A slow way of life awaits in Albany
There’s small-town living, and then there’s Albany. This rural Vermont community consists of a town center with a church, a general store and a post office. Much of the area is rural farmland, offering a peaceful lifestyle in the Green Mountains. “It’s just an easy way of life. It’s pretty slow and nobody’s blowing horns around here,” says Daniel Maclure, a broker with Century 21 Farm & Forest and Albany resident. “We’re on a dead-end road that’s very rural. It’s a quiet area and we’re 20 minutes to Newport.” This community is a small part of the larger town of Albany and is home to just over 150 people. The few local businesses in and around the area are staples, and the location in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom puts hiking, fishing and camping within quick reach.
Early 1900s farmhouses dot the landscape in Albany
Architecture in Albany ranges from early 1900s Craftsman and Victorian styles to 1970s ranch homes and manufactured houses. Lots in the town center typically cover a half-acre, while other properties can be farms with 20 or more acres and have other buildings, like barns or workshops. Some structures also have solar panels. Tall, leafy trees dot the landscape, bringing the natural feeling of the mountains close to home. Prices range from around $160,000 to $540,000. The Black River and several smaller creeks flow through the area, bringing a risk of flooding.
The Green Mountains and Vermont wilderness offer plenty of recreation
Outdoor activity surrounds Albany, with several recreation areas and parks taking advantage of the natural landscape. Wild Branch Wildlife Management Area has over 400 acres of forested land open for hiking, fishing and hunting. About 15 miles east, Crystal Lake State Park offers a sandy beach for swimming, fishing and canoe rentals. Athletes come from all over to visit the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, a nonprofit with year-round activity. The center grooms over 100 kilometers of cross-country skiing trails in the winter, while summer sports include running, hiking and rowing. The nonprofit hosts camps and events for all ages, such as 5Ks and 10-mile races.
Local general stores and pizza shops in the Northeast Kingdom
The area has limited shopping and dining, but the stores and restaurants are frequented by residents. “Parker Pie Company has been there for years now. They have good pizza and a good atmosphere,” Maclure says. “My daughter also owns the country store, which is popular. And I don’t just say that because she’s my daughter.” The Genny is the local general store, selling some grocery items and freshly made pizza and sandwiches. The shop opened in 2021 after an extensive effort by the community to renovate and revive the building. The Parker Pie Company is a pizza parlor and general store in West Glover, known for its creative pies and craft beer options. The Dinner House at Runaway Manor is an upscale American restaurant that has served the Barton community for years and recently moved to Glover. The eatery, housed in a historic estate, is known for its steak, seafood and poutine. The nearby city of Newport has chain retailers like Price Chopper, Shaw’s and Walmart.
School choice is an option for Lake Region Union students
The Lake Region Union Elementary-Middle School District serves the area and offers school choice. Albany Community School teaches prekindergarten through eighth grade and gets a D-plus from Niche. Irasburg Village School also covers pre-K through eighth grade and earns a C-minus. Lake Region Union High School receives a B and provides electives in agriculture and technology. Sports at the high school include snowboarding and alpine skiing. Students can enroll in the North Country Career Center, which has 14 career pathways.
Route 14 leads to key Vermont destinations
Main Street in Albany turns into Vermont Route 14, offering a north-south road through the region. Newport is about 19 miles north via Route 14 and U.S. Route 5. Burlington, the state’s largest city, is approximately 65 miles away via Vermont Route 100 and Interstate 89. The area’s closest hospital is Copley Hospital, about 20 miles away in Morrisville.
Written By
Matthew Atkins
