Cool, "young" places to live in Westchester? (Yonkers: affordable apartment, rentals)

[jcd13]

Hello,
I'm a young, female web designer looking to relocate to Westchester from Brooklyn, due to a recent job change. Can anyone recommend "single-friendly" parts of the area? Towns with nice, affordable apartment rentals, pretty parks, and active nightlife spots, specifically.

Thanks so much!

[jawny08]

Not much in Westchester. I think White Plains is about it. I'd move uptown near the Metro North if that is what you are looking for.

[havoc315]

Depends where in the county you want, or need, to be located.
I'm not very familiar with it, but there are people who talk up the art scene in Peekskill, in the far northern part of the county.

In the southern-central part of the county, especially if you like urban living, White Plains is really thriving in recent years with the addition of several high-end apartment buildings. Plenty of restaurants, bars, and things for young people. The buildings were definitely built with young single urban professionals in mind. While you don't find much in terms of nice parks within walking distance, you are never a far drive from nice park areas in Westchester.

Places like Mamaroneck and Larchmont have a decent number of apartment buildings for singles and younger families. More "suburban" than White Plains, and a bit more upscale. Further, you are close to the water of the LI Sound.

Hartsdale, had a big bunching of apartment buildings, so it attracts young single commuters. But it's more downscale, without an impressive "downtown" area.

The river towns (Irvington, Dobbs Ferry, Tarrytown, Hastings) have a reputation of being a bit artsy and progressive. Plenty of restaurants, etc.

If I was young and single, I wouldn't mind Pleasantville. It's more of a walking town. Has a fair share of apartment rentals. It has the Jacob Burns Film Center, which is something of an arthouse movie theater. Plenty of restaurants, bars, shops. I wouldn't compare it to NYC night-life though.

[dma1250]

Well, I think a problem with Westchester is that the "cool" places are not necessarily the ones with lots of rentals, stores, and young people. White Plains and parts of Yonkers fit the bill on some levels, but they are definitely not cool. To me--a former Park Sloper--the coolest places are the river towns and parts of northern Westchester. That's where you will find many ex-brooklynites, artists, creative professsionals, etc. But those areas aren't that young and there aren't that many rentals. (For example, my area is semi-rural and not at all young or what you'd call hip, but our neighbors are mostly graphic designers, illustrators, writers, artists, and architects who moved up from the city.)

I think the town that best fits what you want is Peekskill. It has a lot of young artists and an active art scene. It can be too gritty for some people, but coming from Brooklyn that shouldn't be a problem for you. I'd also check out Tarrytown, Hastings, Ossining, and Croton.

[bmwguydc]

Active nightlife is not what most towns/villages have in Westchester. There are some places in White Plains and Peekskill as others have mentioned, along with a bit in New Rochelle (though safety is an issue in places). However, they're not meccas of the young and hip crowd. It's definitely nothing like the city as many establishments are quiet neighborhood restaurants, pubs, theatres, as opposed to trendy night spots. White Plains might be a good fit if you want a city-style neighborhood, since many other areas can be sleepy in comparison.

[znycgirl]

I'd say def. White Plains for nightlife & transportation reasons:
It actually has a single night-life & is easy to take a train from & to.

Apartments should not be hard to find.

I do love the river towns...but they seem very quiet at night. You could always go & visit them frequently during the days & spend your nights closer (even walking distance) to nightlife.

[jcd13]

You guys are awesome, thank you! What a great site.

[rubygreta]

White Plains, hands down. Lot of choice of rentals, but beware - they are not cheap.

[DITC]

White Plains or Stamford, CT. Youll be bored anywhere else.

[znycgirl]

Originally Posted by rubygreta

White Plains, hands down. Lot of choice of rentals, but beware - they are not cheap.

That is VERY true: I was surprised by how pricey the rentals are: especially if you are walking distance from the train station.

Maybe now with the economical down-turn, more people will need to rent their coops or condos & prices may decline a little.