Putney hosts rural expanses and a historic village
Buyers can find historic Georgian residences in Putney’s historic village or seek rural homes on spacious lots in the town’s vast wooded expanses. It’s just as easy to enjoy a mountainside hike in Putney as it is to cast lines and launch kayaks out on the Connecticut River. “Putney has a lot commercially for a small town; there are two stores, a bank, a gas station and a library,” says Heidi Bernier, a Westminster local and real estate specialist with Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country. “It’s also an artsy area, and people appreciate the public and private schools and easy access to I-91.”
Landmark College and public and private school options in town
Putney Central School serves kindergarten through eighth-grade students and gets a B-minus rating from Niche. Vermont offers a school choice program for parents to put their children in any public or private secondary grade school approved by the state Board of Education. Bellows Falls Union High School doesn’t currently have a Niche rating, but it is a popular option north of Putney. There are several private schools in town as well. The Putney School gets an A-plus rating and is ranked by Niche as the best high school for the arts in Vermont. There’s also The Grammar School, a private K-8 school that does not currently have a Niche rating. The town also hosts Landmark College, offering post-secondary programs with teaching methods that cater to students with learning disabilities.
Putney Mountain trails and Connecticut River activities
At Putney Mountain, locals can hike miles of established trails and catch sweeping vistas of Vermont’s Green Mountains. Further south, there’s Putney Landing, a boat launch and fishing area along the Connecticut River. Just 14 miles across the river in New Hampshire is Spofford Lake, another popular fishing area that hosts bass tournaments. Bernier says cycling is popular in town and recommends West Hill Shop for folks who need to buy or repair bikes.
Historic small-town homes and postwar farmhouses
In Putney, homes range from $100,000 to $600,000, varying by lot size, age and square footage. There are postwar ramblers, Cape Cods, cottages and farmhouses on winding country roads in the town’s outlying areas, and properties here often come with multi-acre lots. The Putney Historic Village is filled with Georgian and Federal-style homes dating back to the mid-19th century along narrow village streets. There are also spacious parcels of land on the market, usually zoned for rural residential homes.
Dining and shopping on Main Street, close to Santa's Land USA
Several local establishments line the historic village’s Main Street. Locals can stop by Putney Diner for a homestyle breakfast and head to Putney Food Co-Op or Putney General Store for groceries. There’s also Putney Mountain Wine and Spirits for locally sourced vinos. Folks from around New England flock to Santa’s Land USA, a roadside attraction in Putney since 1957. Open from the summer through December, this park hosts a Christmas village, a fun house, a mini golf course and concession stands serving hot cocoa, hot dogs and fries.
Interstate 91 runs through town
Commuters can take Interstate 91 just 30 miles south to reach larger cities like Greenfield, Massachusetts, in half an hour. Bradley International Airport is 88 miles south for domestic and international flights.
Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
