Bronkers vs. Yonkers: Understanding the Real Cost of Living and Schools

If you’re thinking about moving to southern Westchester, you’ve probably found yourself comparing Bronxville and Yonkers — or maybe you’ve discovered the hidden middle ground I like to call “Bronkers”: the border zone where you get a Bronxville P.O. address but pay Yonkers taxes and send your kids to Yonkers schools.

Let’s break down what that actually means — especially when it comes to property taxes, school quality, and overall cost of living.

🏠 Property Taxes: Bronxville vs. Yonkers vs. “Bronkers”

Here’s where the math matters.

1. City of Yonkers

• Exit Tax:
  When you sell your property, Yonkers charges a local transfer tax of 1.5% of the selling price, on top of the standard New York State transfer tax.

  Example: Sell your home for $1,000,000 → you’ll owe $15,000 to the City of Yonkers in local transfer tax.

• Income Tax Surcharge:
  Yonkers also charges residents an additional city income tax — 16.75% of your NY State income tax liability (not your total income).
  A good rule of thumb: about $1,000 for every $100,000 of income.

So yes, Yonkers taxes can sting a bit on the income and sale side, but property tax rates are typically lower than neighboring villages like Bronxville.

2. “Bronkers” — Bronxville P.O., Yonkers Schools

This is one of those “best of both worlds” areas:
You get the prestigious Bronxville mailing address, but you pay Yonkers property taxes and attend Yonkers schools.

• Property taxes are slightly higher than Yonkers alone, but the key benefit:
  No reassessment upon sale. Your taxes won’t jump dramatically in year two.

• Effective tax rate: ~1.6%
  Overall tax rate: 1141.33

  For a $1,000,000 home:

  • Assessed value = $14,100

  • Taxes = 14.1 × 1141.33 = $16,093 total

That’s pretty reasonable for Westchester, and the no-reassessment rule can save you a big jump in year two compared with Bronxville proper.

3. Bronxville Village (Bronxville Schools)

Bronxville schools are top-tier — often ranked among the best in New York State — but they come with premium property taxes.

• Effective tax rate: ~2.3%
  For a $1,000,000 home:

  • Village & school taxes: $17,400

  • Town/County tax: $5,522

  • Total property taxes: $22,922

And here’s the kicker:
Bronxville reassesses property values upon sale.
That means your first-year tax bill might look fine, but expect a noticeable increase the following year.

💡 Apples-to-Apples Comparison:

For a $1,000,000 home:

• “Bronkers” (Bronxville P.O./Yonkers Schools): ≈ $16,000/year

• Bronxville Village (Bronxville Schools): ≈ $22,900/year

That’s about a $4,000 annual difference in property taxes.

And when you consider that private or Catholic school tuition in Westchester can run anywhere from $10,000–$30,000+ per child per year, it’s easy to argue that paying a bit more in property tax for a good public-school district makes long-term financial sense.

🎓 A Quick School Recap

• Bronxville Schools:
  Among the highest-performing in the state, with small class sizes and strong college placement.
  You’ll pay for it — both in property taxes and housing prices — but you’re buying into a community built around education.

• Yonkers Schools:
  Larger, more varied. Some excellent magnet and specialized programs, but overall performance depends on the neighborhood. You’ll save on housing and taxes, but may need to budget for private or parochial options if you’re seeking a certain academic environment.

• Catholic/Private School Costs (for reference):

  • Catholic Elementary: ~$4,500–$8,000/year

  • Catholic High School: ~$10,000–$15,000/year

  • Independent Private Schools: ~$25,000–$45,000/year

So, yes — that $4,000 tax difference between Yonkers and Bronxville can be dwarfed by even one year of private school tuition.

👶 Timing Matters: You Have Time

Here’s the thing: if you’re planning to have kids in a few years, you don’t need to rush into buying something just for the schools. You’ve got three to four years before your child even starts kindergarten.

That’s time to:

• Explore different neighborhoods

• Watch market trends

• Visit schools. Bronxville allows for parents to tour schools midweek. See here

• Build equity or save for a down payment

Enjoy the hunt — take your time and make it fun.
After all, finding the right house and school should feel exciting — deal boyyyyy!

✍️ Final Thoughts

If you want the best schools and can handle the higher taxes and home prices, Bronxville Village is top-tier.
If you’re looking for a better tax balance with flexibility and lower upfront costs, “Bronkers” — the Bronxville P.O. with Yonkers schools — might be your sweet spot.

The real magic happens when you align your budget, school priorities, and lifestyle goals — and know exactly what each line item on your tax bill means.