West Haverstraw, NY

158 Apartments for Rent

In the spring of 1883, a quaint little village was born, housing just 1,662 people within its borders, which were defined by the nearby railroad line and a couple of roads. This village became West Haverstraw, New York.

Today, West Haverstraw holds 10,165 residents, per 2010 U.S. Census data. It is still a small area of land -- only 1.5 square miles -- but a lot of modern life is packed into its four corners. If you're looking for the perfect mixture of small town and big city life, West Haverstraw is for you.

Moving to West Haverstraw

As you might imagine, it's hard to find an apartment in a small village like West Haverstraw. People love the small-town life and once they find a place, they don't leave it very often. So if you want to move here, you'll need to start looking three to six months in advance so that you can find an apartment before your planned move-in date.

Housing costs are competitive. While it's cheaper to live in this town than in New York City, which is just 35 miles away, you can expect to pay a pretty penny for housing for rent in West Haverstraw. In order to demonstrate your ability to live here, your best bet is to start by drawing up a budget and determining how much rent you can afford to pay per month. You'll need to make triple the rent you're paying in order to live comfortably. You should collect your pay stubs and tax returns so that you can use them as proof of income; if you're self-employed, you may also want to make copies of your payment records for the past few months. You'll need state ID from any one of the 50 states as well so that you can pass a background check prior to being approved for an apartment. If you want to stand out from other applicants, consider getting reference letters from your current landlord and some past landlords.

West Haverstraw Neighborhoods

West Haverstraw is a small village located in the middle of larger cities.

West Haverstraw Proper: A small hamlet located in between the Tor Mountains and the Hudson River, West Haverstraw offers shopping, schools and small-town life. Four bus routes connect it with other neighborhoods in Rockland County.

Haverstraw: A larger area surrounding West Haverstraw. This neighborhood is somewhat more expensive; you'll find large homes for sale and higher priced rental homes.

Pomona: This is a much more expensive area than West Haverstraw. It originally was named for the many apple orchards surrounding it. There are condos for rent and homes for sale here.

Garnerville: This hamlet is completely enclosed in West Haverstraw. There are several small shopping centers here as well as a few schools, a non-profit arts center and a public library. Garnerville has a rich history and is named after a family that owned the textile printing industry here in the 1800s. Today, the town features affordable housing options including apartments for rent, duplexes for rent and homes for sale.

Living in West Haverstraw

West Haverstraw is proud of its history. When it was incorporated in the late 1800s, it was one of New York's biggest industrial areas, housing a railroad, some factories and a brickyard. Even today, West Haverstraw is a highly industrial town, and people here are happy to contribute to worldwide industries through their jobs.

Since West Haverstraw is only 35 miles north of New York City, people here get the best of both worlds. The village itself still has a small-town feel today, and people can easily go into the big city. That doesn't mean life in West Haverstraw is boring, though -- quite the opposite! There's always something going on here, whether its a giant community service day such as the Great American CleanUp of 2013, the filming of a movie or a concert or show at a nearby theater. West Haverstraw residents demonstrate their pride in their history by visiting historical landmarks such as Treason House, where Benedict Arnold did his dirty work.

Modern West Haverstraw is one of the most diverse areas in upstate New York. With so many different types of housing to choose from, you're sure to find the home of your dreams.