A hamlet with an old New England feel, a condo community in a rural setting with amenities galore, a Frank Lloyd Wright-planned community, and more.
Bedford Village Historic District, Bedford
Okay, so it’s technically more than a neighborhood, but the historic district of Bedford Village (a hamlet within the Town of Bedford) looks like the dream neighborhood in any American storybook. The Village Green (site of family-friendly events like carnivals, parades, and barbecues), the 17th-century Old Burying Ground, the stern Bedford Presbyterian Church, and the Bedford Free Library (established in 1903) all lend a touch of quintessential New England-style charm. An array of mom-and-pop stores and restaurants also lend to the picturesque feel of the village, and the old-fashioned vibe carries through in the local housing stock: antique homes on small lots that sell for a pretty penny. When it’s necessary to step back into the modern world, residents choose nearby Mount Kisco for access to big-box shopping, restaurants, and services.
Captain Merritt’s Hill, Mount Kisco
Named for a 19th-century sea captain who was one of Mount Kisco’s founding fathers, this neighborhood off Route 133 as you enter the village has about 100 homes, most of them large Victorian and Colonial manses. The gem is a storybook Victorian mansion on Main Street, known as the Ragtime House because it was featured in the 1981 film Ragtime. The neighborhood boasts wide lawns, tree-lined streets, and a safe, child-friendly environment. Being within walking distance of the bustling village—the
premier shopping and dining destination in Northern Westchester—is another plus. And residents like the diversity of Mount Kisco’s population; the vibe here is less snobbish than in some other Westchester ’hoods.
Heritage Hills, Somers
Started in the 1970s as an age-restricted community, Heritage Hills is still home to many empty nesters looking for peace and quiet—and a maintenance-free lifestyle. (Read: someone else handles the shoveling and yard work for you.) The 2,600-unit complex has a median age of 52.4, so it’s no longer just for the early-bird-special set. The neighborhood, located in a rural setting within the Town of Somers, now attracts many young families looking for the condo lifestyle. With five swimming pools, two golf courses, a private library, art studio and theater, Heritage Hills offers both older and younger dwellers plenty to keep them busy. Residents also appreciate Somers’ relatively low taxes (thanks to Pepsi and IBM locations in town) and its history as the birthplace of the American circus.
Mohegan Colony, Crompond (Yorktown)
Founded by anarchists in 1923 as a self-governing enclave for like-minded lefties, the colony evolved into a summer getaway, with a beach on Mohegan Lake for fishing and boating. Now a four-season community, the colony hosts a popular storytelling and music festival every summer. The neighborhood association, called the Mohegan Colony Association (which has its own Facebook page) operates the beach on Mohegan Lake as well as a 5,000-square-foot building with clay tennis courts in Crompond. Fun events like sand castle contests, potluck dinners, and bonfires are common in the summer. Its location, tucked in a triangle between Routes 6 and 35 and the Taconic State Parkway, means easy access to nearby Cortlandt and Peekskill for shops, restaurants, and businesses.
Usonia, Pleasantville
Tucked away on wooded lots off Bear Ridge Road, and made up of 47 mid-century homes, Usonia was singled out by Forbes as one of America’s prettiest neighborhoods. Frank Lloyd Wright helped plan the community after World War II and designed three of the homes. He purposely chose a layout that preserved most of the original trees and encouraged “the flow of the land.” The attractive, yet unobtrusive homes are characterized by clean lines, modest size and scope, and low-slung roofs. Though many of the homes sport modern additions (since residents usually choose to enlarge their homes rather than move), the feel is distinctly in line with Wright’s original ideas—and a few of the original residents still live there.
