6.7 out of 10

Putnam Valley

Ranked 30th best city in New York
41.4080153370529 -73.8348780348614
Great for
  • Clean & Green
  • Peace & Quiet
  • Safe & Sound
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Lack of Traffic
Not great for
  • Nightlife
  • Eating Out
  • Public Transport
  • Shopping Options
  • Gym & Fitness
Who lives here?
  • Country Lovers
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Professionals
  • Beach Lovers

Reviews

4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
2yrs+

"Shopping in Putnam Valley"

Let me begin by saying that I do not believe most people move to Putnam Valley for the shopping. Putnam Valley is just over the Westchester County border but there's a world of difference in the feel of the town. You can enjoy the rural feeling you get while winding down the country roads and yet be only minutes from the hustle and bustle of Rt.6 where you will find the Cortlandt Town Center, Jefferson Valley Mall etc. Putnam Valley does offer the essentials including the small strip mall with a bagel shop,beauty salon, tanning salon,dance academy and other shops all next to a medical building, post office, deli & bank. One could also not neglect to mention the Putnam Valley Market (one of my favorites) with their own pizza ovens and freshly made dailly specials. So as you can see Putnam Valley is a unique town where people come to live and enjoy that peaceful hometown feeling and still be only minutes away from all of the suburban amenities like shopping centers, restaurants, movie theatres, golf courses etc.
Pros
  • Great school system
  • Peaceful and quiet
  • Solid recreational programs
  • Affordability
Cons
  • Lacks commercial development
4/5
2yrs+

"Putnam Valley School District"

A supportive community with extensive parental involvement,an active PTA/PTSA, the Putnam Valley Central School District supports academic excellence and well-rounded extra curricular programs. The districts three schools serve 2000 students and its 300 teachers and staff members are known for their education, expertise and commitment to the students. PV boasts a brand new state-of-the-art high school, wireless internet access in all classrooms and buildings and a one to one laptop program for all students ( I believe from 5th grade & up they receive their own laptop for use during the school year). The districts award winning technology program is leading the way through the 21st century & giving students cutting edge training in new areas of study for the future. You can always check out their website for further info. on the schools, test scores etc. www.pvcsd.org
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 2/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Golf Courses and Water Views: Far From the Madding Crowd!"

Putnam Valley is the place to go for those looking for the life of peace and quiet amid vast expanses of land - all within commute distance from Manhattan! Putnam Valley is, as may be expected, in Putnam County. It is a place where the selling point is not shopping or dining as much as hiking and biking!

If you are a nature lover and like the idea of a couple of acres property, it is definitely more affordable here than anywhere further south including Northern Westchester. Add to this the fact that Putnam Valley has embraced the bucolic identity and prides itself on being residential with large tracts of undeveloped property, you can safely bet that there will be no strip mall replacing the wooded stretches in the near future. This commitment to preserving natural beauty is challenged whenever there is debate about the town's finances. One school of thought is that Putnam Valley can cautiously allow some commercial development to offset the tax burden of residents. It will be interesting to see how the town finds its balance on this issue.

For now residents of Putnam Valley go to neigboring communities for their groceries and other more elaborate shopping. There is plenty of choice within a 20 minute driving distance as it is not far from the Cortlandt Town Center and the Jefferson Valley Mall. Dining options in the surrounding towns also makes up for the lack in Putnam Valley itself.

The residents of Putnam Valley send their kids to the Putnam Valley School District which is very highly rated. Their emphasis on technology and music-arts along with the traditional academic curriculum draws much positive feedback. The school district along with the great park and recreational facilities and the sports leagues can all be counted as reasons that make Putnam Valley a very child-friendly community.
Pros
  • Great school system
  • Peaceful and quiet
  • Solid recreational programs
  • Affordability
Cons
  • Lacks commercial development
  • No nearby Metro-North Station
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Country Lovers
  • Beach Lovers
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 5/5
  • Parking 5/5
  • Cost of Living 5/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 1/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"Great Schools and Peaceful Lake Views"

If you’re a nature lover, then you’ll fall in love with Putnam County’s Putnam Valley, which is home to Fahnestock State Park and California Hill State Park, as well as several lakes and ponds. Perhaps most beautiful out of all these ponds is Lake Oscawana, which was the site for one of the infamous Soprano series episodes of Season 6, and Putnam Valley was also the town used in the famous chasing scene in the Bruce Willis blockbuster, “Die Hard with A Vengeance”.

If you’re lucky enough to be a resident on Lake Oscawana for around $325,000 or higher (of course, beach rights makes living here more expensive than if you lived elsewhere in town), you’ll have endless access to swimming, boating and kayaking/ect., and you can also just relax on your deck (if you have one) and watch the fanciful parade of ducks and geese swim by (be careful though, if you start feeding them, they’re likely to come back for more).

Putnam Valley is a bit reserved as a secluded residential area that borders Westchester County and includes easy commuting access to the Taconic Parkway. It’s famous for sharing a section of expansive Fahnestock Park, where you can hike the 14,000+ acres to your heart’s content, and picnicking options are available too. It’s a very safe area, but that’s because you’re pretty much in the sticks, so if you want to shop, it’s better to head to neighboring Mohegan Lake and the Cortlandt Town Center, or Yorktown Height’s Jefferson Valley Mall. That said, however, there are few restaurants in town: Panda Garden for scrumptious, authentic Hunan-style chinese food, and Forno III Brick Oven Pizzaria. The Spruce Hill Inn offers live music and the bar is open until 10pm at night, and it’s right near the lake on scenic Oscawana Lake Road.

Schools here are excellent and graduation rates are slightly above the district average, at 99% (while the rest is a high 97%), so you’re getting your kids some of the best education in the country. They’ll love going to see movies at the Cortlandt Town Center and teens will want to go to the mall. The beeline bus system travels through Putnam County and Westchester, so they can use this system to get back and forth if you don’t want to drive them.

Putnam Valley is great for retirees who want a nice and relaxing lifestyle, not to be bothered with the traffic and chaos of more suburban areas, and anyone who basically wants peace and quiet will love living here. When it gets too quiet, there’s always neighboring towns to explore, so you’re never too far removed from civilization.
Pros
  • Great school system
  • Peaceful and quiet
  • Solid recreational programs
  • Affordability
Cons
  • Lacks commercial development
  • No nearby Metro-North Station
  • No shopping
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Country Lovers
  • Trendy & Stylish
  • Beach 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 2/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 2/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Tranquil ''Town of Lakes""

Putnam Valley is both a town and hamlet in Putnam County, NY and is affectionately referred to as the “Town of Lakes,” as it does indeed have many pretty ones. It doesn’t have many amenities, however, so it is good for those who prefer a quiet lifestyle and do own a reliable car.

Putnam Valley is a little scant on decent eateries but does have Forno III Brick Oven Pizzeria, Spruce Hill Inn, Panda Garden and Richy’s Pub Grub. For more options one need not go far to nearby Mohegan Lake where there is Augie’s Prime Cut, Café Pizzazz, Piazza Roma, Panera Bread, Baskin Robbins, Applebees, Cold Stone Creamery, Wild Fusion and Mohegan Diner.

As far as retail shopping, there isn’t a whole lot in Putnam Valley itself, but there are some major stores in nearby towns. Cortland Manor has a Marshalls and a Kohl’s. Mohegan Lake has a Walmart, a Bed Bath & Beyond, a Barnes & Noble, an Old Navy and an UA Cortland Stadium 11 multiplex showing the latest biggies. The Jefferson Valley Mall in Yorktown Heights is within reasonable driving distance at 4.3 miles and there you will find Macy’s and Sears as well as over 90 specialty stores including such favorites as H & M, Hollister, Victoria’s Secret, Express, Foot Locker, Gap, etc. They also have a 400-seat food court and a lot of other great restaurants, chain and independent, in the immediate area.

There is a Super Stop & Shop in Peekskill which is about 2.9 miles away and a DeCicco Marketplace in Jefferson Valley which is about 3.3 miles away.

Every September, the town holds the wonderful Putnam Valley Town Day with fun exhibits, vendors, a concert and a fireworks display.

There is also Putnam Valley Town Park which has three lighted tennis courts, several multi-purpose courts, two playgrounds, a rentable pavilion with a full kitchen, two sanded volleyball courts, several playing fields, a roller hockey rink, horseshoe pits and some nice hiking trails. Putnam Valley has access to Clarence Fahnestock State Park, a stunning 14,086 acre park that boasts a beautiful beach, picnic areas, wonderful hiking trails, a pretty campground, boating, hunting, fishing and birding.

Putnam Valley is also not far from the fantastic Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Yorktown Heights which has an enormous and very popular outdoor pool, disc golf, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, snowmobiling, ice skating, boat rentals, boat launches, playgrounds, playing fields, hiking, fishing, pavilions, picnic tables, concession areas and restrooms and showers. The town park has a wonderful concert series that kicks off in May and hosts some pretty great acts including the likes of Steve Forbert. The concerts are always free and they sell reasonably priced food. The park also holds a fun car show. Putnam Valley also has the Lucky Dog Park. Just make sure you register your furry friends at the park and rec office first!

Putnam Valley students are a part of the Putnam Valley Central School District which is quite good.

The median household income is $72,938.

The population is approximately 11,000.
Pros
  • Great school system
  • Peaceful and quiet
  • Solid recreational programs
Cons
  • Lacks commercial development
  • No nearby Metro-North Station
  • No shopping
Recommended for
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Country Lovers
  • Beach Lovers
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 2/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 2/5
  • Medical Facilities 2/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 2/5
2yrs+

"Quiet and hidden"

Putnam Valley is located towards the center of Putnam county, on the border of Westchester county. The town is relatively large, geographically speaking, but is sparsely developed. The majority of the town is residential, including several smaller communities. There are several large lakes in the town, with neighborhoods like Lake Peekskill built up around them. Travel to and from Putnam Valley can be difficult since the only highway running through the town is the Taconic State Parkway and there is no Metro-North train station. Even within the town, the local roads are often narrow and difficult to navigate, especially in the small lake communities where houses are built extremely close together. There are many beautiful parks nearby, including the large Clarence Fahnestock State Park and the Donald J. Trump State Park, making the rural area perfect for nature-lovers. Unfortunately, there's not much else in Putnam Valley. Residents of Putnam Valley generally find themselves traveling into Westchester county for both shopping and entertainment since there is little commercial development in town. This also means that there is virtually no nightlife or weekend activities available in Putnam Valley. The lack of easy travel, combined with the lack of businesses may also make finding employment close to home difficult. The quiet, safe town does have schools with an excellent reputation, however, making it a great place for families with school-age children.
Pros
  • Great school system
  • Peaceful and quiet
  • Solid recreational programs
Cons
  • Lacks access in and out
  • Lacks commercial development
  • No nearby Metro-North Station
  • No shopping
Recommended for
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Country Lovers
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 1/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 1/5
  • Gym & Fitness 2/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 5/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 1/5
  • Medical Facilities 2/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Affordable Lakefront Town"

Putnam Valley is located near the county line dividing Westchester and Putnam, west of Mahopac and east of Philipstown. Called the “Town of Lakes,” it was once a prime vacation destination for people escaping hot New York City summers. The growth of highways and commuter railroads and the rise of suburbs led to interest in Putnam Valley as a year-round place to live. Many of the summer homes have been expanded and winterized. Today, the town’s population is around 11,000.

Laws prohibiting development mean homebuyers can buy confidently, knowing they won’t have to worry about a mega-mall someday taking over their backyard. Land trusts have permanently protected over one third of the town’s land. In 2006, real estate mogul Donald Trump purchased a large parcel of land covering Putnam Valley and neighboring Yorktown, Westchester County, to develop into a golf course; when he was unable to obtain approval, he donated the land to the towns. The park was closed in 2010 because of budget cuts and was never fully developed. However, residents looking for outdoor recreation will find Fahnestock Park, which occupies a large portion of the northern part of Putnam Valley, is a great place to fish, hike, and swim.

Retail options in Putnam Valley are minimal; most of the people who chose to move to Putnam County as a whole like this fact. However, grocery stores and other shops selling necessities are not too far away. Though the town lacks it own shopping areas, it has the advantage of being located near the Route 6 corridor, providing access to a variety of shops, as well as the Jefferson Valley Mall and Cortlandt Town Center. To the east, there is also a large shopping center with a grocery store in Somers. Most shoppers will be satisfied with the range of retail offerings and restaurants.

The Putnam Valley School District is small but excellent, offering an excellent music program and an award-winning technology program. Three schools serve 2,000 students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Putnam Valley is a great choice for people who want the experience of quiet, rural living. It’s a great place for families because of its recreational and educational opportunities.
Pros
  • Affordability
  • Great school system
  • Peaceful and quiet
Cons
  • No nearby Metro-North Station
Recommended for
  • Families with kids
  • Country Lovers
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 1/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 5/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 2/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Wide, open spaces."

People flock to Putnam Valley for its lack of urban sprawl and environmental appeal. The town is surrounded by rolling hills, miles and miles of trees and rocky terrain with an expanse of trails and recreational areas to compliment the landscape. If there's one place that's ideal for nature lovers, outdoorsmen, sportsmen and those who just appreciate quiet, Putnam Valley is definitely the area you're looking for. Accessible by the Taconic State Parkway and Route 301 from Carmel, Putnam Valley makes its name for possessing parts of Clarence Fahnestock State Park, which contains lakes, ponds, trails, etc. The town's huge recreational park doubles as a sports arena and venue for various performances throughout the summer months. There are various summer camps and educational programs to get the community engaged with the community at large. The residents are kind and community-oriented.

While Putnam Valley offers an intimate relationship with nature, there is not much business to compliment the surrounding landscape. Some enjoy the fact that the town encourages developers to lump houses together, others are frustrated with the town's lack of commercial development. There is one intersection in town (Oregon Corners) that holds a glorified deli, bagel shop, doctor's office, etc., but a lack of sidewalks and parking lots makes it difficult to shop in this small sector. Those looking to shop are forced to travel to Mahopac, and those needing county services must travel 35 minutes to the county seat in Carmel.

What Putnam Valley contains in beauty and seclusion it makes up for with a lack of development, both in housing and business.
Pros
  • Peaceful and quiet
  • Great school system
  • Solid recreational programs
Cons
  • Lacks commercial development
  • No shopping
  • Lacks access in and out
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Country Lovers

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