Summit’s mountains afford secluded, laid-back living
The town of Summit earns its name from peaks rising more than 2,000 feet above sea level, some of the highest points in Schoharie County. The elevation means striking views of mountains and valleys, but it also brings heavy snowfall. Many homeowners only live in Summit in the summer, skipping the winter weather when they return to their other homes downstate or in New Jersey. Whether they’re seasonal or permanent residents, people tend to seek out the community because of its landscape and relative isolation, says Kevin Lucero, a Summit-based Realtor and team lead of Homes Farms and Land at Charlotteville Realty. “In short, buyers are drawn to Summit because it offers true country living, privacy, scenic land and a slower pace of life.”
Homes with enough land for gardens and even farms
Cottages and Colonial Revivals sit along ponds and lakes, and hilltop cabins overlook forested mountains that change colors with the seasons. Properties often come with several acres of land, which Lucero says homeowners use for gardens, hobby farms or to ensure their privacy. Prices typically vary from $225,000 to $480,000, but private retreats on 20-plus acres can cost between $550,000 and $900,000. Lucero says the prices for larger homes and acreages are lower than what homebuyers would find downstate, which helps attract first-time buyers, retirees and second-home seekers.
Summit’s CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Cobleskill-Richmondville schools to get $12.5 million in upgrades
Ryder Elementary teaches prekindergarten through second grade, while third through fifth graders can attend Radez Elementary. The former receives a B-minus from Niche, while the latter gets a C-plus. Older students can go to B-minus-rated Golding Middle until they complete eighth grade, advancing to Cobleskill-Richmondville High, which is scored a B. In 2026, the school district will begin renovating each campus thanks to a $12.5 million improvement project approved by voters. The district will add new playgrounds to Ryder Elementary and Radez Elementary, as well as rebuild sidewalks and improve the HVAC system at Cobleskill-Richmondville High.
Getting outdoors at Summit’s state forests and lakes
Thousands of acres of conservation land span Summit. Hikers, hunters and, in the winter, snowmobilers explore the evergreen woodlands and marshes of Lutheranville State Forest. Parts of the larger Burnt-Rossman Hills State Forest stretch into Summit. Anglers fish from the piers along the park’s Looking Glass Pond, which has a launch for canoes. Many of the community’s small lakes are private, but the public often kayak and fish at Summit Lake. Skiers and snow tubers race down Plattekill Mountain, 35 miles away.
Coffee and cocktails in Charlotteville, with more retail in Cobleskill
The few businesses in Summit are in Charlotteville, a tiny hamlet within the town. Charlotteville General Store prepares fresh cups of coffee and carries bags of its house-roasted South American beans. A general store opened in the building in 1872, and the shop keeps that tradition alive by selling sandwiches, as well as milk and cheese produced within an hour of Summit. The Peppercorn Tavern pours drinks, fries Buffalo wings and hosts live music and brunch bingo. Next to the tavern, Sauvage Distillery gives tours of its facility, which turns apples into vodka. There’s not much in the center of town, expect a post office, the Summit Fire Department and churches such as Schoharie Company, part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Locals often shop about 10 miles away in the town of Cobleskill, home to Walmart, Price Chopper and Marshalls. It’s also where people can access medical care at Cobleskill Regional Hospital.
Pancakes and soup at the historic Charlotteville Schoolhouse
Children took classes in the Charlotteville Schoolhouse from the 1890s until the 1950s, but now it’s a historic property overseen by a nonprofit committee. The schoolhouse grounds hold pancake breakfasts and soup buffets to provide opportunities for the community to mingle and to raise money for the ongoing restoration of the school.
An hour’s drive to Albany, Cooperstown and the Catskill Mountains
New York state Route 10 cuts through the center of Summit, connecting with Interstate 88. Lucero says the additional benefits of living in Summit are the destinations less than 60 miles away. “It’s still within reach of Albany, Cooperstown, and the Catskills for recreation and culture.” Plus, direct flights to more than 20 cities are available at Albany International Airport.
![Alex Soderstrom]()
Written By
Alex Soderstrom
