New Scotland's agricultural roots in Albany’s countryside
New Scotland is a rural community in the Capital Region of New York that's nicknamed the jewel of Albany County. Originally settled by Scottish immigrants in the 18th century, New Scotland comprises six hamlets and a village near the Helderberg Escarpment. In the 1830s, it was mainly an agricultural town that harvested apples, corn and wheat to support families in nearby Albany. Today, this bedroom community of over 9,000 still relishes its country setting while enjoying a short commute to the capital of New York. “My wife drives to work there all the time,” says Lucas Weston, a Realtor with KW Platform and a resident for over 40 years. “It’s a tight-knit community in a highly desirable area that has a lot to offer in the Capital Region.”
A wide range of housing options with some new construction
Houses tend to be bigger in New Scotland. The average home size is around 3,120 square feet, significantly higher than the national average of 1,925 square feet. Many Colonial and traditional homes predate the 1900s, while several split-levels and ranch-style properties were built after the 1950s. New construction is ongoing in parts of Voorheesville, Slingerlands and Feura Bush. “It offers a lot real estate-wise,” Weston says. “You can be in a high-end suburban neighborhood where homes range from $400,000 to $1.5 million, but then you can get on the outskirts where you can have a little more land to build on.” According to a Homes.com calculation, which uses a combination of estimate data, the average home value for New Scotland was around $436,000 in late 2025.
Six school districts between Voorheesville and Bethlehem
New Scotland is zoned for six school districts between Bethlehem and Greenville, with most students enrolled in the Voorheesville Central School District, which earns an A on Niche. Voorheesville Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade and earns an A-minus. A-rated Voorheesville Middle School has student clubs for art, music and esports and a library with a media center. Clayton A. Bouton High School recorded a 100% graduation rate in 2024 with over 90% proficiency in reading and mathematics, earning an A-minus.
A short drive to Albany and its international airport
Many state highways run through New Scotland, with New York State Route 85 providing a quick route to Albany around 14 miles east. The Capital District Transportation Authority has bus routes that run through New Scotland, New Salem and Voorheesville and provide connections between the capital city and John Boyd Thacher State Park. Albany Medical Center is open for 24 hours, and Albany International Airport has nonstop flights to 25 destinations nationwide.
Breweries and restaurants in Voorheesville
The largest cluster of retail and dining can be found in Voorheesville. “There’s great eateries over there,” Weston says. “It’s very popular and can sometimes be very difficult to get into.” Blackbirds Tavern is a pub and craft brewery that pours ales by Druthers Brewing Co. and serves wings, wagyu burgers and fried chicken sandwiches. Northern Barrell offers 12 rotating taps of beers plus fried ravioli, jalapeno poppers and buffalo chicken dip. Sons Deli & Pizza in Clarksville serves garlic knots, stromboli and calzones alongside its Sicilian-style slices, and Bob & Linda’s Windowbox Cafe has been serving corned beef and cabbage meals on New Scotland Road for over 30 years. There’s also a Hannaford grocery store at Voorheesville Centre, and volunteers offer low-cost goods at the New Scotland Community Food Pantry.
A state park with campgrounds and bungee jumping
John Boyd Thacher State Park takes up over 2,000 acres in the escarpment and has volleyball courts, playgrounds and limestone cliffs perfect for rock-climbing. It also has 140 sites for tents and RVs at Thompson’s Lake Campground and fossils at the Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center. WildPlay is an outdoor obstacle course with 15 zip lines and a 40-foot bungee jump. The town itself manages two municipal parks with playgrounds and sports fields in Voorheesville and Feura Bush, with Charley Houghtaling Park having horseshoe pits and Stephen P. Wallace Park offering ice skating in the winter.
