People from New York City relocate to Wappingers Falls
Dutch settlers arrived in Wappingers Falls during the 18th century to build mills along its namesake waterfall. Today, locals walk to storefronts, homes and parks from this era in the Wappingers Falls Historic District. “The whole village feels very old-world, and the Dutch influence is still really noticeable,” says Kathy White, a Realtor with Exit Realty Connections who has sold several homes in the area. On the eastern banks of the Hudson River, Wappingers Falls also offers a natural setting that appeals to people looking to relocate from New York City, which is about 77 miles south. “First-time homebuyers and retired people will move up here to get away from the hustle and bustle,” White says. “But they still have access to a Metro station and Poughkeepsie, so city life isn’t too far.”
Century-old houses may cost less than newer ones
Wappingers Falls’ oldest homes include Colonial Revivals and rowhouses dating back to the 1800s. Ranch-style homes and cottages built between the 1950s and ‘80s are also common. Maple, oak, and birch trees often shade lawns, with the median lot size around half an acre. Older homes typically start at $300,000, while newer ones can reach $750,000. The median single-family price is about $500,000, which is higher than the national median. Houses near Wappingers Creek may be at risk of flooding.
Wappingers Falls Historic Downtown District has a pizza rivalry
A rushing waterfall marks the beginning of the village’s historic downtown district, where cocktail bars and pizzerias fill the Italianate-style storefronts. People sit around wooden booths and eat New York-style pies at Wagon Wheel, while Patsy’s Pizzeria has a more upscale vibe with an extensive wine menu and other Italian dishes. “There’s a big debate about which pizza place is better,” White says. “Patsy’s is technically a chain, so a lot of people immediately disqualify it.” There’s a Hannaford in the area, and the nearby Poughkeepsie Galleria has stores like Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Macy’s.
Wappingers Falls has public schools and longstanding churches
Wappingers Central School District serves the community. Kids can attend James S. Evans Elementary, Wappingers Junior High and Roy C. Ketcham High, all of which earn B-pluses from Niche. The high school offers extracurriculars, like ski and snowboard club, step team and stock market club. The community is also home to St. Mary’s School, an unrated pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school that is part of a parish established in 1893. The village has several other houses of worship, including the Zion Episcopal Church and the Buddhist Palpung Thubten Choling Monastery.
The old Meiser homestead is now a park and museum
Mature oak trees and flower bushes dot Meiser Park, which was once the homestead of a prominent merchant in the mid-1700s. The Dutch Colonial-style house, managed by the local historical society, now has exhibits on the town’s development and Revolutionary War history. Several Christmas events take place inside, including Sinterklaas Day, when children can learn about Dutch holiday traditions and visit Santa. A Romanesque Revival-style building houses the neighboring Grinnell Library, which regularly hosts toddler story times and art clubs. Bowdoin Park on the Hudson River is another popular green space, where people can hike across a wetland boardwalk, enjoy waterfront picnics and go sledding when it snows. The village’s indoor recreation options include a bowling alley and a Planet Fitness.
Poughkeepsie is nearby, and so is the New Hamburg train station
Though Wappingers Falls is walkable, it’s also conveniently located for driving and public transportation. A 9-mile drive north on the U.S. Route 9 reaches Poughkeepsie, where major employers include Vassar College, Marist University and MidHudson Regional Hospital. The New Hamburg train station is on the village’s west side. It services Metro-North Railroad’s Hudson Line, which starts in Poughkeepsie and ends in New York City. “Commuters pack that train like sardines before and after work,” White says. Dutchess County Public Transit provides bus routes around the area, and New York Stewart International Airport is about 19 miles west.
