Woodstock, NY

Tucked into the Catskill Mountains just northwest of Kingston, Woodstock is an artistic town with a relaxed, welcoming character. The famous 1969 music festival took place about sixty miles away in Bethel, but Woodstock itself has been a haven for painters, musicians, and writers since the early 1900s. That creative spirit is still very much alive along Tinker Street, which is lined with independent bookstores, local craft shops, art galleries, and small music venues.

ATTRDaniel Case / CC BY-SA 3.0

For anyone thinking about moving here, Woodstock offers a quiet mountain lifestyle with a strong sense of community. Most local children attend the Onteora Central School District, and life here often revolves around the outdoors, from hiking Overlook Mountain to enjoying scenic views around Cooper Lake. You get the privacy and peace of rural Catskill living, with the added benefit of being only twenty minutes from Kingston for everyday shopping, medical care, and regional transit.