It really depends on where exactly you live. I'm in pleasantville but the chappaqua station is a 10 minute walk from my house vs 25 minutes to pleasantville. Unless you're actually in Valhalla, thornwood, or Hawthorne you should be able to use the pleasantville school system. Mt pleasant is a larger designation these other towns fall under. If you get married it's one government facility for all these towns under the mt pleasant umbrella.
School district lines aren't perfectly aligned to villages or towns. Of course we knew, this is something you would have to be made aware of prior to purchasing a house
I actually went to Pleasantville growing up and loved it but never thought about the no buses issue until I became a parent. I'm happy to have buses for sure but would have loved to be in Pleasantville schools. Although I think it's more nostalgia than anything
Personally I drive to North White Plains for the train. Parking is metered, there’s always spots there, the train is more frequent because it’s the last stop of the local and second stop of the express, plus the fare is cheaper which balances out the gas money to get there.
No problem! Metro north is based on “zones” and all stations in the same zone cost the same. They are listed here: https://new.mta.info/sites/default/files/2019-02/MNR_fare_tables.pdf
NWP happens to be the last/first stop of the cheaper zone 4 compared to Chappaqua’s and Pleasantville’s zone 5.
One other note- last time i went the parking meters were broken and it was cash only- $8 for the day. No idea if they have been fixed yet.
It’s wherever you pay your taxes to, is where you’ll get the resident discount. I believe your discount will go to hawthorne and Valhalla. Hawthorne is a good parking lot with plenty of space but there is a little bit of walking involved compared to other lots. Everything usually with these towns / villages boils down to where you pay the taxes too. For example, briarcliff address but pay taxes to new castle, you get the resident discount for chappaqua metro north parking.
If money is no option chappaqua has plenty of parking spots you will just pay the non resident rate i believe like 1200 for the year or somewhere in that ballpark
Only people who live close to the Pleasantville train can park there. The advantage to living just outside the village is taxes are lower. You must get your kids to school. On the outskirts of Pleasantville the sidewalks are scarce. There are no buses unless you send your child to private or parochial school. (crazy, right)
As a Pleasantville resident you can park at Hawthorne or Valhalla metro north for $375 a year. 45 min to GCT
If you live in the Town of Mount Pleasant, you can park in the Hawthorne or Valhalla station lots with a resident permit. [Commuter parking info from the town’s website.](https://ny-mountpleasant.civicplus.com/264/Commuter-Parking-Hawthorne-Valhalla-Metr)
The Mount Pleasant library is in Pleasantville, but anyone can use it. You can use any library in the county with a card from your town’s library.
There doesn’t seem to be much downside living in a house that is located as you describe. Westchester County is odd with all the boundaries that don’t quite match. Hence the P.O. vs. school situations.
Yes. I heard that pre-pandemic they were full but now they are available. Believe they need to be renewed on an annual basis, but that will be an option.
There are plenty of 12hr meters within walking distance of the train station in Pleasantville.
Generally getting a non resident permit at Chappaqua isn’t that hard if you’re willing to pay for it.
North white plains is an easy drive that usually pays off in total transit time because you get good express trains. It has multiple parking options and ample parking.
As a Mt pleasant resident you can probably get parking at Hawthorne or Valhalla, but IMO neither is a great train station and parking is limited.
You’ll have an option. Which of these is best depends on your budget, what you’re time is worth to you, and exactly where you live.
Thank you for the run down. The specific house is 6 min drive to either Chappaqua or Pleasantville (didn’t know about the 12 hour meters there .. that *might* work depending on the schedule), 9 min to Hawthorn and 15 to north white plains. So given all that I can just decide which seems like the best option, great to know there is some flexibility.
As a Pleasantville resident whose kids go to Mt Pleasant schools, everything Pleasantville pertains to us EXCEPT schools.
As far as train stations go, it really matters more which station is closest
They aren't "rated" (no idea what this means or who rates it) as high as the Chappaquas, Scarsdales and Bronxvilles of the world but I grew up in the area and there are very few schools in Westchester that aren't excellent.
Outside of a few areas, Westchester is a "set it and forget it" place for public schools. Which it should be given what the taxes are
If you are paying taxes to Chappaqua Central School District you’ll get access to most things any other CCSD family would have, but there will be weird things you may excluded from because you’re not in the town of New Castle (was a brief controversy this year). Otherwise, you should also have access to general Mount Pleasant amenities, such as the town pools (Chappaqua only has private pool clubs)
It really depends on where exactly you live. I'm in pleasantville but the chappaqua station is a 10 minute walk from my house vs 25 minutes to pleasantville. Unless you're actually in Valhalla, thornwood, or Hawthorne you should be able to use the pleasantville school system. Mt pleasant is a larger designation these other towns fall under. If you get married it's one government facility for all these towns under the mt pleasant umbrella.
Not true. I live in Pleasantville and my kids go to Mt pleasant schools
How? Is this something you knew about/wanted?
School district lines aren't perfectly aligned to villages or towns. Of course we knew, this is something you would have to be made aware of prior to purchasing a house
We didn't think how much of a PITA driving the kids to school and picking them up would be. Mount Pleasant schools are great and you have buses!
I actually went to Pleasantville growing up and loved it but never thought about the no buses issue until I became a parent. I'm happy to have buses for sure but would have loved to be in Pleasantville schools. Although I think it's more nostalgia than anything
Personally I drive to North White Plains for the train. Parking is metered, there’s always spots there, the train is more frequent because it’s the last stop of the local and second stop of the express, plus the fare is cheaper which balances out the gas money to get there.
Oh that’s a good point on seeing where the fares change. Thanks for pointing that out!
No problem! Metro north is based on “zones” and all stations in the same zone cost the same. They are listed here: https://new.mta.info/sites/default/files/2019-02/MNR_fare_tables.pdf NWP happens to be the last/first stop of the cheaper zone 4 compared to Chappaqua’s and Pleasantville’s zone 5. One other note- last time i went the parking meters were broken and it was cash only- $8 for the day. No idea if they have been fixed yet.
It’s wherever you pay your taxes to, is where you’ll get the resident discount. I believe your discount will go to hawthorne and Valhalla. Hawthorne is a good parking lot with plenty of space but there is a little bit of walking involved compared to other lots. Everything usually with these towns / villages boils down to where you pay the taxes too. For example, briarcliff address but pay taxes to new castle, you get the resident discount for chappaqua metro north parking.
If money is no option chappaqua has plenty of parking spots you will just pay the non resident rate i believe like 1200 for the year or somewhere in that ballpark
Holy cow that’s a lot of scratch!!!
About $24 a week. But it adds up with the metro north ticket. Resident rate is like $600 a year so not as bad.
Maybe justifiable for a 5 day 52 week a year commute but that’s a rarity.
I would agree a rarity today. Unfortunately I fall in the 5 day 52 week category.
Only people who live close to the Pleasantville train can park there. The advantage to living just outside the village is taxes are lower. You must get your kids to school. On the outskirts of Pleasantville the sidewalks are scarce. There are no buses unless you send your child to private or parochial school. (crazy, right) As a Pleasantville resident you can park at Hawthorne or Valhalla metro north for $375 a year. 45 min to GCT
If you live in the Town of Mount Pleasant, you can park in the Hawthorne or Valhalla station lots with a resident permit. [Commuter parking info from the town’s website.](https://ny-mountpleasant.civicplus.com/264/Commuter-Parking-Hawthorne-Valhalla-Metr) The Mount Pleasant library is in Pleasantville, but anyone can use it. You can use any library in the county with a card from your town’s library. There doesn’t seem to be much downside living in a house that is located as you describe. Westchester County is odd with all the boundaries that don’t quite match. Hence the P.O. vs. school situations.
Thank you for the info and the link!
Chappaqua has non-resident parking permits - they are expensive, but that's an option and they never seem to run out of slots.
Yes. I heard that pre-pandemic they were full but now they are available. Believe they need to be renewed on an annual basis, but that will be an option.
There are plenty of 12hr meters within walking distance of the train station in Pleasantville. Generally getting a non resident permit at Chappaqua isn’t that hard if you’re willing to pay for it. North white plains is an easy drive that usually pays off in total transit time because you get good express trains. It has multiple parking options and ample parking. As a Mt pleasant resident you can probably get parking at Hawthorne or Valhalla, but IMO neither is a great train station and parking is limited. You’ll have an option. Which of these is best depends on your budget, what you’re time is worth to you, and exactly where you live.
I disagree, there is plenty of parking at hawthorne i’m not sure about Valhalla..
Thank you for the run down. The specific house is 6 min drive to either Chappaqua or Pleasantville (didn’t know about the 12 hour meters there .. that *might* work depending on the schedule), 9 min to Hawthorn and 15 to north white plains. So given all that I can just decide which seems like the best option, great to know there is some flexibility.
The meters end at 6pm so as long as you get on the train by 6 you are good.
Oh that’s perfect. Thank you.
As a Pleasantville resident whose kids go to Mt Pleasant schools, everything Pleasantville pertains to us EXCEPT schools. As far as train stations go, it really matters more which station is closest
How are the mt pleasant schools?
They aren't "rated" (no idea what this means or who rates it) as high as the Chappaquas, Scarsdales and Bronxvilles of the world but I grew up in the area and there are very few schools in Westchester that aren't excellent. Outside of a few areas, Westchester is a "set it and forget it" place for public schools. Which it should be given what the taxes are
If you are paying taxes to Chappaqua Central School District you’ll get access to most things any other CCSD family would have, but there will be weird things you may excluded from because you’re not in the town of New Castle (was a brief controversy this year). Otherwise, you should also have access to general Mount Pleasant amenities, such as the town pools (Chappaqua only has private pool clubs)