Austerlitz feels like European living in the Berkshire foothills
Austerlitz has the feel of a European mountain town tucked into the Hudson Valley. Historically home to the famous poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, this community in the foothills of the Berkshires is ideal for a writer's retreat or a private vacation home. There’s no real town center to speak of, but with Chatham and Great Barrington within a 20-minute drive, you aren’t too cut off. It’s a higher elevation here, so expect more snow and shorter summers — but all the alpine charm of dense pine forests. Within 30 minutes, you can find culture and skiing in the Berkshires, and New York City is about two and a half hours south. For homebuyers hoping to find a quiet place with mountain views of both the Catskills and Berkshires, this rustic township has a variety of homes on offer.
Secluded farmhouses and luxury homes for sale
The town has a mix of older cabins, rustic ranch-style homes and recently built luxury properties. You’ll probably have a large yard, and won’t run into your neighbors very often. “People like Austerlitz because they have a little bit more privacy, because it's more densely wooded,” says Joseph Briggs with William Pitt Sotheby’s Realty, who has over 18 years of experience in the county. The median sale price in the area is $900,000, and some homes can even reach the $2 million to $3 million range. But there are also more modest properties on offer, with smaller cabins ranging from the $300,000s to the mid-$700,000s, depending on the size and condition. Property taxes are relatively low for New York, but still higher than in Massachusetts, just a few miles away.
A good place to live if you like privacy and mountain views
Austerlitz is one of the more rural areas of Columbia County. “A lot of outdoor enthusiasts and people who are looking for a nice, quiet, bird-watching cabin in the summer and snow in the winter [move here],” says Rachel Levine with Patricia A. Hinkein Realty, who has 5 years of experience in the county. The landscape in Austerlitz stands out from the rest of Columbia County, especially as you leave the open farmland and head up into the mountains. Briggs attributes the shift to the towering alpine trees. "It feels like you're in the mountains in Switzerland," he says, adding that higher elevation also means better mountain views. “Some of the homes that we sell up here have just fabulous, 360-degree views where you can see the Catskills and the Berkshires. You can see sunset, you can have southern light all day and have a sunrise.”
Longer winters because of Austerlitz’s higher elevation
With some of the highest elevations in Columbia County, winters are longer and snowier than elsewhere in the county. People tend to stay inside more during the months of November to March, but the town and state roads are generally cleared of snow quite quickly. “Columbia County — because we are a rural county — the highway department is very dedicated to keeping the roads clean, even if you're on a back mountain road,” Levine says.
Chatham public schools and highly rated private options
Most of Austerlitz is part of the Chatham Central School District, one of the higher-rated districts in Columbia County. Kids can take the bus to Chatham to go to school, about a 10- to 20-minute ride depending on where you live. Highly rated private options in the area include Darrow School, a boarding high school, about 15 miles north, and Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School for kindergarten through 12th grade, about 10 miles east.
Longer drives to day-to-day amenities
Besides a post office, you will have to head out of town to reach any day-to-day amenities. Here are some examples of how long you might spend in the car:
- Grocery store: About 15 minutes to Hawthorne Valley Farm Store, which has farm-fresh produce, meats and cheese, as well as the essentials of a regular grocery store
- Hospital: Less than 20 minutes to reach Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington
- Airport: Around 50 minutes to Albany International Airport
- Shopping and dining: Less than 20 minutes to Chatham and Great Barrington for farm-to-table dining and Lenox for entertainment venues like Tanglewood
What to expect with rural internet and cell service
Broadband coverage is available to pretty much all Austerlitz residents, but high-speed fiber connections — helpful for working from home — can be limited. Many homes rely on fixed wireless or cable, and some residents use satellite services like StarLink as a backup in case of internet outages. Cell service can be spotty, especially on more remote roads.
Commute to New York or Boston within 3 hours
This is a popular area for second-home buyers, thanks to the location just outside the Berkshires. Nearby cities include:
- New York City: About two and a half hours on the Taconic State Parkway, or you can catch the Amtrak from Hudson into the city
- Boston: Anywhere from two and a half hours to three and a half hours by taking Interstate 90
- Albany: Usually less than a 40-minute trip on Interstate 90
![Catherine Lashley]()
Written By
Catherine Lashley
