Readsboro is a small-town community in Southern Vermont's Green Mountains
On the southern border of Vermont, Readsboro is a heavily wooded community in which the Green Mountain National Forest makes up 36% of the town. Outdoor adventures are all around throughout the year, from hitting ATV trails in the summer, riding motorcycles on the winding hilly roads during peak fall foliage and backcountry skiing in the winter. Readsboro’s village area is a predominantly residential part of town with a few local businesses and century-old houses once occupied by the many Italian immigrants who moved here in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today, about 700 people now call Readsboro home or a second home away from big cities in the Northeast. Real estate agent Melissa Nebelski with Skihome Realty lived there from 2017 to 2021 and describes it as a close-knit community. “You feel safe and taken care of,” says Nebelski. ”My plumber lived right down the road, and I’d leave my garage open for him to come through when I wasn’t home.”
Houses in the woods and on scenic hillsides
Many properties have long driveways that lead to houses tucked away in the woods. Small cottages and cabins on 1 to 3 acres of wooded land range from around $175,000 to $315,000. Hillside cabins featuring modern amenities and 2 to 60 acres of land with views of lakes, mountains or both sell for $350,000 to $550,000. Small and large century-old houses line next to each other in the village, where more investors are starting to buy and fix up homes, according to Nebelski. They range in value from around $75,000 to $300,000, depending on the size and condition. Readsboro is viewed as an economical choice, located between the Berkshire East Mountain Resort in Charlemont, Massachusetts, and Mount Snow in Dover, Vermont. “You’re between two ski mountains, so instead of living close to one and paying more, you can drive 30 minutes to both and get more house and land for your money,” says Nebelski. “More people are starting to move here for that reason.”
Hiking, fishing and off-roading in the Green Mountain National Forest
Readsboro has an abundance of nature to explore. Woodford State Park is part of the Green Mountain National Forest with miles of nature trails. It’s home to Adams Reservoir, a popular spot for boating, fishing and relaxing on the beach. Harriman Reservoir and Sherman Reservoir are also nearby for water adventures. And the Deerfield River is a popular spot for fly fishing. The Jack Pine Pirates OHV Club has created more than 30 miles of trails for riding ATVs, snowmobiles and other off-road vehicles. “The Jack Pine Pirates trail system brings people in on the weekends,” says Nebelski. “They’ll actually ride on the roads, go get gas and lunch in the village, then hop back on the trails.” Dutch Hill was a once-thriving ski area that closed in the 1980s but is still used by backcountry skiers. However, it is currently off-limits for recreational use until the U.S. Forest Service says the timber harvest is complete.
Readsboro Inn and Readsboro General Store have the basic necessities
The village is home to Readsboro Inn and Readsboro General Store. The Readsboro Inn building has taken on many forms of business since the late 1800s. Today, it serves as a cozy lodge with a restaurant where locals and travelers enjoy pizza, steak and other entrees. Readsboro General Store is well known for its sandwiches. It’s also a gift shop and sells basic groceries. More restaurants, along with big-box retailers are about 20 minutes away in Wilmington, Vermont, and North Adams, Massachusetts.
Students change school districts and experience small class sizes
Kindergarten through sixth-grade students attend Readsboro Central School, which receives a B-minus grade from Niche. They’ll change school districts to attend Twin Valley Middle High School in Whitingham. The combined middle and high school is graded a C and has less than 200 students with a student-teacher ratio of 9 to 1.
Locals can drive or take The Moover bus to get around the region
Vermont routes 8 and 100 are the town’s two main roads. Public transportation is provided by The Moover, with cow-printed buses that run twice daily to and from Wilmington. It takes about 90 minutes to drive 60 miles to Albany, New York, where Albany International Airport is the closest option for commercial flights.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
