Schools near White Plains (Rye, Hastings: best towns, real estate, houses)

[jpbc]

I currently live in manhattan and work in white plains. My husband and I are getting ready to make the move to the suburbs and want to buy a house in a good school district for our kids to be. He will take the train into the city for work and I would like to live very close to my office in white plains. What are the best towns to live in? Public education is important to us, although have heard about the snobbery and competitiveness in the westchester schools. We don't care about social status, just want a nice place to live (culture, close to city, close to outdoors, friendly community). Were thinking $700 k as the high end of our range. What are some goods towns to look at? Best among pleasantville, chappaqua, rye, scarsdale, larchmont?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts

[passdoubt]

Why not White Plains itself? The schools are decent and not snobby as the towns you list, and the taxes are lower.

[cali_to_nj]

There are nice neighborhoods in North White Plains that are in the Valhalla school district which is smaller and rated higher than WP city, but does not have the ultra competitive reputation. Pleasantville is going to be more expensive with less inventory in your range but really great school district and wonderful overall community (easy 15 - 20 min drive to WP). You may also want to look in the Hawthorne/Thornwood area which may have more in your range, still with a solid school district.

[znycgirl]

In the neighborhoods that you mentioned, the school districts are all excellent. There are others such as the river towns: Hastings, Dobbs ferry, ect. There are all kinds of ways to rank & evaluate school districts, so you have to figure out what is important to you.

Your price point may be a bit low for some of the neighborhoods you listed (though with the slump... you will be able to find better than you would have a year ago).

As for social status... I personally haven't noticed the stereotypes that people mention so often.

I'd say the important thing to look at, since you both work, is the proximity to the train (which makes the areas a bit different than what you'd think) and SCHOOL BUSES. Rye does not provide bus service. You have to think about how your kids are going to go to school & home (walking? will you be there? nanny? ect).

You need to start going to open houses & find a real estate agent. Larchmont sounds like a good place for you to start looking, I think the price range and the proximity to the train are strong points.