Buchanan offers scenic views and a strong sense of community
Buchanan is a small and scenic village in the Hudson River Valley, tucked between mountains to the east and the Hudson River to the west. The community of about 2,300 people is tight-knit and relaxed, with neighbors who know one another and love their inviting home. "It's a small 2-mile-wide community with its own police and fire department," says Elizabeth Koski, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty who lives in Buchanan. "So, it has a very family-oriented feeling and good safety factors." Residential streets are tree-lined and quiet, with homes on rolling hills that lead down towards the water. While all walks of life look towards Buchanan to find their home, the area is especially attractive to young families, thanks to nearby parks, well-rated schools and community events, Koski explains. "There's a quality of life that draws people there," she says. "It's beautiful, it's family-friendly… It's a great place to raise your kids – it really is. There are tons of them, they're all over the place."
Older homes dominate, but newer styles are sprinkled in
The area has a wide range of housing styles from many decades – most of which are in good condition with trimmed front yards, picket fences and stone retaining walls out front. "The homes are 99% well-kept. We'll get a few people who aren't as neat, but those are few and far between," Koski says. "Is it a high-end luxury neighborhood? Nope. But it has its enclaves of a few more high-end homes, and then its regular middle-class homes for working families." Ranch-style homes, bungalows and Cape Cods from older decades range between $480,000 and $580,000. Larger homes, like Victorian cottages, bi-levels, Colonial Revivals and split-levels, sell for $520,000 to $780,000. While none have sold recently, New Traditional and Modern Craftsman homes are in the neighborhood with estimated values between $750,000 and $1 million. Homes are at moderate risk from flooding, and additional insurance may be required.
Local schools offer solid academics and diverse extracurriculars
Hendrick Hudson School District has an overall grade of A from Niche. Children can begin learning at B-rated Buchanan-Verplanck Elementary School for prekindergarten through second grade. Frank G. Lindsey Elementary School for third through fifth and Blue Mountain Middle School both earn an A-minus. Hendrick Hudson High School receives a grade of A and offers almost 30 different student-run clubs, from Mountain Biking Club to Speech & Debate Club to Math Honor Society to Reading Club.
Residents enjoy river access, wooded mountain trails and green spaces
Buchanan Village Park has a baseball diamond, pickleball courts, a pavilion, a playground and bocce courts. During summer, Buchanan Day Camp operates from the park, going next door to the George V. Begany Village Pool for swimming sessions. Living next to the Hudson, residents can get out on the water to fish and boat from Lents Cove Park, Cortland Waterfront Park in Verplanck and other green spaces in Montrose and Peekskill . Hiking and biking trails fill the land at Blue Mountain Park, a 1,500-acre wooded park a short drive away.
There’s an impressive number of events in the small village
The community celebrates holidays yearly with a tree-lighting ceremony at Christmastime, a St. Patrick's Day parade, an Easter egg hunt and more. "They do 5k runs, they have camps for all the kids, they have a senior citizens club, they have a pavilion and a pool," Koski says. "[Buchanan] is only two miles wide, but they do a lot for everybody there. It's impressive for such a small town."
Metro-North and highways offer easy access to New York City
Manhattan , New York, is about 43 miles south, via U.S. Routes 9 and 9A. City commuters can also take the Metro-North Railroad line, which goes directly from Peekskill Station or Cortlandt Station to Grand Central Terminal in about an hour. Westchester County Bee-Line Bus system stops throughout Buchanan. LaGuardia Airport is about 45 miles away, and NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital is about 4 miles northeast.
Big-box shopping and a walkable downtown are in nearby towns
Only a few family-owned restaurants, convenience stores and small markets are in Buchanan, including Fat Sal's Bar & Grill and Halal Bros Cortlandt. More extensive retail and dining centers are nearby; "Cortlandt Town Center is probably 15 minutes away," Koski says. The large shopping strip has a Walmart, ShopRite, HomeGoods and other national retailers about 7 miles away on U.S. Route 6. Downtown Peekskill is a walkable strip closer to Buchanan, with historic brick buildings hosting restaurants, delis and locally owned specialty shops.
![Heather Haggerty]()
Written By
Heather Haggerty
