2023 Ardsley City Guide, Westchester County NY
Go Back To Previous PageArdsley, located in Westchester County in New York, is a small town with a population of 4,502. Its zip code is 10502, roughly 22 miles from
New York City, and the 351st largest community in New York State. The village is part of the town of Greenburgh, but don’t confuse it with Ardsley-on-Hudson, which is part of the town of Irvington. Ardsley, NY, is not located on the Hudson River, but it is surrounded by the Sprain Brook and Saw Mill River parkways. The town is near Dobbs Ferry, Yonkers, Irvington, and Scarsdale.
While technically not a river town, Ardsley is considered one by its residents and neighbors. Ardsley borders Dobbs Ferry and Scarsdale, and the city does not have a Metro-North station. Still, many residents travel to the nearby Dobbs Ferry, Scarsdale, Hartsdale, Hastings-on-Hudson, and White Plains stations, giving them flexible commuting schedules. Ardsley school ratings have increased dramatically in recent years, making it a desirable place for many families.
If you speak to Ardsley residents about their town, they will likely discuss their sports teams with you. It’s also one of the best school districts in Westchester.
Girls’ and boys’ varsity teams have recently won state championships. Ardsley Little League at McDowell fields is also significant. The town supports the home sporting events, and you can feel the spirit and energy of the crowd.
The Town Feel
People cite this compact, beautiful village with a close-knit community as an escape from the chaos of city life, namely in New York City. The houses are on tree-lined streets with excellent curb appeal and are stately and manicured.
The one-square-mile village is home to a town square, known for its tall clock located at the corner of Ashford Avenue and Route 9A.
Home Ownership and Housing
91% of Ardsley residents own a home, not a rental. That’s a pretty big deal. Therefore, it suggests that Ardsley is a village where (most) people from New York
City move to settle down or to raise a family.
It is a safe, low-crime-rate suburb close to the city, yet still far enough to offer the small-town feel that people seek.
The types of homes in Ardsley are varied. Colonials, as expected, rule the neighborhood, but there are a surprising number of split-level houses, Capes, and ranches.
The high rate of homeownership is due to properties designed for single-family homes. Because most adult residents are college-educated, they support education so their children can receive the best school experience. The median sale price of a house is between $695,900 and $768,000. Thus, Ardsley can be an expensive place to settle down.
Home prices are among the most expensive in Westchester County and rank among the most expensive places to buy in the U.S. Therefore, this isn’t the place to look for housing bargains. Few homes are for sale in Ardsley, suggesting that people stay here for a long time. To back up that claim, about 75% to 80% have lived in their single-family homes for at least five years.
The downside of wanting to live in Ardsley is that purchasing a house here is prohibitively expensive. Those who can’t afford to live here move to Dobbs Ferry, where home prices are slightly lower. However, it is possible to live in Ardsley by purchasing a condo or renting an apartment. Houlihan Lawrence says condominium prices generally range from $400,000 to $675,000.
Lastly, renting a one- or two-bedroom apartment ranges from $1,500 to $2,000.
Ardsley Demographics
Residents in Ardsley are wealthy and educated. Approximately 65% of adult residents have completed a 4-year college degree, and many have also earned a master’s degree, an M.D., a law degree, or a Ph.D. According to city data and Data USA, the median household income for Ardsley residents is $132,778 per year for those working in a white-collar profession. Here is the average age of Ardsley residents:
- The average age of a resident in Ardsley is 55 years old.
- The breakdown is that 19% are between 45 and 54 years old.
- And 16% are between 55 and 64 years old.
Ardsley’s population is predominantly older, comprising mainly married couples with children. Although residents are primarily Caucasian, the area is also racially diverse. Many Asians live here, as do people of Irish, Italian, Russian, Polish, and German descent.
The School System
The Ardsley Union Free School District serves students in grades K-12. It is one of the best middle school districts in Westchester, NY, and here’s why. According to the Department of Education, Ardsley public schools spend $26,712 per student, and the average school expenditure in the U.S. is $12,383.
The elementary, middle, and high schools are public schools rated 8, 9, and 9 concurrently on GreatSchools.org.
According to Niche, the Ardsley school in Westchester was ranked #33 as the best school district in New York, serving many students. It has 2,261 students across all grades and a student-teacher ratio of 12:1.
The student-teacher ratio is 20 to 1 at the highly rated and acclaimed Bronx High School of Science. In the Ardsley school system, 77% of students are at least proficient in math, and 76% are proficient in reading. The school offers A.P. classes.
Crime Rate in Ardsley, New York
Don’t worry about someone burglarizing your house. Ardsley has a meager crime rate. The crime is ranked on a scale of 1 (common crime) to 100 (high crime)
• Violent crime is 7.5. vs. the U.S. average is 22.7.
• Property crime is 16.3. vs. the U.S. average is 35.4.
Public Transportation
Due to the high salaries that Ardsley residents earn, many of them work in New York City, where the average income is comparable to that in Ardsley.
Ardsley is thus a commuter town. One downside is that it takes Ardsley residents longer to get to work if they work in New York City. Traveling from Ardsley to New York Grand Central Terminal takes approximately 30 minutes, which is slightly longer than the national average commute time of 26.4 minutes.
Residents ride the Metro-North train station to get to Manhattan from Ardsley, NY, and vice versa; the town is such an escape—and a small leafy enclave—that it doesn’t have a train stop.
The closest Metro-North station is Dobbs Ferry, but many residents also utilize farther stops, which gives them more flexible commuting schedules.
A limited number of parking permits are available at the Dobbs Ferry station. Contact the Village Clerk’s office at 914-693-1550 for more information. The downside is limited parking, and obtaining parking permits can be challenging.
Thus, those who use Metro-North do not drive alone to the train station; they are accompanied by someone who can guide them there and drop them off.
New York City is available via the Ardsley-on-Hudson train station, served by Metro-North Railroad’s Hudson Line, and the Hartsdale train station and Scarsdale train station, served by Metro-North Railroad’s Harlem Line.
Life in Ardsley: Outdoor Activities and More
Ardsley, NY, is a picturesque town, featuring verdant hills, winding roads, and numerous green spaces. The village’s offerings are more than expected from such a small village. It has nine parks with over 60 acres of parkland.
Six are small parks, and four have playgrounds, athletic fields, and significant areas for picnics and gatherings. There are also hiking trails and a chain of lakes and reservoirs for fishing enthusiasts. Ashford Avenue is part of the main street, which connects the towns of Scarsdale and Dobbs Ferry.
Located at the eastern end of Ashford Avenue is the Louis Pascone Memorial Park. The park is a vast, grassy hub featuring basketball and tennis courts, a skate park, picnic areas, and playgrounds. Here, at the park’s pavilion—think Gilmore Girls—with summer concerts.
The village even has its branch of the Westchester County Library System.
Many residents attend community center events and annual gatherings, including the Fireman’s Carnival, Egg Hunt, and Ice Cream Social.
