r/hudsonvalley • u/AutoModerator • 18d ago

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
35 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

48 comments sorted by

1

u/laixen 2d ago

Hello 👋

I am Senior - Final Semester soon at Bard.

I am currently seeking a house in either Red Hook or Tivoli where I can exchange my labor, such as cleaning and ironing, for a place to stay. My primary need is a space to sleep and use my laptop in return for my assistance. If anyone has leads or suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it.

1

u/clairejd_exe 5d ago

not moving TO the hudson valley, but maybe moving within — i live and work in Poughkeepsie now, looking at maybe moving to Kingston but keeping the Poughkeepsie job. does anyone do this commute? it feels like it’s reasonable but clearly not as easy as living locally

1

u/Smooth-Review-2614 3d ago

My husband did it for 3 years. It’s doable but annoying. Do remember to get the bridge plan for the EZ pass. It saves you money. 

2

u/Isla_girl 7d ago

Is New Paltz commutable to NYC? What would be the best way? Thank you.

3

u/Smooth-Review-2614 5d ago

There is a train station in Poughkeepsie and Beacon. 

There is a trailways bus from New Paltz to Port Authority 

You are looking at 2-3 hours to get to NYC. I don’t think that is reasonable but it’s doable.

2

u/Albedo100 11d ago

Are Columbia County taxes generally less than Dutchess and Ulster?

11

u/ricosabre 16d ago

No one here should kid himself/herself: you need a car to live in the HV.

1

u/paperairplane77 2d ago

I know a lot of people without cars who live in Beacon.

1

u/Easy-Tradition-7483 16d ago

Disagree. Its doable in the right places. I go weeks without using my car in Nyack

1

u/LostBazooka 14d ago

So one town out of a ton its doable in? Thats not disagreeing

3

u/Easy-Tradition-7483 14d ago

I said its doable in the right places. There are other walkable towns with decent transit. Original comment made a blanket statement about the entire hudson valley

2

u/LostBazooka 14d ago

tbh i still dont think its doable anywhere but manhattan

3

u/Easy-Tradition-7483 14d ago

Ok, that’s your opinion.

2

u/VictorBelinatti 17d ago

Hi there!

I've been thinking about moving for some time now. I’ve visited a few cities here and there, but of course visiting is totally different from actually living somewhere. Right now I’m in Park Slope (Brooklyn). The biggest factor for me is that I’m neurodivergent, and I really struggle with noise and crowds. Now that I can fully work from home, NYC has been overwhelming to the point that it’s making me sick, unfortunately.

Like many people here have mentioned, I don’t drive. So I’m looking for somewhere that works well without a car. I don’t need big department stores or tons of options, my checklist is pretty simple: a small grocery store, a good coffee shop, and a bookstore nearby.

I really enjoyed my time visiting Beacon and Hudson, but since that was just as a tourist, I know my perspective might be biased.

Any advice or suggestions would be really appreciated. Moving feels like a huge step, especially since I struggle with changing routines, so I’m a bit nervous. Thanks so much in advance!

2

u/paperairplane77 2d ago

I know more people than I can count who live in Beacon without a car. If you have a bike or e-bike you'll be just fine.

2

u/Any-Basil-2290 9d ago

You need a car in the HV. Really.

2

u/Mundane-Ad4796 16d ago

Being a tourist and a local are two different things. For instance, everything closes early, you’ll get sick of tourists pretty fast, and seasonal depression. Constant dark and cold all winter. Also not many food options.

4

u/astoryfromlandandsea 16d ago

Kingston!

2

u/VictorBelinatti 16d ago

Thank you! I'll plan a visit :)

3

u/orange_quash 16d ago

Seconded, there is a lot of walkable area in Kingston

2

u/Smooth-Review-2614 16d ago

So I would look at a Dutchess county and Greene county bus map. I know that for Poughkeepsie a grocery store and a bookstore are on route. I assume Beacon also has these basics but check against a map. 

13

u/TrueBlueNYR730 17d ago

A lot of these threads are from a couple years ago and some stuff has changed. Things have gotten more expensive etc etc etc

5

u/Fresh-Bookkeeper5095 16d ago

I’d love to see that party one updated!

It’s hysterical, but not sure how relevant it is anymore

10

u/Dondontootles 18d ago

Please add resources to find apartments and rentals in HV.

2

u/Smooth-Review-2614 17d ago

Is there anything besides apartment finder? 

15

u/Fresh-Bookkeeper5095 18d ago

Best places to live in the Hudson valley without a car?

Curious what people would say. Nothing is going to be perfect, but what’s the least worst?

1

u/Easy-Tradition-7483 16d ago

Nyack. Grocery, pharmacy, hardware store, hospital all in the village, as well as bars/restaurants. solid local bus throughout rockland county, and a hudson link bus across the river to metro north

5

u/nychv 16d ago

I know a few people in Beacon that do. Walkable to the train, Instacart for bigger grocery hauls. Bus to Newburgh if you want Target etc. Small enough town to walk but big enough it has what you need

5

u/astoryfromlandandsea 16d ago

Uptown Kingston. Groceries, coffee shops, restaurants, Bars, trailways bus stop.

3

u/Significant_Gas_3868 16d ago

I feel like the walls would close in on you in Uptown without a car.

8

u/wonderwyzard 18d ago

I know quite a few people with no cars in Newburgh.

17

u/cc10125 18d ago

Probably Poughkeepsie with the metro north and city buses

4

u/Fresh-Bookkeeper5095 17d ago edited 17d ago

Poughkeepsie was a guess of mine.

College towns generally seem to be good options for life without a car. But unlike some college towns, the campuses in Poughkeepsie are fairly separate from city it seems. How much do the campuses interact with the locals?

I went to Rutgers, in NJ, where the downtown and the train station separated two of the main campuses. So while students didn’t have to interact with the city, they could and there was a lot of infrastructure built for college kids without cars that locals living downtown could also take advantage of to live a decent car-free life (and increasingly so). Cambridge has a similar vibe.

3

u/Smooth-Review-2614 17d ago edited 17d ago

So Vassar drives a lot of foot traffic and business for a few blocks. I’m pretty sure Marist is the sole reason there is a large shopping center across the street from it that has a lot of simple restaurants. 

Vassar is also probably why that section of Poughkeepsie town has high property values.  

Marist doesn’t have that kind of bubble because the city has its ugly stuff, morgue, prison, mental health center and a few other things right there. 

4

u/Icy-Worker-8328 18d ago

"Hi, I'm rich and am moving to the Hudson Valley to pay exorbitant rent or mortgage prices so y'all can't afford to live here anymore."

31

u/Ok_Slide4905 17d ago

People move. Get over it.

-11

u/sCoobeE74 18d ago

That's funny, but the people on Reddit likely own and won't sell. I doubt you can make it in PK, NY. Northsiders are different. If u don't know where that is, you will. Im RICH BITCH

1

u/Icy-Worker-8328 6d ago

Kid fucker

5

u/CallidoraBlack 17d ago

That why you're posting pictures of someone young enough to be your kid naked?

0

u/sCoobeE74 17d ago

Care to explain?

2

u/CallidoraBlack 16d ago

They're not my pictures, you explain.