Middlefield offers lakeside living near Cooperstown
The rural town of Middlefield covers nearly 65 square miles in Leatherstocking Country, a storied region in upstate New York known for its connection to the novels of James Fenimore Cooper. State forests and Otsego Lake surround the town and offer plenty of outdoor activities. “Otsego Lake is a year-round tourism draw, and especially in the spring, summer and fall, we have boat rentals,” says Shelby MacLeish, assistant director of the Otsego County Conservation Association, which plays a central role in preserving Otsego County’s natural landmarks. “There are also three public beaches around Otsego that people can get to,” MacLeish says. Middlefield is home to around 2,000 people, most living along major roads like state Route 166 and commuting to Cooperstown for work and everyday necessities.
Otsego Lake and nearby state parks offer outdoor activities
Otsego Lake, the source of the Susquehanna River, is open for boating, fishing, swimming and hiking. “Glimmerglass State Park has one of the public beaches, and they have miles of trails,” MacLeish says. “We have a boat rental tour called the Glimmerglass Queen.” Glimmerglass takes its name from Cooper’s description of Otsego Lake in his 1820s “Leatherstocking Tales.” Year-round activities include camping, ice fishing and snowmobiling, and the historic Hyde Hall mansion within the park hosts ghost tours and winter holiday festivities.
The town also borders Cooperstown Dreams Park, where 22 baseball fields host competitions between Little League teams from across the country. Roseboom State Forest preserves 600 acres of woodlands for camping, cross-country skiing and hunting. The two ponds at Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park are popular for catch-and-release fishing and cabin rentals.
Homes may sit in a historic hamlet or along rural roads
Middlefield’s residents may live in the small hamlet of the same name or along winding, rural streets that offer sweeping views of the Catskills and their foothills. Homes smaller than 2,000 square feet sell for $270,000 to $450,000, while larger properties go for $420,000 to $780,000. The Middlefield Hamlet Historic District puts 19th-century properties along narrow roads with no sidewalks, while homes along rural roads tend to feature larger lot sizes. Middlefield has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Breweries and a farm store sell local products
In Middlefield’s southwest corner, Brewery Ommegang produces Belgian-style beers, while neighboring Northway Brewing Hop House specializes in German brews. The Red Shed Brewery and Taproom, at the town’s northern edge, serves English and American-style ales and pub fare with the occasional live music accompaniment. The Farm Store at Lentsville Farm supplies shoppers with dairy, maple and meat products year-round, while Cooperstown has a Price Chopper and other supermarket options.
Students may attend Cooperstown or Cherry Valley schools
Students who live along Otsego Lake can attend the Cooperstown Central School District, which receives a B-minus rating from Niche. Those who live farther east can attend C-rated Cherry Valley-Springfield Junior-Senior High School from kindergarten through 12th grade. Cherry Valley-Springfield offers a Brilliant Pathways program to connect students with college and career opportunities. The C-plus-rated Cooperstown Junior-Senior High School offers smaller classroom sizes and strong athletics, including basketball, and track and field.
About 25 miles to Oneonta and 60 to Albany
The hamlet of Middletown is less than 7 miles east of Cooperstown and its Bassett Medical Center. Oneonta is a 25-miles drive southwest, while Albany and the surrounding the Capital District are around 60 miles to the east.
![Jacob Adelhoch]()
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
