Generational ties and rural charm define Hoosick
Third-generation farmers work Hoosick’s land, over half of which is used for agriculture. Agribusiness not only backs the economy but also contributes to the scenic landscape, which has inspired artists like Grandma Moses, a resident and folk painter who portrayed the beautiful simplicity of countryside life. Here along the New York-Vermont border, mountains rise and fall in the distance, blankets of snow silhouette barns and silos in the winter and leaves blaze red and orange in the autumn. The 63-square-mile Rensselaer County town includes the Village of Hoosick Falls, a central hub with most of the area’s shopping and dining, as well as the rural communities of Buskirk, Eagle Bridge, North Hoosick, Potter Hill, Walloomsac and West Hoosick. Hoosick’s slow pace of life and small-town, close-knit atmosphere draw residents. “I’ve sold homes to generations of families. It’s a place where people don’t want to leave,” says resident Rick Tinkham, a broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Blake, Realtors. “If they do, they end up coming back.”
Most homes sit on multi-acre lots with long driveways and scenic views
In picturesque Hoosick, homes dot rolling hills, where wildflowers and untrimmed trees grow along two-lane, winding roads. Multi-acre properties are common. Long driveways cut through fields and farmland, leading to Colonial Revivals, farmhouses and ranch-style homes. Depending on size, age and condition, prices can range from $130,000 to $430,000. “Even though prices have been increasing steadily since 2023, homes are affordable,” Tinkham says. “It’s one of the best values for the dollar anywhere in the area.”
Hoosick has hiking trails, historic sites and community events
The over 800-acre Tibbitts State Forest is in Hoosick. New York state Route 7 divides the sprawling woodlands used for timber production, ecological protection and recreation. Visitors can hike miles of trails, camp, fish, hunt and observe wildlife. On the other side of the community, Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site preserves the memory of a Revolutionary War battle with interpretive signs, an information building and seasonal guided tours. The area’s recreational facilities are within Hoosick Falls. An outdoor pool, tennis courts, baseball and softball diamonds, a playground and a walking trail sit beside the Reynolds/Gilchrest Multi-Purpose Building, which has an ice rink and holds events, like a kids’ summer camp. Hoosick Falls’s Wood Park hosts most community gatherings, like a summer concert series and holiday tree lighting ceremony. The Hoosic River Greenway also runs for over 2 miles in Hoosick Falls. The wooded path follows a defunct rail bed on the Hoosic River’s east bank.
Shopping and dining in Hoosick Falls
Central Hoosick Falls hosts businesses within restored 20th-century buildings. The village has a Hannaford grocery store, a Dollar General, a Walgreens Pharmacy and local restaurants. Iron Coffee Company is a go-to in the morning for breakfast sandwiches and lattes, while Bistro 42 serves authentic French cuisine on the banks of the river. Nearby Fall’s Diner Restaurant has a wide range of menu items, featuring everything from hamburgers and BLTs to broiled scallops and chicken teriyaki. Farmers markets and farm stands throughout the area sell fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat produced in and around the community.
Hoosick Falls Central School District serves the community
Students are zoned for the Hoosick Falls Central School District. Hoosick Falls Elementary gets a C from Niche, Hoosick Falls Middle is not graded and Hoosick Falls High gets a C-plus. The high school offers alternative programs, like Agriculture and Mathematics, where students can receive a New York State Regents Diploma or an equivalent.
Hoosick offers easy access to Albany and Bennington
New York state routes 7, 22 and 67 run through Hoosick. The Rensselaer County Bus Service runs a weekday bus that stops in Hoosick Falls and along Route 7. It travels from Albany, about 30 miles away, to Bennington, Vermont, about 10 miles away. “Hoosick has turned into more of a bedroom community in the last 25 or 30 years,” Tinkham says. “You can get to most of the major destinations in the area within an hour.” Albany International Airport is about 35 miles away. Southwestern Vermont Medical Center is about 10 miles east, and Samaritan Hospital is about 25 miles west in Troy.
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Adreanna DeMarino
