6.5 out of 10

White Plains

Ranked 34th best city in New York
41.0343 -73.7631
Great for
  • Internet Access
  • Pest Free
  • Safe & Sound
  • Clean & Green
  • Peace & Quiet
Not great for
  • No ratings yet
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  •  
  •  
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Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Trendy & Stylish
  • Singles
  • 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 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • 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+
Editors Choice

"Born and raised in White Plains, New York"

White Plains is a city like no other in Westchester County. We have suburban and urban neighborhoods. We have a diverse style of housing, as well as a diverse style of people. I always say "White Plains is a community with sophisticated diversity that welcomes everyone." A city with people that make you feel comfortable no matter what race, religion, or sexual prefrence. A short 35 minute express train makes for an easy commute to Manhattan. White Plains is centrally located with easy access to all major highways, North, South, East and West. The newly devleoped downtown is alive and kicking with many new restaurants and nighlife that is happening. White Plains is known for shopping, with Bloomingdales, The Westchester our Indoor high end Mall, and The Galleria a modest shopping mall. Whether shopping for clothing or food you have many choices. The famous Whole Foods is in White Plains, along with Stop &Shop, a new Super Shop Rite are a few of our supermarkets. We even have a small town village like Store called Rooster Market, located on the South side of town with an amazing butcher named "Frank". He has the best meats in town. Since the development of downtown White Plains we have a multiplex movie theater, as well as a cultural arts theater, the City Center is active day and night. It's all here for you. The residential suburban neighborhoods in White Plains are complete with tree lined streets, old and new housing styles. Each neighborhood has a Neighborhood Association to go along with it's dedicated name, for exmple: The Highlands, "famous for trick or treating", Reynal Park, "famous for it's walking trail", Hillair Circle "an old horse farm" now the location of older and newer homes. You may recognize: Battle Hill, Fisher Hill, Gedney Farms, Gedney Manor, Rosedale. To the North, Westminister Ridge, Woodcrest Heights, Church Street and extremely popular with the younger community because of it's proximity to downtown is North Broadway. All our neighbrohoods are well maintained with green lawns and well kept homes We have every style home ranging from Tudor and Colonial Style, Ranchs, Splits, Contemporary, and Victorian. Some multifamily neighborhoods, Condos and townhouses, and of course our beautiful old buildings some pre war tudor style now house our co-ops. Over 200,000 visitors step foot into the City of White Plains, many never having the opportunity to visit our beautiful neighborhoods. We have many golf courses, some private and some public. White Plains is conscious about it's Green space and continues to maintain beautiful parks and recreational areas for our residents. The municipal services are second to none, and when it snows; the streets are cleaned.

White Plains schools are well known for their choice program implemented some 20 years ago, and followed by many cities around the country because of how well the program works. Each school has a theme they enforce and each family has a choice as to which elementary school they wish to attend. It's your choice. You can choose your neighborhoods school if that's what you wish, but you can also choose the school across town if that is where you feel more comfortable. Before entering your children into White Plains Public Schools, a visit takes place something like when you visit colleges. You get a feel for the atmosphere, and the environment. You choose the place you feel most comfortable.

If the Public School isn't what you had in mind, White Plains also has many private schools to pick from, to name a few, Winward, Solomon Schechter School o Westchester, The German School, NY School for the Deaf, Kodomono Kuni, Academy of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Our Lady of Sorrows, and Stepinac.

White Plains is filled with history In 1758, White Plains became the seat of Westchester County when the colonial government for the county left West Chester, which was located in what is now the northern part of the borough of the Bronx, in New York City. The unincorporated village remained part of the Town of Rye until 1788, when the Town of White Plains was created.

On July 9, 1776, a copy of the Declaration of Independence was delivered to the New York Provincial Congress, which was meeting in the county courthouse. The delegates quickly adopted a resolution approving the Declaration, thus declaring both the colony's independence and the formation of the State of New York. The Declaration itself was first publicly read from the steps of the courthouse on July 11.

During September and October 1776, troops led by George Washington took up positions in the hills of the village, hotly pursued by the British under General Sir William Howe, who attacked on October 28. The Battle of White Plains took place primarily on Chatterton Hill, (later known as "Battle Hill," and located just west of what was then a swamp but is now the downtown area) and the Bronx River.

If your interested in moving to a city within suburbia, White Plains is the place for you. We have it all and we welcome all of you.
Pros
  • Relatively affordable
  • Shopping
  • Family friendly
  • A ton of nightlife
  • Incredibly variety of shops
Cons
  • Traffic & parking
BR BR
1/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 1/5
  • Safe & Sound 2/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 1/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 1/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 2/5
  • Public Transport 1/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 2/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"A moribund place where people are just passing through"

No sense of community, the city is a building developers' sandbox thanks to town hall
Pros
  • low taxes
  • Relatively affordable
Cons
  • no open green spaces; parks are just asphalt
  • racially segregated
  • town run by insiders for insiders
Recommended for
  • Retirees
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"Westchester's Golden Apple - White Plains"

White Plains, Westchester’s Golden Apple, the Place I Call Home

I live in this wonderful City and have for the past 30 years. While NYC has been called the Big Apple, many people in Westchester have referred to White Plains as the Golden Apple of Westchester County. Centrally located in the County, White Plains holds the county seat with our County Government offices and County Court House centrally located in downtown. We also have the privilege of housing a Federal Court House along with many Fortune 500 Companies, small businesses, a financial center, and all the retail shopping anyone could want or ask for. From Sears, Walmart and Target to Neiman Marcus, Nordstroms, and Bloomindales; from Old Navy and H&M to Michael Kors, Burberry, and Mary Jane Denzer to name a very few: you name it and more than likely you can find it in White Plains.

Combine this with the variety of dining experiences; Sofritas, BLT Steakhouse, Sera Fina, Asian Temptation, Mulinos, 5 Guys, Buffalo Wild Wings, (a short list) to the Thursday through Sunday nightlife at our many pub style taverns and sports bars dotted along Mamaroneck Avenue; Porter House, Black Bear, Butterfield 8, Lolas, Ron Blacks, Wicket Wolf, Brazen Fox etc. to the 15 screen movie theater at the City Center and the live performing arts at the White Plains Performing Arts Center, and well, you can see why White Plains is a special place in the sleepy suburbs outside of Manhattan.

A 35 minute express train ride to Manhattan, a 15 minute ride to Westchester Airport, a City surrounded by major highways… you can get here easily and you can leave just as easily. When I think of White Plains, I think of convenience.

But having said all of this, there is much more to this vibrant City than all the things named above. As a resident and local Realtor I appreciate the beauty of our lovely neighborhoods which many non-residents never get a feel for. There are the million dollar homes and neighborhoods, there are the more modestly priced homes in many of the surrounding neighborhoods. You can choose a home in an affordable co-operative building or perhaps the high-end luxury of a Ritz Carlton residence. You can choose to live in the hustle, bustle part of our City where stepping out your door you can walk to everything, or in one of the many quiet surrounding neighborhoods, whereby you would never know you live in a “City”. By day we are a City of approximately 250,000 people but by night we are a small, but exciting City of 55,000 residents. What does that mean in lifestyle terms? You will bump into your neighbors and friends while in the City. Shopkeepers will get to know you because you frequent their place and live locally.

The various forms of recreation offered through the City Recreation Department will allow you to pursue the sports activities you like whether they are tennis, golf, ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating, running, biking, soccer, soft ball, or others. We have an ice rink, many tennis courts including lit ones for evening play, a public golf course as well as private golf course. There are various sports clubs and spas such as The New York Sports Club, Planet Fitness, YMCA, YWCA (the Ys offer classes on various subject matters) and spas such as Arden’s Red Door, The Ritz Carlton Spa and Apogee Spa where you can get a spa treatment after your yoga class. You can bike or roller blade the Bronx River Parkway on Sunday afternoons in the fall. Go a bit further out and you will find kayaking on the Hudson River, hiking in the many County Parks. Or spend a quiet afternoon in the White Plains Library.

Enjoy philanthropy, volunteer at the White Plains Hospital, a state of the art medical facility, or Gilda’s House; or join the White Plains Woman’s Club, a local club dedicated to raising money through fund raisers to give to local charities. This is a great way to become a part of the community and get to know your neighbors. There is so much more and little space to put it all in.

What sets us apart, hmmm. I would say as is common with most Cities, we are the “real world” with all the fascinating and exciting avenues that open up when you explore the variety of the world around you.
Pros
  • Beautiful neighborhoods
  • Great Recreational Opportunities
  • Convenient to Everything
  • Relatively affordable
  • Shopping
  • Family friendly
  • Incredibly variety of shops
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • LGBT+
  • Trendy & Stylish
Amy Via Amy Via PRO
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
2yrs+

"A fun thing to do July 13th - 15th in White Plains!"

Whether you are Italian or not there is lots of fun to be had at the “Festa Italiana” sponsored by The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in White Plains. Beginning each night at 6 p.m., enjoy amazing foods as well as a Bar D’Italia which specializes in espresso, cold Italian beverages and delicious pastries. There are a variety of entertainers performing Italian and American music as well as an opportunity to kick up your heels with a custom built outdoor dance floor. There are also lots of games for children and adults. Don’t forget to bring a little extra money for the air conditioned casino (no need to hit Atlantic City!)
Admission, parking and entertainment are free. Rain or shine.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
95 S. Lexington Avenue
White Plains, NY 10606
Pros
  • Relatively affordable
  • Shopping
  • Family friendly
  • Incredibly variety of shops
Cons
  • Traffic & parking
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • 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+

"Small town with a spirit all its own!"

North White Plains, which is just North of White Plains, is part of North Castle. It is a town that could have been eclipsed by the city lights of White Plains or the swankiness of Armonk - it says something about North White Plains that it manages to hold its own instead of becoming lost in the shuffle. One big reason for this is that North White Plains has a separate Metro North Station, giving it a distinct and recognizable identity

North White Plains is close to all that White Plains offers but offers housing at a slightly less expensive price point. I is close to the serene suburb that Armonk epitomizes but offers a slightly more diverse community.

Shopping and dining access are aplenty and unlike other Westchester villages that can seem fairly remote and rural this feel like it is in the heart of things. The schools are seen as a bit of mixed bag as some students go to the White Plains school system and others go to Valhalla. Opinion is divided about which makes for a better student.educational experience.

While there are some parts of North White Plains that can feel a little uncertain if you are lost in the dark, it is seen largely as a safe community.
Pros
  • Close to everything
  • Good commute location
Cons
  • some unsafe streets
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 1/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"A small city with big possibilities"

White Plains is a small city in lower Westchester County. It’s a forty minute train ride from midtown Manhattan, and it has many of the qualities of the city even though its population is less than 60,000. White Plains has the advantages of shopping, restaurants, culture and nightlife, with housing options to fit many budgets. Though people have been driven here to escape Manhattan’s high prices, the cost of living in White Plains is still high.

Most recently, White Plains is known for its luxury real estate, mostly apartments in high-rise buildings, and upscale shopping locations. However, middle-income buyers will also find many options here. More urban than its surrounding suburbs, with a good public transit system, it’s also a major hub of the Metro-North railroad, with riders boarding, disembarking, and transferring trains all day long. The city is also easily accessible to many of the area’s major highways, including Interstate 287, and the Bronx River and Sprain Brook Parkways.

White Plains is a great city for shopping. It’s home to upscale The Westchester, which is anchored by Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, with smaller luxury stores including Burberry and Tiffany & Co. There are also several freestanding department stores, including Saks, Bloomingdales, and Target. The more modest Galleria has Macy’s, Sears and a large assortment of mid-range retailers of clothes, shoes and specialty goods. There’s also a great selection of restaurants and bars, making the area stand out for nightlife compared to neighboring areas where there aren’t many options for going out.

The White Plains County Center is the location for performances, including the Westchester Ballet’s annual showing of The Nutcracker, as well as concerts, trade shows and other events. The White Plains Performing Arts Center features plays and other performances, and runs a children’s summer theater academy.

There are options for many budgets in White Plains, from condominiums and co-ops to single-family and multi-family options. The public schools are good though tend to be outperformed by surrounding areas, and there are private, parochial and charter options as well.
Pros
  • Proximity to highways
  • Good performing arts scene
  • Shopping
Cons
  • Noise (in the downtown areas)
  • Traffic & parking
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Big city livin' north of the Big City."

In 2010, Bloomberg Businessweek ranked White Plains amongst its fastest growing cities in the United States, paying tribute to city's urban renewal and expansive economic growth. It's one of the few places north of New York City that exemplifies a true city atmosphere, with high-rise apartments, streets laid out in a grid, and many things to do morning, noon, or night. One of three stops left on Metro-North's Harlem Line, White Plains is a short, 50 minute ride into New York City, and with it's locating sitting right in the heart of central Westchester, residents have easy access to Connecticut to the east and Putnam County to the north. The population is approaching 60,000 residents, with a weekday population surge of 250,000 due to an influx of people going to work.

As a 23-year-old who has to commute to work close to White Plains, I picture the city as an ideal living situation for me. With a shorter commute to my job, the city offers up a faster-paced lifestyle with abundant nightlife, shopping outlets and restaurants (especially along Mamaroneck Avenue), both commercially- and locally-owned. It's the city/town/village in Putnam, Westchester and Dutchess counties that most resembles living in New York City without the Manhattan-priced apartments. Not to say that White Plains wouldn't be an expensive alternative, but it would give a person who's looking for that city vibe more of a reason to check it out.

White Plains also offers opportunities to live in residential neighborhoods, as well. North White Plains is home to its own Metro-North train station, and may be a quieter environment for families or those who don't like living in a crowded, noisy city. It's a short trip down Route 22 to White Plains, so you won't have to go very far out of the way for amenities/things to do.

The biggest complaint I've heard about White Plains is its parking, which may make it a little more difficult for you if you live directly on a road. There's no "On-Street" parking from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., and metered parking only allows you one hour to park your car. Parking can get pretty expensive if you're taking the Metro-North train, but there are a slew of parking garages throughout the city that makes it easier to park when you're out and about.
Pros
  • Relatively affordable
  • Shopping
  • A ton of nightlife
Cons
  • Noise (in the downtown areas)
  • Traffic & parking
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • LGBT+
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Westchesters own Big City!"

White Plains is the city away from the city! It is the urban center of Westchester county and offers great shopping and dining. The city is great to live in and to visit. White Plains has a diverse population which is reflected in the demographics and in the ethnic restaurants and grocery stores in the area.
It has many housing options from apartments and condos to starter homes and expensive mansions. It is close enough to NYC and has a Metro North station, making it attractive to many who work in the city but are looking for less expensive alternatives to Manhattan. The city is reputed to have a good public school system.
White Plains is a hub of activity in large part because of the many shopping and dining options it offers. The Westchester Mall with its many upscale stores and swanky feel attracts shoppers and browsers. Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom are the anchor stores here. My personal favorites in this mall are Anthropologie and William Sonoma are two of my favorite stops here. While browsing at Westchester Mall is fun, the City Center shopping with a big Target is definitely more budget friendly. I also like The Container Store which is a stand-alone store near the Westchester Mall.
P.F. Chang’s and the Cheesecake Factory are close to all the shopping and there’s always a long line in both places. It is highly advisable to make reservations before showing up. If you are feeling spontaneous, there are plenty of other restaurants and bars in White Plains.
White Plains is perfect for a fix of city living on days when we don’t have time or energy to make it to Manhattan. And the fact that parking is simpler is a big plus too!
Pros
  • Family friendly
  • Relatively affordable
  • Shopping
  • A ton of nightlife
Cons
  • More malls than street-front shops
  • Noise (in the downtown areas)
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"These plains have a little bit of everything"

What can I say about my hometown of almost 39 years? Plenty and then some. In fact, I could write a small visitor’s guide. White Plains has grown in such leaps and bounds since my childhood that sometimes I have to shake my head to both recognize it, and to remember what it once was. It has transformed from a quiet half-plains, half-suburban NYC escape into what many now affectionately call the “mini-Manhattan.”

Shopping abounds here and White Plains is home to the ever-popular more middle-class Galleria Mall, the super trendy and far more pricey, Westchester, which resembles a coliseum, the more urban and modern City Center and even the old dog, the White Plains Mall, which still looks and retains the feel of the early 70’s and still keeps chugging along in spite of its worn out looks. The galleria is a thriving teen hotspot where the requisite hormonal boy and girl watching and giggling and awkwardness goes on and is also a more affordable family-friendly shopping option with all the sought after retail chain stores. The Westchester is a more marbleized and resplendent affair with a wealth of upscale retail stores.

The city is home to an impressive professional Equity theatre, the White Plains Performing Arts Center, which hosts tap your toes good musicals, rip-roaring comedies, smart plays and a wonderful young adult conservatory. The movie theatre next door to the White Plains is a bright and jazzy looking Cineplex which features a little something for kids, adults and artistic flick lovers alike. In that same building is a very busy Target with a terrific grocery section and a lovely Shop Rite replete with an American and Asian buffet. Other food shopping options include a large Super Stop n' Shop and a very popular Whole Foods market with an ethnic buffet, cooking demos and an accomodating eat-in seating secion.

The Mamaroneck Avenue Strip is a huge hotspot with tons of bars that brim over into the streets. You can hear the music thumping well into the night. That same strip and the streets that jut out from it have an absolute abundance of restaurants including a fondue spot, several popular burger joints, a fusion Asian bistro, a Hibachi restaurant, several Latin American cafes, a Legal Seafood, an Applebees. A Cosi sandwich shop, a Haagen Dazs, a Starbucks,

White Plains also has a fine library, a YMCA, a slew of playgrounds, several parks, large-scale parades and a colorful weekly farmer’s market.

Donald Trump put White Plains even more squarely on the map and gave it a pseudo-skyline with his somewhat controversial build of the 35-story Trump Tower City Center with its ultra luxurious condos smack dab at the base of the Mamaroneck Avenue strip.

White Plains has a wide variety of living options including plush suburban homes, condos and both large and small scale apartment buildings as well as rentals in private homes. The median home value is $421, 300 and the median rental is 1,470.00.

White Plains is definitely more of a melting pot compared to many of its neighbors. The more diverse make-up is approximately 49% White, 30% Hispanic, 13% Black and 6% Asian.

The median income is $72,909.

White Plains has a quality school system with a reported 93% of White Plains High School graduates going on to college.

The population of White Plains is 56,853 with the median age being 38 years old.
Pros
  • A ton of nightlife
  • Family friendly
  • Relatively affordable
  • Incredibly variety of shops
  • Shopping
Cons
  • Traffic & parking
  • Noise (in the downtown areas)
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"A Great City with Lots of Fun Things to Do!"

White Plains is a must for those coming to Westchester who wish for city life. While parking can be a bit tricky (it’s mainly tolls in the heart of the city; once you get outside of the main area, you’ll find shopping centers with easier parking), it’s well worth the trip. You can shop for food at Whole Foods, a humongous natural grocery store, or grab a bite at the Cheesecake Factory. The factory is not only famous for their world-famous cheesecake, but general gourmet meals and romantic, as well as family-friendly, dining atmosphere). Be sure to schedule a reservation here in advance, because the wait can be a tad bit long.) The City Center in town hosts a myriad of local shows, which bring many different artisans to show and sell their products. You can book-browse at the local Barnes & Noble, buy an instrument at Sam Ash in town, or catch one of the latest films at the downtown theater. There’s the Westchester Mall for die-hard shoppers (several floors and a great dining area). You can take the train to NYC or to other areas of Westchester very easily from White Plains. Housing is mixed income. Being a city, White Plains is culturally diverse, and the restaurants offer all different tastes from many different countries. People rave about Outback Stakehouse (one of the very few in the Hudson Valley). There’s generally lots of traffic, so watch your back while crossing the street! There’s lots of friendly pubs, clubs and open restaurants for a fun night life as well. You’ll never know what you’ll find when you visit White Plains!
Pros
  • Family friendly
  • Relatively affordable
  • Incredibly variety of shops
  • Shopping
Cons
  • Traffic & parking
  • Noise (in the downtown areas)
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Shopping Heaven and Pleasant Suburbia"

The best part about White Plains is the shopping. Whenever I have some money burning a hole in my pocket, which is rare, I like to head here to spend the day. It's convenient because there are very upscale, expensive shopping centers like The Westchester, mid-range like City Center, and budget-friendly stores at the Galleria Mall.

White Plains has a high quality of living and some of the houses/condos can be very expensive. In return you get a safe place to live, a pleasant city center with all the conveniences you could possible need (nearby supermarkets, stores, public transportation), and lots of entertainment options.

There's not really much nightlife in White Plains but there are a few low-key bars and New York City is pretty close.
There are also two very different sides to the city. There's the bustling center and then there's the rest of the city which is much more quiet, suburban, and green. It's a great place to raise a family.

One of the best things about the school system here is that you can choose which public school to send your kids to. You're not just stuck with whichever is closest to your home.

Overall it's a great place to live and visit. I highly recommend it!
Pros
  • Shopping
  • Family friendly
  • Relatively affordable
Cons
  • Not much nightlife
  • Traffic & parking
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • 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 4/5
2yrs+

"One of my favorite places in Westchester"

White Plains has a myriad of things to offer. There are newly constructed properties everywhere. You can dine in any one of this unique city's trendy or upscale restaurants or kick back and have fun in one of its great nightlife spots. There has been tremendous growth in the city's business district. There are a lot of young professionals living in the downtown area because White Plains offers a commute that takes just over half an hour, and prices that are far less than those in Manhattan. You should note that it is a little harder to catch a train at night, particularly on weekends. There are endless shopping options in White Plains. There is the Galleria and the Westchester Mall, which has lots of designer shops and valet service. City Center is a huge shopping, entertainment, and residential complex in the heart of the downtown area. There is a Target, lots of restaurants, and a nice movie theater. White Plains has great hotels, including a Ritz. The school district in White Plains is pretty good; the best aspect of it is that, for the most part, parents are allowed to choose which schools to send their kids to.
Pros
  • Family friendly
  • Relatively affordable
  • Incredibly variety of shops
Cons
  • Traffic & parking
  • Noise (in the downtown areas)
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Trendy & Stylish

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