Pleasantville

Pleasantville, New York, is a page from a storybook with its quaint homes, tree-lined streets, lovely downtown, and emphasis on community. “Every town has a community, but there’s something unique about the sense of community here. The village is small, and everything is easily accessible. We don’t have school buses, so children, parents and caregivers walk to and from school and get to know each other. Through this, kids become friends with their friend’s siblings, parents become friends with each other, and it continues to build close relationships in the neighborhood,” says Maria Fitzgerald, real estate salesperson with Coldwell Banker Realty, with 17 years of experience and a local to the town.

The neighborhood is home to top-tier schools with high ratings on Niche within the Pleasantville Union Free School District. Students here attend Bedford Road School for elementary and Pleasantville Middle School, both scoring an A. Also boasting an A, Pleasantville High School offers a range of after-school activities and is best known for its competitive academics, with 72% of the student population participating in the Advanced Placement program.

Meandering through the tree-lined streets, the quintessential New England-style architecture, with classic colonials displaying front porches and Craftsman-style homes, adds to the small-town charm. However, the architectural landscape also includes sprawling ranchers and custom-built homes scattered throughout. Large private lots and sprawling green landscapes are characteristic of the area, providing ample space for kids and pets to run around. Here, the average home price hovers in the upper 800,000s, with a few modest ranchers starting in the mid 600,000s, to single-family colonials with 2-car garages listed from the upper $600,000s to the upper $900,000s. However, many properties on large lots start around $1 million for a 2.5 acre plot to over $3 million for a custom-designed home with an infinity pool and spa on close to 4 acres on the cusp of the neighborhood.

Residents have endless access to the pristine views at Rockefeller State Park Preserve, with 45 miles of scenic paved trails and rolling landscapes that offer an escape from life’s stressors. For adventure seekers, Graham Hills Park is often filled with hikers and mountain bikers looking to ride the steep terrain against the backdrop of towering oaks, maples and undisturbed woodlands along Bedford Road. Pleasantville Country Club, in the heart of the town, offers a different kind of greenery for those looking to tee off on the range.

Pleasantville’s central downtown and shopping district is where visitors can enjoy charming boutiques, restaurants, and annual events that genuinely emulate a small-town atmosphere. “Every May, Pleasantville Day happens in the middle of town. All the local businesses come out and showcase what they do, and there are rides and games for the kids,” Fitzgerald says. Here, one can find quaint stores like The Village Book Store offering a range of classics and new reads, while popular eateries dot the streets like Jean Jacques offering French delights. Then there’s Pleasantville Diner, known for its American cuisine, which is a popular spot for the entire family.

For a drink after work, The Garage at Lucy’s is the community watering hole, with live music every Tuesday night and a range of arcade games that fills the air with nostalgia. Along with essential establishments, such as Key Food Marketplace for groceries and LA Fitness for workouts, the strip is home to almost everything one could need. On the weekends, locals can watch a movie at the renowned Jacob Burns Film Center or spend Saturday mornings at the Pleasantville farmers market. “It feels like an event every Saturday, with live music, vendors, events for the kids and neighbors saying hello,” Fitzgerald says. Pace University’s secondary campus also calls Pleasantville home. Here, students can easily commute to and from school thanks to the nearby train station along Wheeler Avenue. Access to Saw Mill River Parkway and various bus stops along Pleasantville Road provide seamless connections around town for residents, with New York City about 35 miles away.

Written By

Lillie Duston

Photography Contributed By

Leon Cato

Video By

Tyler Hall