Outdoor lovers find respite in Croydon
Life in Croydon is, in a word, secluded. The Sullivan County town, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Upper Valley, is home to about 800 people who enjoy outdoor activities like hunting and hiking. “Loon Lake is the biggest draw,” says Ross Doody, a Realtor at Century 21 Highview Realty who grew up in the area. The lake is one of a few bodies of water that dot the town, drawing vacationers looking for a summer retreat. “Croydon borders Interstate 89, so you have easy access north to the rest of the Upper Valley and south to Concord and Manchester , which is our state capital,” says Doody, who adds that the town’s proximity to Claremont is another benefit. “Claremont has a lot of business and jobs. It’s got a hospital and community college that employs a lot of people and a ton of manufacturing jobs.”
A large portion of the community is a private, fenced-off property that locals coined Corbin Park. Officially named the Blue Mountain Forest Association, the exclusive property operated by a nonprofit that is also known as “The Millionaires’ Hunt Club,” is stocked with wild boar, elk and deer. The property was built more than a century ago by Austin Corbin, a banking and railroad tycoon. Much of what happens beyond the park gates today is shrouded in mystery.
Single-family homes hidden in the woods north of Newport
Thick swaths of trees hug the single-family homes here, which are often set far back from narrow and winding roads that branch off state Route 10. Driveways, typically made of dirt and gravel, lead to these Cape Cods, cabins, ranch-style homes and custom builds on lots that often exceed an acre. Waterfront living is available on Rockybound Pond and various roads that parallel the Sugar River. The median price for a single-family home is around $395,000, below the national median, and prices range from $330,000 to $655,000. Wildfires are possible; a sign in front of Croydon Volunteer Fire and Rescue shares the daily fire risk.
Year-round recreation from Loon Lake to Mount Sunapee
When Croydon residents aren’t exploring their own properties, the Upper Valley offers an array of outdoor activities. Pat Sawyer Memorial Park has a multipurpose field and a basketball court. More athletic facilities are nearby at Grantham Recreational Park, which also features a playground. While Lake Sunapee is the summertime destination for water sports, Mount Sunapee Resort is the winter hotspot for skiing and snowboarding. The 18-hole course at Eastman Golf Links is open to the public. The area’s many protected forests and conservation areas offer hiking, birdwatching and hunting. Seasonal sites can be booked at Loon Lake Campground, which features a 100-acre lake for kayaking and swimming. For over 100 years, YMCA Camp Coniston has been a home away from home for hundreds of boys and girls on its 1,200-acre property anchored by Lake Coniston.
Residents drive up to 20 miles to shop and dine in nearby towns
The town’s sole market, Coniston's General Store, permanently closed in 2024 after nearly 20 years in business. Today, residents head to nearby towns and cities to shop and dine. “Croydon is 15 minutes from Newport, which is a great little town and the county seat,” Doody says. Newport offers boutique shopping along Main Street, where local restaurants range from the casual Salt Hill Pub to The Old Courthouse, an elevated date night spot. Shaw’s is one of the closest options for groceries, roughly 8 miles from Croydon. National retailers are about 15 miles away along Washington Street in Claremont . A more diverse selection of familiar brands is about 20 miles away in Lebanon.
The Croydon School District offers school choice
The Croydon School District, which Niche does not yet rate, serves about 25 students from kindergarten through fourth grade at the Croydon Village School. The historic school, dating to 1780, is not yet rated by Niche. Per the district’s School Choice program, students can move on to a partner school, and the district will pay tuition up to a cap, which is set at $17,500 for the 2025-2026 school year. Starting in the fall of 2026, a new agreement with the B-rated Kearsarge Regional School District will guarantee Croydon students admission to the B-plus-rated Kearsarge Regional Elementary in New London and Kearsarge Regional Middle and High Schools in Sutton , which both earn B ratings. The high school offers 20 clubs, including Project C.L.I.M.B., which has helped students experience the great outdoors through backpacking, climbing and canoeing trips for the last 30 years.
Interstate 89 is nearby for commutes to Lebanon and Concord
Without access to public transportation, a private vehicle is needed to get around Croydon. State Route 10 is the main road through town and connects commuters to Interstate 89, which heads northwest to Lebanon and southeast to Concord . Daily flights to Boston and White Plains take off from Lebanon Municipal Airport. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, less than 70 miles away, offers a larger selection of destinations. Valley Regional Hospital and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center are two full-service hospitals nearby.
