Woods and farmland around Mount Ascutney in West Windsor, Vermont
West Windsor is a Vermont township located about 9 miles from the New Hampshire border and the Connecticut River. The largely rural and wooded area surrounds the village of Brownsville, near the base of Mount Ascutney, the tallest mountain in Windsor County. A strong community and outdoorsy spirit pervades, shown in the local Brownsville Butcher & Pantry, a volunteer-run ski area on the mountain and a 100-mile annual race. “It almost feels like we live in another time,” says Danny Kogut, associate broker with Williamson Group Sotheby’s International Realty, with over a decade and a half of experience. “It’s an enormous relief to come back here after being away.” Nearby towns such as Woodstock and Windsor have essentials and a variety of shopping and dining, with more just over the New Hampshire border. “West Lebanon and Claremont, New Hampshire, have the box stores and supermarkets,” Kogut says. “But these Vermont towns are well-suited to meeting people’s needs.”
Ranch-style homes and sweeping, secluded estates
Many properties can cost between $250,000 and $380,000, while large and elegant homes with sweeping mountain views or ample acreage can cost up to $1.7 million. The median price for a single-family home in West Windsor is about $610,000, higher than the national median. The small population and ample space mean many homes are well-spaced along state highways or small roads, some on broad fields of open farmland, others tucked among tall trees. Farm properties frequently have outbuildings, and many yards are expansive swaths of green. The density increases in Brownsville; residents there can even see their neighbors' houses. Half-stories and ramblers are common styles in the village. The area holds a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Mount Ascutney offers a volunteer-run ski area and many hiking spots
Mount Ascutney provides much of the recreation in the area. “The anchor of the town was Ascutney Mountain Resort, which had been privately held by out-of-state investors,” Kogut says. “But the town got together, and with grants and donations, a group of local residents spearheaded the revival of the area.” Now the mountain has a volunteer-run ski area, Ascutney Outdoors, which has also partnered with the town to create programs and maintain facilities in West Windsor Town Forest. Additionally, the mountain is home to hiking trails and an eponymous state park, which can be accessed near Windsor. Residents can hike the mountain’s Summit Loop Trail, the Bicentennial Trail, Lower Quarry and the Weathersfield Trail, among others. “There’s a huge network of trails,” Kogut says. “Some go through private land, which shows something about how people think here.” Hikers are welcome to cross the private land, so long as they do so responsibly.
Outdoor races, a summer music festival and a holiday sale
The area’s outdoorsy culture shows in its annual events. “West Windsor hosts the Vermont 100, a hundred-mile race,” Kogut says. The town also hosts the Flow State Mountain Bike Festival at Ascutney Outdoors. West Windsor Music Festival takes place in the summer at Story Memorial Hall. Ascutney Outdoors puts on an annual holiday sale and solstice celebration.
Albert Bridge and Windsor Schools serve the community
Albert Bridge School in Brownsville is quite small, with under 100 students, and serves grades pre-kindergarten through sixth. It earns a B-minus from Niche. Students then move to Windsor School for grades seven through 12, which earns a C-plus. Windsor seniors complete a capstone research project and show their work at an exhibition that is open to the public.
Brownsville Butcher & Pantry and additional choices in Windsor
West Windsor’s community has rallied around Brownsville Butcher & Pantry. “Brownsville Butcher & Pantry used to be the general store,” Kogut says. “Like many places, it fell on hard times in 2008. Locals bought it and leased it to a young couple who created a destination. It’s really become the heart of the town in some ways.” In addition to produce, seafood and local beef, residents can enjoy breakfast, sandwiches and dinner entrees at the attached café. The Maple Kitchen serves upscale dinner fare in the Holiday Inn Mount Ascutney Resort. There is a Price Chopper supermarket in Windsor, about 6 miles east. Windsor is also home to additional shopping and dining, including Windsor Station Restaurant & Bar, which serves American cuisine in a former train depot.
State highways, nearby towns and Amtrak in Windsor
Main roads in West Windsor include Vermont Route 44, which runs from Windsor through Brownsville before intersecting with Vermont Route 106, which runs north to Woodstock, about 15 miles away, and south to Springfield, about 18 miles away. Both towns offer additional amenities and shops. Mount Ascutney Hospital and Health Center in Windsor is about 6 miles away. Amtrak’s Vermonter train stops daily in Windsor, and Interstate 91 and U.S. Route 5 also run near Windsor, though the interstate is only accessible near the towns of Hartland and Ascutney. The Burlington International Airport is about 105 miles away.
