New Hempstead

The village of New Hempstead is home to about 5,500. Much of the area is still rural. Winding, tree-lined county roads pass older farmhouses and newer single-family homes on large lots of a half-acre or more. “One of the most appealing aspects of New Hempstead is that it is very well run and has the lowest taxes in the county,” says Naomi Streicher, a Realtor with Q Home Sales. She says it has been that way since it was incorporated in 1983. “New Hempstead’s first mayor, Larry Dessau, used to sweep the village sidewalks himself to save money,” says Streicher, who has immediate family living in the neighborhood.

Like most of the Hudson Valley, there are differing home styles in New Hempstead that reflect varying tastes and trends in housing over the centuries. Streicher says there aren’t a lot higher end homes in the area, but what is there are good, average homes that are practical and affordable. Homes in New Hempstead on average sell for about $650,000 for a three-bedroom home to around $1.8 million for a spacious, six-bedroom home. Because homes are spread out on larger lot sizes, it is a car-dependent neighborhood. It is easy to reach major highways.

New Hempstead, like all of Rockland, is considered a suburb of New York City. The Palisades Interstate Parkway runs through the middle of the neighborhood, making the 32-mile commute to Manhattan straight forward. Several bus lines offer daily routes to the Big Apple. There is a park-and-ride at Eugene Levy Memorial Park for those who want to catch a bus or meet their carpool.

The East Ramapo Central School District oversees local schools in the neighborhood. Hempstead Elementary School has a student body of 441 and serves kindergarten through grade six. It has a C-minus rating from Niche. Pomona Middle School is in the nearby town of Suffern. It has a student body of 554 and a C-minus rating from Niche. Ramapo High School has 1,517 students. After school officials spent the past year making improvements to the school, Niche recently upgraded the high school’s ranking to a B-minus.

There are many parks in and around New Hempstead that offer hours of activity and outdoor fun. Eugene Levy Memorial Park features a children’s play area, picnic tables, a soccer field, paddle ball, basketball, and tennis courts. In the winter months, ice skating and sledding are available when weather conditions allow. The Herb Reisman Sports Complex has baseball, softball, soccer and football fields in addition to volleyball and basketball courts, walking paths and a picnic pavilion. For baseball fans, Clover Stadium is home to the New York Boulders, an independent team. Golf lovers will enjoy the New York Country Club. This premier facility has an 18-hole course set on scenic hills with views of the Manhattan skyline.

Realtor Streicher says a new shopping plaza has recently opened in New Hempstead, complete with a CVS. There is a Key Foods Supermarket two miles away in Spring Valley and Wesley Kosher Supermarket is about a mile away in Monsey. For those who enjoy farmers markets and fresh produce, the Orchards of Concklin has been a popular fixture in New Hempstead for more than 10 decades. The Concklin family began farming in Rockland County before the Revolutionary War. Visitors to the farm can pick their own apples, buy locally grown produce, baked goods, eggs and specialty foods.

If you are hungry, there are plenty of dining options in nearby villages and hamlets. Begin your day at coBea Coffee, just outside of New Hempstead. Enjoy one of the café’s many caffeine offerings as you dig into a delicious omelet. For lunch, Three Boys Deli is worth the three-mile trip to Pomona. In addition to hearty sandwiches at reasonable prices, the sandwich shop also offers a full breakfast menu and an array of baked goods. Michael’s on Main in New City is a quick four-mile drive. The restaurant offers new American cuisine presented with a flair. It’s a fine-dining experience in small-town Rockland County.

Written By

Robin Beres

Photography Contributed By

Pushparaj Aitwal

Video By

Samantha Houtchens