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Hello! My name’s Macy, I’m 34 and I’m a pediatric genetic specialist based in NYC. My husband works in finance, and we have a two year old daughter. Me and my husband both went to college in the city, we moved out to SoCal for a few years, but we’ve been back in NY for about five years. We recently found out we’re expecting another daughter, and I’m five months pregnant. We live on the upper west side, but we’re seriously considering a move out to Westchester. We’ve always wanted to be out of the city by the time our kids hit elementary school, and raising a toddler in the city has been less than idyllic.
As far as work, we both have jobs that are pretty specialized, so working outside of the city isn’t an option. My husband does work from home quite a lot (3/4 days a week), but I’m in the office at least five days a week. Max commute time is probably about an hour. Our budget is around $3-4 million, but it also depends on how the market changes before we sell our current place.
As far as westchester suburbs go, I’m not sure where to start looking. Scarsdale is what i consider the “name brand”, but I also know all the communities blend together out there, so it’s hard to keep the names from getting mixed up. We want good public schools, lots of parks and nice curb appeal (sidewalks and stuff). High school education isn’t as much of a concern, there’s a decent chance the kids will end up in boarding school. We want an area that has a nice “downtown” area.
I know the area has a reputation of being VERY jewish, is this correct? We’re non-denominational, and I’m completely cool with some jewish friends, but I also know what it’s like to be in a community where all your friends go to the same synagogue events every weekend and you’re not included.
One last question - How much of a “thing” is summering in the Hamptons out here? We’ve always rented in Southampton and loved it, and the past few summers we’ve been looking for homes out there. All our city friends end up there at some point during July, but is this the case outside Manhattan?
With your budget, you can look anywhere in Westchester.
For the non-denominational Christian crowd, off the top of my head, I agree that Bronxville is good, however, that's a very small school district (all 3 schools are at the same address) so this may or may not be a positive for you.
Rye City is a great choice as well but is a longer commute, although it has a lot of Express trains during normal times. This is a great town if you love living near the water and having that lifestyle.
Larchmont is diverse by Westchester standards and that contributes to its extreme popularity. This is also a very big "water" community.
Scarsdale is starting to get more diverse (by diverse I mean Asians who are mainly moving their due to the repuation of the schools). I wouldn't say that you would have to worry that all of your friends are going to the synagogue and you would be left out. In most suburb communities, a good way to meet people is via your children's school so you will meet a diverse group of people that way.
In all of these towns, some families go to the Hamptons during the summer, but I wouldn't say it's as prevelant as your friends in the city who are looking for more space during the summer.
Drive up on the weekend. Spend a day covering 1 or 2 towns, including chatting up parents at a playground. You can get a decent feel for things that way.
Hello! My name’s Macy, I’m 34 and I’m a pediatric genetic specialist based in NYC. My husband works in finance, and we have a two year old daughter. Me and my husband both went to college in the city, we moved out to SoCal for a few years, but we’ve been back in NY for about five years. We recently found out we’re expecting another daughter, and I’m five months pregnant. We live on the upper west side, but we’re seriously considering a move out to Westchester. We’ve always wanted to be out of the city by the time our kids hit elementary school, and raising a toddler in the city has been less than idyllic.
As far as work, we both have jobs that are pretty specialized, so working outside of the city isn’t an option. My husband does work from home quite a lot (3/4 days a week), but I’m in the office at least five days a week. Max commute time is probably about an hour. Our budget is around $3-4 million, but it also depends on how the market changes before we sell our current place.
As far as westchester suburbs go, I’m not sure where to start looking. Scarsdale is what i consider the “name brand”, but I also know all the communities blend together out there, so it’s hard to keep the names from getting mixed up. We want good public schools, lots of parks and nice curb appeal (sidewalks and stuff). High school education isn’t as much of a concern, there’s a decent chance the kids will end up in boarding school. We want an area that has a nice “downtown” area.
I know the area has a reputation of being VERY jewish, is this correct? We’re non-denominational, and I’m completely cool with some jewish friends, but I also know what it’s like to be in a community where all your friends go to the same synagogue events every weekend and you’re not included.
One last question - How much of a “thing” is summering in the Hamptons out here? We’ve always rented in Southampton and loved it, and the past few summers we’ve been looking for homes out there. All our city friends end up there at some point during July, but is this the case outside Manhattan?
Thanks for any advice!
Bronxville should be a really strong contender for your criteria. You'll be able to get a great home with plenty of space (including a nice lot size) at your price point, and the downtown area is gorgeous. Schools are amazing, and you won't have any issues with summering in the Hamptons if you live there. Plenty of residents do so, although (as a previous poster said) likely not as many as in NYC. The commute is excellent from Bronxville (which is on the Harlem line).
If the kids will likely not be attending the local public high school, you can get much more house for your money in Yonkers next to Bronxville. This area is known as "Bronxville PO", which is a shorthand way of saying that the homes have Bronxville addresses but are not in the Bronxville SD. But you would have to have a plan for elementary/middle school, and I think most in that area have their kids attends Catholic Schools - which won't be big on religious dogma or anything like that.
But Bronxville SD, as others have noted, is a great choice. Its HS gives you the most private school feel of any public high school in lower Westchester, and don't underestimate the draw to the local HS once your kids get immersed in the local scene with friends, sports ect. My youngest changes his mind every week as to what HS he wants to go to. Bronxville HS is very small. Scarsdale HS is very big. I tend to like smaller schools, but some have the opposite preference.
I always suggest Pelham - it probably has the best commute of all.
It will be hard to keep your door to door commute under one hour. The minimum train travel time from Bronxville to GCT is 38 minutes. That's really 40 minutes. Assume 15 minutes to drive to the train station in Bronxville, park the car, and walk to the platform. (Assume you had coffee at home.) Then the 40 minute train trip. You arrive at GCT. If you work in the MetLife Building, great - it takes about 10 minutes to exit the train and ride the escalators and then the elevators to your floor. That's a total 65 minutes. Very doable.
However, if you don't work in the MetLife Building, you have to add your Manhattan portion of your commute. Taking subway and walking will add about 20-30 minutes at the Manhattan end of your trip.
So, keeping door to door trip under 1 hour is not easy.
Most Westchester people don't Hampton it. Say goodbye.
It will be hard to keep your door to door commute under one hour. The minimum train travel time from Bronxville to GCT is 38 minutes. That's really 40 minutes. Assume 15 minutes to drive to the train station in Bronxville, park the car, and walk to the platform. (Assume you had coffee at home.) Then the 40 minute train trip. You arrive at GCT. If you work in the MetLife Building, great - it takes about 10 minutes to exit the train and ride the escalators and then the elevators to your floor. That's a total 65 minutes. Very doable.
However, if you don't work in the MetLife Building, you have to add your Manhattan portion of your commute. Taking subway and walking will add about 20-30 minutes at the Manhattan end of your trip.
So, keeping door to door trip under 1 hour is not easy.
Most Westchester people don't Hampton it. Say goodbye.
A decent amount of Westchester people go down the shore instead, based solely on car license plate holders and stickers that I see. There are a lot of monied sections at the shore that are happily overshadowed by the one mile that is the Snooki crowd.
One last question - How much of a “thing” is summering in the Hamptons out here? We’ve always rented in Southampton and loved it, and the past few summers we’ve been looking for homes out there. All our city friends end up there at some point during July, but is this the case outside Manhattan?
No, the Hamptons are not the only destination of people from outside of Manhattan. The Berkshires and Hudson Valley are also popular destinations for families.
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You should definitely check out Bronxville
