Quiet streets close to downtown Albany
Loudonville is one of the most sought-after communities in the Albany metro area, with tree-lined boulevards and suburban charm 5 miles from downtown. This community of over 10,000 residents is one of the many hamlets in the Town of Colonie. "Loudonville is conveniently located a few minutes from Downtown Albany and a few minutes from all the major highways," says Brian Brosen, an associate broker and leader of the Capital Team. "In the last few years, they've expanded shopping and retail in the area, and it's really grown."
In the late 19th century, Loudonville served as a summer resort for Albany's elite, offering fresh air, open space and tranquility beyond the city's limits. Most of the area’s historic homes line Loudon Road and are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, while stately 20th- and 21st-century estates line Old Niskayuna Road. "Loudonville offers more historic charm than surrounding Albany suburbs," says Samantha Culihan, a local Realtor with Coldwell Banker Prime Properties. "There's a section called ‘Old Loudonville’ with historic estates, and that is where all the old-money families live." Today, the hamlet boasts highly-rated schools, diverse homes and nearby amenities, attracting city commuters who work in healthcare, education and the government.
Historic estates and modern homes
Suburban residential streets with mature foliage and roomy lots comprise Loudonville's landscape. While Loudonville stands out with its historic estates, surrounding streets give way to modest, medium and large single-family homes. The hamlet's development and growth over the years is apparent through its mix of planned 20th- and 21st-century subdivisions. "In the older parts of town, you'll have mid-century ranch-style homes and split-levels, which are always popular, and some new, large homes from the late 1990s and early 2000s," Brosen says. These properties can range from the upper-$200,000s to the low-$500,000s, while large Colonial Revivals can range from the mid-$400,000s to $800,000. Modern 21st-century homes are priced from the upper-$600,000s to the mid-$800,000s, while spacious custom-built estates come with price tags well over $1.5 million. The median list price hovers around the low-$400,000s, slightly below the national average.
Snowy winters
The greater Capital Region experiences all four seasons. Summers are often hot and humid, while cold winters bring average annual snowfalls of around 60 inches. Loudonville sits slightly higher than surrounding communities; however, nearby neighborhoods like West Albany endure occasional flooding due to surrounding creeks and insufficient infrastructure.
North and South Colonie schools
The North Colonie Central School District earns an overall A rating from Niche and serves most of the community. The district includes eight elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. A small section of Loudonville is zoned to the South Colonie Central School District, which scores a B-plus from Niche and includes five elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school.
Siena College sits just outside Loudonville proper. This private Franciscan liberal arts college offers 40 majors with small class sizes. Other nearby institutions around Downtown Albany include the State University of New York at Albany, the University at Albany and the Albany College of Pharmacy. The greater Capital Region is home to additional institutions, including Union College, Skidmore College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Statewide trails and parks along the Hudson
Two esteemed private country clubs, Schuyler Meadows Club and Wolferts Roost Country Club, sit along Loudon Road. Both are members-only clubs with golf courses, tennis courts and additional amenities. The hamlet also borders the town's largest green space, The Crossings Park of Colonie. "Wherever you are in Loudonville, you're 5 to 10 minutes from Crossings Park," Brosen says. “It's got a pond, community room space, several playgrounds and wide-open fields." Additional amenities include walking trails that weave through the 130-acre property, a small maze for kids and a recreation center with an indoor pool, fitness center and sports courts.
The Crossings also serves as a community gathering place. From May to October, the grounds host a seasonal Saturday morning farmers market and a summer concert series called "Concerts at the Crossings." Albany boasts additional entertainment, concerts and festivals, such as Washington Park's Tulip Festival.
Small green spaces are scattered around town, such as Little Memorial Park, where trails weave around Littles Lake. Three miles east, Schuyler Flatts Cultural Park features a paved path that connects to the Empire State Trail, a 750-mile-long trail that leads south to New York City, north to the Canadian border and west to Buffalo.
Tucked between the Catskills and the Adirondacks, the Capital Region boasts year-round recreation and scenic landscapes. "We're so close to the mountains," Culihan says. "You can drive 30 minutes in any direction to admire the fall foliage, hike or hit the ski slopes." Lake George is another popular destination for summer getaways, about 50 miles north.
Amenities along Wolf Road
Kimberly Square is Loudonville's only shopping center with a grocery store, a gym and several small eateries and beauty salons. However, the community borders Wolf Road, the town's main commercial corridor with dozens of big-box stores, chain grocers and restaurants, along with U.S. Route 9. "One of the biggest draws to the area is its proximity to amenities," says Jessica Baxter, a Capital Region native and licensed real estate salesperson with the Core Real Estate Team. "There's Target, Whole Foods Market, Fresh Market and Trader Joe's. It's like a grocery store mecca."
Fast-food chains and locally owned restaurants include both casual and fine-dining establishments. Global cuisines range from Indian and Thai to Italian and American. Crossgates Mall is the metro area's largest indoor shopping mall, about 8 miles away.
5 miles to Downtown Albany
The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) offers public transit around the metro area. Bus routes run along all major thoroughfares, including U.S. Route 9, Albany Shaker Road and Sand Creek Road. City commuters have about a 5-mile drive to Downtown Albany via Route 9. "You can get downtown in 10 to 15 minutes," Brosen says, including a trip to Albany International Airport, about 5 miles west. Major local highways include Interstate 90, 87 and 787. Samaritan Hospital - Albany Memorial Campus is about 2 miles away, while additional medical facilities are scattered around the city.
Colonie's crime rates
According to the Colonie Police Department's 2023 Annual Report, violent crimes increased by nearly 14% between 2022 and 2023, while property crimes increased by 7%, following a three-year trend of rising rates. Violent crime rates historically trend lower than the national average, while in recent years, property crimes have trended higher than the national average.
Photography Contributed By
Brandon Schulman
Video By
Hunter Severtson
