Rural homes, family farms and rolling New Hampshire countryside
Considered an outdoor escape from the city, Sutton is a rural neighborhood hidden within the rolling New Hampshire hills. Residents enjoy access to the shores of Kezar Lake, the Country Club of New Hampshire golf course and surrounding state parks, including Black Mountain Forest and Mt Kearsarge State Forest Park. “We have a really nice community in Sutton. Everyone values the rural atmosphere; they don’t want a lot of change,” says Kristin Angeli, a North Sutton native and Realtor with Angeli & Associates Real Estate who has been selling homes in Merrimack County for about 10 years. “You’re also only about 25 minutes from Concord and a few minutes from New London.” Though most locals travel to New London or Bradford for shopping and dining, family farms and sugar houses provide a surplus of eggs, maple syrup and firewood. Home to fewer than 2,000 people, Sutton was the birthplace of the world’s first paintball facility, which opened in 1981, as well as John Sargent Pillsbury, who was one of the founders of the famous Pillsbury flour milling business. Today, folks live on quiet backroads that are accessible to Interstate 89 for commutes out of town.
An overview of the small, rural Town of Sutton in the rolling hills NW of Concord, NH.
Motorcycles frequently pass through the area and are popular during the summer months.
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Visitors and longtime locals at the Follansbee Inn
“People love the Sutton area, and of course, they love the lake, it's beautiful. It's great for swimming, boating, fishing or just sitting along the shore and resting,” says Denis Swords, the current owner and innkeeper of Follansbee Inn on Kezar Lake. Denis is originally from southwest Louisiana. After vacationing to visit his brother and his wife several times up in New Hampshire, he decided to leave the city, move to the mountains and buy an inn. “The Follansbee Inn dates back to the 19th century,” Swords says. He says no owner has been foolish enough to change the inn’s name since Mr. Follansbee started it nearly 200 years ago. Denis is now the 12th owner and has been operating the inn since 2012. “Our guests love it here and most of them are repeats. They come here just to escape the city and enjoy our country life. They also love walking around the lake, and the neighbors they meet are always extremely friendly and make them feel right at home.”
The Follansbee Inn is an iconic local business that provides rooms nearby the local Kezar Lake.
Paddle boarding is a popular activity at Kezar Lake at Wadleigh State Park in Sutton, NH.
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Old Home Day and Sutton Historical Society gatherings
Sutton, like many New Hampshire towns, is very history-conscious and takes pride in local markers, landmarks and traditional gatherings. One such gathering is Sutton’s Old Home Day, a long-standing New Hampshire tradition that is coordinated by the local historical society. Old Home Day encourages New Hampshire residents from all over the state to celebrate their hometown traditions by hosting parades and festivals or wearing costumes. The Sutton Historical Society also hosts a few other events in the restored South Sutton Meetinghouse, such as a children’s Christmas pageant and musical concerts. The society also recently restored the District No. 9 South Village Schoolhouse, which dates back to the Civil War era.
Lakes, hills and several state parks near Sutton
“Depending on the season, Sutton is a hiker's paradise. A lot of people come up to get outdoors, and in the winter, they like to cross-country ski or ice skate on Kezar Lake. Or they’ll head up to Ragged Mountain or any of the other ski areas nearby,” Swords says. Avid golfers head over to the Country Club of New Hampshire, which is an 18-hole course overlooking the vast New Hampshire hills and forests. Wadleigh State Park sits on the shores of Kezar Lake, which is very popular in the area. “Kezar Lake is exactly 5k around... we have people walk or run around the lake every day,” Angeli says. “You can have small, motorized boats, but it’s mostly a quiet lake. There is even a family of loons that people keep an eye on every year.” The beach is open to the public, but it is a little small and rocky and is shaded by tall pine trees. The lake’s boat launch is across the street from Smiley Grove Playground on Wadleigh State Park Road. Several private homes and their docks overlook Loon Island in the center of the lake.
Residents enjoy the shaded beaches along the lake at Wadleigh State Park in Sutton, NH.
The expansive Country Club of New Hampshire is a local favorite for outdoor recreation.
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A variety of homes in the New Hampshire hills
Potential homebuyers can find an assortment of tiny homes, cottages and farmhouses on wooded or cleared acreage. There are renovated historic homes from the 1800s and brand-new constructions with large pole barns or garages for storing boats, four-wheelers or other toys for outdoor enthusiasts. Most properties are tucked away on quiet backroads with views of acres of forests on rolling New Hampshire hills. Several homes embrace wood-burning stoves or stone fireplaces, with outdoor space to store wood year-round. Single-family homes in Sutton often cost between $350,000 and $650,000, with a few outliers. Homes in the $100,000 to $250,000 range are often fixer-uppers that need major renovations, while a few lakefront estates or farmhouses on dozens of acres can cost upwards of $1 million.
An updated Farmhouse styled home near the town center of Sutton, NH.
A row of homes including Cape Cod inspired cottages and New England styles in Sutton, NH.
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Shops and restaurants in nearby New London and Bradford
Though Sutton is a rural escape for outdoorsy folks, and even though the Follansbee Inn is right next to Kezar Lake, there are no restaurants or shops in town. However, locals can find sugar houses like the Cochran Sugar House hidden in the hills, with farm stands selling maple syrups, candy and firewood. For most other shopping trips, drivers head south to Bradford or north to New London. Appleseed Restaurant and Catering in Bradford is right across the street from Todd Lake, with a rustic American cabin theme and an assortment of fun vanity license plates. New London is home to the Blue Loon Bakery and Tucker’s restaurant, which is known for its breakfast and trendy atmosphere. New London is also where locals can find the nearest hospital for emergencies and checkups. New London’s local Hannaford grocery store and Ace Hardware are in a small strip mall on Newport Road near New London Hospital.
Tucker's Restaurant has a popular outside patio in the summer months in closeby New London.
The Hannaford Grocery store is in nearby New London, NH for residents of Sutton for groceries.
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Kearsarge Regional Schools
Students in Sutton study within the Kearsarge Regional School District, which is graded an overall B-plus on Niche. Sutton Central Elementary is graded a B-minus and has a wide range of outdoor playscapes and activities for its students. It also has a student-to-teacher ratio of nine to one. Kearsarge Regional Middle School and Kearsarge Regional High School are both located in North Sutton and are each graded a B-plus.
Kearsarge Regional Middle School in Warner serves grades 6-8.
Kearsarge Regional High School in Warner serves grades 9-12.
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Commutes on Interstate 89 to Concord
There is not much public transportation in town, and the nearest Park and Ride to Boston/Logan is on Route 103 in New London, about 10 miles north via Interstate 89. Sutton is also about 30 miles northwest of Concord, which drivers can reach by traveling along Interstate 89 or Route 114. The Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is nearly 50 miles southeast via Interstate 89 and takes about an hour to reach.
Located in lovely Sutton, this 10+ acre lot has stonewalls marking the sides and a driveway pinned in. The lot previously had a structure and on it so there is a foundation. This is a class 6 road with electric access about 4 pole lengths away. The owner has seen bear, deer and moose tracts on the property and a local logger estimated about $6000 worth of timber or more on the property.
Escape to the tranquility of this 4-acre wooded lot in Sutton, NH, where you can build your dream home surrounded by nature’s beauty. Nestled among towering trees and bordered by a soothing stream, this property offers a peaceful retreat perfect for morning coffee or quiet evenings. Just minutes from I-89, it’s ideal for commuters, with Mount Sunapee and Sunapee Harbor only 15 minutes away for
Own two parcels of record, side by side, each containnig 1.4 acres and 200' frontage. Near the bucolic downtown of Warner, and Vail's Mt. Sunapee Ski Resort. Enjoy the rural setting yet with convenient access to I-89 for commuting. Lots will need to be removed from Current Use taxation upon purchase. Taxes noted are Ad Valorem (out of Current Use).
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
David Orlick,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public RecordsDisclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
