Pittsford encompasses rural Central Vermont living
Life moves slowly in Pittsford, and that's what residents of the longstanding town prefer. Situated between the rocky ridgelines of the Taconic and Green mountains, the area is known for a lifestyle that centers around the outdoors, from hunting to fishing a hiking. Local history also plays a role here, between historic homes and annual events that pay homage to Vermont’s sugaring tradition. “There are a lot of long-rooted families that have been here forever,” says Morgan McGee, owner of McGee Real Estate and a Pittsford native. “It’s like a typical small Vermont community. If people don’t know what that is, they will when they get here."
Pittsford's diverse outdoor recreation options, from Otter Creek to Killington for skiing
“The community here has always been big on hunting and fishing,” McGee says. Otter Creek offers trout, pike and bass depending on where local anglers are casting a line. Pittsford Trail Network encompasses roughly 16 miles of pathways that wind through the community’s forests and fields. These are open year-round for hiking and biking, along with snowshoeing in the winter. New England Maple Museum welcomes visitors to explore the area's history in sugaring through a self-guided tour of the museum and its machinery. Pittsford Recreational Area features a playground, athletic courts and fields and a swimming area open during the warmer seasons. Killington Ski Resort’s 100-plus ski trail network is a 20-mile drive southeast. “It’s a 30-minute trip and you’re on the ‘Beast of the East,’” McGee says. “That’s a big drive for many people in the area.”
Architectural styles vary and some historic homes too
The community’s housing market consists of single-family homes with varying architecture, from cottages to ranch-style, National Folk and Victorian-style homes. “It’s not uncommon to have six different types of houses on the same street,” McGee says. Pittsford Green Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, fills the town’s center. Here, properties sit close to the road on half-to-quarter-acre lots and share space with houses of worship like Pittsford Congressional Church. Fanning outward are patches of crop fields and open meadows, where driveways become longer, barns are a common sighting and lots can reach up to 100 acres. Mature native trees appear throughout Pittsford, along with views of the neighboring mountain ridgelines. The town has a median home price of $403,000 and a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
Residents dine locally in town and shop big-box stores in Rutland
A handful of independently owned businesses like Keith’s Country Store & Deli sit along U.S. Route 7. “They have a really good deli and do pizza as well,” McGee says. “It’s a staple. I remember going there when I was a kid.” The Cluckin’ Café is another local spot and serves American dishes and craft beer from within its barn-themed dining room. McGee says that Kamuda’s Country Market offers a selection of groceries and produce. Still, most residents head into Rutland, 8 miles south, for big-box shopping. The village has a Hannaford and Rutland Plaza includes Walmart Supercenter, T.J. Maxx and more.
Otter Valley Union High School students can earn college credit
Otter Valley Unified School District serves the community and receives a C-minus on Niche. Lothrop School welcomes prekindergarten through sixth-grade students and earns a C-minus. Otter Valley Union High School teaches seventh through 12th and has a C rating. The high school offers a Career Preparation Pathway, in which students can earn college credits and industry certifications while exploring career fields such as welding and STEAM.
The community gathers for events at Village Farm
Pittsford residents use sap for more than just its taste. In late November, residents ring in the holiday season by lighting a Christmas tree made of sap buckets for the annual Sap Bucket Tree Lighting. The event occurs at Village Farm, also hosting grounds for Tunesday, the Town’s summer concert series. The event welcomes local and regional musicians to perform on the lawn every Tuesday evening from June through August.
Commuting in and around Pittsford on U.S. Route 7
Pittsford is a car-dependent community, as there are no public transportation opportunities in the area. U.S. Route 7 cuts through the community’s center, linking commuters to Rutland. The thoroughfare also runs 25 miles north to Middlebury and Burlington, 60 miles in the same direction. State Route 3 is also accessible from within the area.
Written By
Matthew Simmons
