Why do you love being a parent in Westchester County? See how our readers answered that question!
We at NYMetroParents and Westchester Parent asked readers to tell us, in words and photos, why they love being a parent in their particular hometown. Below are the answers we received, sorted by location.
RELATED: Discover the best Westchester family activities!
Ardsley
Always so many safe fun things to do with so many other families. Also, best of all worlds–urban feeling, malls, buildings, and beautiful parks, woods, etc.
Croton on Hudson
I live in a small town where it’s a big community and where we are all here to help one another. I’m always here to help out a parent, and I can say they always return the help when needed.
We have a great community and so many different activities to involve our children with.
Hastings On Hudson
Is the big backyard for “The City.” Everything is close (half hour/45 min away). Schools are great and people are nice and friendly. Housing means a lot more room than living in a city apartment, and there’s still a lot of fun around the corner. Also, food is amazing, and from the farm near by.
Irvington
I love being a parent because it’s safe, friendly, and a tight community.
Larchmont
I love my hometown because it is close to the water and makes for gorgeous sunrises! Nothing beats an early morning stroll with the kids and the dogs.
Mohegan Lake
I love living in Yorktown and being a parent in the Lakeland school district because the parents and teachers all look out for each other, our kids, and our community. It brings tears to my eyes when I think about how my kids are so blessed to be here surrounded by great love. As a child who grew up in the Bronx, I consider myself to be so blessed to be part of this awesome community!
I love my hometown because it’s close to nature and not far from the city. We have the best of both worlds!
New Rochelle
There are so many thing to do with kids, they learn and have fun at the same time.
Ossining
I absolutely love being a parent in historic Ossining, NY, but also love how close I am to NYC! I can hop with the kids on Metro North or drive in for a day in the city :-)
Peekskill
Great, supported elementary school teachers. Great library, with various programs for little kids.
Pelham
I love Pelham because it’s multicultural, friendly, and well-rounded. We are happily exposed to all walks of life here. My kids have people from 45 countries at their school and I’m proud to be a part of that, especially since we are in the suburbs.
Port Chester
I love being a parent in Port Chester because I was born and raised in this town, and I had a great childhood. I have seen how much it has changed for the best. It’s a multi-cultural, safe, contemporary, nice-size town. Being a parent and raising two boys is not easy but I can say that as long as they are founded with values and know what’s good and bad, they will be in the right path. As teenagers they will be able to enjoy the entertainment and restaurants here without going far.
White Plains
Westchester / White Plains gives you the benefits of both city and suburban living–it’s a great juxtaposition of the quaint and the trendy. There are always events to go to, places to visit and things to do.
There’s so much nature to explore and still very close to NYC and all its cultural events and museums.
Because there are lots of fun things to do with the kids
So much to do and so many parks to choose from!
Yonkers
There is always something to do, no matter what time of year it is. In the summer Yonkers has wonderful parks and outdoor things to do, always some event going on for the holidays, and if you want to go indoors there are many malls, movies, and activity centers. My kids’ favorite is Legoland–they couldn’t wait for it to open. We went on the first Grand Opening Day. Even the adults have fun there. It’s always great to be a kid again. And that’s why it’s great to be a parent in Yonkers!
I love being a parent in Yonkers as it is a City of diversity. In my neighborhood, for example, families of all cultures, religions and ethnicity live together in harmony and friendship.
Yonkers gets a bad rep but is actually a great place to raise a family. It is multi-cultural-which represents the real world, and rich in history. Parks, restaurants, Lego-land!, and the Hudson River are just some of the fantastic features.
I love being a parent in my hometown because I am a working parent. Yonkers has no yellow bus transportation for high school, and paying 58 dollars for two children’s transportation and my own is very expensive, and so I avoid paying that price. I drive them to school, then I drive my little son to his bus stop. Then I drive to the Bronx to get on the train and go to work. Why I love Yonkers is because it’s a family neighborhood. The parents care for each other’s children. I have one friend drive my son home and I have another friend drive my daughter home. Once they get home my children go and pick up my little one from his bus. What is the point to my long note? Well… It’s teamwork, teamwork and caring for each other. This is why I love my hometown.
I love being a parent in Yonkers because it is a quick Metro North ride to NYC (which we do most weekends) to visit museums or a zoo, a fast car ride to PA for Sesame Place or NJ for Six Flags. It’s close enough for us to visit countless fun activities for me and the kids but we get to go home and have no problem finding parking and we get to have a small backyard for us to enjoy.
So much to do. Great experiences for kids to build background knowledge.
I love the mall, parks, and recreational centers
A submission from Twitter:
We 
Westchester! Truly the best of both worlds.
