Thinking about moving from New York or another metropolis to the Adirondack Park? Going from big city living to a semi-rural area can be a huge but worthwhile change.
Check out things to know if you’re considering moving from New York City to the Adirondacks below, including some surprising advantages. (Hint: You don’t have to give up arts, culture, or great food.)
Know What You’re Looking to Gain With the Setting Change
Maybe you grew up camping with your family at Saranac Lake, or skiing at Whiteface Mountain. Perhaps you bring your children to the Six Flags Great Escape theme park in Lake George, remembering back in the day when it was just “Great Escape.”
One of the top reasons people choose to move to the Adirondacks is because they vacationed there growing up, always loved the area, and want to make a permanent move – I am one of those people! Others look to move north from the Big Apple to escape big city life, seek a better quality of life, or they’re looking for somewhere to retire that is still close to family.
Honing in on your reasons to make the big move will help steer you in the right direction when it comes to the nuts and bolts of buying a house. If you’re dreaming of taking your children out fishing on one of the 3,000+ lakes and ponds in the Park like you did as a kid, take a look at where public boat launches and fishing hotspots are in proximity to current houses for sale in the Adirondacks.
Research Distance to Grocery Stores & Healthcare Facilities
One of the biggest adjustments to going from living in New York City to residing in the Adirondacks will be driving. You will likely need a car, and you probably won’t be able to walk to the grocery store or corner market like you might have done back in the city.
When looking at homes for sale, take into consideration how far the house is from the nearest grocery store, healthcare facility, your job if you aren’t working from home, and anything else that may factor into your day-to-day life.
Hudson Headwaters Health Network prides itself on serving rural regions in the Adirondacks, and they serve Warren County and parts of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Saratoga, and Washington Counties. They’re just one healthcare provider in the Adirondacks to look into.
Take a Look at School Districts, Crime, Cost of Living…
It’s important for any move, or any potential new house purchase, to investigate school districts, crime, and cost of living. Make use of sites like Niche.com, NeighborhoodScout.com, and BestPlaces.net to look at these elements of a new area you’re moving to.
For example, we can see from Niche that the Keene Central School District ranks #1 out of 9 for Districts With the Best Teachers in Essex County, or that the Chazy Union Free School District ranks #220 out of 674 for Best School Districts for Athletes in New York. NeighborhoodScout tells us that Lake Placid is safer than 31% of US cities. BestPlaces shows us that Lake George has a 52% cheaper median home cost than New York City.
You’ll find facts you didn’t even know you needed to know, but prove significantly useful. According to NeighborhoodScout, Saranac Lake residents spend a lot less time in their cars than the rest of the country, with only a 17.38-minute average commute time to work; this results in less noise pollution in the village. A plus for those looking to get away from the commotion of a large city!
Working From Home? Make Sure You Know Your Internet Options
While strides are being made in the right direction in terms of broadband coverage in the Adirondacks, through initiatives like the New NY Broadband Program and the WIRED Broadband Act, internet can be spotty. How reliable your coverage will be will vary by location.
If you’re in the Lake George region you shouldn’t have any problems. For other areas in the Adirondacks, you’ll want to look into what’s available and even ask your realtor questions. Sites like BroadbandSearch.net and BroadbandNow.com can help you look at options and even compare speeds.
One of the best advantages to living in the Adirondacks is the entire work-from-home aspect of the business world many companies are embracing. You’re free to live where you want, so why wouldn’t you want to live in the beautiful Adirondack Park? Just make sure you can do your work (and be able to watch a movie and scroll Facebook) in your home.
Don’t Neglect the Fun Stuff: Recreation, Dining & Entertainment
One of the reasons you’re likely looking to move to the Adirondacks is the mountains, the lakes and rivers, the wildlife, and that overall connection to nature. The 6-million-acre Park is home to a seemingly infinite amount of recreational options: hiking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, paddling, fishing, hunting – and we haven’t even touched upon the cold-weather activities yet!
But city dwellers will be pleased to know, if they don’t already, that the Adirondacks is home to plenty of fun things to do and great places to grab a bite. Museums, attractions, and historic sites abound: The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, High Falls Gorge in Wilmington, Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point Historic Site, to name a few. Schroon Lake, Lake Placid, and Saranac Lake all have a great arts and culture scene, with small galleries, events like Third Thursday ArtWalks, and shows from performing arts theaters like Pendragon Theatre. (And if you love art, make sure to check out the North Creek Mosaic Project!)
When it comes to food, the Lake George region is home to a diverse array of restaurants and a few fine dining options, from the Log Jam to Bistro LeRoux. In Lake Placid you’ll find Salt of the Earth Bistro, continuously named as one of the best restaurants in the Park. And again, if you look for them, you can find those lesser known gems, like the to-die-for pie at Noon Mark Diner in Keene.
Wineries, breweries, and distilleries are scattered across the Park as well. Look up the Adirondack Craft Beverage Trail to get started on which ones to check out first.
Remember It’s All About Location, Location, Location
The Adirondacks covers a lot of ground. When it comes to moving to the Park, you do want to narrow in on the exact area you’re considering. If you end up looking for houses for sale in Lake George or Lake Placid, you may not feel as if you’re in a rural area at all. It all depends!
To give some big picture perspective, though, the Adirondacks is centrally located in the Northeast, so that you’re not too far away from other places you may want to visit or have family (or kids away at college!). Albany is roughly 2 hours away, Montreal 2.5, and Boston and New York City are about 3.5 to 4 hours away. A day trip to southern Vermont or the Berkshires in Massachusetts is also doable.
Ready to Start Looking at Houses for Sale in the Adirondacks?
Now that you’re armed with more knowledge about moving to the Adirondacks from New York City, let me help you narrow down your search. I specialize in real estate in the Adirondacks, Lake George region, and in the Capital Region and Saratoga Springs as well.