Countryside retreat with small-town charm 90 miles from NYC
Founded in 1788 and set 90 miles north of New York City, Clinton Town is a small, Dutchess County area known for its rural tranquility and tucked-away single-family homes with historic charm and spacious, tree-lined lots. “It’s the kind of town where it’s easy access to the city, but it’s also easy to be surrounded by nature with a sense of privacy,” says Lillian Lin, a Realtor with Rouse and Co Real Estate who has over 9 years of experience. With a population of about 4,000, Clinton is mostly residential, and while there are a handful of local businesses throughout, most of the town is picturesque countryside. Taconic State Parkway provides a direct route to NYC, and Lin says the town’s popular for a weekend retreat from the city’s urban hustle. “It’s great if you’re looking for privacy and relaxation,” Lin says. The overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
Friends Park is a small community park that hosts the annual Easter Egg hunt and is popular for dog walkers in Clinton Town.
Clinton Town is situated just two hours from NYC, with the median home costing $367,000.
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Fish, swim and play in Clinton
The largest park in Clinton Town is the 39-acre Frances J. Mark Memorial Park, locally referred to as Fran Mark Park; the park offers picnic shelters with grills, a swimming pond and sports like soccer, sand volleyball and, in the winter, ice skating. At the 10-acre Friends Park, residents can shoot hoops on the basketball court or enjoy Taconic Little League games on the baseball field. Behind Clinton Town Hall, Wappinger Creek is stocked with brown trout and rainbow trout, and the 1-mile Clinton Nature Trail loops around a green meadow. For more sports and recreation, Lin recommends Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, a wellness retreat center that offers recreational and creative workshops, including everything from meditation and spirituality to dance and pickleball. “It’s a holistic study institute,” Lin says. “They have a huge swimming lake with sandy beaches and tons of basketball and tennis courts.”
Residents can find a great lake and beach for families and kids to enjoy at Fran Mark Park in Clinton Town.
Rhinecliff Landing is located right on the Hudson River and is a great spot to visit when living in Clinton Town.
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Colonial, ranch and farmhouse homes with acreage
Set along tree-lined streets without sidewalks, Clinton Town’s single-family homes are a mix of ranch, farmhouse and Colonial styles from the late 18th century through today. “There are a few suburban, cookie-cutter homes, but it’s largely a nice mixture of farms and historical homes with some acreage to them,” Lin says. Common features of these two- to six-bedroom homes include covered patios or porches, attached or detached garages and the occasional balcony or deck. Their layouts typically range from 1,200 to 5,000 square feet, while wooded lots generally range from 1 to 10 acres; some properties include barns, stables or workshops. Prices range from $400,000 to $1.5 million, depending on a home’s size and features. The median home price here is about $700,000, compared to $790,000 in New York City.
In Clinton Town, buyers can find lovely ranch-style homes on large lots.
Most of the homes, which buyers can find in Clinton Town, have large acreage and are in the farmhouse style.
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Clinton Recreation clubs, classes and events
Clinton Recreation plans events throughout the year, many of which are held at Clinton Town Hall, including family movie nights and arts and crafts seminars. A handful of weekly clubs and classes are also held here for hobbies like mah-jongg, walking and yoga. Some events are set at local parks, like spring’s Community Yard Sale at Fran Mark Park and the Easter Egg Hunt at Friends Park; there’s also a summer concert series at different venues around town. For a week filled with sports, crafts and swimming, kids can sign up for the Clinton Rec Summer Camp at Fran Mark Park.
There is a great youth center that kids can enjoy and feel a part of the community in Clinton Town.
Listed on the NRHP, the Clinton Historical Society is housed in a building built in 1777.
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Farm-to-table groceries, brunch and wineries
Shopping and dining are limited, but there are a handful of small-business options in the area. For a grocery run, Golden Russet Cafe & Grocery is stocked with locally sourced produce, pantry essentials and a curated selection of wine, beer and cider; it’s also the spot for hot coffee and quick bites, like griddled banana bread. For breakfast, Jeanie Bean serves up custom omelets and chocolate chip pancakes, and for lunch there’s hot sandwiches and salads; there are also deli meats and cheeses for sale by the pound. Nearby, the Littlest Farmers Market at Hackett’s Farm Supply is a summer tradition where kids under 12 run their own farm stands. “Kids set up with jewelry, paintings, baked goods—there’s a well-known mushroom guy. They grill hot dogs and play music,” Lin says. “It started pretty small a few years ago, but they get a pretty decent turnout on Sundays.” For an afternoon out, Slow Fox Farm Brewery has a dozen local beers on tap, fresh veggies for sale and plenty of outdoor seating. “It’s really rustic,” Lin says. “They have food trucks or oyster and lobster tents. Everything’s outside with fire pits—very lowkey, very casual.” Thirteen miles away, Millbrook Vineyards & Winery regularly hosts food trucks, live music and events like art shows and sip-and-craft classes. “The events are nice during the summer,” Lin says. “There are outdoor bands, and there’s you, sitting outside, drinking wine and overlooking a pond. That’s pretty sweet.”
Hackett Farm Supply is Clinton Town’s summer hub for feed, farming, and farmers' markets.
Ruby Hill Farm specializes in humanely raised beef, chicken, pork, and fresh eggs, all raised on a non-GMO diet in Clinton Town.
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Rhinebeck Central District schools receive high marks from Niche
Clinton Town is part of the Rhinebeck Central School District, rated A-minus overall by Niche. Local kids may start at Chancellor Livingston Elementary, before moving on to Bulkeley Middle—both rated A-minus. At the A-rated Rhinebeck Senior High, teens can choose from over a dozen extracurriculars, including clubs like debate, creative writing and art.
Built in 1967, Chancellor Livingston Elementary serves over 380 students.
Rhinebeck Senior High is ranked #119 in New York high schools.
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Getting around from Clinton
The Taconic State Parkway runs through Clinton Town, leading 90 miles south to New York City. “You’re not really running into traffic unless there’s an accident,” Lin says. The town’s rural roads aren’t lined with sidewalks or bike lanes, and there isn’t any public transportation here. “You can zip in and out of the city, but you do need a car,” Lin says. Hudson Valley Regional Airport is 22 miles away, and New York Stewart International Airport is 48 miles away. MidHudson Regional Hospital is 13 miles away.
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