Yonkers, NY Area Guide

Yonkers carries visible layers of its industrial past, particularly along the Hudson River waterfront where 19th-century manufacturing once powered the city's growth. The Hudson River Museum occupies a historic building and serves as the region's oldest museum, offering rotating exhibitions and a restored 1876 Victorian mansion, Glenview, on its grounds. Untermyer Park and Gardens remains one of the area's most striking historic landscapes, featuring Persian-inspired terraces, stone pavilions, and ornamental gardens designed in the early 20th century by landscape architect Samuel Parsons. Park Hill stands out for its collection of Victorian and early 20th-century homes built along hillside streets overlooking the river. Downtown Getty Square anchors the city's historic core, where adaptive reuse projects have transformed older structures into restaurants and mixed-use spaces. The Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, originally built in the 1840s to supply New York City with water, now runs through Yonkers as a linear park and National Historic Landmark, offering a tangible connection to the region's engineering history.

Yonkers brings together a broad and genuinely diverse dining landscape shaped by its multicultural neighborhoods. McLean Avenue is a well-known destination for Irish pubs and traditional Irish-American fare, while Central Avenue draws residents with a long stretch of options spanning Italian, Chinese, Japanese, and classic American staples. The Downtown Waterfront District has become a destination for elevated dining, with upscale spots taking full advantage of Hudson River views. Getty Square and its surrounding streets continue to attract new restaurants as adaptive reuse projects bring renewed energy to the area. Residents also find casual dining and food options woven throughout larger destinations like Ridge Hill and Cross County Shopping Center.

Yonkers is well connected to the broader New York metro area by road and rail. Metro-North's Hudson Line stops at Ludlow, Yonkers, and Glenwood stations, while the Harlem Line serves Crestwood, putting Grand Central Terminal roughly 30 to 40 minutes away by train. Drivers reach Manhattan, the Bronx, and White Plains via the Saw Mill River Parkway, I-87, the Cross County Parkway, and the Bronx River Parkway. Local bus service covers much of the city, and the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail and Bronx River Pathway offer off-road options for cyclists and pedestrians. The nearest major airport is LaGuardia, with JFK and Westchester County Airport also accessible from the area.

Yonkers offers residents a rich mix of green spaces anchored by Untermyer Park and Gardens, a stunning Hudson River-view property featuring Persian-inspired gardens, reflecting pools, and scenic overlooks. Van der Donck Park in Getty Square showcases the daylighted Saw Mill River and provides a welcoming urban green space along the waterfront. The Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, a historic linear greenway running through the city, is popular with walkers, joggers, and cyclists. Crestwood residents enjoy easy access to the Bronx River Pathway, while Dunwoodie offers a public golf course. The Hudson River waterfront throughout the city provides additional opportunities for outdoor leisure and scenic recreation.

Yonkers sits within one of the more expensive rental markets in the country, positioned in Westchester County just north of New York City. Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is around $2,289 per month, with two-bedroom units averaging approximately $3,002. Studio apartments average $2,012 per month, while three-bedroom units run around $3,104. Those figures come in noticeably below the statewide New York average of $3,028 for a one-bedroom, offering relative value for renters who want proximity to the metro area. Rents have remained largely stable year over year across most unit types.

Yonkers delivers a wide range of retail experiences spread across distinct shopping destinations. Cross County Shopping Center, a landmark open-air center in the southern part of the city that has drawn shoppers since the 1950s, features over 100 stores along landscaped walkways connecting major anchor retailers. On the northern end of the city, Ridge Hill offers an upscale, walkable mixed-use district with fashion boutiques, specialty retailers, and a Whole Foods, making it a full-day destination. Getty Square on South Broadway serves as a traditional downtown retail hub, while Central Avenue runs through the city with a broad range of everyday shops and services.