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Westchester County and the rest of the Hudson River Valley in New York and Fairfield County in Connecticut have some of the most expensive real estate in the USA due to their proximity to Manhattan by train or by car.
Westchester County boasts many of the most exclusive areas in the northeast. Its cities, towns, and villages lie just to the north of New York City and east of the Hudson River. “Great Gatsby-like” $20-million-dollar estates are not unusual. Among the topnotch communities are Larchmont, Mamaroneck, and Rye, on the Long Island Sound, and, further inland, the lush, country-club-like towns of Bronxville and Scarsdale. North of Scarsdale is the thriving metropolitan city of White Plains. It’s Westchester County’s center for luxury shopping and the city’s dazzling and growing skyline includes Trump Tower and a Ritz Carlton.
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On the western side of the county, you’ll find the charming Hudson River-front communities of Irvington, Chappaqua, and Briarcliff Manor. Irvington is on the popular scenic Aqueduct Trail and features quaint shops and homes with spectacular river views. Chappaqua is home to actress Vanessa Williams and Bill and Hillary Clinton. The Clintons told CNN that they will not be selling their home if Hillary wins the race for the White House (Bill loves that house!). Briarcliff Manor has an environment that nicely combines the classic homes of yesterday with more modern construction.
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Near Westchester’s northern
border are the towns of Armonk, Bedford, and Pound Ridge. This is Westchester’s
horse country and is similar in atmosphere to Greenwich, Connecticut.
Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, and Richard Gere have homes in Pound Ridge,
as did the late actor Christopher Reeve. Bedford has its own share of
celebrity homeowners, including Chevy Chase, Donald Trump and Martha
Stewart.
On the west side of the Hudson River is Rockland County, about 12 to 25 miles from New York City. The county ranks ninth on the list of highest-income counties in the U.S., according to the 2004 Census. Its river communities have been described as “Soho on the Hudson” because they attract many artists and hip celebrities and have plenty of art galleries, antique stores, and fine restaurants. Among the most exclusive communities are parts of Nyack, where Rosie O’Donnell has a home, Piermont, and picturesque Sneden’s Landing, home to Al Pacino, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Bill Murray. Sneden’s Landing and Piermont are just 11 miles north of the George Washington Bridge and three miles south of the Tappan Zee Bridge.
Just north of Rockland County, along the New York/New Jersey border, lies Tuxedo Park. The community has about 300 homes on the thousands of acres bought in the 1920s by tycoons of the day as a retreat from Manhattan. Even carriage houses here fetch $2 million; boathouses, $6 million.
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Situated in the southwest corner of the state, Fairfield County is the wealthiest county in America’s wealthiest state. Many of its towns are perched on tranquil Long Island Sound and that — plus its well-heeled residents — accounts for its nickname, the “Gold Coast.” Fairfield County gets its wealth because of its proximity to Manhattan; many business titans as well as famous actors who work on both the East and West Coasts call Fairfield County home. The region also produces wealth of its own — many of the biggest names in business and industry, such as GE, GTE, and Xerox, have a major presence in Fairfield County.
In the past few years, home prices throughout Connecticut accelerated at California rates. Fairfield County remains by far the most active real estate market in Connecticut in terms of number of sales.
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One of the most popular towns, the first you’ll reach traveling north, is the verdant Greenwich, called the “Gateway of New England.” The town is famous for its luxurious seaside living.
Next is Stamford, where in the 1970s so many corporations moved their headquarters that the town is known internationally. Stamford is also a distinguished residential address, where homes have been built among pastoral meadows, wooded areas, and along the Long Island Sound waterfront.
Darien is another prestigious address. Rich with history and natural beauty, Victorian homes are interspersed with homes of more contemporary style in the countryside and along the waterfront. Darien is renowned for its promotion of education, cultural/social development, and conservation of natural resources.
The city of Fairfield is ideally situated for both elegant living and leisure time opportunities. Its marina, churches, and many homes are recognized nationally as historic landmarks. Besides stunning contemporary architecture, you’ll find Colonials dating back from the late 1700s plus homes in the Greek Revival, Federal, and Victorian styles.
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Fairfield County photography by Bob Thompson
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