u/cheesygorditacrunch5

My wife and I both work in the city but are looking to likely move to LI. Today we looked at Port Washington, Merrick/bellmore, and rvc. Before seeing any I thought rvc would top my list but the server at the place we went for lunch there had really not nice things to say about her experience living there (and also said most water isn’t safe to drink??). We liked merrick and port Washington but will likely be priced out of port. We are now thinking about adding farmingdale and Babylon to our list. I have been in nyc area for a while but come from rural PA where football Friday was a big deal, there was a community feel, and we still had good academics. Can anyone speak to their experiences in their towns to inform us more than what I can find online?

My partner and I are looking at mount kisco/pleasantville areas to move to within the next couple years. My wife is a teacher in an elementary school in nyc and is worried about the commute given it’s at earlier times than normal and she would have to be out of the house at a crazy time to get to school by 8. I recognize it will be earlier than now (we live in Hoboken/Jersey city area) but was wondering if anyone has done that commute at those times and how bad is it?
Edit: her school is on UES

My family is hoping to move to Westchester (likely pleasantville, chappaqua, briarcliff or river towns but tbd) and while we make a decent salary nationwide it feels low for Westchester. Are there any homebuyer first timer programs that are not capped by income?