New Rochelle??? (New York, White Plains, Mamaroneck: condo, houses, neighborhoods)

[tracieaz]

We are looking to relocate to New York from Arizona, what a change!! We just came back from NY and visited almost every subarb in Westchester. One I really liked that was not too "small town" was New Rochelle. What is the story on this town? We found some reasonably priced houses(reasonable by NY standards). What are the schools like? Preschools? Are there areas to avoid?
Also liked Mamaroneck, but could not find anything affordable and White Plains was a bit too big city for me.

Any suggestions?

[sweetz]

Sorry--- I dont know a lot about New Rochelle-- it seems nice to me and affordable--- didnt seem to bad-- but I only know of people with kids there... I know Mt. Vernon is a comparable area also--- similiar in style... Good luck!!

[Dockside]

Hi Tracie. New Rochelle is a city in flux. I wish I could whole-heartedly recommend it, but NR has problems. The downtown area is still trying to recover from bad financial and political decisions made in the '70's. Trump and a local developer are putting up a luxury condo near the train station, and another building is going up next to the library. New restaurants are opening. Despite all this, downtown still has a seedy feel about it.

The north end of NR is very nice. The two elementary schools and middle school are very good.

Middle NR is a mixed bag...one or two tough neighborhoods with gang problems near the hospital, a solid middle class neighborhood around the high school, to the Beechmont area of NR, behind Iona College, with big, beautiful homes.

The south end of NR is on the LI Sound. It is very crowded with everything from dreck to very expensive. Schools not so good.

Only one high school, the largest in Westchester County, and not the best. Students quickly learn which gangs hang out where. However, my son did well and was accepted at every college he applied to.

Home prices are a bit cheaper than Mamaroneck, but Mamaroneck is safer and nicer.

Preschools I can't help you with, for elementary and middle schools live in the north end. The areas to avoid will be easy to figure out just driving around. Property taxes are high and Westchester County has the highest county taxes in the US.

Good commute into NYC. Easy drive to White Plains for malls. Good luck.