Westchester relocation guide spotlights schools, commutes and taxes in 2026

Westchester County Realtor John Buoninfante has released a relocation guide for buyers moving to the county in 2026. The resource walks through market conditions, schools, Metro-North commutes, property taxes and lifestyle factors that shape one of the region’s most competitive housing markets. Why it matters: - Westchester County continues to draw buyers from New York City and from states including California, Florida and Texas. - The county’s appeal comes from access to New York City jobs, more space, schools and a suburban lifestyle. - Buyers relocating to Westchester face a market where inventory is tight, taxes are high and commute planning can affect where they buy. What happened: - Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker John Buoninfante of Real Broker NY LLC released a relocation resource for buyers moving to Westchester County in 2026. - Buoninfante built the guide around the questions buyers ask most often about the market, property values, taxes, commutes, schools and lifestyle. - The guide is presented as a comprehensive resource for buyers relocating to the county. The details: - OneKey MLS Local Market Update data for May 2026 shows single-family home inventory down 12.9% year over year to 971 active listings. - Single-family homes are selling at 106.8% of original list price, showing that buyers are often paying above asking. - The 12-month trailing closed sales total reached 4,547, up 1.3% from the prior year. - The trailing median sales price for single-family homes is $999,999. - Condo sales show a 12-month trailing median of $527,000, with homes selling at effectively full list price. - Co-op sales volume rose 4.9% on a trailing 12-month basis, and the median price climbed 7.2% to $230,500. - Westchester County has more than 40 individual school districts. - Buoninfante points buyers to Niche.com and GreatSchools.org as starting points for school research. - Buoninfante also recommends visiting schools, reviewing district websites and looking at specific programs instead of relying on rankings alone. - Communities including Scarsdale, Ardsley, Irvington, Dobbs Ferry, Pleasantville and Hastings-on-Hudson remain popular with education-focused buyers. - Metro-North Railroad links many Westchester communities to Grand Central Terminal through the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven lines. - Hudson Line towns including Hastings-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow are about 35 to 55 minutes from the city, depending on service. - White Plains on the Harlem Line offers express service to Grand Central in under 40 minutes. - Buoninfante checks commute times and monthly pass costs through mta.info before quoting them to clients. - Westchester County property taxes are among the highest in the nation. - The tax figure listed on a property is the current owner’s bill, not the buyer’s future tax amount. - That listed tax amount reflects the current owner’s assessed value and any exemptions. - Buoninfante advises buyers to ask for an estimated post-purchase tax amount before making an offer. - Buyers can also contact the municipality with a purchase price and ask what the tax bill would be if the property were reassessed at that value. - The Rivertowns corridor — Hastings-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow — offers restaurants, waterfront parks, arts programming and walkable downtowns. - Scarsdale combines residential neighborhoods, a village center and easy rail access to New York City. - White Plains offers walkability, dining and transportation access in a suburban setting. - Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla, Saxon Woods Park in White Plains, Rockefeller State Park Preserve and the Westchester County Center provide year-round recreation and programming. Between the lines: - The guide underscores how much of the Westchester decision comes down to tradeoffs: commute time versus schools, taxes versus space and urban convenience versus suburban lifestyle. - The market data suggests buyers still have to move quickly and budget carefully because limited inventory is supporting higher prices. - The school and commute sections show that location within the county can matter as much as the home itself. What’s next: - Buoninfante’s guide is meant to help buyers narrow choices before they make offers in a competitive market. - Buyers moving to Westchester are likely to keep weighing school fit, commute length and property-tax exposure as they compare communities. - More relocation inquiries are likely as buyers continue shifting from New York City and out-of-state markets into Westchester.