Direct Selling in Yonkers: Westchester's Largest City on the Hudson

Yonkers is home to 211,040 people and is the largest city in Westchester County. It lies just north of the Bronx, on the Hudson River, and its downtown is changing fast. For direct selling teams, it offers a dense local market with a business community of its own.

The city that voted to stay separate

Yonkers sits on the Hudson River next to New York City, yet it is not part of the city. In a non binding referendum in November 1894 on a Greater New York, Yonkers voters rejected the idea. The new City of New York was formed in 1898 without Yonkers.

That in between position shapes how people here shop and work. Yonkers sits close to the Bronx and Manhattan, but its local streets, schools and business groups are in Westchester. A leader here can build a team around Westchester neighborhoods while staying close to the larger market to the south.

Yonkers at a glance

City population, Census Vintage 2024: 211,040, the third largest city in New York and the largest in Westchester County^[1]
Share of Yonkers residents who are foreign born (2019 to 2023): 33%^[3]
Businesses in the city, as stated by the city in its Downtown Revitalization Initiative application: About 18,000, serving about 200,000 residents^[4]
Residents living in the downtown waterfront district: More than 17,000, with over 3,700 homes inside it^[4]
Full time jobs tied to private development in five years, reported by the Yonkers Industrial Development Agency: 1,874^[4]
Members of the Business Council of Westchester: More than 1,100, with over 80 events a year^[5]
Metro North Hudson Line stations in Yonkers: 4: Ludlow, Yonkers, Glenwood and Greystone^[2]
Yonkers households with no vehicle, 2024: About 21.5 percent^[8]
Amtrak Empire Service: Stops at Yonkers station, shared with Metro-North^[6]
Yonkers vote on joining a Greater New York, November 1894 non binding referendum: Rejected^[7]

Hollywood on the Hudson and a new downtown

The city's own Downtown Revitalization Initiative application describes a waterfront that moved from closed factories to cranes and soundstages. The Great Point and Lionsgate Studios campus opened in 2022. The city says it has already created hundreds of production, logistics and hospitality jobs and expects up to 1,000 as later phases open.

The same document says downtown restaurants and small businesses have grown with the new homes, and that Yonkers has seen its strongest business creation rate in more than a decade. These are claims by the city, not independent measures.

For a direct selling company, new apartment buildings mean new neighbors who are still finding local connections. Team leaders can use the waterfront and the downtown stations as natural meeting places.

Languages and backgrounds in the Mid Hudson region

The state survey for the Mid Hudson region, which includes Westchester, shows that 30% of residents age 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. Among those speakers, Spanish is first at 53% and Yiddish is a strong second at 19%. Italian, Chinese and Haitian Creole each stand at 3%.

The largest country of birth for newcomers in the region is El Salvador at 16%, ahead of China and India at 8% each. Of the five cities the survey lists, Yonkers has the highest foreign born share at 33%, just ahead of Mount Vernon at 32%.

A Yonkers team that speaks Spanish and Yiddish can serve the two largest groups of non English speakers in the region. Check that your replicated sites and training pages support both.

Rail, river and the commute

Four Metro North Hudson Line stations serve the city, and Amtrak Empire Service trains stop at Yonkers station. About 21.5 percent of households have no vehicle, based on the Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey one year estimate.

That matters for events. A training night near one of the stations can be reached from the Bronx, Manhattan and other Westchester towns without a car. Leaders can plan start times around the train timetable.

Who to meet in Westchester

The Business Council of Westchester says it has more than 1,100 members, from multinational companies to solo entrepreneurs, and that those members represent over 200,000 employees. It lists more than 80 programs and events each year.

The Yonkers Industrial Development Agency reported 1,874 full time jobs tied to private development over five years. Sarah Lawrence College, Iona University and Manhattan College are nearby and add student and alumni networks.

Yonkers leaders: a private route to a new company

If you lead a team in Yonkers or Westchester and your current company has no relationship with Plondo, you can ask for a free and confidential placement. Plondo takes no placement fee. Start the conversation when you are ready.

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Software for Westchester teams

Plondo supplies the commission engine, back office, replicated sites and AI employees that direct selling companies need. For teams in Yonkers, bilingual pages and clear payout statements help leaders serve neighbors in more than one language. Plondo can show a company how to set this up before it opens a Westchester group.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Yonkers part of New York City?

No. Yonkers is a separate city in Westchester County, just north of the Bronx. Its voters rejected joining a Greater New York in an 1894 referendum, and it is the largest city in Westchester.

What languages do Yonkers residents speak besides English?

The state survey for the Mid Hudson region lists Spanish first and Yiddish second, then Italian, Chinese and Haitian Creole. About 33% of Yonkers residents were born abroad.

Which business groups can a new company use in Yonkers?

The Business Council of Westchester has more than 1,100 members and hosts over 80 events a year. The Yonkers Industrial Development Agency reports on jobs tied to private development in the city.

How do people get around Yonkers for team events?

Four Metro North Hudson Line stations serve the city, and Amtrak Empire Service stops at Yonkers station. About 21.5 percent of households have no vehicle, so events near a station tend to be easy to reach.

Can a leader in Yonkers move companies without paying a fee?

Yes, if the leader's company has no relationship with Plondo. The placement service is confidential and free, and Plondo takes no placement fee.

Sources

U.S. Census Bureau, city population estimates, Vintage 2024 Open source
Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Metro-North Railroad zones and stations, East of Hudson Open source
New York Department of State, A Snapshot of New Americans, Mid Hudson (ACS 2019 to 2023) Open source
City of Yonkers, Downtown Revitalization Initiative Round 9 application, Hudson Gateway Connector Open source
Business Council of Westchester Open source
Amtrak, Great American Stations, Yonkers, NY (YNY) Open source
Steve Morse, A History of the Geography of New York City Open source
U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 one year, table B25044, vehicles available, Yonkers city (Census Reporter) Open source