7.1 out of 10

Valhalla

Ranked 3rd best neighborhood in Mount Pleasant
41.0935819010326 -73.7672925853892
Great for
  • Medical Facilities
  • Childcare
  • Clean & Green
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Schools
Not great for
  • Nightlife
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
Who lives here?
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Professionals
  • Country Lovers
  • LGBT+

Reviews

4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 1/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 1/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+
Editors Choice

"Hamlet of Valhalla North of White Plains"

VALHALLA - Great Hamlet North of White Plains - has it's own train station for commuters.

Valhalla is a small Hamlet part of Mt. Pleasant and just north of White Plains with a mere population of 3,200. Valhalla, Most of the Hamlet is a hilly division between the Bronx River Parkway and the Kensico Reservoir. It has a small town feeling with just a short two blocks of restaurants and local Deli. Because of the close proximity to White Plains Valhalla is a great place to hang your hat and just a stone throw away from a city with plenty of shopping, nightlife, restaurants. Valhalla is situated with easy access to the major highways.

Valhalla has it's own little train station and is much more reasonable than most Westchester Stations. West of the Bronx River Parkway are more homes and just 3 miles up the road is one of Westchester’s main hospitals: Westchester Medical Center, which also has the only childrens specialty hospital in the region.

Valhalla is well known because of Westchester Community College, and one of the best Medical Schools in the County, New York Medical College School of Medicine. As well as one of the largest cemetary's.

You may think you were visiting the pyramids but.........
One focal point of Valhalla is the Kenisco Dam Plaza and Kensico Reservoir!
The next time you find yourself on a Metro-North train going past Valhalla Station, be sure to take a look out your window, facing eastward. You’ll be able to catch a quick glimpse of the Kensico Dam as the train goes by. The dam holds back the waters of the Kensico Reservoir, the primary source of water for the city of New York. The 98-acre grounds around the dam are a county park called the Kensico Dam Plaza.In the warm weather, you will find many people eating their lunch, walking, roller blading, bike riding, kids are playing, people are sunbathing. I remember in my childhood we would even ice skate and the boys would play hockey on the reflective water in front of the dam. A spectacular fire works display takes place each year on 4th of July. In addition to the dam, the grounds also contains a September 11th Memorial, called The Rising, designed by architect Frederic Schwartz. The memorial lists the names of all one hundred and eleven Westchester County residents that died in the attacks.

If you're looking for a small hamlet that is affordable close to the City of White Plains, consider Valhalla in your search. a Diverse sytel of homes with old and new.
Pros
  • Beautiful Reservoir
  • Good Fishing
  • Home to three major schools
  • A few good eats
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 5/5
  • Cost of Living 5/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"Suburbian Solitude Abounds in Valhalla"

Valhalla is a lovely residential community located within the heart of the greater town of Mount Pleasant, NY. It's home to New York Medical College, one of the state's largest colleges, and is named after the mythical paradise in Norse culture, home to many slain warriors.

Driving along Rt. 9A, you will pass the expansive Gates of Heaven Cemetery. Valhalla is known for its beautiful cemeteries such as the Kensico Cemetery, named after the enormous Kensico Dam (fireworks are shot off here during the Fourth of July). After September 11th, a memorial was put up at the Dam to honor those who were fallen on that terrible day in American history. The Kensico Dam is a beautiful place and is a wonderful site to take your family for a picnic outing or just to walk around and enjoy the scenery.

Valhalla is a college town, noted for its Westchester Community Campus, which is a two-year college and is partly supported by SUNY (State University of NY) while the other half is supported by Westchester County. Valhalla's Union Free School District has earned as solid 7 out of 10, with the middle school being the highest (9 out of 10) on the charts; Valhall High School gets an 8 out of 10, and the Kensico School gets a 7.

You're not far away from the Galleria at White Plains or neighboring Peekskill and Croton for excellent shopping. There is a Walmart on Main Street for all your basic shopping needs. The town has its own train station which is excellent for commuters! (Manhattan is only 30 minutes away.) NY Medical Center is also in Valhalla, offering plenty of top-quality care.

Mount Pleasant has a wonderful community center for a variety of indoor activities, including the town's pool. For those going to either the medical college or community college, you can drop your kids off with confidence at All Aboard Child Education Center on Columbus Ave., or the Little House Day Care respectively. Valhalla Crossing is the place to take the family out for eating and has excellent burgers; plus, the kids can watch the train go by right from the window seat! The Cliffs at Valhalla offer excellent rock walls for climbing that people of all ages can enjoy, and the Cliffs offers classes and birthday party opportunities (ranking Best of Westchester 2012 for Best Kids Birthday Parties). There's also a cardio workout area. NY Sports Clubs and Planet Fitness are not too far away in White Plains as well. With a crime rate of 96 out of 100, Valhalla is one of the safest places to raise your family.
Pros
  • Beautiful Reservoir
  • Festivals and movies in parks
  • Good Fishing
  • Home to three major schools
  • A few good eats
Cons
  • Air traffic is sometimes noisy
  • Can get a tad quiet, especially at night.
  • Cemeteries (although some think they're lovely, others get spooked)
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Students
  • Country Lovers
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"Charming and lovely"

Valhalla, a hamlet in the town of Mount Pleasant, packs a great deal into its 2.7 square miles. The town has a unique shape, hugging the western side of the Kensico Reservoir, and is notable as the location of Kensico Cemetery, the final resting place of many celebrities of yesteryear. Westchester Medical Center is located here, as is the newly renovated Blythedale Hospital and Westchester Community College.

The hamlet’s proximity to Manhattan enhances its appeal. Travel time to Grand Central averages about 40 minutes from the Valhalla station. However, Valhalla’s small size means housing inventory is somewhat limited, but there is great diversity in price ranges and a nice selection of charming, older homes.
The Valhalla UFSD educates 1,500 students. There are two elementary schools, Virginia Road and Kensico, a middle school and a high school. The schools perform very well overall; scores on state exams are consistently above the median, with very small percentages of students failing to meet standards. Though the district is small, the students have access to a large assortment of athletic programs.

Residents are eligible to participate in programs through the Mount Pleasant Recreation Department. The only public pool in Mount Pleasant is located in Valhalla. Kensico Dam Plaza is a unique, county-operated park which is home to movie showings, cultural festivals, and craft shows. The park is also a great place for walking and biking.

There is a small downtown area with some shops and restaurants, located near the train station. For shoppers seeking a bigger selection of merchandise, White Plains is just south of Valhalla, offering malls, department stores and specialty shops, in addition to numerous restaurant choices.

Valhalla is a good affordable option for those seeking strong schools within a short train commute to Manhattan.
Pros
  • Great commuting location
  • Beautiful Reservoir
  • Festivals and movies in parks
Cons
  • Not convenient to major highways
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Country Lovers
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Vibrant community with noteworthy views...."

“Valhalla” is said to be the Viking name for heaven or the “paradise of slain warriors.” So, how did this small town in Westchester get a name from Norse mythology? It is said that in the 19th century, when flooding affected the old U.S. Post Office of Kensico, the new name was suggested by a fan of Robert Wagner and his musical opera. The name seems particularly appropriate also because some of the notable landmarks of Valhalla are the Kensico Cemetery and Gate of Heaven, where many famous people are buried.

The Kensico Reservoir and the Kensico Dam Plaza are other noteworthy destinations here. The Plaza is the site of many community events from summer-evening movie screenings to the much bigger fairs and music festivals. It is an open space that invites large gatherings and small picnics.

Valhalla children either go to schools in the Valhalla School District or the Mount Pleasant School District, as Valhalla is officially a part of the larger Mount Pleasant. Both have a good reputation.

This town is also the address for the Westchester Medical Center and the Westchester Community College. Both institutions have earned good reputations in their respective fields! Westchester Medical is one of the bigger hospitals serving the whole county. Valhalla has a train station and is close to Taconic State, Bronx Rivers and Sprain Brook Parkways. This makes it a well-connected town and popular with commuters.

The dam and the cemeteries have earned Valhalla the reputation of being a suburb with some exciting views.
While there’s only a small stretch of Valhalla that can be called downtown, it does have great access to shopping and dining through many of the neighboring towns.
Pros
  • Beautiful Reservoir
  • Festivals and movies in parks
  • Good Fishing
  • Home to three major schools
Cons
  • Air traffic is sometimes noisy
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Country Lovers
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Valhalla is small but mighty"

Valhalla is a small but verdant hamlet in Mount Pleasant located in southern Westchester County. It has made it onto the national radar as the burial place of some very well known folks including Tommy Dorsey, Ayn Rand, Lou Gehrig and Danny Kaye, who rest in the stunning 600-acre park like setting of Kensico cemetery. Equally majestic and maybe less spooky to some, is the handsome Kensico Dam Plaza with it's mighty reservoir. In the center of the plaza is a large grassy field where they hold Pops in the Park and sometimes even movies on warm and breezy summer nights. Families spread out picnic blankets and bring lawn chairs and it is a wonderful, communal and festive atmosphere. During the day, it is not uncommon to see many an in-line skater whizzing around the park and showing off their moves. The plaza is also the more recent recepient of a September 11th memorial.

For foodies, Valhalla has a great local bbq joint with outstanding chicken wings, a terrific pizza place with a tuna salad pizza slice that tastes far better than it might sound as well as a great deli and a Dunkin Donuts/ Basksin Robbins combo. A more eclectic spot is Valhalla Crossing, a restaurant located in the historic Valhalla train station. They have al fresco dining, a tiki bar and even a Victorian dining room, trackside dining room and an old red caboose dining room. Their bar was voted as one of the best in Westchester.

Valhalla is well situated for day trips and communting. It is just a short ten minute drive to the bustle of more metropolitan White Plains and with the aformentioned train station located in town, it is about a 40 minute train excursion into Grand Central. There are also many converging highways and byways in the area including the Bronk River Parkway and the Taconic Parkway.

For medical students or those seeking high quality medical care, Valhalla is home to Westchester Medical Center. For an associates degree or to parktake in some high caliber adult ed. or continuing ed. classes, one need not go far to Westchester Community College, long considered one of the better community colleges around. It has an incredible amount of interesting offerings by stellar instructors on a pretty campus that offers an easy commute.

Valhalla is predominantly white, with caucasians making up almost three-quarters of its population. Blacks and asians make up most of the rest of the population though in small degrees. The school system is very good and it is reported that 99% of its high school graduates do go on to college.

Valhalla has a safe feel and the crime rate is very low. Median home cost is around $781,00 and one bedroom apartment rental rates tend to average anywhere between $1,200 and $1,500. Median household income is about $ 96,940. The population of Valhalla is approximately 5,000 people with the median age being 42 years old.
Pros
  • A few good eats
  • Beautiful Reservoir
  • Festivals and movies in parks
  • Good Fishing
  • Home to three major schools
Cons
  • Can get a tad quiet, especially at night.
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 5/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Quiet and unique town"

Located north of White Plains in Westchester County, Valhalla is a small and lovely hamlet that is part of the town of Mount Pleasant. Valhalla is a very special place with a lot of unique features and distinctive vistas. The county's two biggest cemeteries are found in Valhalla, which isn't actually as spooky as it may sound. They are beautiful park-like places that add to the town's character. The town also contains the Kensico Reservoir and the huge Kensico Dam park. Valhalla is a very quiet town, with lovely houses on tree-lined dead-end streets. Many of the homes have beautiful views of the cemeteries, the reservoir, or the countryside. The houses also cover a wide range of prices, with very affordable homes for young buyers as well as upscale homes in the Stonegate area. The town also boasts a very convenient location; residents have easy access to major roads that lead in different directions, so you can get to just about anywhere from Valhalla. The commercial aspect of Valhalla has grown; there are hotels, restaurants, and cute shops. The Valhalla school district is excellent, but residents also have the option to send their kids to the Mount Pleasant schools. Valhalla is also home to Westchester Community College and the county hospital.
Pros
  • Home to three major schools
  • Beautiful Reservoir
  • Festivals and movies in parks
  • Good Fishing
Cons
  • Air traffic is sometimes noisy
  • Cemeteries (although some think they're lovely, others get spooked)
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Students
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"A village with spirit"

Valhalla is a very hilly village, like most of Westchester County, and affords views of the rest of the town as well as the surrounding nature.

The Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, and Westchester Community College are all located here so it's convenient for anyone attending those schools.

The Kensico Reservoir is also located here and is great for fishing; you can catch a few different kinds of trout and bass during certain times of the year. Even if your not into fishing it's worth taking a look at the dam. It's a public park, Kensico Dam Plaza, and sometimes the village shows movies here during the summer. This is also a favorite place to host events like Mamapalooza. It's a little cheesy but if you live right in town it's worth taking the trip to listen to the music and soak up some sun.

Mount Pleasant is also right next door to use their community services since Valhalla is technically a village within Mount Pleasant.

The people are friendly here and the homes are pretty and well maintained. The only gripe that some people have is that they can hear planes overhead from the nearby airport at times. Apparently it happens infrequently and many people aren't effected by it.
Pros
  • Beautiful Reservoir
  • Good Fishing
  • Festivals and movies in parks
Cons
  • Air traffic is sometimes noisy
Recommended for
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees

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