Forestburgh offers a rural escape two hours from NYC
Forestburgh is a rural town tucked into the Catskill Mountains in Sullivan County, New York. The former lumber and quarrying center became a resort community in the late 1800s, when summer residents would hop a train from New York to escape into the woods. Though the railroad no longer operates, Forestburgh still draws people who love the outdoors, whether they live there part-time or year-round. Since the town is about two hours from Manhattan, it’s a bit too remote for daily commutes to the big city, but most people work in nearby towns like Monticello or Harris.
Home sale prices and how they compare to nearby towns
The median home sale price in Forestburgh is around $460,000, which is a little higher than the median for nearby Rock Hill and over $100,000 higher than Monticello’s median. Property taxes are also high by local and national standards. Some smaller homes sell from the upper $100,000s to the upper $200,000s, but large estates can cost over a million. Most places come with several acres, and some have direct access to the lakes and ponds that are scattered throughout the area. Properties tend to stay on the market for over 100 days, about twice the national average.
A seasonal destination with a year-round population
The town gets busier in summer, but plenty of people stay there year-round. “I would say it’s 50 percent year-round, 50 percent seasonal,” says Elizabeth Bernitt, a licensed associate real estate broker with Century 21 Geba Realty who’s been selling in the area for 22 years. Although some seasonal residents rent out their properties when they’re not staying there, the practice isn’t as common as in some nearby towns. “Forestburgh has a little more restriction on your Airbnbs,” says Bernitt. “They maxed out the number of permits they’ll do. You can’t be adjoining a property with another Airbnb. Like, if your neighbor’s doing Airbnb and you want to do it? Nope, not happening.”
Forestburgh General Store and nearby towns have the essentials
You’ll definitely need a car if you live in Forestburgh. State Route 42 connects to nearby Monticello, about 15 minutes away, and Port Jervis, a 25-minute drive. You’ll find restaurants and grocery stores in both. Closer to home, Forestburgh General Store sells sandwiches, coffee and locally grown produce. They also stock a small selection of sweaters, gifts and home goods.
Many residents work in health care, education and local government
Most full-time residents travel outside the community to find work. “They have work-from-home options, or they work toward Port Jervis, Monticello or Orange County,” Berkitt says. “The county is a large employer.” Other top industries include:
- Health care
- Education
- Social services
- Manufacturing
- Logistics and transportation
The Center for Discovery, a nonprofit medical care facility in nearby Harris, employs over 1,800 people. “A lot of people work there, because it’s a huge facility,” says Berkitt. “It’s medical, it’s housing, it’s all kinds of needs.” The commute to TCFD takes about 20 minutes.
Hiking, trout fishing and summer theater in the Catskills
Forestburgh is the home of Neversink Gorge, a popular trout fishing locale. There’s plenty of public access, but you might have to do some hiking over rough terrain to find the best spots. Lots of hikers come to the gorge without fishing poles just so they can enjoy the views of the waterfalls and the surrounding forest. The town’s recreation department operates a pool over by the town hall that’s free for Forestburgh residents, but it didn’t open for the 2025 season. Skiers have a 20-minute drive to the Holiday Mountain resort, which runs a day-camp for kids during the summer months.
The Forestburgh Playhouse has been open since 1947, making it New York’s oldest operating professional summer theater. In addition to its regular lineup, the venue offers:
- A lively tavern that hosts dinner cabarets and other live music events
- Art education programming at Forestburgh Playhouse Academy
- In the Works-In the Woods, an annual festival that spotlights emerging artists
Forestburgh has long winters and spotty cell service
In this part of New York, winters are long, cold and snowy. Storms can impact daily commutes, and unless you have a garage, you might spend a lot of time brushing snow off your car before work. Cell and internet service can be spotty, too. “Forestburgh has a little blank spot where there is no cell service,” says Bernitt, “and Spectrum isn’t there, so we do not have cable there."
Monticello Central School District serves Forestburgh students
Students can attend schools in the Monticello Central School District, which has a student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1. All three of the schools that serve the area are about 10 minutes away. Monticello High School offers strong visual and performing arts programs, and STEAM-minded kids can embark on four-year “Journeys” in their chosen disciplines.
