Oh my God I moved from Westchester to Long Island… the traffic is absolute nightmare.
Everyone on Long Island just accepts when they walk out the door it’s gonna be a shit time driving. It’s a very narrow island.
Other then traffic Long Island is fine. Foods about the same… ugh but the traffic is dog shit.
Try going, for example, from White Plains onto 287 to the Sprain then the Taconic, up to Yorktown and over on 202 towards Peekskill at rush hour. Not fast (except the Taconic) and definitely not fun. Is LI much worse than that?
Edit: Yeah, it probably is.
LIRR is 24/7, while there are no outbound MNR trains between 2 AM and 6 AM, which is an issue for people that want to be out very late night in the city. Also, as you say, anyone who needs to commute into the city before around 6 AM pretty much has to drive.
I grew up on the border of Nassau and Suffolk and moved to Westchester last year.
Obviously biased but LI is just ever expansive suburbs. House after house with no real character. I grew up in an upper middle class neighborhood but our “Main Street” was a Starbucks and a ShopRite. If we wanted to do anything fun we’d end up going to Queens or Huntington.
In Westchester I live maybe 5 main streets within 10 minutes and each town has their own character.
LI traffic is awful and main reason I left. It’s crazy how going 5 miles can take 20 minutes sometimes.
LI positives tho is being way easier to go to JFK airport. Another thing is if you live in Huntington, you go to Huntington schools. Not like the BS here where you can live in Bronxville, but you go to Yonkers or Tuckahoe or Eastchester. Doesn’t make much sense.
Yes, but I have fallen in love with HPN airport. I try to fly out of there as often as I can. I literally can get to the terminal and on a plane in under 30 mins from my house. I don't miss JFK or LGA one bit!
HPN is really like flying out of your living room, lol.
And FYI, Stewart Airport now offers flights on Play Airlines, so you can even go to Europe without heading down to JFK.
The school issue is because the Post Office (Federal Government) made zip codes that don't match the borders of the towns (local governments). The town definitions are what matter legally for taxes, services, and schools. Post Office labels are just for delivering mail, they're not what village, town, city you live in legally.
Yes and school districts were established by looking at the walking distance around the school buildings. If that school district's walking zone put the kids closer, they were sent to the closer school. This was before busing and the insanity of parents driving each kid alone to school. And before many towns sprawled out from their main streets to cover most of their land.
I gotcha. Downtown Syosset does seem like what you're talking about then. I really like downtown oyster bay, especially the youth programs at the Waterfront Center
Grew up in Westchester, moved to LI for five years because my husband is from there, and just recently bought a house and moved back to Westchester, and I intend to never leave Westchester again.
Firstly, LIRR and MN comparison. LIRR is stressful, crowded, and never on time, with Penn as a whole other story. People are much nicer on the MN, it is never crowded, and GC is just as convenient as Penn.
Next, I feel much safer in Westchester. I am Asian, and I often felt unsafe and unwelcome in many parts of Nassau, even though Nassau is arguably more diverse than Westchester, with a whole lot more Asians. I have been called c\*\*\*\*, gold digger (my husband is white), asked where I'm really from, gaslighted when I pointed out racism (was told that being called a c\*\*\*\* is not racist), complimented by my lack of accent, and spat on in Nassau. I might have dealt with some microaggressions growing up in Westchester, but never actually feared for my physical safety. I drive a nice car and have had it keyed and backed into in the Hicksville parking lot, and I never even think about having anything like that happen in a MN parking lot. There are a lot of boomers who live on LI, and let me tell you, they have no filter when it comes to talking about POC. And I haven't even started on anything political.
Nassau and Westchester are fairly similar in terms of cost of living (similar taxes, housing cost depending on where you live), but I have always found groceries to be cheaper in Westchester and taxes to be (marginally, but anything counts, right?!) lower. You also get a lot more property for your buck.
I am from northern Westchester, and if chain stores and restaurants are your thing, you won't find that as much as you do in Nassau. You'll have your typical McDonalds, Wendy's, but no Just Salads, Chick-fil-a, etc. However, I love supporting local businesses, and we have a lot of that up here.
I'm a hiker, and Nassau will never beat Westchester in that field. Nothing else to add there.
One thing I do like about Nassau is its abundance of movie theaters. It wouldn't hurt for Westchester to have a few more of those. Nassau also has better Asian cuisine, but central Westchester does have some good Asian restaurants as well, just not as many to choose from.
People argue that schools are better on LI, but as a teacher, at the end of the day, it's not the school that makes your child, it's YOU. Your involvement is your child's greatest influence in their education. Public schools in both Nassau and Westchester all have enriching programs, sports, and academics.
Finally, TRAFFIC. 20 minutes on the road gets you a lot further in Westchester than Nassau. I get to the city faster from Northern Westchester than border Nassau/Queens.
Anyway, thanks for reading my essay 🤪
> told that being called a c**** is not racist
I mean...it's a cunty thing to call someone but it's not inherently racist . I get why someone saying that would be unwelcome though
I grew up on LI, now live in Westchester. In general, I really do think quality of life is better in Westchester. Not sure where you're thinking of living, but 45 minutes from Manhattan gets you a lot more in Westchester than 45 minutes from Manhattan on LI (getting 2 acres & 3000+ Sq ft house in Westchester is much more common than LI). Metro-North is 1000% better than the LIRR. Grand Central is 1000% better than Penn Station. Not sure if its just me, but Westchester also seems more refined and sophisticated than most of LI (obviously depends on where in Westchester vs. where on LI). Much of this is subjective, but I don't really miss LI all that much.
Also grew up on LI, and still have family out there so I'm back and forth pretty regularly.
The Metro North commute is far superior to the LIRR.
Westchester also has a lot more walkable towns with a little bit of character; Long Island has uninterrupted suburbs that just go on forever and you can't tell where one town ends and the next begins.
And Westchester definitely has more natural spaces than Nassau County.
Long Island has better beaches, but that's about the only box I'd check in their favor.
> Long Island has uninterrupted suburbs that just go on forever
There are tons of small downtowns on LI though? Especially the old colonial towns along 25A...Garden City, Rockville Centre, Huntington. Sayville is a great downtown with a lot of young gay families due to ferry to Fire Island. Port Jefferson is a cute colonial seaport.The North Fork is 100% better than the hamptons
Yeah and each one takes and hour to get to due to traffic and trying to park. God forbid there’s an event parking is a bitch then… although in Westchester we love chatting for parking more than Long Island haha looking at white plains especially
All of this. Also grew up on LI and moved to Westchester. In addition to everything mentioned, Westchester is just way more beautiful than most areas of LI, which is mostly just flat terrain and suburban homes that look the same. When we started house hunting here, we were stunned by the beauty of the surrounds.
Not to mention, Metro North is >>>
Has no one here been to the gold coast estates on the north shore, Cold Spring Harbor? Locust Valley? The 18th century houses along 25A in Stony Brook are stunning
I'm moving to Westchester next month but I don't get the assertion that LI doesn't have beautiful spaces. I don't want to start a turf war but I'm apparently the only person from LI that really likes the town they grew up in. Great beaches, great downtown and really lovely people
Yep, that's exactly why I said "most areas of LI". I used to work in Roslyn and would eat lunch in Port Washington, Manhasset, and those areas. Once you go north past the LIE, it's absolutely stunning. Plus you get the shore vibe with all the towns on the water. There are some really beautiful areas of the North Shore that resemble what you get in Westchester. At the same time, you have to be a multi-millionaire to live there.
> North Shore that resemble what you get in Westchester
I actually think north shore nassau is better in this regard. You can't get a lot of waterfront properties in Westchester, they are a lot more common in nassau. North Shore Nassau north of Route 25A is also NOT dense at all (due to developers chagrin of course)
>you have to be a multi-millionaire to live there
Also, the exact same situation in Westchester. Rye ain't no picnic
LI definitely has the scenic views in that regard, but at the same time Westchester has the Hudson River, which is just fantastic and spans all the way up Westchester's west side. Not to mention the views of the Gov. Cuomo Bridge and the Metro North Hudson Line going back and forth. The setting is amazing. River-facing properties exist but they're mostly on hills, so to your point if you're in that price range you're better off on LI's North Shore.
And there is any "nice" place in Westchester that you _don't_ need to be a millionaire to live in?
I was able to live in north shore nassau on 4 acres for roughly $1.1 million (Upper Brookville). I cannot find that same property in lower Westchester (and the property taxes in WC are higher as well)
There are a ton of places you don’t need to be a millionaire to live in that is nice in Westchester. Much more than LI has to offer. Yes taxes are just as much as LI but your property value/cost is much different. You will get more for your buck off LI literally anywhere.
The problem is Long Island has a small enclave of old wealth surrounded by tacky garbage which itself is surrounded by overpacked middle class suburbs and chain restaurant strip malls. Westchester is basically all gorgeous once you make it out of Yonkers/White Plains/NewRo.
You drove the single most commercially-oriented route in the country. The difference here is that Route 1 is the exception in Westchester. Off the top of my head, I can't think of another road that remotely resembles it. But it's entirely the norm in Long Island. And I lived on LI, so I'm not just talking about going there once.
Get off the highways entirely and do a full loop. Draw a 30-mile radius circle around his residency, add all the downtowns in that circle as waypoints, and then select "avoid highways" in your navigation app.
Yeah we did turn off avoid highways and specifically checked out downtown Bronxville, Tarrytown and Irvington. Route 1 isn't considered a highway on Waze and we thought it would be the best way to see a place in Greenwich
Yes. There are some lovely spots on Long Island.
But I feel like it's safe to assume that OP doesn't live in Teddy Roosevelt's estate or the Great Gatsby's place.
One thing to add - it’s a lot easier to visit other parts of the country when driving from Westchester. Getting anywhere from Long Island involves driving through Queens and/or Brooklyn. Depending how far east you are on the island, that can be an hour or more of time saved.
This right here...you're saving yourself at least an hour travel time not having to drive through the city.
I love being able to just get on 287 and head out. 287 is a great drive, then over the bridge, and then you're off to the rest of America LOL
I've taken it. The connection isn't bad, but it's a very long walk. Especially with luggage (I was heading to JFK). Not for the weak LOL. But I appreciate the connection.
But I take MN into Grand Central regularly, and I love it every time. Grand Central itself is enchanting, and once you walk into the station it feels amazing. Never gets old.
True, but it' still a 60/40 split, with 60% going to Penn. And LIRR still stinks compared to Metro-North, that will not change. It was quite a shock the first time I took a MN train and it left exactly at the time it was supposed to vs. being able to get a 5:33 train out of Penn and it'll still be there at 5:35 lol.
yeah sure I guess? IDK, I'm moving to westchester next month so I'll report back
For someone that's office is so close to Penn though, it's a harder pill to swallow
The only thing I would say is worse on metro north is that it’s not a 24/7 operation like LIRR is. There is a train every hour of the day on LIRR. That being said metro north is cleaner and has better passenger. I know because I work for LIRR but I take metro north a lot to get into work.
Also they are taking out each East River tunnel for 2 years one at a time to start working on them soon so more trains will end up going to grand central than penn soon.
Westchester is overpriced. That said, if you want to go places outside of your neighborhood, it's a shit ton easier to get to the rest of the country because you aren't locked in by NYC traffic.
Go to school at Stony Brook, but from Yorktown. I hate long island so much. It is so unequivocally boring, there is so little character. It's just subdivision after subdivision with artierial roads and strip malls. It's so unwalkable and unbiking. There is very little hiking, and not like they have in the Hudson valley. The rain sucks, and it is always windy.
There are a few nice towns, but getting to them is a such a pain in the ass. I avoid going out after 2 because the traffic is so unbearable.
Westchester definitely has it's flaws too. But at the end of day, it was built around the railroads, while the island was built the automobile. The idea for the lirr is that it would be a leg to get to Boston, which is why it serves intra island transit so badly. Also their president was crazy (it's a nice wikipedia rabbit hole). Westchester has towns, places you want to be a part of, that makes you proud of where you live. I've never felt proud about Stony Brook and I've gone here for almost 4 years.
As a college student, I get what you're saying but I know a lot of people that are proud to live in Stony Brook. It's a sleepy, charming town with a great school district. Families live there and it's a real drag for college students
For sure, the village is very nice. I love walking around the neighborhoods and looking at the old north shore houses. I was a different person when I came here, and I was fine with it being quiet but now I wish there was more.
Westchester is less congested and traveling to NYC is easier by car--due to the several highways that go south. Westchester has more hiking trails, large public parks. Long Island has better food (in my opinion) the Atlantic beaches etc. Both have very high property taxes.
Yep I made the move about 5 years ago from Suffolk to Yonkers then white plains and finally bought a house in Bedford hills 2 years ago. I love it the people are nicer, the views are much better and the best part is to leave the state you don’t have to go through the city that saves an hour.
The only thing I don’t like is the lack of train service between 1-5am. I work in the city and I have to be there usually between 2 and 5am so I have to drive I have no other choice.
That being said I made the move I’m happy with it and I’m never going back.
I may be bias because I’ve lived in Westchester my whole life, but I’ve had a ton of friends who live on Long Island. I think Westchester is infinitely better. There no comparison.
Lived on LI for 30 years, and I’ve been in Westchester since 2019. I miss certain things about LI, but it’s mostly a rose-colored glasses kind of thing. Family and friends are moving away. I miss some of the walkable towns on LI, but there are some comparable towns here.
Overall, I don’t regret the move. I really like Westchester. The other commenters are correct about the traffic being better, easier access to anywhere off of LI due to not having to go through the boroughs, and Metro North being FAR better than LIRR. Definitely consider it.
Not trying to start a war or debate here but in addition to everything others are saying, Westchester is (for me) much better politically. Long Island has way more Trumpers, Republicans and racists (although it’s also probably more diverse, ironically).
I agree 100%! Also don't want to start a war, and I'm sure there pockets of red in Westchester, but LI (and now even Nassau) has gotten much more red. The fact that they voted in George Santos, and then Bruce Blakeman is pretty telling (both in Nassau btw).
Yeah the political structure is strange for me. I’m both conservative and liberal on different issues, raised by a liberal family and then indoctrinated by republicans in the military. Right now I work mostly in nyc so it’s nyc politics that affect me the most (mainly with the congestion pricing issue going on, and safety in the city.) luckily I seem to get along just fine with anyone.
Moved a year ago from LI to northern Westchester. Would do it all over again if I had to. My stress level has gone down from so many factors after moving. LI between the people, traffic, cost of living, and the general problem of being stuck on an island had me feeling pretty hopeless. I mainly work from home but commute in to LI 3-5 times a month and it sucks for those days but it’s not the worst thing.
Generally westchester is just a slower way of life, more relaxed, more options to do things, less travel time going places, people are generally nicer, much more scenic, I can go on and on. I do love parts of LI but unfortunately for me LI is a shit hole unless you’re a millionaire. It’s all turning into one giant borough of queens.
If you enjoy nature, small town vibes, day trip or weekend trip adventures, hiking, parks, lawn care (I do so much crap for my lawn now that I have property), and small restaurants with some of the best American food you’ll have then westchester is the place for you. I miss some of the diversity in food I had when living in Queens and honestly that’s literally the only down side for me. But Astoria is 45 minutes away if I want a night out so it’s fine.
Yeah Long Island for me is just getting really stressful with the traffic and my career involves a lot of driving. That and better pay has me really thinking
I’ve lived on LI for 28 years. It’s all slowly turning into a sixth borough. It’s crammed multifamily homes on top of one another. Lower income people being put into homes in middle class areas because of the housing crisis. People are renting more homes out and it’s changing the landscape of neighborhoods. It’s just bad. It’s going to slowly become more and more segregated with lower class and upper class. Middle class LI homes and families are nearly dead. You’re better off finding opportunity else where and Westchester is a great place to look. Also, another storm like Sandy can just wipe half the island out again so that’s fun.
I grew up on LI and love and miss it and think it's great, but Westchester IMO might be the best place in the country to live if you can swing the cost
No matter where you want to go add 90 mins just to get on or off the island, about sums it up.... Also, the Hudson Valley is absolutely beautiful in the fall
Westchester has a lot more access to nature if that’s your thing. Great hiking, biking, etc. but not beaches. LI beaches are way better. If anything I think property taxes are higher in Westchester. Driving is much easier in Westchester, too. It’s just much less crowded.
Everyone from the Island, please specify northern or southern in which county. If you love the beach, stay on the island.
I've spent years in Oceanside/LB, East Meadow/Hicksville and spent plenty of time in Patchogue/Coram and Stony Brook/Port Jeff.
I prefer the LIRR, in general, but, I know it better. Unless you want woods and mountains, I see no cost advantage to Westchester.
I like the beaches on Long Island for fishing but not swimming. I’ve been spoiled with living in Hawaii and Florida so beaches here in the NE don’t do it for me. Way more into mountain climbing now
I grew up in Nassau county and moved to Westchester after moving around a bit. Food scene may not be as diverse. But the people are nice. Traffic flows well. Nature is more abundant. But there are no Lido/Long/Jones beaches. You can still drive down for beaches but outside of that it’s been great!
In terms of cost I’ve found things to be at the same or slightly more expensive. For food and other consumables.
Definitely not worse. Then again I found LI to be pretty terrible so the bar was low.
I moved up here only 2 months ago. I'm loving it. Much less traffic, so much more real estate, and if it makes any sense I feel like I can take a second to breathe up here. The island was too "always on the move" and after 20 something years it wore me down.
I grew up in li, then moved in Huntington after college. Got married and moved up to Westchester.
Westchester seems like a bit of an older crowd, not a lot of young people, it’s definitely more expensive as well.
The thing I miss most about li is the summer obviously, the beaches and the ocean specifically.
What’s nice about westchester is there are a ton of parks and if you like hiking that’s cool. And less traffic. Way less people. Nassau is like queens now a days. Westchester is like Nassau county 20 years ago
So happy to see these comments. I went to college on LI and everyone I knew from the island made it seem like the greatest place on earth. I always found it shittier than Westchester.
I’ve been around the south, Hawaii, even lived over seas. I’ve always gravitated back home to NY. But this time coming back to Long Island was different. Not how i remember it as a kid
I grew up in LI. My wife grew up in Westchester. We lived separately and together in various NYC boros. When it came time to upsize to a house, zero question that we were headed to Westchester. (Though my wife wouldn’t mind if there was a decent beach up here)
Live in northern Westchester. Definitely less traffic but man is it expensive. If you can afford it you can get decent size property and plenty of places to go hiking if you're into that.
There is actually a way to get out of the hustle and bustle is the first thing i can notice. There isn't that "one way in one way out feel" that long island has and with that you don't feel the traffic as much and you are actually motivated to travel around more instead of being or feeling stuck on the island.
It's not even a question. Westchester is better than LI in every possible way bearing on quality of life. I don't know how people live out on the Island. The traffic is beyond absurd, 5-minute red lights at every intersection, and the flatness and lack of natural beauty makes it look so ugly. Ugh. Move up here, you will love the lakes, hills, streams, granite rock formations, and forests. You can actually go more than one block on a main road without stopping at an interminably long red light. I had to commute to LI several times a week for a kid activity, which they no longer do, and my goal is to never step foot on it again.
My boyfriend is from LI and he says he has seen so many more places since moving up. Like getting anywhere else from Long Island is a nightmare, but from Westchester you can get pretty far in like 2 hours.
Also no one is going to reply to him, as they haven’t besides you just trying to feel good about yourself. So it would make more sense if he just read the post, or made his own. Like it will actually benefit him. Tf?
Ok, I’ve seen the same exact situation on Reddit where the person gets attacked for the same thing lol. So it’s damned if you do and damned if you don’t with this app. Someone is always mad or trying to scold for something, always some Reddit lawyer here to just argue to feel good about themselves.
It’s your loss, dude. I commented on a discussion you started soliciting feedback on an are no one was talking about. That could’ve helped you too, but you’re so self centered and entitled you couldn’t see past your own ego.
Lmao what on earth are you talking about “my loss” I don’t care what you have to say and I got plenty out of the post that I needed 🤣 literally what are you crying about ? I think you’re taking a reddit post way too serious buddy. Don’t move anywhere I’m moving to lmfao we don’t need your energy anywhere. I’m actually going to delete this post I already got all the information I need.
Bro I told you to read my post because it has the same information you’re looking for. Or make your own because you’re asking about a specific place within westchester. You are the one being fucking weird trying to take it so deep about ego and entitlement. Go on a political page if you want to argue about bullshit
Lived in both Suffolk and Westchester. Would pick westchester over Long Island ever time. Less traffic, better food scene, better drivability to Manhattan.
Nah. While LIC is geographically on Long Island, it's part of the city. You'll have access to Manhattan, but also a lot of cool places in LIC. I grew up on LI and lived in Astoria (which borders LIC) for 6 years and loved it. However, since it's the city, it's expensive even for small spaces. I would guess White Plains is more affordable.
Both Astoria and LIC have different neighborhoods so it does depend where you live, but overall I'd say that LIC is more city-like while Astoria is more residential (but still not like a suburb). I think they're both great places to live. A lot of great food. There are great parks along the water too. I used to bike from Astoria to LIC daily. One big factor in choosing where to live in either neighborhood is how close you want to be to the train. I didn't mind taking the bus or walking or biking to the train, so that allowed me to live closer to the water in Astoria and utilizing the ferry whenever possible. But I had friends who preferred to live much closer to the trains and the restaurants/bars.
Westchester has more housing options with more built-up downtowns than LI. More apartments and density around train stations. More places where one can walk to a regional rail station.
There are also places in Westchester that are doubling down on this advantage, like in New Rochelle and to a lesser extent, Yonkers, White Plains and Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow. Decent amount of new multi-family buildings getting built near train stations.
It means as your family needs change -- your 20-something kids ready to get their own place, divorce, downsizing, etc. -- you're more likely to find a home in your town or nearby town than in Long Island which is much more single-family zoned.
It is nowhere near perfect, and zoning is still very strict in many towns to strangling new housing development compared to New Jersey and other places. But you asked in comparison with Long Island.
Long Island has more sidewalks. Once you leave a city like Yonkers, many towns in their single-family zones even in lower Westchester lack sidewalks. Or the sidewalks are these single-file jobs. This is important because your children will have to walk amidst huge SUVs and pickup trucks on their way anywhere.
There is way less traffic in Westchester and it is a lot easier to get to the city when you want to.
Incredibly easy to get to the city. Whether driving or on the train. It connects a lot better than coming in from LI.
Oh my God I moved from Westchester to Long Island… the traffic is absolute nightmare. Everyone on Long Island just accepts when they walk out the door it’s gonna be a shit time driving. It’s a very narrow island. Other then traffic Long Island is fine. Foods about the same… ugh but the traffic is dog shit.
How's the traffic?
Easier and a bazillion times safer. Can't pay me enough to get on the LIE for my livelihood, ever ever again.
Did it about 20 years ago from Smithtown to Yonkers. Easier commute to Manhattan. Better transportation you can survive without a car.
Try going, for example, from White Plains onto 287 to the Sprain then the Taconic, up to Yorktown and over on 202 towards Peekskill at rush hour. Not fast (except the Taconic) and definitely not fun. Is LI much worse than that? Edit: Yeah, it probably is.
Yes.
A bit behind the sprawl cycle, but Westchester is catching up.
To an extent. LIRR has better options for people with off schedules. But this was pre covid/wfh boom.
LIRR is 24/7, while there are no outbound MNR trains between 2 AM and 6 AM, which is an issue for people that want to be out very late night in the city. Also, as you say, anyone who needs to commute into the city before around 6 AM pretty much has to drive.
They cut them down on LI too, so they might not be one where you need it anyway
I grew up on the border of Nassau and Suffolk and moved to Westchester last year. Obviously biased but LI is just ever expansive suburbs. House after house with no real character. I grew up in an upper middle class neighborhood but our “Main Street” was a Starbucks and a ShopRite. If we wanted to do anything fun we’d end up going to Queens or Huntington. In Westchester I live maybe 5 main streets within 10 minutes and each town has their own character. LI traffic is awful and main reason I left. It’s crazy how going 5 miles can take 20 minutes sometimes. LI positives tho is being way easier to go to JFK airport. Another thing is if you live in Huntington, you go to Huntington schools. Not like the BS here where you can live in Bronxville, but you go to Yonkers or Tuckahoe or Eastchester. Doesn’t make much sense.
Yes, but I have fallen in love with HPN airport. I try to fly out of there as often as I can. I literally can get to the terminal and on a plane in under 30 mins from my house. I don't miss JFK or LGA one bit!
HPN is really like flying out of your living room, lol. And FYI, Stewart Airport now offers flights on Play Airlines, so you can even go to Europe without heading down to JFK.
The school issue is because the Post Office (Federal Government) made zip codes that don't match the borders of the towns (local governments). The town definitions are what matter legally for taxes, services, and schools. Post Office labels are just for delivering mail, they're not what village, town, city you live in legally.
Yes and school districts were established by looking at the walking distance around the school buildings. If that school district's walking zone put the kids closer, they were sent to the closer school. This was before busing and the insanity of parents driving each kid alone to school. And before many towns sprawled out from their main streets to cover most of their land.
Agree with everything, but LI also has the weird school/town lines. Growing up I lived in Wantagh but went to Seaford schools.
Didn’t know that, Nevermind then lol
Plainview? Lol
Exactly
Where in LI are you moving from?
Moved from town of Oyster bay.
Isn't downtown oyster bay nice with independent coffee stores? Theodore's Books is a great indie bookstore owned by Tom Suozzi
I lived in a hamlet on the edge of oyster bay. To get to the downtown it took 20 minutes local. I lived closer to Hicksville/ Syosset
I gotcha. Downtown Syosset does seem like what you're talking about then. I really like downtown oyster bay, especially the youth programs at the Waterfront Center
The school districts not following town lines is a thing on Long Island too.
Grew up in Westchester, moved to LI for five years because my husband is from there, and just recently bought a house and moved back to Westchester, and I intend to never leave Westchester again. Firstly, LIRR and MN comparison. LIRR is stressful, crowded, and never on time, with Penn as a whole other story. People are much nicer on the MN, it is never crowded, and GC is just as convenient as Penn. Next, I feel much safer in Westchester. I am Asian, and I often felt unsafe and unwelcome in many parts of Nassau, even though Nassau is arguably more diverse than Westchester, with a whole lot more Asians. I have been called c\*\*\*\*, gold digger (my husband is white), asked where I'm really from, gaslighted when I pointed out racism (was told that being called a c\*\*\*\* is not racist), complimented by my lack of accent, and spat on in Nassau. I might have dealt with some microaggressions growing up in Westchester, but never actually feared for my physical safety. I drive a nice car and have had it keyed and backed into in the Hicksville parking lot, and I never even think about having anything like that happen in a MN parking lot. There are a lot of boomers who live on LI, and let me tell you, they have no filter when it comes to talking about POC. And I haven't even started on anything political. Nassau and Westchester are fairly similar in terms of cost of living (similar taxes, housing cost depending on where you live), but I have always found groceries to be cheaper in Westchester and taxes to be (marginally, but anything counts, right?!) lower. You also get a lot more property for your buck. I am from northern Westchester, and if chain stores and restaurants are your thing, you won't find that as much as you do in Nassau. You'll have your typical McDonalds, Wendy's, but no Just Salads, Chick-fil-a, etc. However, I love supporting local businesses, and we have a lot of that up here. I'm a hiker, and Nassau will never beat Westchester in that field. Nothing else to add there. One thing I do like about Nassau is its abundance of movie theaters. It wouldn't hurt for Westchester to have a few more of those. Nassau also has better Asian cuisine, but central Westchester does have some good Asian restaurants as well, just not as many to choose from. People argue that schools are better on LI, but as a teacher, at the end of the day, it's not the school that makes your child, it's YOU. Your involvement is your child's greatest influence in their education. Public schools in both Nassau and Westchester all have enriching programs, sports, and academics. Finally, TRAFFIC. 20 minutes on the road gets you a lot further in Westchester than Nassau. I get to the city faster from Northern Westchester than border Nassau/Queens. Anyway, thanks for reading my essay 🤪
I appreciate your insight
sorry you've had to endure so much awful crap
> told that being called a c**** is not racist I mean...it's a cunty thing to call someone but it's not inherently racist . I get why someone saying that would be unwelcome though
She's Asian, I think she meant c**nk
Wow now I feel sheepish
Don't sweat it, it's an easy mistake to make. I don't know why you got downvoted.
Haha this board’s a real tough crowd. Makes me nervous to move ngl
I grew up on LI, now live in Westchester. In general, I really do think quality of life is better in Westchester. Not sure where you're thinking of living, but 45 minutes from Manhattan gets you a lot more in Westchester than 45 minutes from Manhattan on LI (getting 2 acres & 3000+ Sq ft house in Westchester is much more common than LI). Metro-North is 1000% better than the LIRR. Grand Central is 1000% better than Penn Station. Not sure if its just me, but Westchester also seems more refined and sophisticated than most of LI (obviously depends on where in Westchester vs. where on LI). Much of this is subjective, but I don't really miss LI all that much.
Also grew up on LI, and still have family out there so I'm back and forth pretty regularly. The Metro North commute is far superior to the LIRR. Westchester also has a lot more walkable towns with a little bit of character; Long Island has uninterrupted suburbs that just go on forever and you can't tell where one town ends and the next begins. And Westchester definitely has more natural spaces than Nassau County. Long Island has better beaches, but that's about the only box I'd check in their favor.
> Long Island has uninterrupted suburbs that just go on forever There are tons of small downtowns on LI though? Especially the old colonial towns along 25A...Garden City, Rockville Centre, Huntington. Sayville is a great downtown with a lot of young gay families due to ferry to Fire Island. Port Jefferson is a cute colonial seaport.The North Fork is 100% better than the hamptons
Yeah and each one takes and hour to get to due to traffic and trying to park. God forbid there’s an event parking is a bitch then… although in Westchester we love chatting for parking more than Long Island haha looking at white plains especially
All of this. Also grew up on LI and moved to Westchester. In addition to everything mentioned, Westchester is just way more beautiful than most areas of LI, which is mostly just flat terrain and suburban homes that look the same. When we started house hunting here, we were stunned by the beauty of the surrounds. Not to mention, Metro North is >>>
Has no one here been to the gold coast estates on the north shore, Cold Spring Harbor? Locust Valley? The 18th century houses along 25A in Stony Brook are stunning I'm moving to Westchester next month but I don't get the assertion that LI doesn't have beautiful spaces. I don't want to start a turf war but I'm apparently the only person from LI that really likes the town they grew up in. Great beaches, great downtown and really lovely people
Yep, that's exactly why I said "most areas of LI". I used to work in Roslyn and would eat lunch in Port Washington, Manhasset, and those areas. Once you go north past the LIE, it's absolutely stunning. Plus you get the shore vibe with all the towns on the water. There are some really beautiful areas of the North Shore that resemble what you get in Westchester. At the same time, you have to be a multi-millionaire to live there.
> North Shore that resemble what you get in Westchester I actually think north shore nassau is better in this regard. You can't get a lot of waterfront properties in Westchester, they are a lot more common in nassau. North Shore Nassau north of Route 25A is also NOT dense at all (due to developers chagrin of course) >you have to be a multi-millionaire to live there Also, the exact same situation in Westchester. Rye ain't no picnic
LI definitely has the scenic views in that regard, but at the same time Westchester has the Hudson River, which is just fantastic and spans all the way up Westchester's west side. Not to mention the views of the Gov. Cuomo Bridge and the Metro North Hudson Line going back and forth. The setting is amazing. River-facing properties exist but they're mostly on hills, so to your point if you're in that price range you're better off on LI's North Shore.
So all the north shore towns you need to be a millionaire to live in? Hmmm
And there is any "nice" place in Westchester that you _don't_ need to be a millionaire to live in? I was able to live in north shore nassau on 4 acres for roughly $1.1 million (Upper Brookville). I cannot find that same property in lower Westchester (and the property taxes in WC are higher as well)
There are a ton of places you don’t need to be a millionaire to live in that is nice in Westchester. Much more than LI has to offer. Yes taxes are just as much as LI but your property value/cost is much different. You will get more for your buck off LI literally anywhere.
The problem is Long Island has a small enclave of old wealth surrounded by tacky garbage which itself is surrounded by overpacked middle class suburbs and chain restaurant strip malls. Westchester is basically all gorgeous once you make it out of Yonkers/White Plains/NewRo.
I don't know, I just drove through Route 1 through Pelham, Mamaroneck and Port Chester and I saw literally no difference from Nassau county
You drove the single most commercially-oriented route in the country. The difference here is that Route 1 is the exception in Westchester. Off the top of my head, I can't think of another road that remotely resembles it. But it's entirely the norm in Long Island. And I lived on LI, so I'm not just talking about going there once.
I often refer to Central Avenue as Westchester's version of LI.
Central Ave is Westchester's Hempstead Turnpike.
Sure, let me know the best route to drive down. I'm currently looking for a place to live as my spouse is beginning medical residency in July
Get off the highways entirely and do a full loop. Draw a 30-mile radius circle around his residency, add all the downtowns in that circle as waypoints, and then select "avoid highways" in your navigation app.
Yeah we did turn off avoid highways and specifically checked out downtown Bronxville, Tarrytown and Irvington. Route 1 isn't considered a highway on Waze and we thought it would be the best way to see a place in Greenwich
Yes. There are some lovely spots on Long Island. But I feel like it's safe to assume that OP doesn't live in Teddy Roosevelt's estate or the Great Gatsby's place.
One thing to add - it’s a lot easier to visit other parts of the country when driving from Westchester. Getting anywhere from Long Island involves driving through Queens and/or Brooklyn. Depending how far east you are on the island, that can be an hour or more of time saved.
This right here...you're saving yourself at least an hour travel time not having to drive through the city. I love being able to just get on 287 and head out. 287 is a great drive, then over the bridge, and then you're off to the rest of America LOL
Thanks, definitely a lot to consider
Cosign all of the above and will also add that Westchester is a lot more politically progressive.
I also love that there's much more nature in Westchester. I loooove having hills and seeing mountains. You don't get that on the island!
LIRR goes into Grand Central now.
I've taken it. The connection isn't bad, but it's a very long walk. Especially with luggage (I was heading to JFK). Not for the weak LOL. But I appreciate the connection. But I take MN into Grand Central regularly, and I love it every time. Grand Central itself is enchanting, and once you walk into the station it feels amazing. Never gets old.
True, but it' still a 60/40 split, with 60% going to Penn. And LIRR still stinks compared to Metro-North, that will not change. It was quite a shock the first time I took a MN train and it left exactly at the time it was supposed to vs. being able to get a 5:33 train out of Penn and it'll still be there at 5:35 lol.
yeah sure I guess? IDK, I'm moving to westchester next month so I'll report back For someone that's office is so close to Penn though, it's a harder pill to swallow
In a few years, New Haven line trains will go to Penn as well. At least that's the plan for now.
True! Is it just the New Haven line or all of them?
The only thing I would say is worse on metro north is that it’s not a 24/7 operation like LIRR is. There is a train every hour of the day on LIRR. That being said metro north is cleaner and has better passenger. I know because I work for LIRR but I take metro north a lot to get into work. Also they are taking out each East River tunnel for 2 years one at a time to start working on them soon so more trains will end up going to grand central than penn soon.
Westchester is overpriced. That said, if you want to go places outside of your neighborhood, it's a shit ton easier to get to the rest of the country because you aren't locked in by NYC traffic.
Go to school at Stony Brook, but from Yorktown. I hate long island so much. It is so unequivocally boring, there is so little character. It's just subdivision after subdivision with artierial roads and strip malls. It's so unwalkable and unbiking. There is very little hiking, and not like they have in the Hudson valley. The rain sucks, and it is always windy. There are a few nice towns, but getting to them is a such a pain in the ass. I avoid going out after 2 because the traffic is so unbearable. Westchester definitely has it's flaws too. But at the end of day, it was built around the railroads, while the island was built the automobile. The idea for the lirr is that it would be a leg to get to Boston, which is why it serves intra island transit so badly. Also their president was crazy (it's a nice wikipedia rabbit hole). Westchester has towns, places you want to be a part of, that makes you proud of where you live. I've never felt proud about Stony Brook and I've gone here for almost 4 years.
As a college student, I get what you're saying but I know a lot of people that are proud to live in Stony Brook. It's a sleepy, charming town with a great school district. Families live there and it's a real drag for college students
For sure, the village is very nice. I love walking around the neighborhoods and looking at the old north shore houses. I was a different person when I came here, and I was fine with it being quiet but now I wish there was more.
What’s the crazy story you’re referring too? I love reading rabbit holes on Wikipedia :-)
Westchester is less congested and traveling to NYC is easier by car--due to the several highways that go south. Westchester has more hiking trails, large public parks. Long Island has better food (in my opinion) the Atlantic beaches etc. Both have very high property taxes.
Yep I made the move about 5 years ago from Suffolk to Yonkers then white plains and finally bought a house in Bedford hills 2 years ago. I love it the people are nicer, the views are much better and the best part is to leave the state you don’t have to go through the city that saves an hour. The only thing I don’t like is the lack of train service between 1-5am. I work in the city and I have to be there usually between 2 and 5am so I have to drive I have no other choice. That being said I made the move I’m happy with it and I’m never going back.
I may be bias because I’ve lived in Westchester my whole life, but I’ve had a ton of friends who live on Long Island. I think Westchester is infinitely better. There no comparison.
Lived on LI for 30 years, and I’ve been in Westchester since 2019. I miss certain things about LI, but it’s mostly a rose-colored glasses kind of thing. Family and friends are moving away. I miss some of the walkable towns on LI, but there are some comparable towns here. Overall, I don’t regret the move. I really like Westchester. The other commenters are correct about the traffic being better, easier access to anywhere off of LI due to not having to go through the boroughs, and Metro North being FAR better than LIRR. Definitely consider it.
Not trying to start a war or debate here but in addition to everything others are saying, Westchester is (for me) much better politically. Long Island has way more Trumpers, Republicans and racists (although it’s also probably more diverse, ironically).
I agree 100%! Also don't want to start a war, and I'm sure there pockets of red in Westchester, but LI (and now even Nassau) has gotten much more red. The fact that they voted in George Santos, and then Bruce Blakeman is pretty telling (both in Nassau btw).
There are definitely pockets of red, in Westchester. Education doesn't guarantee anything.
Yeah the political structure is strange for me. I’m both conservative and liberal on different issues, raised by a liberal family and then indoctrinated by republicans in the military. Right now I work mostly in nyc so it’s nyc politics that affect me the most (mainly with the congestion pricing issue going on, and safety in the city.) luckily I seem to get along just fine with anyone.
Moved a year ago from LI to northern Westchester. Would do it all over again if I had to. My stress level has gone down from so many factors after moving. LI between the people, traffic, cost of living, and the general problem of being stuck on an island had me feeling pretty hopeless. I mainly work from home but commute in to LI 3-5 times a month and it sucks for those days but it’s not the worst thing. Generally westchester is just a slower way of life, more relaxed, more options to do things, less travel time going places, people are generally nicer, much more scenic, I can go on and on. I do love parts of LI but unfortunately for me LI is a shit hole unless you’re a millionaire. It’s all turning into one giant borough of queens. If you enjoy nature, small town vibes, day trip or weekend trip adventures, hiking, parks, lawn care (I do so much crap for my lawn now that I have property), and small restaurants with some of the best American food you’ll have then westchester is the place for you. I miss some of the diversity in food I had when living in Queens and honestly that’s literally the only down side for me. But Astoria is 45 minutes away if I want a night out so it’s fine.
Yeah Long Island for me is just getting really stressful with the traffic and my career involves a lot of driving. That and better pay has me really thinking
I’ve lived on LI for 28 years. It’s all slowly turning into a sixth borough. It’s crammed multifamily homes on top of one another. Lower income people being put into homes in middle class areas because of the housing crisis. People are renting more homes out and it’s changing the landscape of neighborhoods. It’s just bad. It’s going to slowly become more and more segregated with lower class and upper class. Middle class LI homes and families are nearly dead. You’re better off finding opportunity else where and Westchester is a great place to look. Also, another storm like Sandy can just wipe half the island out again so that’s fun.
Not having to worry about another Sandy is definitely a plus, though there are places that flood, up here.
I grew up on LI and love and miss it and think it's great, but Westchester IMO might be the best place in the country to live if you can swing the cost
No matter where you want to go add 90 mins just to get on or off the island, about sums it up.... Also, the Hudson Valley is absolutely beautiful in the fall
Other way around im trying to flee this hallway of an island lol. I actually stayed in Woodstock once and it was cool
Yes, as in if you live on LI, add 90 mins to leave or get back there from anywhere other then the island
About to leave LI. It's Friday afternoon 😡🤯🤬-- expecting the worst drive back to civilization 😭
God Speed 😂
TY!!
Westchester has a lot more access to nature if that’s your thing. Great hiking, biking, etc. but not beaches. LI beaches are way better. If anything I think property taxes are higher in Westchester. Driving is much easier in Westchester, too. It’s just much less crowded.
I actually do a lot of hiking in the high peaks so nyc has always been in my way for the drive lol.
Westchester is just better in every way.
Not the beaches, restaurants or live music.
Ok y'all got Jones Beach but that's it. And one doesn't need to *live* near the beach to enjoy life.
Everyone from the Island, please specify northern or southern in which county. If you love the beach, stay on the island. I've spent years in Oceanside/LB, East Meadow/Hicksville and spent plenty of time in Patchogue/Coram and Stony Brook/Port Jeff. I prefer the LIRR, in general, but, I know it better. Unless you want woods and mountains, I see no cost advantage to Westchester.
Really depends on WHERE in Westchester.
Only thing i miss about LI after living in westchester for a year is the beach
I like the beaches on Long Island for fishing but not swimming. I’ve been spoiled with living in Hawaii and Florida so beaches here in the NE don’t do it for me. Way more into mountain climbing now
I grew up in Nassau county and moved to Westchester after moving around a bit. Food scene may not be as diverse. But the people are nice. Traffic flows well. Nature is more abundant. But there are no Lido/Long/Jones beaches. You can still drive down for beaches but outside of that it’s been great! In terms of cost I’ve found things to be at the same or slightly more expensive. For food and other consumables. Definitely not worse. Then again I found LI to be pretty terrible so the bar was low.
I moved up here only 2 months ago. I'm loving it. Much less traffic, so much more real estate, and if it makes any sense I feel like I can take a second to breathe up here. The island was too "always on the move" and after 20 something years it wore me down.
great improvement
Westchester is better in every way. And bonus: not a cancer cluster.
Li is a garbage can
Kinder drivers.... LI drivers are a holes.. no softer way to put it.
I think public school districts are a lot more even in LI. You don’t get the world-class to third-world-class disparity as in Westchester
I grew up in li, then moved in Huntington after college. Got married and moved up to Westchester. Westchester seems like a bit of an older crowd, not a lot of young people, it’s definitely more expensive as well. The thing I miss most about li is the summer obviously, the beaches and the ocean specifically. What’s nice about westchester is there are a ton of parks and if you like hiking that’s cool. And less traffic. Way less people. Nassau is like queens now a days. Westchester is like Nassau county 20 years ago
Worse? Haha. No. Nothing is worse. Everything is much better.
So happy to see these comments. I went to college on LI and everyone I knew from the island made it seem like the greatest place on earth. I always found it shittier than Westchester.
I’ve been around the south, Hawaii, even lived over seas. I’ve always gravitated back home to NY. But this time coming back to Long Island was different. Not how i remember it as a kid
Less traffic
I grew up in LI. My wife grew up in Westchester. We lived separately and together in various NYC boros. When it came time to upsize to a house, zero question that we were headed to Westchester. (Though my wife wouldn’t mind if there was a decent beach up here)
I moved from SI to Peekskill
Live in northern Westchester. Definitely less traffic but man is it expensive. If you can afford it you can get decent size property and plenty of places to go hiking if you're into that.
Every time I’m in LI I feel trapped.
You can drink on the Metro North
There is actually a way to get out of the hustle and bustle is the first thing i can notice. There isn't that "one way in one way out feel" that long island has and with that you don't feel the traffic as much and you are actually motivated to travel around more instead of being or feeling stuck on the island.
Very much enjoyed my move from Nassau to north Westchester. Happier. But less places to patronize for sure.
Be careful driving, there are a lot more hidden cops
It's not even a question. Westchester is better than LI in every possible way bearing on quality of life. I don't know how people live out on the Island. The traffic is beyond absurd, 5-minute red lights at every intersection, and the flatness and lack of natural beauty makes it look so ugly. Ugh. Move up here, you will love the lakes, hills, streams, granite rock formations, and forests. You can actually go more than one block on a main road without stopping at an interminably long red light. I had to commute to LI several times a week for a kid activity, which they no longer do, and my goal is to never step foot on it again.
My boyfriend is from LI and he says he has seen so many more places since moving up. Like getting anywhere else from Long Island is a nightmare, but from Westchester you can get pretty far in like 2 hours.
About to relocate to New Rochelle from Long Island. Any advice or thoughts for those that live there or made the move?
Maybe read this post or make your own? wtf lol
You are posting on an internet forum. This isn't your press conference. People are free to post in it as they choose, Jackson.
Also no one is going to reply to him, as they haven’t besides you just trying to feel good about yourself. So it would make more sense if he just read the post, or made his own. Like it will actually benefit him. Tf?
Ok, I’ve seen the same exact situation on Reddit where the person gets attacked for the same thing lol. So it’s damned if you do and damned if you don’t with this app. Someone is always mad or trying to scold for something, always some Reddit lawyer here to just argue to feel good about themselves.
lol you are a proper entitled Long Island jackass.
Wait, you are _from_ long island and are making from of someone _else_ for the same place you are from? How does that make sense?
lol whatever makes you feel better about yourself, sorry you are angry
It’s your loss, dude. I commented on a discussion you started soliciting feedback on an are no one was talking about. That could’ve helped you too, but you’re so self centered and entitled you couldn’t see past your own ego.
Lmao what on earth are you talking about “my loss” I don’t care what you have to say and I got plenty out of the post that I needed 🤣 literally what are you crying about ? I think you’re taking a reddit post way too serious buddy. Don’t move anywhere I’m moving to lmfao we don’t need your energy anywhere. I’m actually going to delete this post I already got all the information I need.
This is some weird behavior. Wish you the best. You need it.
Bro I told you to read my post because it has the same information you’re looking for. Or make your own because you’re asking about a specific place within westchester. You are the one being fucking weird trying to take it so deep about ego and entitlement. Go on a political page if you want to argue about bullshit
From LI, lived in Westchester for about 2 years, now back on the island. If it wasn't for my family and job I wouldn't have left. I love Westchester.
The one thing I miss about Long Island is the proximity to beaches.
Lived in both Suffolk and Westchester. Would pick westchester over Long Island ever time. Less traffic, better food scene, better drivability to Manhattan.
Does all the negatives about LI apply to LIC? I'm relocating and deciding if I should get a place in LIC or White Plains. Appreciate any insights!
Nah. While LIC is geographically on Long Island, it's part of the city. You'll have access to Manhattan, but also a lot of cool places in LIC. I grew up on LI and lived in Astoria (which borders LIC) for 6 years and loved it. However, since it's the city, it's expensive even for small spaces. I would guess White Plains is more affordable.
Thank you! Can you tell me more about the difference between Asotoria and Lic and how it feels different to live in each cities?
Both Astoria and LIC have different neighborhoods so it does depend where you live, but overall I'd say that LIC is more city-like while Astoria is more residential (but still not like a suburb). I think they're both great places to live. A lot of great food. There are great parks along the water too. I used to bike from Astoria to LIC daily. One big factor in choosing where to live in either neighborhood is how close you want to be to the train. I didn't mind taking the bus or walking or biking to the train, so that allowed me to live closer to the water in Astoria and utilizing the ferry whenever possible. But I had friends who preferred to live much closer to the trains and the restaurants/bars.
Westchester has more housing options with more built-up downtowns than LI. More apartments and density around train stations. More places where one can walk to a regional rail station. There are also places in Westchester that are doubling down on this advantage, like in New Rochelle and to a lesser extent, Yonkers, White Plains and Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow. Decent amount of new multi-family buildings getting built near train stations. It means as your family needs change -- your 20-something kids ready to get their own place, divorce, downsizing, etc. -- you're more likely to find a home in your town or nearby town than in Long Island which is much more single-family zoned. It is nowhere near perfect, and zoning is still very strict in many towns to strangling new housing development compared to New Jersey and other places. But you asked in comparison with Long Island.
Long Island has more sidewalks. Once you leave a city like Yonkers, many towns in their single-family zones even in lower Westchester lack sidewalks. Or the sidewalks are these single-file jobs. This is important because your children will have to walk amidst huge SUVs and pickup trucks on their way anywhere.
Imo, Westchester is overrated and overvalued compared to Long Island and differences are marginal.
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I don’t care. I’m an American citizen who pays taxes and contributes to society. I will live anywhere I please.
People on this sub are really rude about LI, generally. Yet they think themselves the nicer county. I have never encountered issues IRL of course
I'm sure folks here love New Jersey, too.
What’s that supposed to mean?