Ryegate’s quiet rural lifestyle is an easy commute from Dartmouth
As the southernmost community in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, Ryegate is a rural community at the edge of the Connecticut River. Settled in 1763, it’s still full of farms and forests. “There’s a lot of history and charm to this area, even to just go out and drive around in the fall with the leaves turning,” says Mathew Ghafoori, a Managing Broker at RE/MAX Heritage who has 22 years of experience selling homes. “And the snow in the wintertime, having the lights on in the windows — it’s just kind of magical when you drive through.” Ghafoori says that, like the rest of the Northeast Kingdom, people often seek Ryegate out to “have a different way of life with a smaller community.”
Its location also adds a few benefits. Ryegate is 19 miles from St. Johnsbury and about 42 miles from the Ivy League Dartmouth College, the latter of which Ghafoori says is a major draw for those who work at the college or nearby hospital. This is especially true, he adds, given Ryegate’s home prices, which are lower than prices closer to the college itself.
Hiking and cross-country skiing, swimming in Ticklenaked Lake
Ryegate’s forests are full of trails where residents can hike, bicycle and birdwatch, and Ghafoori says activities like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular during winter. For a weekend out in nature, there are several popular campsites in the neighborhood, including Pleasant Valley Campground. Ryegate’s pond also gets a lot of attention from locals and vistors alike, in part thanks to its name — Ticklenaked Pond. “I’ve seen a lot of people stop and take pictures of the name as they go by. It’s funny to see,” Ghafoori says, adding that the name is likely a corruption of the pond’s original Native American name. Beyond its name, the pond is a popular spot for swimming, fishing and kayaking. Ryegate is also only 3 miles from Harvey Lake, called Harvey’s Lake by locals. Much bigger than Ticklenaked Pond, the lake has a swimming beach on its northern end and a boat ramp at its southern tip. An annual fireworks show, barbecue cookout and boat parade are held at Harvey’s Lake sometime around the Fourth of July, though not always directly on it. Some people also fish and boat on the Connecticut River, but Ghafoori says that the pond and lake are more often used for water-based activities.
Historic or newer houses with the potential for acreage
Ryegate’s houses vary greatly in style and age. The oldest Capes and colonial-style houses were built as early as 1800. “There’s a lot of opportunities to find a house that’s a time capsule and update it, make it your own — how you want it to be,” Ghafoori says. Other homes were built after 2000, so there are plenty of options. Despite all the ways they vary, most of the neighborhood’s homes have one thing in common: land. While a few houses sit on small lots, especially those near Ryegate’s tiny town center, most have well over an acre — often more than 10 acres. Homes with more property often have outbuildings like barns or stables and may have active fields for farming or large swaths of forest. Because of the huge variation in lot sizes and age, prices start as low as about $180,000 and max out at around $780,000.
Potential flooding and “mud season”
Vermont gets a lot of precipitation throughout the year, and flooding is a possibility. Particularly bad flooding hit nearby towns in 2024, but Ryegate avoided the worst of it. During what locals call “mud season,” which is when the weather warms enough for the ground to begin thawing and for it to begin raining instead of snowing, thick mud can overtake dirt trails and roads. This can make them hard to traverse and may lead to trail closures.
Heading into Woodsville or St. Johnsbury for essentials
Beyond Ryegate’s farms and a veterinary clinic, there’s little in the way of essentials in town. Just across the river in New Hampshire, about 7 miles from the town’s center, Woodsville has a collection of restaurants and essentials. Shiloh’s Restaurant is a favorite breakfast spot, Village Pizza offers a quick meal and Forest Street Pub is known for its comfort food and relaxed vibe. Woodsville also has a Walmart and Shaw’s for groceries. More shopping, dining and entertainment like museums or movie theaters can be found in St. Johnsbury, which is about 19 miles away.
A single school for elementary, middle and high schoolers
Children in Ryegate attend Blue Mountain Union School from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The school earns a C on Niche and has about 440 students from the communities of Ryegate, Groton and Wells River, with all grades housed in a single building.
Highway access, commuting to Dartmouth and nearby hospitals
Most of the streets passing through Ryegate are gravel roads, which can make mud season a little challenging. South Bayley Hazen Road and East Road are among the only paved two-lane roads in the town. Interstate 91 and U.S. Route 5 run through Ryegate’s eastern side, leading north to St. Johnsbury and south to Woodsville or Dartmouth College. “There’s not a lot of traffic going through town, but it’s pretty close proximity if you wanted to go to Dartmouth,” Ghafoori says. The 42-mile drive takes about 45 minutes. Cottage Hospital in Woodsville is the closest hospital and Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital is in St. Johnsbury about 23 miles away, but the college town is also home to the respected Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.
Written By
Christina Norwood
