Living alongside nature in Grafton
Heavily forested and speckled with lakes, nature doesn’t just surround the rural town of Grafton — it threads through it, and that’s exactly how residents like it. “People who move there like the outdoor lifestyle and definitely beautiful scenic views. And it’s not very crowded,” says Nicole Wilkie, an associate real estate broker on the Red Dog Team at Howard Hanna Real Estate Services who has lived in the area her entire life and has sold homes here for over 8 years. “People like it for more privacy or peace to get away from the city.” Grafton has just one post office, one library and three churches. Wilkie says this size means residents really get to know and connect with their neighbors, and town events are run by local volunteers.
Swimming, kayaking and hiking in Grafton’s forested parks
Grafton Lakes State Park’s nearly 2,500 acres of forest are dotted with six ponds, the biggest of which is Long Pond. “That’s where there’s a town beach, so local residents go there to feel like they’re at the beach,” Wilkie says, adding that people often picnic at the park’s pavilions. Fishing is popular, and people set out in kayaks or canoes; Long Pond allows boats with electric motors. About 25 miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding thread around and between the ponds. “There’s educational programs with the Grafton state park,” Wilkie says. “They talk about the bats and they do night walks on the trail where you can learn about the stars.” Its welcome center houses a few native species, including turtles. During winter, people flock to the park for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing and ice skating.
Dyken Pond Environmental Center also offers miles of hiking trails. Hunting is another major activity here during the right seasons. The Grafton Peace Pagoda, a Japanese Buddhist temple where people of all faiths are encouraged to pray for world peace, is also surrounded by the town’s forests.
Houses with acreage or large, empty lots with room to build a new home
Grafton’s wooded country roads and long gravel drives are dotted with colonials and ranch-style houses. A few homes tucked among the loose cluster of buildings at Grafton’s center sit on just under an acre, but most houses have at least 2 acres of wooded land. Fixer-uppers start as low as $210,000 and houses usually max out at around $560,000. Wilkie says homes don’t hit the market often and usually sell quickly. Land frequently goes up for sale, though. “So if somebody is looking to build a house, they can get 30 acres of land and build a house or do a tiny home or a cabin,” Wilkie says. “A lot of people are looking to have just a few-hour commute and get away on the weekends.”
A winter festival and regular events at Grafton Lake State Park
Grafton’s biggest annual event is the Grafton Lakes Winter Festival. “It’s outdoor activities, like snowshoeing, and I remember my kids liked the horsedrawn wagon rides — that was a lot of fun,” Wilkie says. “And then there’s always a polar plunge where you go into the water when it’s cold. It’s funny to watch that.” There’s snow bowling, free snowmobile rides and a snowball toss, plenty of hot food and drinks and indoor exhibits in the warm welcome center. The park also hosts smaller events throughout the year, like bat walks or hiking challenges.
Essentials at Grafton’s Town Store, driving 20 minutes for groceries
In Grafton’s spread-out town center along state Route 2, Grafton Town Store has a few essentials and quick meal options like pizza and sandwiches. For most groceries and essentials, residents drive to Hoosick Falls or Troy, both about 15 miles away. Wilkie says the 20-minute drive is worth it for residents who love Grafton’s quiet forests.
Unique extracurriculars at Berlin High
The Berlin Central School District gets a C from Niche. Children attend Berlin Elementary School, which has a C-plus, from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Berlin Middle School and Berlin High School are in the same building and share a Niche listing, earning a C, but the district considers them separate schools. The high school offers extracurricular activities like drama, mountaineering and clay target trap clubs. The clay target trap club welcomes boys and girls starting in eighth grade and involves an optional yearly competition; fundraisers cover all costs involved in the club, from ammunition to group t-shirts.
Taking Route 2 to Troy for its hospital, Albany about 21 miles away
Although most of this car-dependent community is laced with winding country roads, Route 2 runs through its heart. The major thoroughfare connects it to other towns and leads west to Troy’s downtown, which offers amenities like Samaritan Hospital’s St. Mary’s Campus. Albany also offers hospitals and the Albany International Airport about 21 miles away.
Repairs needed to Martin Dunham Dam, risk of failure and flooding
The state deemed the Martin Dunham Dam “unsound,” revealing a risk of failure and flooding. Grafton residents are petitioning for a $20 million plan to repair the dam and save its reservoir. Levels in the reservoir have been lowered to reduce the risk of failure, but doing so has cut off water supply to a local fire hydrant.
Written By
Christina Norwood