Village of Scarsdale | What life is like in this upscale Westchester town
Welcome back to another post in our Westchester Snapshot series, this time on the Village of Scarsdale, NY. If you’d like to see more of this series – in collaboration with The Westchester Living Team at Compass – you can view posts on Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Pelham and Bronxville.
The village of Scarsdale, NY, just 30 minutes north of Manhattan by train, is one of the most affluent suburbs in Westchester County. Known for its bucolic setting, beautiful homes, and Tudor-style architecture throughout its downtown, it’s visually appealing. But it’s more than just another pretty Westchester town. Scarsdale has an excellent school system, a good-sized downtown full of eateries and boutiques, great recreational facilities, and a short commute to New York City.
Scarsdale, while only 6 ½ square miles, consists of five distinct neighborhoods: Edgewood, Fox Meadow, Greenacres, Heathcote and Quaker Ridge. Portions of Fox Meadow, Greenacres and Edgewood are located within walking distance to Scarsdale Village and the Metro North Station. The Heathcote section features many estates as well as residential areas within walking distance of Heathcote Elementary School and the Five Corners shopping area. The Edgewood section centers around Edgewood Elementary School and the beautiful playing fields and playgrounds on the school grounds. Quaker Ridge consists of many homes built in the 50’s-70’s and a significant number of new construction homes.
Life in Scarsdale, NY
For a suburb, the village of Scarsdale offers a lot. One can spend a weekend day hanging out in the village at one of its quality restaurants, shopping in its upscale boutiques, and getting some r & r at one of its many salons – Scarsdale has a lot of salons! Restaurants such as Martine’s, Chat, Patisserie Salzburg, Moscato, Little Thai Kitchen, and Café Alaia are all popular with good food and atmosphere. Chat has an amazing outdoor patio, which is perfect for summer drinks and dining.
If you’re not wanting to eat, but rather wanting to work-out, Scarsdale has a slew of options. In town you can find trendy SoulCycle, The Bar Method, Be True Yoga and Pilates Therapy and Wellness. Further outside of downtown Scarsdale there is Flywheel, Equinox Scarsdale, Total Fitness Center, The New York Sports Club, Planet Fitness, among others. No matter what your preference is for working out, Scarsdale has you covered, offering a variety of activities.
The shopping in the village of Scarsdale is some of the best as far as Westchester towns go. There are many boutiques, both hip and quaint, including high-end Rothman’s, LF Stores, New York fave Pookie & Sebastian, Great Stuff, Mixology, The Dark Horse, Wilson & Son Jewelers, and the beautiful home goods store La Dentelliere, to name a few. Just head to where East Parkway and Spencer Place converge and you will be in the heart of the shopping district. Continue onto Popham and Chase Roads, and just past the train tracks is Garth Road as well, a long stretch full of shops and eateries. Speaking of train, the Scarsdale train station is well-located, right in the center of town on East Parkway by Spencer Place. So if you’re coming from the city, when you hop off the train, you will be right in the center of things.
It should be noted that Scarsdale residents also do their shopping in other complexes on the outskirts of town, such as the Five Corners, at the intersection of Weaver Road, Wilmot Road, Heathcote Road and Palmer Avenue. Here you can find Balducci’s, a barber, cleaners, a deli and more. Another popular complex is the Vernon Hills Shopping Center (on the border or Scarsdale and Eastchester). With Lord & Taylor, Athleta, Barnes & Noble (note one of the few B & N’s with a café), Smith & Hawken, West Elm, The Gap and more, this is a popular complex for local residents.
Children & Family In Scarsdale NY
As mentioned before, Scarsdale has an excellent school system. Scarsdale schools enjoy a national reputation as among America’s finest schools. Scarsdale Union Free School District consists of five elementary schools: Edgewood, Fox Meadow, Greenacres, Heathcote and Quaker Ridge. Scarsdale Middle School houses grades 6-8, while Scarsdale High School has a population of about 1,600 students.
The richness of SHS’s curriculum, the preparation of its faculty, the achievement of its students at levels are well above national averages on standardized tests, and the record of college admissions at the nation’s leading universities confirm a pattern of excellence. Education in Scarsdale has historically been the focus of its community, and the combination of highly motivated students, supportive parents, a talented faculty, and appropriate financial resources suggest that Scarsdale High School is a model of what quality public education can be.
There are numerous recreational opportunities available to the Scarsdale community. The Scarsdale Pool Complex, with four pools, a snack bar, playground and basketball courts, is a highlight. A gathering place for the community, the Scarsdale Pool provides a venue for swimming lessons for the Scarsdale camps, hosts fabulous 4th of July fireworks and daytime festivities, and serves as a beautiful setting for summertime fun. The Scarsdale Pool is an ideal summer outlet, and a major asset to the town.
There are many public parks in Scarsdale including Davis Park, which is a popular haunt for young families; Crossway Park, which includes baseball diamonds, tennis courts, a playground and playing fields; and Chase Park in the Village, which affords residents with a place for a quiet rest away from the shopping and dining.
One of Scarsdale’s most notable places for outdoor recreation is its beloved Greenburg Nature Center. Situated on 33 acres with walking trails, an innovative playground, and an indoor center with live animals, this is a favorite spot to take the kids. They have annual events, such as a Halloween parade and craft-making, host birthday parties and so much more. Practically everyone in nearby Westchester has visited the Greenburg Nature Center at least once for an event or simply to stroll its beautiful grounds and let the kids run free. You can read more about it my post The Best of Westchester’s Parks and Open Space. Also not to be forgotten is Scarsdale’s Weinberg Nature Center, another popular and beautiful place to enjoy the outdoors.
Scarsdale offers its residents a nice mix of outdoor space, properties with a bit more land in comparison with some of its Westchester neighbors, a proper downtown with beautiful Tudor-style buildings, an excellent school system, and a convenient commute to NYC. For many people it’s the ideal place to live outside of New York City – but, of course, with the ideal comes a higher price tag.
I’ve heard of scarsdale, but have never been! Seems very urban in the stores, restaurants and gyms that you mention. The pool looks really nice too!
Author
It’s urban in the sense that it offers a lot of sophisticated activities and dining, but it’s actually fairly village-like in a bucolic setting. A pretty little town!