Rural vibes, abundant nature and outdoor activities in Cambridge
Built into the rolling hills of Cambridge Valley, Cambridge is a rural community surrounded by mountains. It sits in the foothills of the Green Mountains, with the Taconic Mountains to its east and the Adirondack Mountains to its northwest. It draws a wide range of people for its natural beauty. “It’s a mix of farming, it’s a mix of artists, it’s a mix of second homes. It’s very bucolic and it has more mellow vibes,” says Jennifer Johnson, a licensed real estate associate broker at Julie & Co. Realty who has owned a vacation home in the area for 14 years. She was drawn to Cambridge’s natural surroundings and peacefulness, too. “I get to see bald eagles, fish, play water sports, hang out on the boat, swim. I just love being out at the lake and being back in touch with nature.” Johnson says proximity to major skiing areas and hotspots in both New York and Vermont are big draws. Cambridge Village, half of which is in Cambridge’s northeast corner, provides essentials just a few miles’ drive from most residents’ homes.
Swimming, hiking and kayaking at Lake Lauderdale, nearby skiing
Most of Cambridge itself is farmland, but residents find outdoor recreation and exploration in nearly every direction. “They love fishing, hunting, ice fishing in the winter,” Johnson says. “People just really revel in outdoor activities here.” To the north, Lake Lauderdale County Park’s public beach has lifeguards throughout its open season. The park has a picnic area, pavilions and courts for basketball and volleyball. Hikers and dog walkers wind through the woods surrounding the lake. Kayakers and canoers launch onto Lake Lauderdale or the Hoosic River to the south. Cambridge Village has a handful of developed parks with a playground and softball fields, plus hiking and snowshoeing trails in the Cambridge Community Forest.
For avid skiers, Cambridge is just 5 miles from Willard Mountain. Major Vermont skiing spots are also close enough for day trips; Bromley Mountain is 41 miles away, Mount Snow is 51 miles away, and Stratton Mountain is 56 miles away.
Rural colonials with acreage, village’s Victorians have smaller lots
Cambridge’s homes dot long, two-lane country roads between stretches of farmland or forest. Most have at least an acre, and plenty have farming plots. Colonial houses are the most common; some date to the late 1700s and early 1800s, while others mimic the style of older colonials but were built within the last few decades. Cape Cods and ranch-style houses are also common. Fixer-uppers in need of major updates start around $150,000, but more updated homes with extensive acreage can climb to around $700,000.
Homes in Cambridge Village have less land and were often built between 1890 and 1925. It’s full of Queen Anne Victorians, but colonials and bungalows are also common. Prices typically range from about $190,000 to $450,000. A particularly large, well-restored historic house occasionally lists for about $850,000.
Small class sizes at Cambridge schools
The Cambridge Central School District gets a C-plus from Niche. The small district’s two schools, which both have student-to-teacher ratios of 8-to-1, meet in the same building. Cambridge Elementary School teaches pre-kindergarten through sixth grade and has a C-plus, while Cambridge Junior/Senior High School earns a B-plus. The high school has extracurriculars like robotics, riflery and ski clubs.
Restaurants, shops and essentials in Cambridge Village
For a meal out and home essentials, residents drive to The Village of Cambridge. Country Gal’s Café is known for its breakfast menu, and King Bakery Donut Cart has popular flavors like maple bacon. Located in an old train station, Cambridge Depot is a new pub that plans to start hosting live music performances in fall 2025. The village also has a beloved bookstore, Battenkill Books, antique stores and essentials like a library, post office and hardware store. Cambridge IGA and Cambridge Food Co-Op both offer groceries right in the little downtown.
Proximity to Saratoga Springs and Vermont hotspots
State Route 22 and state Route 67 pass along Cambridge’s edges. With almost entirely rural roads, cars are an essential part of life here. There’s a medical clinic in Cambridge Village, but the nearest in-state hospital is Saratoga Hospital, which is 27 miles away in Saratoga Springs. Vermont hotspots aren’t too far, either; Bennington is about 21 miles away and Manchester is 29 miles away.
Riding hot air balloons every summer in Cambridge
For three days every June, Cambridge’s Balloon Festival fills the morning and evening sky with hot air balloons. Residents pay to go up in one of the balloons, which gather and take off from the school. There’s also live music, a car show and local artists, plus a fireworks show at dusk on the first day.
Handling water contamination
Cambridge Village is attempting to raise grant money for a sewer system to address a longstanding wastewater contamination issue. In 2017, several local wells were found to be contaminated with six carcinogenic perfluorinated compounds from a compost facility. Although the levels of contamination were below the Environmental Protection Agency’s lifetime health advisory level, homeowners received point of entry treatment systems upon request.
Written By
Christina Norwood
