Purchase

Legend has it that in 1695, chief Pathungo gave John Harrison as much land as he could ride on horseback in a day, which was known then as Harrison’s Purchase. Today, Purchase remains a desirable hamlet in the village of Harrison and is known to be one of the highest-priced communities on the east coast. “Homes typically sell for a higher price here because both the square footage and the lot size are larger than homes in the neighboring areas,” says Kori Sassower, a local and Realtor at Compass Greater NY, LLC with seven years of experience in the Westchester area.

A bird’s eye view of the residential area of Purchase will show large leafy trees shading the private and spaced-out properties with up to seven acres of grass-covered lawns surrounding each home. You can find 2,000- to 4,000-square-foot Cape Cods, colonial and postmodern homes with attached garages and driveways, some with cathedral ceilings and home gyms inside in the $900,000 to $2.5 million price range. Larger Craftsman-like homes, Tudor Revivals and Farmhouse-contemporary houses with privacy fencing and outdoor pools are in the 7,000- to 11,000-square-foot size range and can sell anywhere from $3 million to $7 million.

The Harrison Central School District and the Byram Hills Central School District serve students living in Purchase, all of which report far above state average test scores, according to Niche. Elementary learners can enjoy an 11:1 student-to-teacher ratio at either Purchase School or Wampus School, which both receive an A Niche grade. As they progress, students can move on to H.C. Crittenden Middle School, which also receives an A Niche grade. Older students can attend either Harrison High School or Byram Hills High School, which boast impressive 10:1 and 9:1 student-to-teacher ratios, each receiving an A Niche grade. “On a weekend in Purchase, you’re usually going to one of the schools to watch your kids play soccer, lacrosse or basketball. A lot of people in the community go to the high school football games—it's like Friday Night Lights here,” Sassower explains. Also in the Purchase neighborhood is The Windward School, a private middle school that’s part of The Windward School system.

“Purchase has the most country clubs in the entire Westchester area,” Sassower says. On the west side of the neighborhood is Old Oaks Country Club, a private club with 200 acres of fairway, tennis courts, a pool area and an estate-like clubhouse that includes a restaurant for members. On the east side, Blind Brook Club is another popular private golf course. Families take advantage of the centrally located Purchase Community Clubhouse, an indoor and outdoor space often used for parties and after-school care with pools, athletic courts, a playground and a library. Purchase locals can also stroll through the Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Garden, admiring the different 20th-century sculptures throughout the park.

When hungry in Purchase, head to Anderson Hill Road, where you’ll be met with fine dining options. “People here love getting dinner at Tredici North, which serves Italian-American food as well as wine and cocktails,” says Sassower. A block down the street, you can grab a beer and burger at Cobble Stone, or pop over to Trattoria 632 next door to indulge in a brick-oven pizza. Purchase residents pick up fresh groceries and household essentials at Wegmans, located in the southern tip of the neighborhood.

Purchase is home to both the private Manhattanville College and Purchase College, which is the State University of New York at Purchase. The Westchester County Airport, a small airport full of aircraft artwork that offers domestic flights, takes up the northern portion of the area. Interstate 684 runs along the west of Purchase and easily connects to Interstate 287 and Interstate 95. There are also several bus stops along Westchester Avenue on the west side of the interstate. For a more scenic route, the Hutchison River Parkway goes through Purchase and turns into U.S. Route 15, which weaves north through New England.

Now a community-minded town with spacious, modernized homes and vast, green outdoor areas 30 miles north of New York City, Purchase locals might agree that John Harrison made a good purchase when he rode all those years ago.

Written By

Mary Beth Greene

Photography Contributed By

Franklin Abreu

Video By

Matthew Bloch