Westchester May be Becoming the Land of the Wealthy but Many May be Getting Forced to Move Out

Westchester County has rapidly been developing both commercially and residentially. Over the past 15 years, the average cost of a home in Westchester has increased tremendously. In 1990, the median housing value was $283,500 and today the median is up almost 35% at $419,000.

Westchester’s close proximity to NYC, along with its own attractions, has made it a very desirable place to live. Businesses are also trying to establish bases in Westchester County having realized its great potential. The only problem with so many people yearning to live in this now prestigious county is that home sales increase at a swift pace. Going into the city is no longer the only option for Westchester residents looking to maintain high standards of living so luxury must be provided close to home.

Westchester is home to 23 colleges and universities, over a dozen private high schools, an airport, a nationally renown medical center in Valhalla (among other local hospitals), and hundreds of religious institutions. Every religious denomination is represented in this county, making it fairly easy for those from every facet to find a place of worship.

The racial diversity found throughout the county is revealing of a culture based on hard work and the appreciation of neighbors. The county is made up of many ethnicities and although improvements can be made to better diversify the county, it is more racially diversified than the US average. The majority of the county is 71.3% White, 14.2% Black, 15.6 Hispanic, 4 % Asian and the rest of the county is divided into smaller ethnic proportions.

Westchester County has so much to offer that every city, town and village from Mt. Vernon to Pound Ridge is seeing a transformation in the value of homes.

Russ Baker, a retired business owner from Pleasantville, saw his home profit 2,400% at its closing. He bought his home in 1982 for $35,000 and this year, it sold for $850,000. “The only bad thing is I have to relocate now,” he said. “There is no way I can retire in Westchester, living here is too expensive.”

Westchester residents cannot ignore the need for an increase in income necessary to survive in their county. Many people want to follow Hillary and make the move to the great suburbs of Westchester. Many businesses want to follow Pepsi, Kraft, IBM and MasterCard and make Westchester their headquarters.

Having so much wealth in the county would appear to be a positive gain for the image and the people of Westchester. The truth is many people are being left behind by this new upward trend. Some people are having a hard time keeping up with the changes; many are being left behind, perhaps even pushed aside.