Easy commute to Metro North, toddler-friendly neighborhood? (New Rochelle, White Plains: for rent, co-ops)

[nycacademic]

Hi all,

My husband and toddler and I currently live in Astoria (which we love), but we need to move into a bigger place and somewhere he can easily get to a metro north station. He'll be commuting to/from New Haven CT and I work downtown.

I'd like to live in an area with a nice park and good, affordable daycare. We won't be making a ton of money, unfortunately, but I think we can afford up to 2500/month for rent. We definitely need at least a 2 bedroom. Any advice for where to look? Thanks so much for any suggestions!

[Viralmd]

I'm going to move this to the Westchester threads.

[ambarstone]

Originally Posted by nycacademic

Hi all,

My husband and toddler and I currently live in Astoria (which we love), but we need to move into a bigger place and somewhere he can easily get to a metro north station. He'll be commuting to/from New Haven CT and I work downtown.

I'd like to live in an area with a nice park and good, affordable daycare. We won't be making a ton of money, unfortunately, but I think we can afford up to 2500/month for rent. We definitely need at least a 2 bedroom. Any advice for where to look? Thanks so much for any suggestions!

_______
You should take a day or weekend and visit a few of the towns on the Metro North New Haven line. The best (no particular order) are Pelham, Larchmont, Harrison, Mamaroneck and Rye. I hear mixed reviews of New Rochelle but visit too if time permits for comparison. I will leave Portchester out this time because I don't know the parks there and the downtown might be too busy (but I personally would live there). Daycare in Westchester is expensive no matter where you look so it will be a matter of finding what is right for your needs.

[somersmom]

how do you define "affordable daycare"? i live in no. west. and toddler care, 5 days a week, runs about $1,300 a month, at least, at a good center. not sure how different that would be on the sound shore area.

[nycacademic]

Thanks for the advice. I'll check out the areas you mention. Is it possible to get by without a car in these places?

[ambarstone]

Originally Posted by nycacademic

Thanks for the advice. I'll check out the areas you mention. Is it possible to get by without a car in these places?

_________
It may be possible but not easy. Having a toddler you'll need one for errands such as super, drop off to daycare etc. I lived in White Plains which has more public transportation than any of these towns I mentioned and didn't know how to drive. After a few months I could not take it, learned and got a car.

[slowloris]

You need a car here, especially to take the little one to day care.

[Kevrltr]

You will need a car. There are lots of good towns you should spend some time in many of them in the evenings or weekends. Spending $2500 a month, you might want to look into co-ops as well.

All the best!

Kevin O'Shea

[Ekulu]

Things will be much easier if you have a car of course you can get to to places that are not walking distance, but you can certainly live in parts of Larchmont and Mamaroneck (areas close to the train station) and get by without a car and be able to walk to the metro north train station, grocery store, library, bank, pharmacy, playground and day care without needing a car.