Lowville is a small community where people look out for one another
Set among rolling hills with grazing cows and fields of corn in New York's North Country is the easygoing, small town of Lowville. "It's more of a step back; it's not as high-paced as the rest of the world seems to be right now," says Amanda Mattimore, broker at Northern Beginnings Realty, who grew up in Lowville. Although rural, Lowville has industry that keeps it afloat. Beyond agriculture, the Kraft Heinz plant in the village is a major employer, and the nearby U.S. Army installation, Fort Drum, brings newcomers to the area. Brenda Malone, broker/owner of Homes Realty of Northern New York in Lowville, often works with military personnel who move to the area. "Many say they've lived all over the world, and have never lived in any place like this," she says, highlighting how the community looks out for one another. "When I lost my house in a fire, the community outreach was just unbelievable to me. ... And I've gotten to be on the giving side, too," she says. "I know of two benefits that just happened for local people that have sicknesses. I feel like our community is really sensitive to that and takes action."
Buying options in the village or on private acres
Homebuyers have a wide range of options in Lowville, from farmhouses and Colonial Revivals built throughout the 1800s and early 1900s to New Traditional and ranch-style homes built in the late 20th and 21st centuries. Property sizes also vary greatly: "You can be in the village and have neighbors right on top of each other or go outside the village and have half an acre up to a hundred acres," Mattimore says. House prices typically range between $120,000 and $400,000. Lowville's CAP Index Crime Score is a 2, below the national average of 4.
Businesses downtown and a Kraft Heinz plant
Several restaurants and businesses line Lowville's State Street. St. Drogo's Coffee & Bake House opened in 2025 in the circa-1864 Lewis County Jail Building, which had previously sat vacant. Other casual spots include The Bateman Draft House and Tony Harper's Pizza & Clam Shack. Downtown also has several churches, a post office and a Dollar General. Kraft Heinz has a major cream cheese manufacturing facility that employs about 600 people just outside the downtown area. Major retailers like Walmart, TOPS Friendly Markets and Marshalls are just across from the facility as well. The town continues to work on more improvement projects through its $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Plans include repurposing vacant and historic buildings on State Street into apartments and commercial spaces, improving safety features like crosswalks downtown and updating amenities in Veterans Park.
Heavy snowfall throughout the cooler months
Lowville receives an average of 166 inches of snowfall annually. Due to its proximity to Lake Ontario, this region receives lake effect snow – heavy snowfall from large clouds that form when cold air moves across the relatively warm lake water. Malone says the town does a good job of salting and clearing roads during winter weather events. "We could get 6 inches and not blink an eye; the schools are still open," she says, emphasizing that locals are used to getting around in the snow. "The only time the weather can affect us is during whiteout conditions ... that can cause havoc."
Miles of trails suitable for winter activities
Expanses of state-owned land surrounding Lowville, such as the Grant Powell Memorial State Forest and Lesser Wilderness State Forest, allow for activities like cross-country skiing, hiking, snowmobiling and hunting across thousands of acres. "We have a tremendous trail system. We get a lot of out-of-towners that come here and snowmobile almost every weekend," Malone says. The Tug Hill State Forest, on the Tug Plateau, is a particularly popular spot covering over 12,000 acres of forest intersected with trails and offering views of natural features like Tug Hill Canyon and Rainbow Falls. Snow Ridge Ski Resort has over 30 ski trails about 12 miles south. For more recreation, the Forest Pavilion at the Lewis County fairgrounds in Lowville has a public ice skating rink and a playground.
The Cream Cheese Festival draws crowds – and a world record
Each year in September, the town celebrates its industry with the Cream Cheese Festival. Thousands of people descend on the village to participate in cream cheese cooking contests, listen to live music and check out street vendors. But the cornerstone of the festival is Philadelphia Cream Cheese's massive cheesecake. Crowds gather for the reveal of the oversized dessert, and in 2024, the cheesecake topped off at over 15,000 pounds, earning it the Guinness World Record for the largest. "They serve it to all the people who are there. The line gets ridiculously long," Malone says.
Lowville's students attend pre-K through 12th grade under one roof
The Lowville Central School District serves pre-K through 12th grade in one building. Lowville Elementary and Lowville Middle both earn B-plus ratings from Niche, while Lowville High earns a B. The high school offers extracurricular activities including Ski Club, Spanish Club, Business Club and Earth Club. The Lewis County Jefferson Community College Education Center opened in 2019 and offers continuing education and workforce development courses off E Road.
Drive or take public transit to Fort Drum and other local destinations
From Lowville, state Route 26 takes drivers 25 miles northwest to Fort Drum. "We actually have a lot of military members that retire and stay in the area," Mattimore says. "They like what the area offers." Lewis County Public Transportation also offers routes from Lowville to destinations including Fort Drum, Old Forge, Utica and the Watertown International Airport, which is about 30 miles northwest. Lewis County General Hospital has an emergency room in Lowville off state Route 26.
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Written By
Faith Wakefield
