For the Westchester village of Ardsley, its central location is both blessing and curse.

The New York State Thruway, Sprain Brook Parkway and Route 9A all pass through the village, with the Saw Mill River Parkway running along its border. Commuters can travel to Manhattan by car or train in under 40 minutes. But because the local Ashford Avenue Bridge, passing over the Saw Mill and Thruway, is one of the few routes for drivers seeking to cross the region going east and west, traffic can be heavily backed up on local main streets. Anyone who's trying to access the western part of the county has to go through downtown Ardsley, so that's created a huge traffic mess," says the village mayor, Peter Porcino. "That's the big headache in Ardsley." Further bureaucratic difficulties stem from the fact that Route 9A, a main thoroughfare in town, is a state road, which can complicate local efforts to ease the traffic, Mr. Porcino adds. Yet despite the traffic challenges, the village still retains a close-knit atmosphere and small-town charm. It draws residents with its school system and proximity to New York City and the nearby river towns of Irvington, Dobbs Ferry and Hastings-on-Hudson. It turns many into long-term residents with its strong sense of community. "You do have a hometown feeling when you go to the local stores, when you go to McDowell Park, when you're involved in the Little League," says Michael Criscuolo, a broker with Houlihan Lawrence. "There are strong ties here." Ardsley is relatively compact, covering a little over a square mile and with a population of around 4,500. The village itself comprises less than half of the Ardsley school district, which also draws students from other areas in the town of Greenburgh. The village is distinct from the nearby neighborhood in Irvington, Ardsley-on-Hudson. Real estate in Ardsley consists mostly of single-family homes, including many Cape Cods, ranches and split levels, with a handful of condominiums available. Prices for houses range from about $400,000 to around $1 million, says Scott Rosasco, a broker with Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty. In recent years, large Colonials and new luxury construction in or near the village have been in high demand, Mr. Rosasco says. Most of the community is developed, with little available land for new construction. A plan is in the works to build affordable and workforce housing at the site of the former Water Wheel Inn, which burned down around 20 years ago, the mayor says. There is no Metro-North station within Ardsley but the train ride to Grand Central Terminal from nearby Hartsdale can take under 40 minutes. Though the village does offer shopping and dining, many residents also take advantage of the larger downtowns in nearby communities, brokers say. As an incorporated village, Ardsley has many of its own services, including police and sanitation amenities that many residents appreciate. The village is also served by an active and long-standing volunteer ambulance corps and a volunteer fire department. "We could save money by eliminating the police or combining services, but people say don't do it, don't even think about it," says Mr. Porcino. "The main thing is responsiveness; I hear it all the time. If you complain that there are some bushes blocking the view at the corner of this street and that street, 20 minutes later the bushes are gone."

Parks: Village parks include Louis M. Pascone Memorial Park, near the Ardsley Middle School, with tennis courts, ball fields, a playground and a gazebo, and McDowell Park, with ball fields, a pavilion and a snack bar. The 172-acre V. Everit Macy Park run by Westchester County offers playgrounds, ball fields, fishing and ice skating, as well as undeveloped areas. Schools: The Ardsley Union Free School District, with an elementary, a middle and a high school, has around 2,000 students from Ardsley as well as surrounding areas. According to state data, 97% of students who entered Ardsley High School in 2008 met or exceeded state standards for proficiency in English Language Arts four years later, and 96% did so in math, compared with 82% in both subjects statewide. Dining: Local eateries include La Catena, an Italian restaurant, and Pumpernickel, an American restaurant and bar, both on Saw Mill River Road. Additional options can be found in nearby Dobbs Ferry or Irvington. Shopping: The Riviera Bakehouse, a local bakery, is on Saw Mill River Road. Ardsley Hardware, also on Saw Mill, has been in business for more than 30 years. A branch of DeCicco's, a grocery and gourmet food store, is on Center Street.