Port Chester
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1/25/2010
Port Chester is a town of very high property and school taxes to the point where many middle class people are feeling the need to bailout and bailout quickly. The cost of living is excessively high -- about 60% more than the national average. What do we get for the extra cost? Not much, I can assure you. The current administration of the village is much more on the ball than past administrations, but it's sadly out of tune with the fiscal pain the average middle class person is experiencing here. Add to the burden of local taxes the set of ever-increasing NYS taxes (including the new commutation tax on many of us who don't even commute) and living here becomes untenable at best -- unless you're pulling down at least 80K a year (which means you cannot significantly save for retirement). On the other hand, if you're an illegal immigrant, you can do quite well here. (I don't mean to sound disparaging, I'm simply stating a fact most Port Chester residents know all too well.) Bottom Line: There's little room for middle income people in Port Chester. If you're in that category, it's best to look in Connecticut (which borders Port Chester) or Upstate New York (anywhere north of Westchester County).
Frank | Port Chester, NY