Westchester County suburbia is the “sixth borough”
Commuter suburbs to New York City are the lifeblood of Westchester County, but only Yonkers earns the unofficial title of the “sixth borough,” in recognition of its large, diverse population and exceptional proximity to the Big Apple. “Yonkers is actually the third largest city in the state. Describing all of Yonkers – it's like asking to describe all of New York City,” says Valerio Santuccia, a licensed real estate salesperson with Link NY Realty who specializes in Westchester County. “It’s a very short distance to Manhattan. To me, it’s basically New York, that’s how close they are. And it’s right on the Hudson River, you get pretty views of the Palisades and historic buildings. They have nature all around, it’s nice. Not just concrete.” Redevelopment and a rich pool of existing recreation, business and cultural centers position Yonkers as a large, active city in its own right, not overpowered by the shadows of skyscrapers cast by its southern neighbor.
The banks of the Hudson and Saw Mill rivers were magnets for industrialists in the 20th century, long after Dutch settlers were giving Yonkers its name by addressing landowner Adriaen van der Donck as “Jonk Herr,” meaning “young gentleman.” Today, Yonkers’ economy is no longer tied to an industrialized riverfront, though smokestack-topped plants and old warehouses are being repurposed for corporate, residential and sustainable energy needs throughout the city. Westchester County’s largest employment sectors are education and health care, bolstered by SUNY Westchester Community College and Sarah Lawrence College. Yonkers has its own medical district: the North Yonkers Medical Mile. St. John’s Hospital anchors the area, but plenty of specialist offices in converted office buildings are just across Broadway.
Crestwood benefits from local tennis courts open to the public.
You will experience great live music on the bank of the Hudson River at Yonkers Riverfest.
A row of brick homes adds character to the streets of Northwest Yonkers.
Northeast Yonkers sits above fine shopping and dining alongside the Hudson River.
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New York City commuting and exciting Yonkers developments
Despite a healthy business life of its own, its commutability to New York City is what makes Yonkers stand out most; the Bronx is the city’s southern neighbor, and Manhattan is about 13 miles away from downtown. The Hudson and Harlem Metro-North Railroad lines run along the city’s east and west respectively, each pocketed with stations. Metro-North, Amtrak and Canadian VIA Rail trains all stop at Yonkers Station, and a Hudson line express train can have riders at Grand Central Station in 30 minutes. Northern Westchester County drivers stream through the city on major commuter highways like Interstate 87 and the Bronx and Saw Mill river parkways. Bee-Line buses travel throughout Westchester County. LaGuardia Airport is within 20 miles of home. Sidewalks line many streets, but terrain, upkeep and distance from businesses varies – some kind of vehicle is usually needed to get around Yonkers.
Its proximity to the five boroughs makes Yonkers a safe bet for residential real estate developers, as evidenced by a slew of mixed-use construction projects full of mixed-rate units. A number of riverfront developments have received the most buzz, including the proposed 41-story Teutonia Towers. “A lot of Yonkers is older. All of that development on the waterfront is because they want to uplift the city,” Santucci says. Outside of the residential sphere, recent development has also brought about the construction of the enormous Great Point Studios Lionsgate Studios Yonkers, a sprawling video and film production complex marketed as the largest and most comprehensive new spaces in the Northeast. More sound stages and a new magnet media high school are still in the works.
From Westchester County suburbia to commuter highway and riverfront condos
Yonkers has a diverse housing market; it’s easy to find single- and multi-family homes spanning price points and architectural styles from the last century. Condo and co-op complexes congregate along high-traffic commuter pathways throughout the city, especially along the Bronx River Parkway and Metro-North Harlem line. The Hudson line and the promise of stunning, waterfront views bring about similar developments along the train line’s namesake river. Suburban developments of many ages and styles cluster throughout Yonkers, from Homefield’s midcentury ranch-style and Cape Cod starter homes to Cedar Knolls, a hilly historic district of early 20th century estates that shares amenities and a mailing address with the neighboring village of Bronxville. The median home price in Yonkers is $351,000, lower than the national median given by the National Association of Realtors of $416,700. Wide variability, however, means it’s not hard to find penthouse condos or grand single-family homes for $1 million or much more. Homes tend to stay on the market a little longer in the city, selling in an average of 65 days compared to the national average of 44.
Homefield's hilly terrain means many houses include a flight of steps.
This Italianate home in Cedar Knolls looks like it would be at home in Italy.
Park Hill foursquare homes adorn wrap around porches.
Park Hill is beautiful and has wonderful views and waterside living.
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Parks and culture along the Hudson River
While Yonkers is home to plenty of inland recreation hubs, those that line the Hudson River stand out. The Untermyer Gardens are a lush, paradisiacal conservancy and the undisputed jewel of the the city’s public parks. Visitors walk hilly stone pathways between ponds, waterfalls and sculptures toward column-vaulted temples and overlooks of New Jersey’s Palisades, a less landscaped but equal source of natural beauty. Kayaks, jet skis and motorboats set off into the river from the JFK Marina. Away from the Hudson, Tibbetts Brook Park is home to broad community park amenities and a river of its own – a lazy one that flows through its popular aquatic complex. Cyclists can traverse dozens of miles of bike trails between the South County Trailway and Bronx River Pathway.
Yonkers gets together for community and cultural events throughout the year. Multiple art galleries and the Hudson River Museum are open throughout the year, but during the springtime Yonkers Arts Weekend, they act as festival anchors for dozens of arts, music and dance classes. The Yonkers Marathon is the second oldest in the United States after Boston’s. Spectators who miss their loved ones racing by can just stay put for an hour or two; the city’s unique double-loop course ensures runners will be back around before crossing the finish line. Foot races aren’t the only high-speed event in town; equestrian athletes thunder around the half-mile racetrack at Empire City Casino.
A couple enjoys hiking at Untermyer Gardens Conservancy in Northwest Yonkers.
DJ Day at Tibbetts Brook Park is a fun filled day of music and games.
Bicycle Sundays along the Bronx River Parkway serves bikers from Northeast Yonkers.
Empire City Casino, located east of Lincoln Park, is a major attraction to the area.
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Shopping and dining at Cross County and Ridge Hill malls
Yonkers’ highest traffic commercial center have much broader regional draw than just the metro area. Appropriately named, The Cross County Center is a marriage of green space and outdoor mall-style retail strips, connected by sidewalks and sprawling parking lots to big box footprints on its outskirts. Redevelopment at Ridge Hill, another walkable outdoor shopping complex, has brought in a slew of new retailers and is a point of interest for more potential tenants, including an indoor pickleball facility. The city is hoping to revitalize downtown Yonkers, applying to grants and outlining development plans centered around education, mixed-use construction and trailway development to better connect and serve residents.
Nearby Park Hill is the shopping mecca of The Mall at Cross County.
Park Hill residents enjoy a wide selection of walkable retail options.
Northeast Yonkers is home to the shopping mecca Ridge Hill Plaza.
Big-name stores are conveniently located one mile from Lincoln Park at the Cross County Mall.
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A well-regarded magnet program at Yonkers Middle High School
Yonkers Public Schools earns a B overall from Niche. Yonkers Middle High School stands out in the district, not just for its A-minus rating but also for its Magnet International Baccalaureate program, designed to attract students seeking academic rigor. Several private religious schools score well throughout the city, including the Islamic, A-minus-rated Andalusia School and Catholic, B-plus-rated Sacred Heart High School.
Yonkers Middle High School helps its students succeed.
Andalusia School is a member of SUNY, College Board and NYS Board of Regents.
Explore the Sacred Heart High School at 34 Convent , Yonkers, NY.
Westchester Hills School 29 serves students in PK to 8th grade in Northeast Yonkers.
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Crime, weather and floodplains in Yonkers
According to data reported to the FBI by the Yonkers Police Department, 2,020 violent crimes were committed in 2023, up from 1,557 in 2022. Property crime rose similarly during the same years from 1,921 to 2,613 instances.
Average Yonkers summer temperatures reach the 80s, while winter temperatures hang around the 20s and 30s. Across the Hudson, the trees along the Palisades become coated in vibrant foliage and budding leaves during temperate falls and springs. Precipitation is year-round.
South Westchester County’s waterways carve higher risk floodplains through Yonkers. Low-lying basements and roadways are at risk of flooding after unusually heavy rain or hurricane storm surge, especially along the Hudson, Bronx and Saw Mill rivers.
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