Unity offers quiet country living near Claremont’s amenities
Unity is a small, rural town in Sullivan County imbued with peace and solitude. Tree-lined country roads wind past single-family homes and lots used for farming or gardening. The overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, much lower than the national average of 4. Unity sits about 12 miles east of the Connecticut River, which separates New Hampshire from Vermont. The town is 8 miles south of Claremont , where residents tend to shop, run errands and dine out. “Claremont’s got a dozen municipal parks, a multimillion-dollar community center and five schools—it’s definitely the major draw for the area,” says Ross Doody, an agent at Century 21 who’s based in Claremont and sells in the area.
Unity properties with acreage span from modest to multi-million
Rustic homes are spaced out within this community's heavily wooded landscape. Homes include 18th-century Colonial farmhouses, 21st-century lakeside cottages, log cabins and ranch-style residences. Prices range from about $220,000 to $640,000, depending on factors like size and proximity to Crescent Lake. There are a few properties approaching $2 million, which feature stand-out attributes like 100-plus acres of land or multiple waterfront acres. However, homes with acreage are typically available at price points across the board.
Nature in Unity includes trails, lakes and gardens
Outdoor activities range from hiking to fishing to gardening. The Marshall Pond Trail stretches just over a mile out-and-back along the shore of Marshall Pond. Unity Mountain Trail is an unpaved path through the woods leading to summit views of distant hills. Anglers can cast a line into Crescent Lake or head a few miles east to Lake Sunapee. This glacial lake exceeds 4,000 acres, attracting locals and visitors alike for its fishing, water sports and sandy beaches. Sullivan County Eco Ag Center offers many ways for nature enthusiasts to develop a green thumb: it organizes a spring plant sale, agricultural education classes and workshops on topics like apple pruning and erosion control. The center also has a pollinator garden, an organic community garden and a greenhouse where soil experiments are conducted.
Students are zoned for SAU #6
School Administrative Unit (SAU) #6 serves the area and is not rated on Niche. Elementary and middle schoolers may attend Unity Elementary School, rated C-minus. Unity Elementary’s enrichment program provides hands-on learning and social activities for all grade levels, like local college visits for eighth graders. The public-school pipeline continues with Stevens High School, rated C.
Shopping and dining in Claremont
Because there are no restaurants or retailers in Unity, residents often opt for a short drive into Claremont. The Common Man Restaurant offers outdoor seating overlooking the Sugar River rapids, and a cozy interior dining area with wooden floorboards and red brick walls. Shoppers can find national chains like The Home Depot, T.J. Maxx and Hannaford in Claremont. Valley Regional Hospital is also located in Claremont.
Just west of town, Hemingway Farms is the go-to garden center. It sells flowers and fertilizer in the spring; fresh produce in the summer; pumpkins, mums and gourds in the fall; and Christmas trees and wreaths in early winter. Hemingway Farms participates in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) for folks who want to regularly buy directly from local farms at a discount.
The Unity Historical Society roots the town in its storied past
The Unity Historical Society organizes community events like Old Home Day to preserve local history. In late July, Old Home Day on the Town Common kicks off with a community breakfast and concludes with fireworks. Throughout the day, Civil War reenactments, horse-drawn wagon rides, live music and a beer tent entertain residents. The Unity Historical Society also hosts lectures about history in the town hall.
Unity’s rural layout necessitates vehicles for transportation
Unity is a car-dependent town due to the lack of public transportation. “It’s a convenient location; people not familiar to the area think it’s out in middle of nowhere, but we’ve got two Interstates that surround us: I-93 on the east and I-91 on the west,” Doody says. “Interstate 91 stretches from Canada down to New York City. You can get anywhere in three to four hours, and we’re two hours from Boston.” Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is about 70 miles away. Although no major highways go through the town itself, state Routes 11 and 10 also flank Unity to the west and east, respectively. These north-south highways connect to other regional highways in New Hampshire.
