Washington Irving's headless horseman isn't the only fellow who lost his head here. During the American Revolution, Major Andr̩ conspired with Benedict Arnold around here. It didn't work out well for him: he trusted the wrong soldier, based on the style of coat the man was wearing. That guy was a patriot and Andr̩ was arrested and hanged.
Forbes Magazine once called Tarrytown one of the prettiest towns in the U
Washington Irving's headless horseman isn't the only fellow who lost his head here. During the American Revolution, Major Andr̩ conspired with Benedict Arnold around here. It didn't work out well for him: he trusted the wrong soldier, based on the style of coat the man was wearing. That guy was a patriot and Andr̩ was arrested and hanged.
Forbes Magazine once called Tarrytown one of the prettiest towns in the U.S., and they're not wrong about this. It's a village 25 miles north of New York City, but nothing like it. Tarrytown has fewer than 12,000 people, with the average population density less than 4000 per mile. Most residents commute to the city or to some office park in Westchester County. Commuting to an office is easy, with Metro North to get into Manhattan in under 40 minutes on the express, highways for getting around Westchester and the Tappan Zee Bridge right there to get you to Rockland County and upstate New York.
Planning a move to Tarrytown might seem scary. It's not the headless horseman you need to worry about. It's not crime either, as Tarrytown has an overall low crime rate. It's the scariest thing of all; expensive real estate. Tarrytown's not as costly as some other Westchester towns but real estate here can still make you dig deep. No need to worry, though -- if you search, you're sure to find something that suits your budget.
When you start looking for listings in Tarrytown, you might wonder if there are any rentals in town at all -- web searches tend to bring up lots of apartment complexes in neighboring towns, like White Plains. That's alright if you don't have your heart set on the village, but that's a much more urban area. In Tarrytown, the rental units are often sublets of co-ops, condos, townhouses and houses. It might be easier to work with a real estate agent who has access to listings of all those kinds of properties. Just be aware that you will have to pay the agent a fee on top of any other fees the building you choose charges.
Once you start looking, you will certainly find a range of apartments. There are studio apartments for rent, one-bedroom apartments for rent and two-bedroom apartments for rent in Tarrytown. If you need more than two bedrooms, you probably should look for a house rental instead, as larger apartments aren't very common.
If you move into a professionally managed building, you may have to pay application fees, credit check fees and move-in fees. If you rent from an individual, it will probably be less formal or strict, but you should still be prepared with proof of employment and salary.
The buildings in town are varied and have different looks and feels. There are some very modern townhouse communities, some slightly older garden-style home communities and individual homes of all different styles, including the always popular Victorians.
Tarrytown as a whole does tend to blend into neighboring communities (especially the adjacent village, Sleepy Hollow).
Downtown Tarrytown: If you work in Manhattan and want your commute as short as possible, move to this neighborhood so you can walk to the train. You'll also be able to walk to shops and restaurants, such as Sweet Grass Grill.
Tarrytown Waterfront: It doesn't take a genius to figure out that this is the part of town on the river. Move to this area if you want brilliant sunsets over the Hudson to wind down your day. Of course, there are restaurants here also, including Sunset Cove, which offers gorgeous views. Some new luxury developments have been built here; most are condos, but there may be units available to rent.
One of the advantages of living in Tarrytown is how easy it is to get away. Just take the Tappan Zee Bridge to get to Rockland County and upstate New York. You don't need a car if you want to get away by train to Manhattan or take the Bee-Line Bus somewhere else in Westchester County. One of the great advantages of living here, though is that despite how easy it is to get away, there's not much reason to.
Wandering around the Main Street area is always fun. There aren't chain stores downtown; instead, there are boutiques and antique stores filled with unique items. There are also a couple of art galleries for that culture fix.
If you want to spend your time doing something more active than a sidewalk stroll, go for a walk or bike on the Old Croton Aqueduct, which runs all the way to Yonkers and technically even into Manhattan. You might want to step off the trail to visit the Lyndhurst estate, a railroad baron's mansion. After a visit there, your real estate expenses may not seem so bad in comparison!
The town has lots of fun activities throughout the year, including a farmers' market and waterside concerts. It's no surprise that one of the biggest holidays in town is Halloween, with events for weeks leading up to the holiday night. You might go a little crazy celebrating. Just don't lose your head over it.
