Harrison & Purchase

Harrison is a town in southern Westchester County spanning about 17 square miles, including downtown Harrison, West Harrison, and the hamlet of Purchase. With roughly 28,000 residents, it offers a wide range of housing, from apartments and multi-family homes to classic colonials, split-levels, and larger estate-style properties.

Harrison is served by Metro-North’s New Haven Line, with express trains reaching Grand Central Terminal in about 35 minutes. The Hutchinson River Parkway also runs through town, making commuting by car convenient.

Purchase, located in the northern part of Harrison, is known for its larger homes, wooded landscapes, and winding roads. It offers a more private setting while still being close to major roadways and the White Plains Metro-North station.

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Lifestyle

Harrison’s lifestyle varies by area, offering both a walkable downtown environment and quieter, more residential settings. Downtown Harrison is centered along Halstead Avenue and the surrounding streets near the train station, where residents find restaurants, cafés, retail, and everyday services.

The town includes extensive recreational and outdoor amenities. Silver Lake Preserve and Cranberry Lake Preserve, both Westchester County parks, provide trails, open space, and access to natural landscapes. The Ron Belmont Pool Complex offers seasonal swimming and recreational facilities, including a water playground. Harrison Meadows Country Club, acquired by the town in 2021, includes golf, tennis, a pool, and dining facilities. The town is also home to a number of private clubs, including:

Purchase offers a quieter residential lifestyle, with a focus on privacy and open space. It is also home to institutions such as Purchase College (SUNY Purchase) and Manhattanville University, which contribute to the area’s cultural programming and landscape.

School District

Harrison is served by the Harrison Central School District. The district includes four elementary schools, Harrison Avenue, Parsons, Purchase, and Preston, which feed into Louis M. Klein Middle School and Harrison High School.

Harrison High School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, offering the IB Diploma Programme, along with a range of academic, arts, and athletic offerings. The district has continued to expand IB-based programming across grade levels.

In addition to the public schools, Harrison has a variety of early childhood and preschool options, including:

Private school options in and near Harrison include:

FAQ’s

Harrison is on the Metro-North New Haven Line, with express trains to Grand Central in roughly 35–45 minutes.

Purchase is part of the Town of Harrison and within the Harrison School District. Harrison includes a traditional downtown and train access, along with a mix of housing styles. Purchase is more residential, with larger properties and a quieter, more private setting. Many Purchase residents use the White Plains train station for commuting.

Both are popular Sound Shore markets, but they offer different lifestyles. Rye has a more coastal feel with access to beaches and waterfront areas, while Harrison includes a traditional downtown and train access, along with more residential areas like Purchase.

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