RANK #657 / 1001 NAT · #42 / 45 NY · POP 999,677
1YR FORECAST: +2.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
Westchester County, New York, is known for its blend of suburban and urban living, situated directly north of New York City in the Hudson Valley. Towns like Tarrytown offer historic charm and scenic Hudson River views, while Scarsdale is recognized for its upscale character. Commuting to Manhattan is common, with Metro-North Railroad providing direct access to Grand Central Terminal, with some express trains taking as little as 30-38 minutes from towns like White Plains or Tarrytown. The county boasts extensive parklands, including over 18,000 acres for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and water sports along the Hudson River and Long Island Sound.
Life in Westchester County often appeals to families seeking highly rated public schools and a balance between natural surroundings and urban amenities. The local economy has seen recent growth, with an increase in jobs across sectors such as financial activities, leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services. There has also been significant investment in residential development, with thousands of new units delivered or under construction in urban centers like New Rochelle, Yonkers, and White Plains. This development aims to address housing demand and reflects a focus on urban revitalization and transit-oriented projects.
Westchester County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +5.6% runs above the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 16.1x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Port Cortlandt Offshore Wind Hub (Manufacturing/Logistics Facilities)
Consortium of Hudson Valley developers and planners
|
$200M | Proposed |
|
Yonkers Joint Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrades
Westchester County
|
$185M | Planned |
|
Station Plaza Affordable Housing Development (Ossining)
WBP Development LLC
|
$96M | Under Construction |
|
Affordable Housing Investment Fund II & New Homes Land Acquisition Programs
Westchester County
|
$85M | Planned |
|
Enel North America Battery Storage Systems (Ossining, Yorktown Heights, Hawthorne)
Enel North America
|
$56M | Under Construction |
|
Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Expansion
Westchester County
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 34/100, Westchester County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $118,976 combined with job growth of +0.9% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Westchester County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $663,200 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.18 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,951/month on average.
Population and employment in Westchester County are both close to flat — population +0.3% YoY and jobs +0.9%. Home values shifted +5.6% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.81% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Westchester County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +5.6% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Westchester County is now valued at $663,200. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.