Outdoor recreation and a relaxed atmosphere in Kent
In northern Putnam County, Kent is full of forests and dotted with lakes and reservoirs. “It’s just one of those towns that’s really laid back and people are kind of chill and friendly, and you don’t get that in New York too often,” says Robert Leonard, a Realtor at William Raveis Real Estate & Home Services who has sold homes here for 10 years and has lived nearby his whole life. “They want a little space, and you can find that in Kent.” Leonard says there’s a mix of year-round residents and snowbirds here. People are drawn to Kent’s slow pace and proximity to nature; it’s so different from Manhattan, and yet it’s only about an hour and a half away by car. “I think it’s affordable living, I think it’s quality of life. People really want to enjoy themselves there,” Leonard says. “You see a lot of Subarus, you see a lot of bicycles on roofs, a lot of canoes, you see a lot of fishing poles in that area. … It’s more of a get-away-from-it-all kind of place.”
Hiking, hunting and lakeside activities in state parks, Sedgewood Club
Kent is covered in a patchwork of protected forests. Fahnestock State Park alone sprawls across over 15,000 acres, only partially within Kent. California Hill State Forest and Wonder Lake State Park, just two more of its many parks, cover a combined 2,115 acres. “There’s a lot of fishing, a lot of hiking,” Leonard says, adding that while Kent’s many smaller lakes don’t allow motorboats, that doesn’t keep residents from enjoying them. “There’s a lot of lake activities going on where people are paddleboarding, people are canoeing and kayaking.” Canopus Lake has a beach with lifeguards during the warm months — though it’s not the only lake residents use on hot days. The parks also offer camping and seasonal hunting. During winter, residents bundle up to go ice fishing and snowmobiling. Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park has a playground, athletic spaces and another small lake with a beach. Sedgewood Club has a private nine-hole golf course, a private beach, two tennis courts and a boathouse.
A mix of suburban houses, homes with acreage and waterfront properties
Kent’s ranch-style homes, hi-ranches and Cape Cods often sit along winding, hilly roads. Most have at least an acre, though houses around Lake Carmel have smaller suburban lots. “And they’re all older, so a lot of them need work,” Leonard says of homes throughout Kent. “A lot of them are dated when you go into them. They have the older kitchens and they have the half barn door where the tops open.” Because they have less land, inland houses around Lake Carmel typically cost between $230,000 and $620,000. Throughout the rest of Kent, inland houses range from $350,000 to $700,000, though a handful climb to about $980,000. Lakefront homes cost between $610,000 and $1.2 million.
Celebrating Kent Community Day
The annual Kent Community Day, typically held in September, features local vendors, food trucks, a bounce house and live music.
A smattering of local restaurants and markets, driving to Pawling
McCarthy’s Grill House is an Irish pub with a cozy atmosphere and La Famiglia Bar & Grill sometimes has live music. Boyd’s Corner Store is a staple at Kent’s heart; its deli offers quick meals, plus essentials like milk and eggs. Kent Lakes Farm Market has fresh produce, but residents leave Kent for most groceries. Kobacker’s Market, which is 13 miles away in Brewster, is a popular choice. “People make the trip because it’s got that outdoor farmers feel,” Leonard says. “You’ve got a lot of produce, you’ve got a lot of fresh fish.” Alternatively, there’s a ShopRite 5 miles away in Carmel and Pawling has more options about 12 miles away.
Creating state-wide curriculum at Carmel High
Kent is served by the Carmel Central School District, which Niche gives a B-plus. Children begin at Kent Elementary School and George Fischer Middle School, which both have B ratings. Carmel High School has an A-minus, and a social studies teacher there helped create a new state-wide Holocaust curriculum in 2025.
Country roads, I-84 and Chuang Yen Monastery
Most of Kent is made up of country roads. “It’s just a very scenic ride. Lots of trees, lots of tight roads, farms,” Leonard says. “Kind of mountainous and just up and down, you never know what you’re going to come across when you come around the corner.” State Route 52 connects Kent to nearby communities like Carmel, while Interstate 84 brings residents farther afield. Chuang Yen Monastery is a Buddhist facility that draws visitors to Kent. Putnam Hospital is 9 miles away, while Newark International Airport is about 8 miles away.
Creating a plan to remediate arsenic contamination at Superfund site
An arsenic mine operated here from the mid-1800s to 1918. Now a Superfund site, tests by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2017 and 2018 found levels of arsenic at the mine entrance are 1,600 times the EPA screening level. Due to contamination in residential areas, the EPA announced a plan in 2020 to buy and demolish 10 nearby homes to better investigate the extent of the contamination.
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Christina Norwood
