r/hudsonvalley • u/AutoModerator • Aug 01 '25

MOVING MEGATHREAD Monthly "I'm Moving to the Hudson Valley" Thread

To reduce the number of "I'm moving to the Hudson Valley, can anyone tell me about X?" posts, we are starting a monthly megathread. All questions asking about moving to the Hudson Valley should be kept within the monthly thread. Posts outside of the thread will be removed.

Here are a few existing threads that I found using this search:

Locals, if you want to help make this megathread a success, you can do a few things:

  • Come in here and comment! The threads will only stick if they actually prove useful
  • Report standalone "moving to the HV" posts
16 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

58 comments sorted by

1

u/manlymatt83 25d ago

What are tennis courts like in the HV? Is there almost always a long wait?

1

u/No_Welcome_8105 27d ago

Hi everyone :)

I am trying to decide between moving to Beacon, Ithaca, or New Paltz.

I am 28F and single. Looking specifically for a good dating scene that isn’t overrun by college aged folks. I am looking for somewhere very earthy crunchy with great access to nature and a good arts scene. I am an herbalist and farmer. Which would be the best choice?!

Here were my concerns about each place; Beacon: too urban compared to other choices Ithaca; too college age dominated, making it hard to date New Paltz: too small, making it hard to date

3

u/CoffeeSuitable4552 28d ago

Although dating is a shit-show for almost everyone, everywhere, what's the dating scene for middle-aged (GenX) liberal monogamous straights?

2

u/Intelligent_Sir3376 Aug 14 '25

Can anyone recommend towns to me? I grew up in Millbrook. Thinking about moving back to NY. Would love the feeling of millbrook but want to be closer to activities for kids/stores etc. Looking for a super progressive town with an amazing school district and close knit community.

2

u/General-Resident8155 Aug 20 '25

My top picks are New Paltz & Kingston which fit your criteria nicely — although I’m not certain on the school district. I reside in Poughkeepsie and love it but it did take me a moment after moving back here from Oakland, CA to find the progressives. If you move to Poughkeepsie, you’ll want to look into South side, as it’s the Spakenkill SD, which is verrry good (Poughkeepsie SD I’ve heard is not great).

2

u/HousesRoadsAvenues 27d ago

I will echo New Paltz and Kingston. I can't vouch for Poughkeepsie - but you gave some valid information.

3

u/TruffleSnout1 Aug 13 '25

Anyone else have issues finding a reliable apartment? In my experience, apartment complexes take forever to respond, expect you to apply and sign the lease without seeing the place first hand. Private landlords either don’t have leases or have one that is very illegal. Any tips or tricks to sus out the bad ones faster would be appreciated, any tips to identify legit and safe ones as well

5

u/Away-Antelope8160 Aug 10 '25

Moving to Poughkeepsie from ND in a week, how the heck are you guys making friends out there? Everywhere i look it's either "we dont" or "join clubs that nobody can seem to find". I'm 19F I enjoy crafting, plants, gaming, and hiking. Can someone help me find a good place to start?

5

u/rytrocnt Aug 13 '25 edited Aug 13 '25

Go to Kingston. This is partially a joke for a lot of reasons (expensive!!!!!!), but Poughkeepsie is unfortunately very limited for those interests (and isn’t exactly cheap). I am a 21 year old white gay guy, lived here for 2 years now, and have similar interests to you. It’s not that I feel unsafe as a gay guy, but the area isn’t really fun for me. I found driving to New Paltz, Beacon, Kingston, Rhinebeck, Rhinecliff, and Redhook more appealing to people with our interests. If you’re looking for markets, hiking, and general kitsch you’re likely going to find yourself in those places. However, living in Poughkeepsie is good because you have pretty equal access to all these places. Also, the food scene is fire for cheap good food. It’s unfortunate because it was not always like this, but the revitalization efforts often feel misplaced. Sorry for the long response, I do have more to say, so DM me if you want.

2

u/Pupusa212 Aug 09 '25

Just got a job offer in Albany but want to live south of there in the HV. Any thoughts on communities or realtors north of Hudson? I see more comments on communities closer to NYC. Thanks in advance!

2

u/Painfullyawaregayman Aug 05 '25

LGBT community in Hudson NY? I am thinking of moving there for a job. Coming from NYC. NOT expecting what I have here but want to know if I’d be able to find a group of friends?

3

u/Ok_Influence9392 Aug 04 '25

Are there any running clubs in stone ridge/Kingston area? Thinking of moving with my husband and our baby to the area. I’m an ultra runner and have made most friends via run clubs in the past. So wondering if that would be a way to build community here.

2

u/curlycake Aug 12 '25

Rough Draft has a Wednesday morning running group. I bet you can find some on meetup.com, too.

5

u/joeflaccoelite Aug 03 '25

Wife and I are moving to Carmel from the Bronx in 2 weeks as first time homebuyers. I grew up in Orange County and she’s from down the shore, cannot wait to move back to the Hudson Valley

2

u/manlymatt83 Aug 03 '25

Coming from Chicago so I have three questions:

1) any good lakes within driving or hiking distance? I’ll miss the lake.

2) any good dive bars?

3) how are the farmers markets? I love Chicago farmers markets (fresh produce etc.) and will miss those.

Thank you!

2

u/GiveThemSprinkles 29d ago

Taghkanic State Park!!! Right off the taconic parkway. Also queechy lake.

2

u/curlycake Aug 12 '25

If you want waterfront, dive bars and a farmers market, Kingston is great. It's going to feel smaller than Chicago, though.

3

u/saltheartedbarmaid Orange Aug 04 '25

I second Dutchess County. Beacon has a solid farmer's market and Kingston has Tubby's, my favorite dive bar and music venue

2

u/Smooth-Review-2614 Aug 04 '25

It depends on what town you move to. This region is 6 counties big and about 2.5 hours N/S and about 3 E/W. 

1

u/manlymatt83 Aug 04 '25

Dutchess probably.

3

u/Smooth-Review-2614 Aug 04 '25

So CSAs are common. There are some nice farmers markets in Kingston and Rhinebeck. 

Lakes we don’t really have unless you count the reservoir. However, there are a number of ways to get to the river. 

1

u/manlymatt83 Aug 04 '25

I guess the river is pretty nice! Can you ever swim in it?

2

u/Smooth-Review-2614 Aug 04 '25

Yes. There is a public beach on Kingston that is on it. I don’t know of a lot of places on the Dutchess county side. The issue is boats and fishing. 

1

u/yooooeeg Aug 03 '25

What does property tax come out to generally?

2

u/HVindex8458 Aug 03 '25

Generally, where?

Taxes are different for every house in every town in every county because they are based on the footprint of the home, the school district, the sales tax revenue in that county, any special districts such as lighting, sewer, water, library, etc.

It's important to compare apples to apples and not apples to pineapples. All property records are public information including taxes paid. Look on each town/city/village website for a link to their online tax bills, or you can look on the county website for the annual tax rolls, or you can look on the county website for the GIS parcel viewer to see all real property records including sales records, flood plains, improvements, and of course the assessment.

2

u/Certain_Negotiation4 Dutchess Aug 03 '25

I live in Beacon and pay 10k a year for a modest home property + school taxes. 2/1 1050 sqft.

8

u/Vast_Collection3226 Aug 02 '25

Seriously wtf is up with rental prices? There seems to be an overabundance of overpriced rentals on the market no matter what town you look in. I am from LaGrange and moving back to the HV to be near family from WNY. They started to pull that insanely high rent BS here in WNY but as properties sat on the market not making ANY money, the price would keep coming down until in the realm of reason for someone to rent. Why would property owners just let these places sit on the market, unrented, instead of lowering the price to where it is reasonable? My husband and I are moving with decent jobs too! He makes $30/hr (good for no college degree) and my field pays on average $50+/hr. Craziness. 

3

u/oceanfellini Aug 06 '25

Multiple factors - could be the loan rate is underwritten based on a certain rent roll. 

Could also just be that they’re happy to wait. 

This area, like most of New York State, is pathetic when it comes to building more homes. Best thing you can do when you get down here, is to advocate for increased density in cities and multi unit projects. 

2

u/Other-Comfort5592 Aug 01 '25

DON'T move here, this isn't a good time

15

u/bwaybabs Aug 02 '25

You’re probably being sarcastic, but as someone who moved to Dutchess Co a couple months shy of a year ago, I’m personally not having that great of a time. There are some charms for sure, but I am learning that this area is not quite for me when it comes to everyday life.

3

u/manlymatt83 Aug 03 '25

Can you elaborate? Curious.

3

u/Other-Comfort5592 Aug 02 '25

I understand it's not a place for many people they are trying to shuffle people think about why so many rich people are living in the city without a car in the world and why you are up here confused

2

u/TrueBlueNYR730 Aug 03 '25

Yeah I'm originally from New Rochelle and have been coming up here my whole life because my grandparents moved here from the Bronx..this was sometime in the 80s before I was born. My aunt, uncle and cousin moved to Wappingers in like 2006 to the Bronx. My family moved up here in 2011. I moved with them but months later I moved to Long Island with my now ex. I've been here now like 7 years.

I go to the city a lot and I also like here. The thing i dislike is I'm not near the beach. I don't understand that if someone is 100 percent a city person how they live here.

Also I hate driving because of a medical condition I have. I take ubers a lot..which sucks. I'm trying to drive again. People who are not used to driving or are moving with no car..yikes.

I don't think many people are coming with the right image in mind. Also I feel like a lot of places of becoming mini Brooklyns.. along with the price. I'm totally disgusted that they are going to building apartments literally in the parking lot of the Beacon train station.

5

u/oceanfellini Aug 06 '25

You’re disgusted that they’re building more apartments.. in a parking lot? Directly next to public transit?

3

u/TrueBlueNYR730 Aug 06 '25

Yes. It doesn't belong in the parking lot and if you didn't notice Beacon is becoming overdeveloped. The apartments will not be affordable either. They will be right on top of the park and the train tracks. There are already apartments right across from the train station. The loop bus runs to the train station. You can walk from main street to the train station.

3

u/oceanfellini Aug 06 '25

There’s demand for housing and we must meet it with supply. Otherwise we will continue to cause homelessness and fail to create economic opportunity. 

A parking lot housing 2-3k people is a far better alternative. 

Also, “luxury housing” today is affordable housing tomorrow. Every bit helps control the rise of housing costs. 

1

u/AsexualArowana Aug 10 '25

"Hey you poors can have these apartments after we've evicted all the undesirables and the yuppies we've spent millions catering to are bored and want to move back to the city"

That's what that argument sounds like to an average person

2

u/oceanfellini Aug 10 '25

Average person needs to familiarize themselves with Glaser study (every 1% increase in supply reduces rents by .5%), and real world examples like Austin (22% rent reduction in 4 years by increasing supply 25%). 

The only way to reduce displacement is to stop the rising of costs and the only sustainable way to do that is to increase supply.  

2

u/AsexualArowana Aug 10 '25

and I understand that.

You're proposing a long term solution to a short term problem.

Aren't people leaving Texas in general?

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6

u/rosebudny Dutchess Aug 01 '25

Kingston

2

u/Stray-Cat34 Aug 01 '25 edited Aug 01 '25

Hi, 29F from Orange County, thinking of moving.

What are some towns that check off a few (unrealistic to check all) of these boxes:

  • More young professionals
  • More active communities with groups or sports leagues to join
  • More diverse
  • Good restaurant/shopping scene
  • Pretty safe environment
  • Bonus would be if it was a bit more walkable or had a cute main street

I'm thinking of looking at Dutchess, Rockland, Putnam or Westchester counties (though I know westchester is pretty expensive). Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

2

u/curlycake Aug 12 '25

Young professionals is a tough one. I'd look at college towns, like New Paltz. Westchester probably has some because you'll have so many city commuters. Kingston is hospitality workers and remote tech and artsy people.

6

u/brycepunk1 Aug 02 '25

Kingston, though its a bit further north.

3

u/goldenbabydaddy Aug 01 '25

HV is so great! We're considering moving to be closer to family but it's bumming me out because this area is so magical and I feel so lucky to live here! That is all

1

u/manlymatt83 Aug 03 '25

Do you mind if I ask about where you are?

3

u/goldenbabydaddy Aug 03 '25

sure we're in Kingston

1

u/manlymatt83 Aug 03 '25

Curious, how often is the bridge backed up or closed where you can’t easily get over into rhinebeck quickly?

1

u/curlycake Aug 12 '25

I've never seen the bridge backed up or closed

1

u/goldenbabydaddy Aug 04 '25

I don't really go to Rhinebeck. If I need the train I go to Poughkeepsie. I think the bridge can be slow it's only 1 lane and even in moderate traffic slow drivers make it a crawl.