Bronx Neighborhood Offers Westchester Living with Cheaper City Taxes

A quirky stretch of the Bronx allows some residents to send their kids to high-achieving Westchester schools while paying a fraction of the property taxes.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 5:22pm

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A small neighborhood in the North Bronx offers a unique living situation for about three dozen homes - they are officially part of the Bronx but get to send their kids to Westchester County schools and enjoy a more suburban lifestyle, all while paying significantly lower property taxes than their neighbors across the street who are also in the Bronx. The reasons behind this anomaly date back to the 19th century, with theories ranging from surveyor errors to planned roads that never materialized.

Why it matters

This unusual arrangement highlights the complexities of municipal boundaries and taxation, as well as the lengths some New Yorkers will go to find more affordable housing options. The neighborhood's status as a sort of "no-man's land" between the Bronx and Westchester also raises questions about service delivery and governance.

The details

The homes on the south side of Elm Tree Lane are officially part of the Bronx but benefit from being located near Pelham Bay Park and being able to send their children to high-performing Westchester County schools. This results in million-dollar homes on the Bronx side of the street paying just over $9,000 in property taxes, compared to nearly $28,000 for similar homes across the street in Westchester. However, residents on the Bronx side still have to pay New York City income taxes, offsetting some of the property tax savings.

  • The unusual neighborhood arrangement dates back to the 19th century.
  • In 1948, city leaders signed a deal to have Pelham schools educate children living on the Bronx side of the neighborhood.

The players

James Rausse

Served as planning director for the Bronx Borough president for 17 years and described the neighborhood as "an anomaly" where "all the politicians live".

Nick Loria

A 70-year-old resident who said getting city services to the remote area can be a headache, with firefighters even getting lost when responding to calls.

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What they’re saying

“It's an anomaly — no one is quite sure why it exists. One would think it's Pelham, but it's actually part of the Bronx.”

— James Rausse, Former Bronx Borough planning director (New York Post)

“It's dead-ass quite. You're backed up against the park, and if you stay here long enough you'll see there are deer, and you'll see turkeys. I mean, they walk a little different 'cause they're Bronx turkeys. You know, a little more attitude.”

— Retired cop (New York Post)

What’s next

City and county officials may need to further examine the unique governance and service delivery challenges posed by this neighborhood's unusual status.

The takeaway

This Bronx neighborhood's ability to access Westchester schools and amenities while paying lower city taxes highlights the complexities of municipal boundaries and the lengths some New Yorkers will go to find more affordable housing options, even in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country.