Easton has farmland and country living under an hour from Albany
In Easton, farmland is more than just pretty scenery stretching on either side of long country roads. It’s the hallmark of the rural community’s way of life, and the reason many people settle here. “Most homes do have at least a couple of acres with them, so it really does offer them a little bit more privacy that some buyers are looking for,” says Abbey McCormick, an associate real estate broker with the McCormick Team at KW Platform who grew up in nearby Greenwich and has been selling homes here for 15 years. “We have seen quite a few buyers over the past decade that they don’t necessarily need 100 acres, but having maybe 10 to 30 acres would be a huge benefit and plus for them, where they can do a little bit of farming but on a smaller scale.” Dairy farming is particularly big here.
For those who don’t own farms but still want a rural lifestyle, Easton is about 28 miles from Albany — a 40-minute commute. According to Penny Spiezio, the broker and owner of PennyDot Realty who has lived in the area for over 55 years and has sold homes here for 19 years, GlobalFoundries is a major local employer located only about 15 miles away.
Boating on the Hudson River, skiing on Willard Mountain
Spiezio says that residents go boating on the Hudson River on Easton’s western side. The Stillwater Rod & Gun Club is a shooting range with a campground along the river for its members. During winter, Willard Mountain draws people from surrounding communities for a wide range of activities. “It’s a smaller mountain, but it offers a great ski school, so many people learn how to ski at Willard,” McCormick says, adding that people also head to the mountain for snowboarding and tubing.
Single-family houses with potential for acreage and farmland
Colonials have been Easton’s go-to home style for centuries; some date to the 1800s. “The area is full of historical homes,” Spiezio says. “And they do a great job of restoring homes in our area.” Other home styles have popped up in recent decades, including ranch-style houses and Cape Cods. Fixer-uppers typically start at about $150,000. There are a few riverfront homes, but many houses have extensive acreage or even farmland. Because of the potential for land, some homes and properties sell for nearly $900,000. “Typically, if there’s additional acreage with the home, if it’s a wooded acre, that will go for around $2,000 to $2,500 per acre,” McCormick says. “But if it’s open, tillable land, it’ll go for $5,500 to $6,000 per acre. The farmland is extremely important to Easton; it does have a pretty high value to it.”
Agricultural education at Greenwich schools
Easton is part of the Greenwich Central School District, which Niche gives a B. Every student passes through the district’s two schools. Greenwich Elementary School has a B-minus and Greenwich Junior/Senior High School has a B. The high school’s agricultural program teaches courses on veterinary science, agricultural science, agricultural engineering and more. Students can earn a Future Farmers of America Empire Degree through the program.
Country roads, Route 40 and nearby hospital
Most of Easton’s streets are narrow country roads and amenities are spread out, making it incredibly car-dependent. Its biggest road, State Route 40, is a two-lane road that connects Easton to neighboring communities like Greenwich, which is a frequent stop for residents; Greenwich is home to Greenwich Medical Center, which offers primary medical care close to home. It’s a 21-mile drive to Saratoga Hospital.
The Washington County Fair and annual bike race
Every August, McCormick says the Washington County Fair people flood Easton’s fairgrounds to listen to live music, enjoy carnival rides and food and watch livestock shows. The grandstand is always packed for rodeos, tractor pulls and a demolition derby. “A big bike race goes through Easton, the Tour of the Battenkill,” Spiezio says. The race, which is for both amateurs and professionals, has courses ranging from 23 miles to 63 miles and finishes in nearby Cambridge, where there’s live music and food trucks.
Family-owned businesses and farm stands along Route 40
Easton is almost entirely rural, but Route 40 is home to Easton Library and a few restaurants. Casa Reyes is the go-to for burritos, and Victory View Vineyard is a family-owned, dog-friendly winery that hosts frequent events. Many of Easton’s farms have stands selling vegetables, fruit and other fresh products. One of the most recognizable is Tiashoke, which McCormick says is a fourth-generation family farm whose store sells meat, cheese and antiques, plus pumpkins in the fall. “They’ll hold events from time to time, and they might have a food truck there or they might have some live music there,” she says. “They’ve held a Mother’s Day event where they’ll also have a photographer there for family photos.” For other groceries, residents drive about 8 miles to Hannaford in Greenwich.
Rare, mild flooding events on farms
Hurricanes occasionally pass over Easton. In the past, these storms have led to some flooding and revenue loss on local farms.
Written By
Christina Norwood
