< Return to Talk
06.10.08, 14:40 PM New York City
52 replies
Should I buy a "cheap" house ($900K) in Scarsdale just for the schools? Will my DS have social issues because we won't have any money after RE taxes? Are there any "bad areas" in Scarsdale? TIA [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
New York City 06.10.08, 02:40 PM Flag
 

Dear UrbanBaby community,

Thank you so much for being a valued member of the UrbanBaby community. We wanted to inform you that we are shutting down the site on July 6th. We are grateful for your participation and support that has helped make UrbanBaby such an important resource to parents for many years.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can email us at urbanbaby-support@cbsinteractive.com.

Thanks so much,

UrbanBaby Support

»
LOL. Only on UB would someone call a $900K house a "cheap" house and have issues about living in a house that's not worth more. Your ds will have "social issues" if ds picks up on your insecurities. My 5yo ds has asked me why is so and so's house much bigger than our house. I've told him that there we are happy with our house and it works for us. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 02:47 PM Flag
»
ITA. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 02:49 PM Flag
»
Did you notice the quotation marks " " around the word cheap? Obviously I know that's a lot of money. I'm not insecure (to hell with all of you :-) but I have heard a lot about the snootiness of Scarsdale and am worried for my son. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 02:54 PM Flag
»
In pretty much all Westchester towns there's a diversity of incomes. Even places like Larchmont and Scarsdale have the ultra-rich and the just getting by....kids are going to have to learn at some point to judge on other things. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 03:41 PM Flag
»
excellent point, thanks [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 03:59 PM Flag
»
do you really want db to grow up in a whiter than white area. Why not go for a slightly mixed area aand get more house [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 02:47 PM Flag
»
No. but I want DS to go to good schools! We live in a very mixed area now, happily, but the schools are bad and we don't have $ for private. We're really struggling with what to do. We don't care about the house as such-- we live in 900 sq feet at the moment and that's fine with us. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 02:52 PM Flag
»
I'm the poster who left. If you look at how much you'll pay in taxes in Westchester, you'll find that it's similar to private school tuition. Look in connecticut for lower taxes and then you can decide what you want to do with that money (like maybe private school). [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 03:31 PM Flag
»
I saw some houses with taxes of $13-15K, that's what piqued my interest b/c that's a lot cheaper than private school. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 03:55 PM Flag
»
what are good commutable CT towns? prefer walkable, smaller houses... [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 04:00 PM Flag
»
Not if you have 2 or more kids. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.11.08, 12:23 PM Flag
»
CT has cheaper real estate taxes but you will pay more for a house. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.15.08, 08:02 AM Flag
»
And schools are not as good in general, plus is it longer commute back to the city. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.23.08, 06:33 AM Flag
»
I left Scarsdale because it was obnoxiously rude. However, if you are intent on moving there, you could try Edgewood, which is the "blue collar" area and houses are more affordable (people are more pleasant too). IMO, you overpay there. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 02:50 PM Flag
»
Obnoxiously rude is what I do not want! The kids in Edqewood go to Scarsdale schools? Is that why the houses are overpriced as you say? Thanks [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 02:56 PM Flag
»
np: that is one person's opinion. while I am sure there are "obnoxiously rude" people in Scarsdale (and elsewhere), I've met a number of people there who seem v friendly. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 03:04 PM Flag
»
I hear you, thanks [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 03:28 PM Flag
»
Edgewood is a section of Scarsdale, like Greenacres. I swear by my "rude" characterization and there are of course exceptions. But that's the personality of the town. Pushy and rude. Works for some people. Didn't work for me. Overpriced because of the short commute and the schools reputation. I did have one teacher note, however, that she'd love to have a high performing or low performing kid in the schools there, but a middle of the road student can get lost in the flow. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 03:30 PM Flag
»
I agree re: risk for "middle" students, which is why we chose Edgemont, much smaller system, harder to get lost in the shuffle. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 03:38 PM Flag
»
OP here. DS is 3, and he seems pretty middle to me. Shocking I know. So I'm going to look at Edgement, thanks. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 04:05 PM Flag
»
my ss and his mother live there in a "cheap" house, on the border of Eastchester. He is very well-adjusted, has lots of friends, and is getting straight As (he's a little bit of a geek, but that would be true of him anywhere). They're both v happy there. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 02:55 PM Flag
»
oh that [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 02:57 PM Flag
»
is great! Does it seem like a good compromise? [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 02:58 PM Flag
»
it does to me (and to them) -- he has the benefit of excellent schools, and she's happy there (as is he). I should perhaps mention that he is half-Asian, there are quite a number of Asian kids there, his best friend is Caucasian but his friends are both Asian and Caucasian and mixed. Not a lot of AA kids there tho, or hispanic, that's just the way it is, and honestly that's the way it is at a lot of the towns in Westchester with better schools (we lived in Edgemont and it's similar) [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 03:01 PM Flag
»
I would not call eastchester schools "excellent"! [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 03:32 PM Flag
»
neither would I -- I said he lives on the border of Eastchester; he goes to Scarsdale middle school -- only about 4 square feet of their property is in Eastchester, the rest is in Scarsdale. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 03:37 PM Flag
»
I don't know much about Westchester generally but I helped my friend look for houses and she did a lot of research into schools, including looking for diversity. Lots of schools had 75% white, 20% Asian and 5% "other." We're white (mixed faith), would love more diversity in every school.... but no one put me in charge! So we might have to compromise (and my son is kind of geeky too-- all he wants to do is puzzles all day long). Thanks for replying! [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 03:36 PM Flag
»
np: sounds like the edgewood section of scarsdale. My sister lives there and there are lots of great down to earth very nice people there. I agree that edgewood, edgemont and greenacres are good places for OP to look. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.11.08, 01:55 AM Flag
»
there are other places with great schools that are a little more diverse and cheaper [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 02:57 PM Flag
»
talk to me! [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 02:58 PM Flag
»
try maranoneck part of Larchmont. People hate the Mexican influence but the schools are good [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 03:03 PM Flag
»
the Mexican influence? [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 03:24 PM Flag
»
There a few mexican's that come to Mamaroneck from all over lower Westchester for jobs apparently which some people don't like, but they have dealt with the situation in a way that both the workers and the residents are happy I believe. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.23.08, 06:28 AM Flag
»
OP here-- thanks for all the replies-- I will be watching this post. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 04:22 PM Flag
»
i agree with posters who said there are other excellent districts with cheaper houses/ taxes. in scarsdale, i would not want to be living in the smallest house in the nicest town. there is will huge disparities. briarcliff? [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 04:51 PM Flag
»
or armonk or chappaqua. or ardsley -- close to nyc, schools are good tho not as good as scarsdale or edgemont, everyone I have met from ardsley is very nice. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 04:58 PM Flag
»
OK I think I'm going to look into Ardsley and Edgemont (and Mamaroneck part of Larchmont) cause it seems like they're closer to the city. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 05:09 PM Flag
»
FYI - Mamaroneck and Larchmont are two different towns. There is no Mamaroneck part of Larchmont. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.11.08, 05:58 AM Flag
»
poster above said look at the Maramoneck part of Larchmont-- any idea what she means? [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.11.08, 12:02 PM Flag
»
Mamaroneck has two school districts. Larchmont is its own town but part of one of the Mamaroneck school districts. I believe its part of what is considered to be the "less good" of the two districts (i.e. the one with "mexican influence".) The or was not being racist, but rather facetious, I believe. Because I have heard people's concern about the effect of the ESL students. Whatever. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.11.08, 12:20 PM Flag
»
The Town of Mamaroneck includes the Village of Larchmont and the Village of Mamaroneck (and the unincorporated portion of the Town of Mamaroneck, which has a Larchmont P.O.). All go to the Mamaroneck school district. There is another part of the Village of Mamaroneck that is actually in the Town of Rye, and that section has its own school district -- Rye Neck. Rye Neck is an excellent school district and is more affordable than Larchmont. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.11.08, 01:00 PM Flag
»
you are completely correct on all counts. You must live in the area! [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.11.08, 04:46 PM Flag
»
I don't, but I know people in a Mamaroneck elementary school w/the worsish reputation and she is really happy with it. She said they take time to teach to different levels. And Rye Neck is a very small but very good district. My friend bought there. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.13.08, 10:47 AM Flag
»
Armonk and Chappaqua are pretty darn rich too, not much difference between Chappaqua HS and Scarsdale HS really, and I have friends with kids in both. You do get a lot of Ivy admissions but nothing low-key about those places. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.23.08, 06:35 AM Flag
»
Grew up in Scarsdale, have classmates and family who live in Chappaqua now -- they are much more alike than different. Scarsdale's more convenient, Chappaqua's prettier, they're both socially and academically intense -- wouldn't move to either. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.23.08, 01:14 PM Flag
»
Yep that was my point that they are more similar than different. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.23.08, 01:27 PM Flag
»
I have to laugh at that 'obnoxious, pushy and rude' comments about scarsdale. This is my impression of the UES...my point is that you will find these types everywhere. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 07:00 PM Flag
»
NP: I think the pushy/rude factor is accelerated because of concentration. On the UES and in the city broadly there are so many other people it dilutes the pushy/rude factor considerably. Scarsdale/Larchmont, etc higher concentrations of exclusively white strivers.. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.11.08, 04:38 AM Flag
»
Prices are going down quickly and there are some desperate sellers out there. While you will never be the richest person on the block, you may be able to get a nicer house than you think. We have been looking at houses in Scarsdale for two months very closely and I will tell you -- while there are a lot of wealthy people, there are also either quite a few people living beneath their means or there are some not wealthy people. You go into a 1.75M house and people do not have 1.75M possessions [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.11.08, 07:46 AM Flag
»
One of the posters, on Mamaroneck vs. Larchmont was wrong Larchmont Village does not have its own town, it is in the Town of Mamaroneck and in the Mamaroneck School District (Chatsworth Elementary School and shared Middle and High Schools with Mamaroneck). Part of Mamaroneck Village is also in the Town of Mamaroneck (Mamaroneck School District) and the other part is in the Town of Rye and shares a school district with part of Rye (Rye Neck School District). One thing that does confuse people though is that a part of unincorporated Mamaroneck has a Larchmont address, but is notr actually in Larchmont Village - this area is zoned for Murray Ave Elementary School in Mamaroneck School Distrist. Some of parts of Mamaroneck zoned for Rye Neck School District are of similar affluence similar to Larchmont Manor on the water in Larchmont Village, these areas are Shore Acres/Barrymore Estates area by the water in Mamaroneck and Greenhaven on the water/Preserve areas in Rye. Orienta in Mamaroneck Village/Mamaroneck School Distrcit is also very affluent and actually more affluent in some parts than Larchmont Manor. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.15.08, 06:27 AM Flag
»
Kids in Scarsdale call Edgewood the 'hood' of Scarsdale. Yes people that live in that area are more friendly and down to earth, but kids in other parts of Scarsdale will look down on your kids. mmm personally I will rather live in the more expensive parts of Scarsdale and if not I will live elsewhere like Larchmont or Mamaroneck. And the poster is right find good schools with a good AA/hispanic mix is not easy, mostly because asians have a very strong focus on academics all most too much if you ask me and really they are the ones that make Scarsdale and Edgemont tops not the white kids there. If you want a good school lower westchester school with a good AA/Hispanic mix try Ardsley, Irvington, Hastings, Mamaroneck and Rye Neck School Districts(some are diverse to a lesser extent than others of course but you need to decide what you are comfortable with). [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.15.08, 06:35 AM Flag
»
np: there are some sweet little houses in edgewood. i'd love to live there. if i don't get a goddamned G&T placement this week, we very well may! [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.15.08, 08:09 AM Flag
Refresh » New Post »
Select Category
close [X]

close [X]

Select a Category (only 1)

category
Stages
Regions