Buckingham Lake-Crestwood
Playdates at Buckingham Pond
Buckingham Lake Park is a small green space with a 5-acre shallow pond in the heart of the neighborhood. "It's a quaint little area with a fairly new playground and paved trail that circles the pond," says Samantha Curry, a Realtor with New Scotland Realty who has almost a decade of experience in the industry. "You always see residents walking their dogs or pushing strollers. People come from different neighborhoods all the time to hang out there." When the cold winter weather brings below-freezing temperatures, ice skating and pick-up hockey games on the frozen pond replace afternoon walks on the path.Buckingham Lake residents are about 1 mile from Capital Hills at Albany, a public 18-hole golf course. Normans Kill, a 45-mile-long creek, divides Capital Hills from Normanside Country Club, a semi-private golf course with a restaurant and event spaces. The neighboring Normans Kill Preserve features a dog park and hiking trails dotted with blooming wildflowers. Residents can also enjoy hundreds of blooming flowers every spring at Washington Park's Tulip Festival, which celebrates the region's Dutch heritage.
About 8 miles west, Albany Pine Bush Preserve features over 3,000 acres of protected land that spans from Albany to Schenectady. Amenities include hiking trails and an education center. McDonald notes that outdoor recreation is one of the region's greatest draws. With the Adirondacks to the north and the Catskills to the south, miles of rugged mountain trails and scenic views are within 60 miles of Buckingham Lake.
20th-century homes and 21st-century townhouses
The neighborhood features a mix of apartments, condominiums, townhouses and single-family dwellings. The area around the actual Buckingham Lake consists primarily of single-family homes around the pond. Beyond there, densely populated suburban streets give way to a mix of 20th-century homes, ranging from 1920s Colonial Revivals to 1960s split-level and ranch-style homes. "Buckingham Lake's median home price is higher than the rest of the city," McDonald says. "Most single-family homes range between $300,000 and $600,000. However, we just had a record sale in 2024 priced for nearly $900,000." Farther west, small bungalows tend to be priced in the $200,000s, while 21st-century condos and townhouse complexes, including Crestwood Townhomes, range from the upper-$200,000s to the mid-$300,000s.
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B-rated city schools
The Albany City School District earns an overall B-minus grade from Niche. Pre-kindergarteners through fifth graders may attend the B-rated New Scotland Elementary School. William S. Hackett Middle School earns a B-minus, while Albany High School garners a B-plus. Albany High offers four academies and career training programs. Established in 1813, Albany Academy is a popular K-12 private school, 2 miles from the neighborhood.The Capital Region is home to several higher learning institutions. About 4 miles away, the University at Albany is classified as a Research-1 institution, putting it among the nation’s elite universities in terms of academic research activities. Other nearby schools include Albany Law School, Albany Medical College and Russell Sage College.
Amenities on Madison and New Scotland
Busy commercial corridors include New Scotland Avenue and U.S. Route 20, better known as Madison Avenue. The latter features a small strip of local businesses, including Market 32 by Price Chopper, The Madison Theatre and some of the city's most well-known restaurants. "BMT Hospitality operates the neighborhood's most popular restaurants," Curry says. Those restaurants include Cafe Madison, Serata at Cafe Madison, Madison Pour House and Junior’s Bar and Grill. By day, Cafe Madison is known for brunch staples such as biscuits-and-gravy and Belgian waffles. Beginning at the strike of 5 p.m., Serata at Cafe Madison offers an intimate atmosphere with Italian fare for weekend date nights.Buckingham Lake residents are also close to New Scotland Avenue's dining scene, while Pearl's Bagels & Bakery is another staple known for its fresh kosher challah rolls on the west side of the neighborhood. Additional big-box stores and the Crossgates Mall are about 5 miles away.
Quick Capital Region commutes
Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) buses run along Ormond Street, New Scotland Avenue and U.S. Route 20. Sidewalks lead to neighborhood green spaces, Madison Avenue's commercial strip, St. Peter's Hospital and several houses of worship. Three synagogues and the Albany Jewish Community Center sit within a 2-mile radius. "On the Sabbath, it's common to see people walking to the synagogue," McDonald says. However, most residents rely on personal vehicles to get around. Interstate 87 and New York State Route 85 border the neighborhood, offering convenient access to Downtown Albany, about 5 miles away, and Albany International Airport, 8 miles north.
Written By
Lillie Duston
Photography Contributed By
Jason Headley
Video By
Joan Wall
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Nicole Wilkie
Nicole Wilkie
Howard Hanna Capital Inc
(518) 888-7309
108 Total Sales
1 in Buckingham Lake-Crestwood
$365,000 Price
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Lorenzo Murray
Lorenzo Murray
Hunt ERA - Slingerlands
(857) 297-3367
372 Total Sales
4 in Buckingham Lake-Crestwood
$170K - $230K Price Range
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Kayla Mooney
Kayla Mooney
Responds QuicklyHoward Hanna Capital, Inc.
(518) 532-3509
46 Total Sales
1 in Buckingham Lake-Crestwood
$275,600 Price
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Stephen McCormick
SM
Stephen McCormick
Empire Real Estate Managment LLC
(518) 608-3852
35 Total Sales
1 in Buckingham Lake-Crestwood
$241,500 Price
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Jennifer Mentiply
Jennifer Mentiply
Renovo Real Estate
(518) 868-6681
132 Total Sales
1 in Buckingham Lake-Crestwood
$395,000 Price
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Renee McLaughlin
Renee McLaughlin
Hunt ERA
(518) 400-3461
114 Total Sales
1 in Buckingham Lake-Crestwood
$220,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Ridgefield Park
- Tennis
- Playground
- Multi-Purpose Field
Hartman Rd Dog Park
Westland Hills Dog Park
Rosemont Park
- Basketball
- Tennis
- Playground
Buckingham Lake Park
- Bike Trails
- Fishing
- Lake
Six Mile Waterworks Park
- Fishing
- Lake
- Picnic Area
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Buckingham Lake-Crestwood | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Buckingham Lake-Crestwood Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Buckingham Lake-Crestwood, Albany sell after 27 days on the market compared to the national average of 51 days. The median sale price for homes in Buckingham Lake-Crestwood, Albany over the last 12 months is $330,000, up 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$339,900
Median Sale Price
$330,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$332,500
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$436,672
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$314,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
71
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
6%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$205
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,861
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Median Year Built
1953
Months of Supply
0.70
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,834
Below the national average
1,927
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,423
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,574
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
7,840
Open Houses
-
Sunday, Jul 201 - 3pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
5,282
Median Age
47
Population Density
9 ppl/acre
Population under 18
17%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
27.8%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$97,868
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$123,141
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
93.9%
College Graduates
60.8%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
34.3%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
62.8%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
41''
Average Winter Low Temperature
16°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
42''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
52
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
44
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
39
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Helderberg
Residential neighborhood with close access to downtown
New Scotland-Woodlawn
Walkable area with historic homes 3 miles from downtown Albany
Campus Area
Suburban area with easy commute to major employers, universities, Downtown Albany
Melrose
Residential Albany neighborhood close to parks and main roads
Normanskill
Rustic neighborhood within reach of Capital streets
Pine Hills
An urban residential community near Washington Park and local universities
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