live in Scarsdale, which does NOT have all-day kindergarten every day. Some people are surprised when they find this out! The kids go for, I think, two or three full days each week, and the other days are half-days. Scarsdale does offer a very good program called Kids' Base/The Little School, which provides before-and-after school programs every day. I think they go until 6 or 6:30 at night. It's a privately-run service, though, so you do have to pay extra, but it's not unreasonably priced.

Otherwise, I think a lot of people who need coverage for that 3-6 PM spot either have their kids in day care, or, if they're school age, they have nannies, babysitters or housekeepers who pick up the kids and watch them until the parents get home. It can get very expensive!

Good luck!

Karen

[Monikini]

Thanks for your candor - As someone who is relocating it helps to see the pro-s and con's of the various communities - without family in the area, I think walkable community is very important - it's also healthier. I always tell my husband I would easily loose 10 pounds if I didn't have to chauffeur the children everywhere !

[M. Bulger]

Thank you very much Karen, you have been really helpful. We really want to leave the city, but it seems that we can't until our daughter is older, it makes no sense to pay high taxes if we are not going to be benefited from the schools...

[queens2ligirl]

thanks for all of this helpful information everyone...i would LOVE for my husband and our son, he is going to be 5 years old to move to Connecticut, one day, and Ridgefield sounds really great! I will look into. My brother is getting married in July, and, he and his fiance, would like to move to Conn, I will pass this information on. Currently we live on Long Island, and, the taxes are ridiculous as you all know.

[kristiv]

One thing you might want to know about Ridgefield if you are considering moving here is how easy it is to get involved with the community, if that is what you want. A lot of people join the Newcomers Club which provides social activties. If you have kids you can get involved through their sporting events, scouts, the schools, local nature centers etc. A lot of the neighborhoods also have seasonal get togethers such as summer barbeques or holiday gatherings

If you have any questions about life in Ridgefield, feel free to ask me. I have lived here for nearly 20 years and am really pleased with the way the town is growing and changing

[cathsnod]

Hi,

I have no advice about the kids, but I can tell you that I think your best bet when it comes to commuting to the city would be taking the MetroNorth train -- that way you don't have to deal with all the traffic. The trains are great (I commuted for over 17 years), and you won't have to pay those exorbitant parking fees when you actually get into the city. I know they run out of your town.

Catherine

[Kathleenh54]

Californiaesque, the property taxes are spent mostly on schools. In Westchester, there is an extra level of government for the county whereas in CT is only the state and the town itself.

Newburgh is pretty far from Rye Brook; one of you will have a fairly long commute, no?

[winnie]

Originally Posted by Californiaesque

My husband and I are seriously considering a relocation from Bakersfield, CA (Least expensive cost of living in CA) to New York. Assuming my job was in Rye Brook, and husband's in Newburgh, any suggestions for nice communities to consider? Based on my internet research, Carmel seems nice.

I am utterly floored by the extremely high taxes. What is the money used for? I'm sorry for the naive question that obviously has a complex answer.

Stay out the city of Newburgh for housing...

For that housing range you will be better off looking in Northern Orange county. Towns such as Maybrook, Eastern Montgomery, SE Wallkill, SE Walden areas and the parts of Newburgh that do not use NFA school districts. Those areas should keep you in commuting range to the train but from the train you will have to figure out how to get to Rye Brook as I am not experienced in that area.

By car it is 1 hour from Walden to Rye Brook, and 10 minutes to Newburgh, more or less.

The taxes are used for schools. Snow removal and maintenance of the countless back roads in the area. Many of these towns have a lower population so thus a higher tax burden for all homeowners. They are some of the highest taxes you will find in the country. And electric prices are no picnic either. Perhaps you will start a new thread (or direct me if you have already) and I can lend you some logistical help as I grew up in that area and know it pretty well.