Yonkers

Suburban Coastal Riverfront

Population: 210k

Cost of Living: Moderate

Near Train: Yes (Metro-North Railroad (Hudson Line) Line)

Near Bus: Yes (Yonkers Transit, Bee-Line Bus System (Westchester County) Line)

Yonkers sits along the Hudson River just north of New York City, a city of roughly 200,000 people with a working-class backbone and surprising pockets of waterfront renewal. Walk down South Drive on a clear day and the river opens up—sailboats, the Palisades across the water, the George Washington Bridge visible downstream. The city has deep roots in manufacturing and immigration; you'll find Dominican, Irish, Italian, and Puerto Rican neighborhoods with their own commercial strips, bakeries, and social fabric. Downtown Yonkers has seen investment in recent years, with new restaurants and galleries in alongside longtime establishments. The Yonkers waterfront, once industrial, now hosts parks and recreational paths. The city's public schools serve a diverse student body, and several colleges and universities operate here. Commuting to Manhattan is straightforward via Metro-North Railroad or the Major Deegan Expressway, making Yonkers a practical choice for people who work in the city but want more space and lower costs than the five boroughs.

VRBO Vacation Rentals
Learn More

With over 2 million bookable vacation rentals, Vrbo connects homeowners with families and vacationers looking for something more than a hotel for their trip. The Vrbo community offers families an array of rental property types such as condos, cabins, lake rentals, beach houses, and more. Discover properties in destinations that everyone dreams of visiting.

VRBO Vacation Rentals

Cost of Living

Housing in Yonkers runs considerably cheaper than New York City or wealthy Westchester suburbs, though prices have climbed in recent years as the waterfront has developed. Renters will find apartments across a wide range of neighborhoods at prices that reflect the city's diversity and distance from Manhattan's core. Property taxes are moderate for Westchester County. Groceries, dining, and services track close to regional averages, making Yonkers accessible for middle-income households and families.

Healthcare in Yonkers

Yonkers is served by Westchester Medical Center, a major regional hospital located in nearby Valhalla, and St. John's Episcopal Hospital within the city limits. Both facilities offer emergency departments and comprehensive services, though St. John's operates at a smaller scale than the county's flagship medical center.

Restaurants in Yonkers

Yonkers' dining landscape reflects its diverse population, with established Italian restaurants alongside newer spots serving Latin American, Asian, and Mediterranean cuisines. The waterfront area near the Hudson River has attracted casual dining and some upscale options in recent years. Chain establishments coexist with independent operators, though the scene lacks the density or recognition of nearby Westchester destinations.

Schools in Yonkers

Yonkers offers several private school options including Catholic schools like Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception, along with independent schools serving grades K-12. The city also has Montessori programs and specialized academies, though options are more limited than in nearby Westchester suburbs.

Yonkers Public Schools serves roughly 27,000 students across 40+ schools with mixed performance ratings; standout programs include the Academy for Visual and Performing Arts at Saunders High School and STEM-focused offerings at several middle schools. The district has invested in modernizing facilities and expanding dual-language programs, though overall proficiency rates remain below state averages in math and ELA.

Yonkers public schools offer bilingual programs primarily in Spanish-English, with dual-language instruction available at select elementary schools. These programs serve a significant portion of the district's Hispanic student population, though availability and quality vary by school and grade level.