A little village where life is slower
The Village of Voorheesville may be just a few miles from Albany, but it offers residents all the advantages of rural living, such as a slower pace of life and time to connect with neighbors. “Voorheesville is not big, but it is very family oriented. It’s the kind of place where people move when they want to live somewhere with an old town feel to it,” says Jeffrey Beunau, a Realtor with Howard Hanna who grew up in the village. “There are little mom-and-pop stores and a local pizza parlor. It has a family atmosphere, and everyone knows everyone.”
Comfortable homes on large lots
Most homes here are older and built on spacious lots. “There are a lot of neighborhoods with raised ranch-style homes that people are showing lots of interest in,” says Beunau. “Homes are selling quickly here; most are only on the market for a few days.” Other home styles in the area include raised ranches and split-level homes with brick or vinyl siding. Newer craftsman and custom-built homes are springing up in the area. Single-family homes in Voorheesville can start around $230,000 and range up to $730,000.
Blue Ribbon schools
Schools here are overseen by the small, but award-winning Voorheesville Central School District. Voorheesville Elementary School, Voorheesville Middle and Clayton A. Bouton High School all have A-minus rankings from Niche. The have earned Blue Ribbon distinctions over the years. The elementary school and the high school have both earned National Blue Ribbon distinctions over the years. Students gain from solid academics, and many participate in school sports. The high school offers an advanced placement program and has an average SAT score of 1290.
Rails, trails and ziplining
Voorheesville is part of the busy Rail Trail, a 9-mile paved trail that follows along old railroad tracks from Voorheesville to Albany. Although the railroad's role has changed for this village, it's still bringing people together to build community. Just outside town, Stephen P. Wallace Park features tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields, a playground and walking trails. Nearby John Boyd Thacher State Park offers locals more than 2,000 acres of hiking trails, views of the Catskills Mountains and plenty of outdoor adventures including ziplining.
Voorheesville's current and coming restaurants
The small town offers a selection of restaurants and coffee shops that have sprung up along the railroad tracks. Brick House Pizza offers a range of freshly made pies. For a change of scene, locals grab a burger and brew at the Northern Barrell. The restaurant/bar is located in a converted mechanic's garage, making for a memorable dining experience. The Hannaford supermarket provides locals with a selection of groceries, produce and pharmaceutical needs. Fiero says that Ed Mitzen, a 1985 graduate of Bouton High and co-founder of Business for Good, has recently returned to Voorheesville and will be opening Blackbirds Bike Cafe coffee shop and Blackbirds Tavern during the first half of 2024.
A traditional celebration
“The Memorial Day parade is the big event in Voorheesville,” says Fiero. “I call it our Norman Rockwell moment. Firetrucks, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the high school marching band and Little League teams all participate. Afterward, everyone meets at Village Park. Local politicians speak, and the VFW gives out free hot dogs, soda and beer.” There is a firework display at night, and the local fire department has a cookout. Fiero says it’s a wonderful chance to catch up with neighbors.
Biking is popular here. Every year community members participate in Family Bicycling Day, a bike block party that with live music, face painting and a traveling petting zoo. The event kicks off at the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail Pavilion.
Getting to Voorheesville
Voorheesville is 14 miles west of Albany via Krumkill Road and Interstate 90. Albany Airport is 10 miles via NY-155. This is a car-dependent neighborhood.
