Last week, a family came to the consultation room weighing their options between the Scarsdale school district and Hartsdale. Their budget was similar, but they were curious about how much the actual payment would vary based on the number of rooms. To answer this question, it's necessary to take a look at the unit composition of the Hartsdale rental market.

Let's start with studios. The studios in Hartsdale are priced around $1,700 to $1,800 per month, with an average size of about 480 to 520 square feet. This area is a quiet residential neighborhood focused on commuters, even within Westchester, so the supply of studios is not very high. Typically, one-person tenants commuting to Manhattan by Metro-North seek this type.

Moving on to one-bedroom apartments, the average rent is around $2,050, with the area increasing to about 700 to 780 square feet. To put it simply, this means that instead of just a studio, you get an extra room, but you have to pay nearly $300 more each month. Newlywed couples or young professionals with a high percentage of remote work are considered the main demand for this type.

Two-bedroom apartments range from $2,650 to $2,800, with an average size of about 1,000 to 1,100 square feet. Many families with children are noticeably increasing in demand starting from this range, as the reason for seeking Hartsdale is largely due to the school district. There are also cases where two roommates share a room and split the costs.

Three-bedroom apartments are priced around $3,300 to $3,500, with sizes identified as 1,250 to 1,350 square feet. Families with two or more children or those who live with their parents primarily look for this type. However, in a small town like Hartsdale, there aren't many three-bedroom listings available, making it difficult to find one at the desired time.

From a supply perspective, recent new constructions or remodeled buildings are focused on one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. Due to the high land prices in the Westchester suburbs, studios and three-bedrooms are relatively rare, and especially new three-bedrooms tend to be quickly sold out once they hit the market.

Looking at the rental gap by unit type, the jump from one-bedroom to two-bedroom is particularly large. This is more a result of the school district premium rather than just the value of adding an extra room. Demand is concentrated on two-bedroom units or more to get into the school assignment zone adjacent to Scarsdale.

From the perspective of Korean households, if school issues for children are a concern, it's better to prioritize a two-bedroom even if the budget is a bit tight. On the other hand, if you are a one-person tenant, it's advisable to also compare nearby towns like White Plains, where studio supply is more abundant than in Hartsdale.

• Studio: about $1,700 to $1,800, 480 to 520 square feet
• One-bedroom: about $2,050, 700 to 780 square feet
• Two-bedroom: about $2,650 to $2,800, 1,000 to 1,100 square feet
• Three-bedroom: about $3,300 to $3,500, 1,250 to 1,350 square feet