7. Clarkstown, N.Y.
why we love it
Affordable Hudson River living.
| Population | 84,787 |
| Median Home Price | $360,000 |
| Property Tax | $12,803 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% |
| Commute time | 32 minutes |
Truth be told, Clarkstown probably picked the wrong name—it should be Clarkstowns. This community on the Hudson River is actually nine villages knitted together by their bucolic setting and affordable homes, all within a 35-mile drive of New York City. In one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country, Clarkstown’s $360,000 median home price is a bargain— that’s 34% lower than in neighboring Westchester County.
Clarkstown was where Edward Hopper went to high school, and there’s still an artsy sensibility in town. One favorite is the outdoor concert series that travels from park to park through the summer, each night devoted to a different musical theme. “Really, you would never have to leave the town to be able to find something to do,” says town supervisor George Hoehmann. “It’s pretty much all here.”