Where can you find a $2,000-a-month, market-rate apartment in Westchester, Putnam and Rockland?
It’s one of the nation’s priciest markets, more popularly known for single-family houses. But with a flurry of new apartment buildings rising in Westchester cities, as well as older buildings, and even some new apartments in towns and villages, it can prove a challenge — but not impossible.
A recent online search pointed to one thing: If your budget will reasonably allow at least $400 to $700 above $2,000, more listings in southern Westchester's newer towers begin to open up. What was available at a $2,000-or-less limit in those tended to more often be studios. That doesn't account for possibility of what's known as concessions.
What's reasonable, budget-wise? Consensus holds that someone should not spend more than 30% of monthly income, before taxes, on rent.
For pure numbers of apartments, look to the cities of New Rochelle, White Plains and Yonkers in Westchester's south, the smaller city of Peekskill in the county's north, and in Port Chester, a village on Connecticut's border where a host of apartment buildings are rising or have officials' approval.
If looking to rent where there are top-rated schools, check out places such as Tarrytown, Chappaqua, Bronxville, Larchmont, Pleasantville, Ossining village. But know that the number of available units can be much lower, sometimes overwhelmingly so. A recent Chappaqua search showed just one listing for $2,000-a-month: a 750-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment at 57 S. Bedford Road.
"The gap in rental affordability is as significant as home purchasing," saidthe 2019 Housing Needs Assessment done for Westchester County by Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress.
Finding market-rate units online asking about $2,000 in Rockland and Putnam proved harder — listings were sparser and were largely apartments in houses.
For the national picture, a 2023 report by Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies said that, between 2015 and 2022, the share of newly completed units with asking rents of $2,050 or more "in nominal terms nearly doubled, from 19 percent to 36 percent." The share of new units around the country with asking rents under $1,050 fell from 22 percent of units in 2015 to 5 percent of new units in 2022.
"Rising rents are at least partly driven by increased amenities in new units to meet demand from households with higher incomes," the Joint Center for Housing Studies report said.
If market-rate apartments seem out of reach for some in Westchester, people with household incomes that meet restrictions can pursue another track: applying for affordable-housing apartments. Check out Westchester's income and rent limits for qualifying here. Even if a renter does qualify, there can be a waiting list. A key thing to check is the county's Homeseeker website. A number of localities require developers to include a small percentage of affordable units in new buildings. In places such as Peekskill, there can also be apartments at reduced rents prioritized for artists.
Here's a sampling of what could be found during a recent online look at market-rate apartments that were asking at or close to $2,000. It is possible one or more could have been rented or taken off market by the time of publication.
50 Battle Ave., Apt. 2, White Plains
Rent listed for $2,000 a month
The 725-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bath unit is close to White Plains’ Metro-North station and the downtown. According to the listing, it has an updated kitchen and new bathroom, as well as a deck off the kitchen door.
130 Centre Ave., New Rochelle
Rent listed for $1,950 a month
A 500-square-foot studio, in a pre-war six-story building that also has one- and two-bedroom units. It has hardwood floors, stainless-steel appliances, and quartz-stone countertops, according to the listing. The building’s common areas were refinished recently. It’s walkable to some downtown areas, including restaurants.
15 N. Division Street, Apt. #1, Peekskill
Rent listed for $1,950 a month
A one-bedroom apartment in a downtown brick building's second floor, close to restaurants, coffee houses, and Paramount Hudson Valley Theater. Hardwood floors throughout, according to the listing, and the landlord covers heat, water, sewer, and snow removal. The tenant pays for electricity and hot water.
7 Sherwood Avenue, unit H3W, Ossining
Rent listed for $1,999 a month
An 850-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit on Sherwood Avenue in this river town. Ossining village includes a number of restaurants, and a a Metro-North station down closer to the riverfront.
Apex Hudson Riverfront, unit 1-235, 20 Water Grant Street, Yonkers
Rent listed from $1,954 a month
A 666-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment. According to the Apex Hudson Riverfront website, various options for of lease lengths are available. Features include hardwood and tile flooring, washer and dryer, and a patio/balcony. A smaller studio unit was also listed as available in the building.
Michael McKinney covers growth and development in Westchester County and the Lower Hudson Valley for The Journal News and the USA Today Network.
