Pownal has natural beauty and recreation
Known as the gateway to Vermont, Pownal borders New York and Massachusetts. The rural town is 37 miles from Albany and offers a bucolic landscape and outdoor recreation. “There’s a variety of different reasons people move there,” says Jenifer Hoffman, the principal broker and owner of Hoffman Real Estate. Hoffman has been working in the industry for 14 years. “There’s retirees who want to live in a calmer area, to get away from the hustle and bustle. They often retire from more expensive states. To them, our cost of living has a higher value. For people who are starting a family, it’s a very safe place to live with tons of outdoor opportunities.” On the outside, Pownal seems like a sleepy bedroom community that many pass through on their way in or out of Vermont, but hidden off the main drag are mountain views and stretches of family farms waiting to be explored.
Homes in simple styles with mountain views
“There are some absolutely stunning properties,” says Hoffman. “And incredible mountain views from many different points in Pownal. From Pownal, if you’re looking south, you’ll see the Taconic Mountain Range. If you look to the northwest, that’s Mount Anthony.” Rolling hills and farmland define the Pownal landscape. Most homes line roads branching off U.S. Route 7 and are spaced far apart on large lots or farmland. Homes near the center of Pownal and manufactured homes are built closer together on smaller lots. Most houses have simple designs such as Colonial Revival, cabin, farmhouse and ranch-style. Several homes stand out with bright red paint, log-cabin styles and custom additions. “I sold an old church, which is basically across the street from a Christmas tree farm,” says Hoffman. “I don’t know how much more idyllic you can get than that. Pownal is as sweet as can be, like a Hallmark movie setting.”
Pownal has mainly single-family homes that range from $200,000 to $530,000. Hoffman says there usually aren't many homes on the market. “A lot of homes in Pownal are second homes and are not being lived in year-round.”
Parks and recreation within Pownal
Pownal Skatepark, a hard-top park with wooden ledges and ramps, is in the center of town for practicing skateboard, scooter and bike tricks. There’s also a climbing wall. Barber Pond, sometimes called Barber Lake, is off Route 7, along Barber Pond Road. The pond has a boat launch and is a popular spot for fishing and boating. In North Pownal, the Quarry Hill Natural Area is a favorite hiking area and nature preserve near the Hoosic River. Quarry Hill is known for its diversity of plant life, and hikers can spot rare species in its lime-rich soil. Also in North Pownal, The Tubs is two pools fed by waterfalls and used for swimming in the summer. In Williamstown, Massachusetts, 5 miles away, the Mountain Meadow Preserve is another hiking spot, with over 2 miles of trails surrounded by forest. The preserve also offers guided hikes and bird-watching experiences. Pownal is close to several ski resorts, including Prospect Mountain Ski Area, 14 miles away.
Traveling on U.S. Route 7 to Bennington, Willamstown and beyond
Most residents are part-time and commute to Pownal for weekend trips and vacations from neighboring states like New York and Massachusetts. Route 7 cuts through Pownal, and leads 6 miles north to Bennington or 7 miles south to Williamstown. Commuters can use state Route 346 to reach Albany. The Southwestern Vermont Medical Center is 6 miles north in Bennington, and the Albany International Airport is 40 miles away. Pownal has several historic houses of worship, including the Pownal United Methodist Church, the area's oldest church. Faith Church, the Pownal Center Community Church and the North Pownal Congregational Church, were all established in the mid-1800s.
Pownal has 53 miles of dirt roads, which can be challenging to navigate during mud season. From late March to early June, thawing earth and melting snow causes the clay-rich soil to become extremely muddy. Sometimes roads are closed because they're impassible.
Shopping and dining in Bennington and Williamstown
The area has several general stores such as Winchester’s Store and Deli, Dollar General and Village Market. Local farms also offer handmade goods such as Gammelgården Creamery for yogurt, Hill Top Farm for dairy and beef products and Wildstone Farm for seasonal vegetables. For more shopping and dining, residents head to Bennington, 6 miles away, and Williamstown, 7 miles away. The family-run Madison Brewing Company Pub & Restaurant in downtown Bennington serves hand-crafted brews and pub food. Just outside downtown, Aldi offers groceries. The Spice Room in downtown Williamstown offers modern Indian cuisine and handcrafted cocktails.
Students attend school in the Pownal and Bennington area
Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union gets a C-minus from Niche. Children may attend Pownal Elementary, which gets a D and serves kindergarten through sixth grade. Seventh through eighth graders go to Mount Anthony Union Middle School, which receives a C. Students have high school choice in Vermont and may continue to Mount Anthony Union High School, which gets a C-plus. The high school offers 36 student clubs, including art, bird-watching and drama.
Entertainment in Pownal and Williamstown
Pownal’s library was housed in the Faith Church until 1966, when the Solomon Wright Library was built across the street. The library now hosts programs and events year-round, such as a monthly book club and a quilting group known as The Lucy Quilters. Each July, the Williamstown Theater Festival hosts a three-weekend series of performances that take place over multiple stages in the Williamstown Theatre Festival Building on Main Street, 7 miles away.
Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
