It’s hard to believe that you can find anywhere close to NYC that doesn’t feel like the crowded streets of Manhattan, but, then again, a lot of people forget about the city’s sixth, unofficial borough. Driving or walking through Yonkers is like stepping back in a mini-time machine. It may feel 20 or so odd years behind Manhattan’s trend curve, but there’s a lot to love about the city! Most notedly, Yonkers is great for weekend warriors and those who love cities with a splash of nature thrown in. You can run in Tibbets Park, take in nature in Untermeyer, enjoy a peaceful moment in Lenoir Preserve, or just go downtown and take in the view from the Hudson. All this comes with just a 30-40 minute train ride into the city, if you choose to commute.  

**Here's a long-time local on living in Yonkers:**
*It is a diverse city ethnically and racially and with wide variance in incomes and with that diversity comes some problems that the richer, more stereotypically Westchester towns don't have because they exclude anyone who cannot afford to live in their community. There is racial and ethnic segregation based primarily on income with the southwest area of the city being more minority and lower income. Access to the regions core, NYC etc. is excellent from Yonkers with a two commuter rail lines serving the city with a 30 minute ride to Grand Central Terminal. The ability to access the Hudson Valley is great as well. 

*Much of the city is walkable to services and shopping, or at least a very short hop in your car. In a pinch, say in lousy weather, there are many excellent neighborhoods that would allow you to leave the car at home and walk to get that quart of milk or to take the bus to the station instead of worrying about the car in the snow. On the downside, speaking of snow, Good place to live? Yes. -it has been a plus for my family and I for 30 years.*

For more reviews of what living in Yonkers is like from locals check out: [**The Buzz**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/yonkers?page=buzz)


It’s an NYC oasis

Best Part About Yonkers 

Listen, we know it’s not in the mountains or anything, but the 7 hills on which Yonkers is built are no joke. And in the winter? You’re in for a snowy surprise. Yonkers is known by residents for not having the most attentive snow removal services. Yes, there are bad drivers in any weather, but the hills combined with the snow and ice make Yonkers a winter driving nightmare. To make the winter a little less miserable, grab some snow tires and leave a little extra room when driving around town.

**Here's a local on one of the cons to living in Yonkers:**
*Biggest downside for you bc you have kids is probably the school system. If you have the money, then you can send to private. I think Yonkers has very low property taxes compared to the rest of Westchester.
Metronorth into Manhattan is very easy. Yonkers is huge, so just make sure you're near one of the train stations if you plan on using it.*


The hills

Worst Part About Yonkers 

Yonkers is a commuter city. There is the 20 bus that can get you almost everywhere you want to go. While locals commute by bus and train for work, it would be difficult to live in the city without a car. Most of the people who live here commute into Manhattan for work and they love being able to leave the craziness of the city behind and find respite in cozy Yonkers. The variety of neighborhoods and homes reflects the diversity of the city. You can find large mansions in Northeast Yonkers and then find an apartment close to everything you need in Dunwoodie. 

To see what locals get up to for fun in Yonkers check out the calendar of events: https://www.burbio.com/lists/yonkers-community-calendar


Lifestyle of Yonkers

Yonkers is in an interesting space, work wise, because of its reputation as a commuter city. Many of the residents choose to live in Yonkers instead of Manhattan for the peace and quiet, but it means that there aren’t many large corporations or headquarters in the city. If you ask locals, that’s the best part about it! The largest employer is Yonkers Raceway, a city landmark originally famous for horse racing, that eventually became the Yonkers Raceway and Empire City Casino.


Worklife of Yonkers

As Manhattan continues to price out young professionals and young families, more and more people are turning to Yonkers to get more value for their money. If you find yourself getting frustrated by the clogged NYC streets, Yonkers might just be the place for you. 

The Value Borough

Why You Should Move Here Now?

Although Yonkers doesn’t have the feel of a traditional college town, it’s still home to Sarah Lawrence College and many students choose to live in the city as opposed to commuting in from NYC. This area feels like the Bronx, so it’s great for people who want walkability, convenience, and easy access to restaurants and bars. 
- Dunwoodie


College Students

Dunwoodie

Young Professionals are going to want to move to a neighborhood that has easy access to the trains into the city. There are enough high rises close to train stops that you’ll be close to your commute as well as as your new favorite restaurants and breweries. 
- Ludlow Park
- Getty Square
- Woodlawn Heights


Young Professionals

Ludlow Park

For young families, Yonkers will feel like a suburb without having to give up your dream job in downtown Manhattan. There are plenty of neighborhoods that have a range of home sizes, from smaller starter homes with plenty of yard space (compared to other boroughs). 
- Crestwood
- Nepera Park
- Glenwood


Young Families

Crestwood

Families with older kids are going to appreciate the larger homes that come at a ridiculously low price tag compared to other boroughs. Keeping close to the city means you don’t sacrifice the amenities of nice parks, shopping centers, and more.
- Lawrence Park West
- Crestwood
- Beech Hill


Established Families

Lawrence Park West

Yonkers

**Might move to Yonkers... is the area safe? Is there anything to do here?**

Well, I live in Yonkers. In a pretty good area, and I tell you there's lots to do. I've spent a good amount of time in Yonkers (Live in South Yonkers, West Yonkers, and Currently North Yonkers.) There are bad places, but to be honest you'll probably never be near there.

As for things to do, there's ALWAYS something to do. What are your hobbies? Do you drink/party/club? Play basketball? Videogames? Love restaurants? See sights? Sit at home and harass your dog?

I've never really been bored living here. 20 minutes from White Plains and NYC driving. And Yonkers is pretty decent with affordable cabs and reliable public transportation.


**Looking to move to Yonkers and need advice on neighborhoods**

It really depends what you're looking for. There are some areas that are nicer than others but the offer different things.

The nicer parts of Yonkers I'd recommend Park Hill, or Northwest Yonkers, and Dunwoodie.

Park Hill is a very beautiful neighborhood that has plenty to offer, lots of tennis, sports, clubs to join, great property, etc.

Northwest Yonkers is a suburban and business neighborhood, there is nice property, plenty of parks, and then many delis, pizzerias, and others located close to many of the residential areas.

Dunwoodie, although I don't have a lot of experience with being down there is a nice area of Yonkers with good property and a ton of businesses to explore, and the Empire City Casino. It also offers a great golf course.

I would avoid anywhere in downtown Yonkers, like Getty Square or Elm Street. There is a saying in Yonkers.. Don't live on a street named after a tree. That tends to be where the crime is the most dangerous.

But at the end of the day it really ends up to be what you're looking for.

**Moving to Yonkers**

Welcome to the Forgotten Borough!

What neighborhood are you headed to? It will make or break your need for a car if you’re commuting to the city. I live in Woodlawn, McLean Ave neighborhood and there’s a lot of bars and restaurants here.

You might want to check out the waterfront for the brewery and some restaurants or take the metro north up a couple of stops to the river towns like Hastings, dobbs, where there are a lot of good eats.

Tibbets is great for running, whereas Untermeyer is great for taking in nature. Their Persian gardens are gorgeous, and the view of the Hudson is killer. Check out Lenoir Preserve for a quiet place of reflection too.

Executive Blvd is growing and some of our newer places to eat such as Fortina and Taco Spot are there.

South Broadway is the best place for hole in the wall Mexican, and Central American. My favorite pizza joint, Gino’s is there too. .

Ridge Hill has our some of our best shops and a nice place to walk around on a weekend night. Stew Leonards is a pretty awesome supermarket that has a lot of farm fresh products and most of the stuff they sell is made in store.

Check out Central Park Ave for more shopping as well and my favorite movie theatre, the Alamo, w haven for movie lovers is there too.

**Is Yonkers, New York a good place to live in?**

Yes. However, I would be lying if I said that there are not some compromises that one has to understand about the city. First of all, it is a city with many of the city problems that are not shared by the tinker toy towns surrounding it. It is a diverse city ethnically and racially and with wide variance in incomes and with that diversity comes some problems that the richer, more stereotypically Westchester towns don't have because they exclude anyone who cannot afford to live in their community. There is racial and ethnic segregation based primarily on income with the southwest area of the city being more minority and lower income.
The school system is chronically under funded and because of our great diversity has to educate more expensive to teach students. Like the NYC system there is a UN of languages spoken in the schools. To the good the funding issues are primarily one of state funding formulas and not a matter of the city not paying attention to its public school students. My sons both went to Yonkers public schools and got what I believe to be excellent educations and then succeeded in first rate colleges after graduation. Caring and excellent teachers but maybe missing all the bells and whistles that some other suburban systems have.
Property taxes are lower than other communities around Yonkers. It is common for people living in Bronxville, a very high quality school system with astronomical property taxes sharing a border with Yonkers, to move to the Yonkers neighborhood adjacent to Bronxville after the kids are out of school to save maybe half on their property taxes.
Access to the regions core, NYC etc. is excellent from Yonkers with a two commuter rail lines serving the city with a 30 minute ride to Grand Central Terminal. The ability to access the Hudson Valley is great as well. Being outside of the NYC traffic issues one can get to the green spaces of Westchester County and the Hudson Valley with ease giving you NYC and rural all rolled into one package.
Much of the city is walkable to services and shopping, or at least a very short hop in your car. In a pinch, say in lousy weather, there are many excellent neighborhoods that would allow you to leave the car at home and walk to get that quart of milk or to take the bus to the station instead of worrying about the car in the snow. On the downside, speaking of snow, Yonkers is a very hilly city and navigating it during a snow storm can be a challenge.
Good place to live? Yes. Like anywhere it has its pluses and minuses - it has been a plus for my family and I for 30 years.

Yonkers, New York

The Forgotten Borough

Looklyloo Score: 77

We're on it!