White Creek’s country lifestyle is 10 miles from amenities
White Creek stretches perfectly between Cambridge, New York and Bennington, Vermont. Deeply rural, the town is split between rolling farmland and protected forest, which is exactly what residents like about it. It’s peaceful, residents don’t mind driving 10 miles to Cambridge — part of which technically falls within White Creek’s borders — or Bennington for essentials. “It’s definitely a country way of life with amenities close by,” says Penny Spiezio, the broker and owner of PennyDot Realty who has lived in the area for over 55 years and has sold homes here for 19 years. “I just had clients the other day who said, ‘I don’t mind driving 45 minutes to go to work because I’m looking at the scenery where, when I’m trying to get through Manhattan, it takes me 45 minutes to go a mile.’ So it’s just a different pace of life.”
Outdoor recreation in Mount Tom State Forest, day trips for skiing
As Washington County’s biggest state forest, Mount Tom State Forest sprawls across 1,700 acres. It has miles of shaded hiking trails, camping areas, seasonal hunting and snowmobiling. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking and horseback riding are also allowed in the park, but there aren’t any trails maintained specifically for these activities. With Willard Mountain just 17 miles away, day trips for skiing and snowboarding are also common for many residents.
Country homes with acreage or village homes close to amenities
White Creek’s colonials, Cape Cods and ranch-style homes usually have well over an acre of land, which Spiezio says is a major draw. Some properties have undeveloped forested land, while others have fields with space for farming or livestock. There may already be prepped farmland, pastures or outbuildings ready for those looking to start a homestead or small farm. There are even a few working farms in White Creek, though the truly large ones don’t sell often. This potential for land — and the different potential uses for it — results in a wide range of prices. They can fall anywhere from $120,000 to $900,000.
Those who don’t want land and want to be a little closer to amenities often settle in Cambridge Village instead. The village is full of Queen Anne Victorians, colonials and Cape Cods. Most of these houses were built between 1890 and 1925. Major fixer-uppers start at around $130,000, while more updated homes usually max out at about $450,000. Particularly large and carefully restored historic homes occasionally list for $850,000.
Children attend Cambridge or Hoosick Falls schools
White Creek is split between the Cambridge Central School District and the Hoosick Falls Central School District, both of which Niche gives C ratings. The small Cambridge district, which has a student-to-teacher ratio of 8-to-1, has just two schools; students attend Cambridge Elementary School from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade before moving on to Cambridge Junior/Senior High School. Both schools earn C-pluses, and the junior/senior high school offers extracurriculars like mock trial, robotics and gaming clubs.
In the Hoosick Falls district, children start out at Hoosick Falls Elementary School, which has a C. Hoosick Falls Middle School doesn’t have a Niche score, but GreatSchools gives it a 5 out of 10. Hoosick Falls High School earns a C-plus.
Country roads connect White Creek to nearby communities
State Route 22 leads north into Cambridge and south into Hoosick Falls, while county Road 68 leads east toward Vermont. Even these bigger roads are long, two-lane roads with that classic country look; smaller roads are often narrow and don’t have painted lines. The nearest New York hospital is Glens Falls Hospital, which is 38 miles away, a drive that takes about an hour. Southwestern Vermont Medical Center is closer, only about 10 miles from home. Albany International Airport is 40 miles away.
Heading to Cambridge for hot air balloons and live music
Every June, residents are drawn to Cambridge for its Balloon Festival. During the three-day festival, hot air balloons drift into the air in the morning and the evenings. Even those who don’t catch a ride on the balloons enjoy watching them take off. There’s a fireworks show at the end of the first day, but live music and booths full of art fill the grounds for the entirety of the festival.
A few country eateries, most essentials in Cambridge or Bennington
White Creek Country Store has sandwiches and ice cream at the neighborhood’s center, while Benson’s is a popular diner at its southwest corner. When they want to eat out, most residents drive to Cambridge for spots like Country Gals Café. Cambridge IGA and Cambridge Food Co-Op sell groceries, while farms like Perry’s Orchard provide easy access to fresh food and entertainment through fall apple picking. Spiezio says other residents venture across the Vermont border to Bennington to eat out or grab groceries at Hannaford, Walmart, Aldi and more.
Filters on some local wells to handle PFOA contamination
In 2016, some wells in White Creek were found to be contaminated with PFOA, a carcinogenic chemical that can remain for decades if not actively removed. Installing filters in the effected wells removes the contamination, and the state provided resources for homeowners who wanted these filters or wanted their wells tested.
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Written By
Christina Norwood
