A village within a town, Purchase, NY, is a community within Harrison. The hilly hamlet is surrounded by the Westchester County seat and spans Interstate 287. It’s known as a bedroom community for celebrities, politicians and top-level business people, blending educational institutions and corporations with residential neighborhoods. The sale of land to diverse interests drove down real estate taxes, while colleges introduced world-class culture.
What Makes Purchase Great
- Interesting history: According to legend, John Harrison bought the land that makes up Purchase from Chief Pathungo. The chief granted Harrison as much land as he could ride on in one day in exchange for a bright cloth, a handful of beads, and “white man’s wampum.” Because of a lack of records, there are a handful of theories about the origins of Purchase.
- Location: Purchase is about 27 miles north of Manhattan—a 40-minute train ride—giving you a small-town feel near the big city. Because of its proximity to the interstate and Highway 684, it offers easy access to NYC and the Westchester County Airport. It’s also close to White Plains, NY, and Greenwich, CT.
- Country club vibe: Purchase is known for its tranquility, well-groomed properties on tree-lined streets, and laidback atmosphere.
- Culture: The community has a great relationship with Manhattanville College and the State University of New York (SUNY) Purchase Center for the Arts, which offers dance, drama and orchestral performances. The presence of the two colleges gives the community several resources to tap.
- Education: In addition to having two colleges and well-liked schools, residents have priority access to Purchase Community House. The facility offers enrichment programs and homework clubs during the school year, as well as day camps during the summer.
- Community investment: Many Purchase residents volunteer their free time and resources in activities that improve and extend the community.
Weather in Purchase
Purchase has a humid continental climate that’s cooler than New York City’s climate by as much as 15°F. Summers are warm and humid with average highs in the low 80s. Winters have average highs in the upper 30s. Precipitation in the form of rain and snow is plentiful throughout the year.
Housing Costs
Purchase as an eclectic mix of French manor houses, English Tudor-style homes, raised ranches, American center-hall colonials, and newer modern homes that draw a steady influx of buyers. At the time of publication, the median sale price of homes is $1,390,000. The average listing price is $2,186,535, an increase of 7.3 percent compared to 2017.
Things to Do in Purchase
- Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens: Part of PepsiCo’s corporate grounds, the 168-acre sculpture garden has more than 40 permanently installed works by world-class artists such as Rodin, Richard Erdman, Alexander Calder, Jean Dubuffet, and Louise Nevelson.
- Neuberger Museum of Art: Located on the SUNY Purchase campus, the museum incorporates the former private 108-piece collection of Roy R. Neuberger. Today, the permanent collection includes more than 6,000 works. Admission is free the first Saturday of every month for all visitors.
- The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College: Also part of the SUNY Purchase campus, the Performing Arts Center is a four-theater complex that presents dance, theater productions, films, and music concerts. As a result, there’s always a show to catch in town. The Arts-in-Education programs give K-12 students opportunities to participate in artistic processes.
- Golf: Purchase is home to a variety of golf clubs and courses, including those at the Golf Club of Purchase, Old Oaks Country Club, Century Country Club, Brae Burn Country Club, and Blind Brook Club. There are also a handful of golf clubs and courses in neighboring towns.
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