Rustic hilltown living comes with beautiful views in Montgomery
The town of Montgomery is made for country living. But while this community, set about 20 miles north of the Massachusetts-Connecticut border, is surrounded by the mountains and waterways of the Berkshires, it is not far from modern conveniences. “You’re a mere 15-, 20-minute drive from shopping centers and hospitals, yet you’re up on a little mountain, so you’ve got the privacy of nature surrounding you,” says longtime local Kim Landry, a Realtor with Real Broker. “There’s a lot less light pollution; the stars are amazing up there…. And watching thunderstorms roll in is breathtaking when you’re living on a mountain like that.”
Surrounded by places to bike, hike, hunt, fish and otherwise enjoy nature
Tekoa Mountain is on the community’s south side, offering hikers views of rolling green mountains. The Tekoa Mountain Wildlife Management Area stretches along the west side, offering a popular, but challenging, terrain for local hunters. The winding, 35-mile section of U.S. Route 20 is known as the gateway to the Berkshires and the country’s first mountain road for automobiles. The Westfield River is popular for kayaking, canoeing and fishing.
A variety of single-family homes on spacious lots for under $700,000
The median cost of homes in Montgomery is just over $400,000. Houses don’t come up for sale often, but when they do, listings typically run from the high $200,000s to the mid $600,000s. The housing stock features a range of property styles, from vintage 1940s cottages and 1960s ranch-style homes to Cape Cods, contemporary cottages and log hunting lodges.
It snows an average of 40 inches annually in Montgomery, making roof inspections and other winter preparations essential. “We expect snowstorms every year,” Landry says. “The other issue is wildlife – deer. Those deer just like to run out in front of your vehicle... It’s part of hill town living.”
Remote as Montgomery may be, local schools are within a 5-mile drive
Montgomery and the neighboring hill towns of Huntington, Russell, Blandford, Chester and Middlefield are served by the Gateway Regional School District, graded C-plus on Niche. Fewer than 1,000 students are enrolled within the district. Of the two elementary schools, C-plus-rated Littleview Elementary is closest. Gateway Regional School is right next to it. The school educates students from Grade 6 through 12. Middle and high schoolers attend classes in different wings of the building. Niche grades the middle school section with a C. The high school section is graded C-plus and features career programs for welding and early education.
The community’s sole restaurant and some nearby conveniences in Westfield
The only restaurant in Montgomery is Backwoods Breakfast and Barbecue, a casual spot serving classic American fare. Westfield has more dining options and the closest grocery stores: Stop & Shop, Big Y, Aldi and Walmart. Other necessities, like banks, pharmacies, doctors’ offices and the closest emergency room – located at Baystate Noble Hospital – are in the city as well, typically within a 15- to 20-minute drive from Montgomery.
Proximity to cities, airports and highways
There’s really only one throughway in Montgomery, and it’s Montgomery Road, which winds down the foothills into Pioneer Valley, where the closest city, Westfield, is under 10 miles away. The county seat, Springfield, is about 20 miles away, roughly a 30-minute drive via Interstate 90, accessible less than 10 miles south of Montgomery. The nearest major airport, Bradley International Airport, is just under 30 miles away in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
Written By
Micaela Willoughby
