Named for its early Scottish settlers, Scotchtown is a little hamlet located in the Town of Wallkill, just east of the small city of Middletown. Although it’s only 70 miles from New York City, its suburban feel surrounded by rural parks makes it feel years away, despite the area’s access to highways and commuter rail. “Scotchtown is very family-oriented. You come here and get a warm welcome into upstate New York,” says Pedro Garcia, a Realtor with Curasi Realty, Inc. who has 25 years of experience selling homes in the area. “There are parks all over and lots of youth sports, but it’s also 10 miles from Legoland or 30 miles from the Kartrite Resort and Indoor Waterpark. You can even be in Manhattan in a little over an hour if you time it right.”
Families looking to get away from the urban hustle and bustle come to Scotchtown for a slower pace of life that still has all the amenities and businesses they need. “Scotchtown has been growing because of all the new jobs and businesses that have come to the area,” Garcia says. Some of Orange County’s top employers, particularly in healthcare, are based in the neighboring city of Middletown, including Garnet Health Medical Center. The hospital is about 3 miles south.
HomesLate 20th-century housing, with prices near the national median
Most of Scotchtown’s single-family homes were built in between the 1960s and ‘80s. Popular styles include ranch-style, split-level and bi-level homes, often situated on lots of a third acre. Townhouse and condo communities span older construction homes to builds as recent as 2023. The median price for a single-family home in Scotchtown is $400,000, which is roughly on par with the national median and below the New York state median. Townhouses sell at a median price of $280,000. Homes stay on the market for an average of 40 days in Scotchtown, only slightly faster than the national average of 45 days.
Split between Pine Bush, Middletown and Goshen schools
Most of Scotchtown is zoned to the Pine Bush Central School District, which scores a B grade from Niche and operates eight schools with a total enrollment of roughly 4,900 students. Smaller sections of the town are also zoned for the Enlarged City School District of Middletown and Goshen Central School District, which score a B-minus and an A-minus, respectively.
Supermarkets and more between Route 211 and the Galleria
New York State Route 211 is a hub for shopping and dining, from national chains to local eateries. Multiple grocery stores and other big-box retailers can all be found here without leaving Scotchtown. “We call it the miracle mile of shopping. My wife always jokes that if you need a couch, you can rent a truck and pick one up within 10 minutes,” Garcia says “And if you love craft beer or wine — that’s all over the place here. Angry Orchard is actually based in Wallkill.” Directly south of Scotchtown is the Galleria at Crystal Run, a large regional mall anchored by Target, Macy’s and JCPenney. It’s also home to a movie theater and a trampoline park and is the site of the annual Town of Wallkill Community Day, which brings folks together with live music, vendors and a car show. “Being between Middletown, Montgomery and Wallkill means that there’s always a community event somewhere nearby,” Garcia says. More locally owned restaurants representing a range of cuisines are less than 5 miles west in Middletown.
Little League games at Howard Drive Park, with lakes and golf clubs nearby
Scotchtown’s only park is Howard Drive Park, where the Town of Wallkill Little League hosts practices and games. Although the area has few parks of its own, Scotchtown is close to city parks in Middletown as well as surrounding town and state parks. Highland Lakes State Park is less than 5 miles east and offers over 3,000 acres to explore via hiking or horseback, while C. Hudson Thompson Park to the north has a 7-acre lake that’s open to swimming and fishing. “We have lots of lakes up here. My boat is 20 minutes away at Swinging Bridge Reservoir,” Garcia says. Both public and private golf courses, including Wallkill Golf Club and West Hills County Club, are also just outside of town.
Take the train or Interstate 84 into New York City
Scotchtown is actually served by NJ Transit, which has a train station next to the Galleria at Crystal Run. The Main Line runs south to Hoboken, with transfer service to MTA New York City Transit and Amtrak. The town sits along the curve of Interstate 84 where it meets New York state highways 17 and 211, putting it about 70 miles from New York City. New York Stewart International Airport is 20 miles east in New Windsor.
A major decrease in crime across Wallkill
According to FBI crime data, violent crime across the Town of Wallkill fell by 89% between 2018 and 2023 — a decrease of 47 counts to just 5 counts. Across the same five-year period, property crime also decreased by about 42%. Scotchtown experiences four seasons, with humid summers and freezing winters, and receives an annual snowfall of around 40 inches.
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