jmicik

Century Boulevard is a side street in Millerton, Town of North East. It has some homes on it, but seems to have just as many businesses.

This road is very close to the center of the Millerton village. Add that to the fact that there are businesses on this street and you've got a relatively busy place. In driving down this road, you'll see the trees around and some green front lawns, but there are also parking lots. This isn't an urban area at all -- it's more of a country village with a little bit of population -- but this street does have things going on. Amongst the businesses or non-residential establishments you'll come across are the Millerton News and the Millerton Fire Department.

Some of these homes are really quite nice. You aren't going to have a ton of land to work with on this street (though they aren't zoned too close together), but because of the quality, you'll find those that cost a little more than others. One is on sale around here for about $300k: a quaint and beautiful Victorian home. The others aren't necessarily as visually appealing, but they do get more affordable, with some property values beneath $200,000. It's probably a decent neighborhood feel but with as many non-residences as residences, there won't necessarily be many neighbors to know. Enough, but not a ton on this street.

You're within walking distance of most everything of note in the village, being so close to the center. Within a few minutes of walking, you can be at restaurants, convenience stores, banks, and even a movie theater. There isn't a ton of nightlife in this area but you're close enough to walk to what they have. There is also a community center near here that won't take long to reach on foot. The park is further away, food shopping is as well, and the schools aren't in the village so for all of those things, you'll have to hop in your car. Public transportation won't get you there, because there isn't any up here. There isn't much to do around here in general.

I don't have too many problems with this neighborhood. You will find some houses and some are affordable on most budgets, and you can walk to several key places in town.

Allerage Way, which is listed on some maps as Auerags Way, is a short dead-end road in the Town of Stanford, part of the hamlet of Stanfordville. It is a small part residential, and a large part business.

There appear to be two homes on the outlet end of the road, but neither of them are oriented towards this particular road. In fact, it does not appear as though there aren't any directly attached to this road that aren't a part of the farm.

You can't talk about Allerage/Auerags Way without discussing Allerage Farms. It is a thoroughbred breeding ground which takes up just about all of the space on the road. It's worth millions of dollars, in case you were wondering. As for the homes directly adjacent to this road, they're actually affordable if the home value estimates are to be believed (about $200,000, give or take a few thousand).

Living in this area, you're just going to be isolated. Stanfordville's center isn't far away, but there's little there. Stanford residents usually have to leave town to find places to go for fun, to eat, to shop, enjoy nightlife, and much more. As far as useful, everyday modern amenities, there are few. There's really no public transport around this area, no gyms, definitely no shopping, and the schools aren't close. In Stanfordville, there is a small park (Stanford Recreation Park) and you're not terribly far from the Whitlock Preserve. One plus of being in this area is that you're mere minutes from the Millbrook Winery, which is a nice place to pop in every once in a while if you enjoy wine.

Outside of outdoor recreation, there's little around and you will probably struggle even to find a home in which to live here. There are homes in the area, though.

Loose Strife Road is a very small cul-de-sac in East Fishkill; despite being short in length, it has six houses on it.

You won't have to spend much time on this street to know that there's no strife around here. Generally speaking, the houses are big, the lawns are big, and the cars are nice (most of them, anyway). This is backed up by the estimated home values, almost all of which are in the $400-500k range, which is pretty steep for most people, but sometimes if you want quality, you have to pay for it. This neighborhood, which I figure is close-knit seeing as they're six homes on their own out here, delivers on quality, but also has several other things going for it.

This road is only a few minutes out of Hopewell Junction, the nearest village which offers some shopping (including groceries) and a decent variety of restaurants, as well as other local businesses such as nail salons, laundromats, bakeries, and so forth. Schools are close to here as well. There's also a great park a little to the north (and one with a beach a little further than that), as well as several golf courses and/or driving ranges near here, so you have some things nearby for sure. What you won't have is a ton of nightlife -- perhaps a little up in Hopewell -- hospitals or major stores. You'll have to do some driving to get to either one but plenty of locals do it, so it can't be all bad.

This really is a peaceful little street; obviously it gets no traffic because nobody needs to pass through it, but as for Route 376 which is right here, that'll get some activity. Arbor Ridge catering hall is within walking distance, and when they're throwing parties/weddings or anything else, you know. (That's about the extent of the local nightlife, anyway.) I doubt you can hear it from here, but it gets busy in the immediate area. While it is generally quiet, 376 is a main road in this region so you'll have to adjust.

You could certainly make do living on this street, though many won't find it affordable. Keep in mind that home values have fallen all over the county, so it's likely that these were worth possibly hundreds of thousands more five years ago. None are on sale right now, anyway, but if you're looking for a home that's a step up and something comes available here, it might be worth a look.

East Vacation Drive is a side-street in the Hillside Lake hamlet of East Fishkill, in the northern part of the town. This road does not border the lake, but comes close. It's no place to go on vacation, but it's a decent enough place to live.

As you'll see, there are plenty of trees to go around in this area. The side streets around Hillside Lake are somewhat densely-packed and the homes are close together but it's not like living in a city where you've got six feet separating you from your neighbor. Some of these homes aren't zoned on a lot of land, though. Just about everyone here has less than half an acre, which is probably enough for most people. On the plus side, it's a fine neighborhood. There are lots of houses around, on this street and on adjacent streets, meaning lots of people to meet and get to know.

The houses themselves vary a little bit. Most are average size, though some are above average and others are downright small. A few have pools while others don't. Obviously, the smaller ones are worth less than the bigger ones, and those smaller homes can go for well under $200,000 in the market with the way it is these days. That's if they're on sale, of course. I was unable to find anything valued at over $300,000, so it's decent value and it's relatively affordable around here as well.

Hillside Lake is not very far from certain local businesses and other buildings. For example, Van Wyck Junior High is close, as are a number of other businesses like those in Route 376's Summerlin Plaza. Also, Hopewell Junction is just a few minutes away from here. It'll take you maybe 15 minutes or so to get to the malls in Poughkeepsie, depending on the flow of traffic, which isn't too bad. There isn't much medical care in the immediate area but within a few minutes' drive you may spot some doctors offices and dentists.

I am honestly uncertain if Hillside Lake is available to use for residents of this area, but to me it always seemed like it was surrounded by private property, so I'd imagine not. There are still parks and recreational areas nearby, like the Dutchess County Rail Trail, and there's even an orchard around here.

This isn't a bad neighborhood. It's not top of the line as far as East Fishkill neighborhoods go but it's respectable, and not quite as far away from amenities as some other spots.

Croydon Court in the City of Poughkeepsie a very small cross-street that runs near Route 9G (Parker Avenue). On one side, it's two (maybe three) houses, and on the other, it's two parking lots. Of those two or three houses, I'm not sure any are technically on Croydon, with at least two oriented towards the connecting streets. Perhaps what I thought was a house was just a large garage, but it's too late to check now.

Since it's such a short road, it's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it kind of place when driving down it. You'll notice both the houses and the parking lots, though perhaps the lots stand out a little more. If you're wondering what they're for, it's not municipal parking: the Dutchess County Aging Office is on the other side as well. One is the loneliest number, after all, so there will be plenty of street-side parking for you if you're the lucky person who gets to live on this street. That parking lot does exit out onto Croydon, though, so with all of those folks going in and out it can get a little busy.

Back to the subject of the homes here and on adjacent streets, they're definitely affordable. $150,000 is on the high-end of what you might find here, and there's obviously no land for these homeowners. Houses are pretty close-together as well.

The entry to the Walkway Over the Hudson is a few blocks away from here. Malcolm X Park, a Baptist church, and an elementary school are very close to this mostly-unpopulated street as well. Nothing is truly far away in the City of Poughkeepsie, though. Public transportation runs all throughout the city, but I'd still recommend a car to get around to the restaurants, doctors, shopping centers, gyms, and more. You're probably no more than 5-10 minutes from being well covered in all of the above categories.

This doesn't appear to be a particularly well-to-do neighborhood when driving through. The houses are in okay shape, but driving through I kind of get a blah feeling. I didn't feel anything particularly vibrant; it's just an average city block.

Grubb Street is deep inside the City of Poughkeepsie, intersecting Worrall Avenue and South Grand Avenue.

The houses on Grubb and in the neighborhood in general are packed together very closely. Sometimes you expect to drive down the street in cities and see some homes that are a little run-down but that's not really the case here. Actually, even though the homes are a little bit the type you'd expect to see in New York City (high, narrow, and long), some are rather nice. Most of the estimated home values are a little under $200,000, though some come over that mark. Keep in mind that if you end up purchasing a property on Grubb, you will be doing it with the expectation of having next to no land. That's just how it goes in a city.

With regards to the overall area, recent data suggests that it's about average as far as home values go in Poughkeepsie. It's not a low-income area, nor is it a higher-income area like around Springside near Vassar Hospital. Definitely more average. Still, there are plenty of trees around and they keep the streets up well. Further, it's a big neighborhood with all of the houses around. You will probably have a lot of neighbors here.

It's in the City of Poughkeepsie, after all, so you're close to most everything, because Poughkeepsie now has most everything. Restaurants, schools, shopping, public transportation, banks, and much more aren't far from here. Vassar College isn't that far away, neither are Poughkeepsie Middle or High Schools, or the restaurants and shops on Main Street and Raymond Avenue, and that's just for starters. You're not smack in the center of Poughkeepsie, but you're close enough to be able to get around to places. Even just by walking a few blocks, you can accomplish a lot as far as visiting local amenities.

Of course, living in a city does have its drawbacks. While Grubb Street isn't necessarily busy, a number of the roads around it are. It might not be the quietest place you ever live and with the houses being so close together, privacy might take a slight hit. In better news, parking is alright here, and most houses have driveways leading behind their homes.

I don't have anything particularly negative to say about Grubb Street. I've driven through here a number of times and honestly, it's not that bad of a neighborhood. You could do worse.

Washington Court is a very small side-street in the Town of Pawling, which is part of one of the few housing developments in town at King's Way (I don't know if that's what it's called officially, but that's the main street). Washington Court is very close to the entrance of this development from Dutchess County Route 20 and actually looks more like a long parking lot than a street, but it has a name, so it's a street.

On this very short road appear to be condos, some of which run for under $200,000 and others over $200,000, but virtually none are above $300,000. They appear from the outside to be in very good shape, as everything around here is relatively new. Housing developments have not really blown up in Pawling as of yet -- the neighboring town of Beekman is just starting to see more of them in recent years, so they're probably coming soon -- so this is one of the most identifiable in town. The parking situation around here appears to be acceptable; there seem to be some open spots usually, and there's street-side parking evidently available up the block, so you won't be in too bad of shape.

In a closely-packed neighborhood like this, you'd think that neighborhood spirit runs relatively high. Not just in your condo complex, but in the others around you, as well as the houses around here (of which there are about as many as condos).

In this part of town, despite the development, it's still very green and undisturbed otherwise. Washington Court is in a quiet and green neighborhood, it isn't far from some ponds, and nearby there is a place called Mistover, which trains and boards horses. If you leave the development and get on the main road, you'll have to drive for a mile or two before you see anything, namely Pawling village. It's not exactly as busy and full of local businesses as Poughkeepsie and Wappingers Falls, but there are a few eating and shopping options (but not mall shopping). The Pawling schools are generally regarded as being good, and many are within about ten minutes or so of here, but what you can find several of in the vicinity are parks, both local and state. Eastern Dutchess County is more of an outdoor recreation type of area, since there aren't a lot of local businesses here (relative to the western side by the river), and though this development isn't that far from a village, that doesn't really change much. Another plus is that the Metro North train line to New York City is only a short drive from here.

This is probably amongst the nicer places to live in Pawling, and certainly affordable. If you're the type who is seeking a condo, there may be a few available on Washington.

Buhleier Road is a cul-de-sac which is partially in Pawling, Dutchess County. What's interesting is that you have to drive to the end of this road to get to Pawling; a majority of it lies in the Town of Patterson in Putnam County. For the sake of convenience, we'll evaluate the whole street and not just the slice in Dutchess County.

Not all of the houses on this road are big, but some are. All of them are in good shape. This is a pretty quiet neighborhood with not many houses, but it's in a peaceful enough setting. It's connected to a main road, South Quaker Hill Road, which itself connects to Route 22, which is the most major highway on this side of Dutchess County. Even though Buhleier has close proximity to both of those roads, traffic is not a big problem around here. Buhleier is a dead-end street, so no thru-traffic, but 22 is far enough away that the autos passing through won't bother you, but you're close enough to it (and all of the conveniences associated with it) so that it's convenient.

Speaking of nearby amenities, you've got the towns of Patterson and Pawling nearby. Along Route 22 between both of those two towns, there are plenty of resources. This includes restaurants, bars, some stores (including supermarkets), pharmacies, a gym, and more. As mentioned earlier, living on Buhleier, you're not far from any of these things, but one thing that's pretty far away is a shopping mall. Unlike most parts of Dutchess County, here, you are closer to Danbury's mall than Poughkeepsie's, and that'll be 25 minutes on a good day. The nearest hospital is in Carmel, Putnam County. On the plus side, public transportation by train is good in this area, as there are several nearby Metro North stops.

Back to this neighborhood, the costs of the homes on this short road vary. They range from about $200,000 up to about $500,000. The one at the high end of the spectrum is large, over 3600 square feet. A majority, however, are under $300,000 in estimated value. One home on the Dutchess County side recently sold for about $280k.

As neighborhoods go in eastern Dutchess, this one is actually alright. In many of them, you wouldn't expect to be close to much of anything, but here in Pawling/Patterson, there are actually local businesses and other houses nearby.

Poppinga Lane in Hyde Park sits near the Hudson River and is a very tree-lined, short street that ends at the water. It's a road that's actually a little bit out of the way, as you'll have to navigate some side streets and cross over the train tracks to find it, but once you do, you won't see many houses.

Of the three I could identify, only one is relatively affordable at about $340,000, though nothing on this road is up for sale as of summer 2012. The other two are pushing a million bucks, and they're pretty big. You're going to pay to live along the river, and that's Poppinga Lane.

When you finally get out of the back roads from here and onto the highways, you'll still be a little while away from things. The hospitals and shopping aren't close; the schools aren't horribly far and neither are some restaurants. There are also parks nearby as well as the two homesteads, Vanderbilt and FDR. Of course, you have the available recreation of the Hudson River right at your fingertips.

I would imagine that it's usually fairly quiet around here, but the train is going to come through several times a day. I don't know if it'll be with horn blaring or what, but at only a few hundred feet away, you will probably notice.

It probably sounds more isolated than it actually is, but you're not in the thick of a big neighborhood. In fact, there really isn't much of a neighborhood around here. Not many houses stand on this street and the train tracks really separate you from the other side streets in the general vicinity. It's also not the kind of place for those on fixed incomes, unless it's fixed at something quite high.

Jackson Corners Road in Milan is a county highway that enters town from Columbia County to the north and west and exits back out to Columbia again on the east side. It has a major intersection with the Taconic State Parkway and is by all accounts a main road, but it's a fairly lonely one.

This road is mainly in farm country. Going in either direction, you aren't going to encounter many houses, but one thing I can say about this road with certainty is that it's green and hilly, but when all those trees change colors in the fall, this is just one of those places you have to be. Aside from that, there's little around here, including homes.

The values of those homes are about what I've come to expect for rural areas of this county, which means properties with lots of land: they're expensive. Some are under $300,000, but you're likely to find just as many over that amount, with some way over. There are a few very large, with-land homes here worth millions of dollars. Is it a rich neighborhood, though? I wouldn't say so. In fact, I wouldn't say it's much of a neighborhood at all because it's so rural. It's nowhere near your average suburban side-street with houses close together and people walking their dogs on the sidewalk. You'd be lucky to know more than a few people living near you up here.

When you do find other buildings, some might be farm-related, which isn't that uncommon in this area of Dutchess County. What you will not see are an array of local businesses; some small towns in the county have relatively vibrant business districts, but Milan doesn't really, and even if it did, it's not on Jackson Corners Road. It's more productive to tell you what is here than what isn't, because the list of what isn't is virtually endless.

One of those things that is nearby is outdoor recreation. The Roeliff Jansen Kill Multiple Use Area (park/recreation area) is very close, as is the Roeliff Jansen Kill (creek) for which it is named. Golf also isn't too far away and if there's one thing this road has going for it, it's that the Taconic State Parkway is right here, so you can get to other places north or south of here quickly.

Traffic and crime aren't going to bother you up here, but you also won't have any local options for eating out or shopping, and doctors and schools are miles away. This is not the kind of road you live on if you want to be close to things or desire a suburban area. It's not even somewhere you'd want to be if you want to be close to a job or your kids' schools, because neither exists around here. It's rural, it can be costly, and it's isolated.

Very little of Stissing Mountain Road runs through the Town of Milan; it carries into Pine Plains where it heads towards the village. In the end, it wouldn't matter if you took a 200-foot slice of this road or the whole extent: there's nothing here.

I cannot say that there is much neighborhood spirit here at all because I only count about a dozen houses, and this road's almost 2 miles long. As you might then expect, there is a lot of open land here (much of it appears to be farmland) and there are quite a lot of trees around as well. It's named for Stissing Mountain in Pine Plains, which stands to the south of this road, but isn't the reason why there are so few homes here.

You'll not find many other places as green, pristine, and undisturbed as this one. Even the farmland looks nice. Finding a place to live here, however, will be your problem. There are no homes in the Milan section of this road; on the Pine Plains reach, the farm is expensive land as one would figure but the other houses on Stissing Mountain Road are downright inexpensive, a little bit to my surprise. Almost all of the home values are under $200,000 -- many of them are modest, which would explain why, but this is a little unlike rural roads around here which tend to have more expensive housing. It's that there are just so few of the that getting to take advantage of the cost wouldn't be easy.

Towards the east end, you've got the village of Pine Plains, which does have a few stores and restaurants, along with schools. Don't kid yourself into thinking there's much to do there, however. You can do some food shopping, take your kids to the park (or go hiking up Stissing Mountain), or perhaps get a bite to eat, but little else.

There's no way this isn't a safe area, but it is one lacking in things to do which don't involve outdoor recreation. It's a road that also lacks places to live, which in itself is a problem. You surely won't be bothered too much around here, if that's your goal.

Spooky Hollow Road is in the far northern reaches of Hyde Park, almost off into Rhinebeck. This is a relatively short road in an unpopulated area, and assuredly does not live up to its name (though I'm sure if kids go trick-or-treating around here on Halloween, they can get a little mileage out of it).

The most prominent thing you'll see on this road isn't a home or a forest of trees; rather, it is Edition Farm. It has operated on this road since 1986 and is a breeding ground for thoroughbred horses. It's unclear if just anyone can go riding there, and I'd think not because these horses are being trained to be champions, but it's still a pleasant sight in this rural area.

As for the houses on this road, there are only a few. Some would appear to be quite modest, while maybe a few are larger than that. The horse farm dominates Spooky Hollow Road, and there are not many people living on adjacent streets, so chances are you're not going to have many neighbors around these parts. With regards to home values, in the more rural areas of Dutchess County (where people have more land), property values often tend to be higher than in places like Poughkeepsie or some other Hyde Park neighborhoods. Here, it's a little different, but not completely. The most inexpensive places around here are $200,000 and under, while the most expensive close in on half a million dollars.

Just about nothing, and I mean nothing, is close to here. Shopping does not exist in this part of Dutchess County, and neither does dining out. You must have a car to live here, and you'll be using it quite a bit even if you just want to drive your kids to school or you have a doctor's appointment somewhere. This is one of those rarer spots on the western side of the county where you can go several miles in any direction and not even run into a village of respectable size. There are local parks, like Clinton Hollow and Helen Aldrich, but that's probably about all.

Though I cannot vouch for this neighborhood when it comes to finding things to do, I can with regards to finding somewhere quiet. I wouldn't think that the horse stables cause much of an issue, since most of the homes aren't right next door to it, and you're also pretty spread-out from your neighbors here as well. It's probably not the most spirited neighborhood around as a result, and activities are lacking, but it's very calm around here.

Off of Palen Road, in between Routes 82 and 52, you'll find Mapleview Road. It is part of the Charlett Grove Trailer Park, which appears to contain several dozen very modest homes.

Location-wise, this isn't a bad spot. You're relatively close to Hopewell Junction, which has restaurants, places to shop, places to worship, places to send your kids to school, parks, public transportation, and all that good stuff. You're also not a tremendous drive away from other things to do, being in the most populated part of Dutchess County. This road itself, however, is in a relatively woodsy area and there's not much around the trailer park.

As one might expect, home values are definitely more affordable. I was only able to find a few for this street, but they're generally in the low-to-mid $100k range. It is a low-income neighborhood, which is unfortunate but true. The trailers are very densely-packed, also not unexpectedly, which can sometimes mean your home is a very short distance from your neighbors on both sides. I'd imagine there's quite a bit of community with neighbors here.

Parking appears to me as though it can be a problem; there aren't a lot of places to maneuver around here with the streets being narrow and not every place looking like it has a driveway.

Mapleview Road is alright if this is the kind of neighborhood you can afford. It's not in a bad setting and it's not far from things to do.

Tee Holly Pond Road is a very short road in Beekman, New York. It's only a few hundred feet long and there are not many houses on the road itself, but it is part of a larger neighborhood. I've seen it in some other places called Ice Holly Pond Road, but whatever it is, it's an agreeable spot in which to live.

This neighborhood is a little out of the way. To get here from the closest main road, Green Haven, you'd have to go down and around a few side roads to get to this dead-end street. When you get here, you'll see some homes, many of which have small swimming pools in the backyard. You'll also see more than your fair share of trees. The nearby pond is small and not necessarily easy to see from all parts of the road, but it's there. Given its nice setting, few homes, and distance away from the bigger roadways, I'd have figured that this neighborhood was quiet, anyway, but being familiar with the area, I know it to be true. You'll have some neighbors and I'm sure they're friendly, but you also won't be bothered much out here, either.

The homes aren't necessarily modest, and the estimates for home values in this neighborhood reflect that, coming in at about $400,000. Two homes recently sold on adjacent streets went for $425k and $465k. You wouldn't necessarily think it would be expensive to live here, but it kind of is.

In Beekman, you don't really have a lot of amenities in the area. In fact, you're closer to a prison (about a mile away) than the nearest supermarket. Forget about major shopping around here or other things to do indoors like eating out often or going to the movies. The town is growing, but the businesses haven't caught up to the population yet. It's still a quiet town in general, and you'll have to go to Poughkeepsie or Fishkill for big-time shopping, and possibly Hopewell Junction for a few more restaurant options. There's little in the immediate neighborhood of Tee Holly Pond Road except houses. You definitely need a car to live here, as most everything you'll need to get by in everyday life is several miles away at least.

Aside from the isolation, this is a nice place to be. The neighborhood isn't very big, but it is quiet and calm.

Kirchner Avenue in Hyde Park is a side street which branches off of Route 9. Driving down it, you'll see a fairly simple road with some houses bunched closely together, some trees, and some grassy lawns. If that sounds generic, it is, because that's the word I think of when I consider Kirchner Avenue.

Hyde Park isn't a terribly unpopulated town, so there are things to do in the nearby area. All one needs to do is hop on Route 9 and drive south for a few miles to see some restaurants, places to shop, places for medical care, parks, gyms, schools, and more. Everything you need is close enough, just not here.

It seems like it's at least a relatively pleasant neighborhood with some friendly people, but it's not really the tree-lined sort of street I'm used to seeing around here. Furthermore, as mentioned, the lot sizes are pretty small here so houses are practically on top of one another. If you're looking for some silver lining on that, perhaps neighborly togetherness is improved here as opposed to other locales where homes are much more spread out. The bad news is your backyard almost certainly won't be that big and I haven't seen a lot of swimming pools in them, if that sort of thing interests you.

In driving down Kirchner, I can't really assign any positive or negative characteristics to it. To me, it's just a street, albeit one that doesn't leave me with a particularly bad impression. The homes are nice enough and the neighborhood at large isn't a bad place to live.

Fox Street in the City of Poughkeepsie is a short roadway intersecting Route 9 south of the Mid-Hudson Bridge. It is very close to Vassar Brothers Hospital, one of the best hospitals in the area. As you might find at any medical center, there are a number of specialist offices around it, and for this hospital, many doctors are located on Fox Street.

If going north/east on Fox, you will see several buildings, almost all of which contain medical practices. Down at the other end heading towards the river, there is a hair salon.

This is a relatively green area and doesn't feel too urban, despite being right near an active highway. The problem with Fox Street is that I'm not sure there are more than a private homes or apartments here. It's a small number to be certain, however many it is. It's kind of hard to have a neighborhood when there's almost nobody living there. If there are more than a few places to live, the fact that the doctors' offices bring in so much traffic (and having the hospital a block away) would probably be a bit annoying.

There just aren't too many places to live on Fox Street, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Fishkill Creek Road through the Lomala area of East Fishkill. With a train track (inactive as far as I know) running through it, this is one of the more secluded areas of town that's not in Stormville.

Because of its isolation, Fishkill Creek Rd. is very peaceful. It's uncommon to see cars going by as it's not a main thoroughfare and it's definitely out of the way. It'll take you a few minutes to get here from Route 82, which is the nearest major roadway.

There are some parts of this road which are pretty densely forested, and there is a little brook running through here as well. In spite of that and the train track, there are plenty of houses here, though the homes are not stacked closely together in most cases. There aren't any sidewalks but you will see your neighbors walking their dogs around here and playing outside with the kids. Most homes have some land, and a good many have swimming pools. There really aren't any open fields and the lots aren't very big though, so I can't say this is thoroughly a country paradise.

I would peg this neighborhood as being average income. The houses vary in size as you might expect on any street, with some one or two-story dwellings. Just about all of them are kept up well. As for anything else, there are no local businesses here at all.

While it's obviously really quiet and a nice enough neighborhood, you do have to do some driving to find places worth your while. Hopewell Junction and its conveniences are not *that* far away, but there's nothing in the immediate area of Fishkill Creek Road. Same goes for schools and things of that nature.

Despite all that, this is a really pleasant little road. I'd struggle to come up with negatives about it.

In the southeastern corner of Dutchess County, you'll find the Town of Pawling. Being on the eastern side hugging the Connecticut border, you'd correctly assume that this area is less developed and a little more isolated than the western side. With that said, there is still civilization here, as well as other points that make this town an appealing place to live.

Other than Routes 22 and 55, there is nothing resembling a highway coming through here. You'll be driving south for a little while before you hit Interstate 84, and there's no highway link from here to Poughkeepsie -- Route 55 will get the job done, but you will contend with traffic lights just like everybody else. The good news is that there are two public transportation options as well. First, the Dutchess County Loop Bus does operate a route between the City of Poughkeepsie and Pawling, and second, the Metro North's Harlem Line train to New York City stops here. Neither trip to the end of the line will be brief, but it is nevertheless available. Still, don't kid yourself: you need a car to get around here.

When you drive around this town, you'll see a peaceful, safe, and green community. Like many other areas of Dutchess County, it has grown, but with that, you'll find a fair amount of houses for sale in most towns, including Pawling. Just because this town has drawn more interest in recent years, however, doesn't mean it's sprawling out, nor does it mean it's becoming less peaceful. I've always found Pawling to be pretty reasonable in that regard.

There is a supermarket in town (a Hannaford, if I'm not mistaken) but your major retail options are very limited -- as in, they don't exist. For most places in Dutchess County, the logical and closest place to go for big-ticket shopping would be Poughkeepsie, but down here, it might be better to head south and swing to the Danbury Mall. There are a few medical clinics (including pediatric care) here, but the closest hospital is in Carmel in Putnam County. More good news, though: there is a gym in town for fitness fans.

The school system here is reportedly pretty strong and is able to service students all the way up through high school.

There are lots of local businesses in town, including restaurants, some of which I've heard are very good. There are places to eat, sure, but a drawback is that there still are not many other places to enjoy a night out in this town. You'll have to find your fun elsewhere for the most part.

Pawling is quiet, but not so quiet that it's just you and the trees like some other Dutchess County towns. You're not swamped with traffic or urban sprawl like in Poughkeepsie, either. In some respects, Pawling is like a happy medium, where you've got a number of modern conveniences available to you and get to live in a nice community while not having to worry too much right now about an area that's getting too big, too fast.

The City of Poughkeepsie is the seat of Dutchess County, located right along the Hudson River. The city proper has a population of about 30,000 people at last check and is mostly urban throughout its borders.

If I am going to be honest, there are some places of the city I like and some places I don't -- hence, it's "hit or miss." For example, there are some side streets of the city in the vicinity of Vassar College/Hooker Avenue/Wilbur Boulevard (which I hope to review later) that are very pleasant. From first-hand experience, a few of these neighborhoods have a great feel and are very welcoming. On the other side of the coin, there are some parts of the City of Poughkeepsie that I would consider almost to be "no-go." Not every neighborhood is the best, the nicest, or the cleanest, and unfortunately that is the case here. Some lack greenery and you will probably see some buildings that are not kept up well in those "miss" areas. Unfortunately, crime is also not completely unheard of in Poughkeepsie in general.

As far as modern conveniences, they're here. You have an excellent hospital in Vassar Brothers in the city, with many other medical facilities, clinics, and specialists nearby. There are also nightclubs, restaurants, places to shop, concert halls (such as the Bardavon and the Mid-Hudson Civic Center), and bars (a local favorite is Mahoney's, right near the train station). There are also places to exercise in the nearby area, and you're not very far from the big shopping malls in the Town of Poughkeepsie.

Speaking of the trains, there is public transportation. Not only does the Dutchess County bus system pass through here, there is also a City of Poughkeepsie bus system that operates with several different routes, giving residents a few options. Further, the Metro North train to New York City comes through here, and it doubles as an Amtrak station which I have taken advantage of in the past.

There are a few parks here, but the biggest attraction of them all (literally) is the Walkway Over the Hudson, the former railroad bridge which was converted into a pedestrian walkway and state park with majestic views. Since opening a few years ago, it has been an important draw for the area, and on weekends, you're likely to see pedestrians, vendors, joggers, and so forth.

I did not attend Poughkeepsie city schools, for full disclosure, but there is somewhat of a local reputation for a few not being very good. This does not necessarily apply to all, but there have been a few over the years with lower test scores and such. That is something for you to look into further.

I know some folks who are happy living here, but then again, they're in some of the more quiet residential neighborhoods (and there are a few). Otherwise, it's not really my favorite place in Dutchess County, though there are plenty of things around and it's not without its history.

Along the Taconic State Parkway in north-central Dutchess County, one will find the small town of Clinton. There is not much population here, nor is there necessarily a lot to do, but it is peaceful, green, and wide-open in many spots, but not so terribly far from modern conveniences and local business that it's completely isolated.

Traffic through here is not what I would consider a problem. Yes, there are often enough cars going through on the Taconic Parkway, but a lot of times, it's just passing though and doesn't really make its way onto the side streets. Most every neighborhood in this town I've encountered in Clinton is pretty quiet.

There is essentially no public transportation available in Clinton. The county bus system comes close (Millbrook), but doesn't quite stop here, so you'd need a car, anyway, and the Metro North/Amtrak trains run closest in Poughkeepsie, which will take you a little time to reach by vehicle.

In the Salt Point area, you'll find a few prominent local businesses and perhaps a restaurant, amongst other establishments; in Clinton Corners, you have a gas station, a park with a baseball diamond, and maybe if you're lucky somewhere to eat (perhaps the gas station's convenience store). A little out of the way, you might find some nice little vineyards and/or a nice lake to admire. Otherwise, that is pretty much the long and short of life in this town. Clinton is quite rural and though there is a residential population, there's not much of anything else.

Restaurant and/or nightlife options, medical facilities, variety in schools, fitness establishments and retail or grocery shopping are in short supply here -- which is to say, virtually none. You will have to leave the town boundaries for all of that and more. Clinton is a place where you go to live in peace and quiet in a close-knit community, perhaps with a lot of land and a large house. Speaking of, having also known previous and current residents of the town, Clinton folk tended to be a bit more on the well-to-do side, but that was only my experience; your mileage may vary. For what it's worth, some of the other nearby towns and villages like Millbrook and Stanford can say the same thing about their residents.

Clinton is a very pleasant place to be if you want a bit of isolation without being an hour away from civilization. You will need to go outside of it, however, for medical care, shopping, eating out, and all the rest.

LaGrange is one of several towns bordering Poughkeepsie, and much like the others, it has a good-sized population relative to the rest of Dutchess County and is close to modern conveniences.

First, with regards to traffic: there is some. Those who plan to move to Dutchess County must know that this area has grown quite a bit over the years, and population continues to make sizable jumps from census to census (increased 6.2% in 2010). What were some quieter country roads around here back in the day, as they say, might not be any longer. Residential traffic has really picked up in some areas. In LaGrange, you're not likely to see Manhattan-like congestion or anything like that, so let's not blow it out of proportion, but you'll be far from the only car you see on the road. When it comes to public transportation, the Dutchess County Loop Bus does pass through here, but the nearest trains are in Poughkeepsie, which could take you about 15 minutes or more to reach, depending on where you are. You still need a car to get around.

When driving through, LaGrange seems to be part suburban and part rural. Generally speaking, the closer you get to the Poughkeepsie side, the more suburban it is, and the closer to the eastern (more unpopulated) side, the land really starts to open up and there's just less development. What locals consider to be LaGrange is a slightly bigger area than is seen on the map provided here, as it extends a little further west on Noxon Road and Route 55, where you'll see some more local businesses, including popular restaurants. I've been to more than a few and haven't had many disappointments.

There are no medical facilities here in LaGrange, but not being far from Poughkeepsie makes it less of an issue. Of course, you'll find some clinics and dentists in the general area. Furthermore, there are no malls here, but there are local shops and supermarkets; you'll also find a few strip malls around that should be able to take care of a lot of your needs. Also, there are gyms here, including Gold's Gym on Titusville Road and a relatively new Planet Fitness that just opened. Finally, the schools around here do tend to have a good reputation locally.

From experience, I know that there are at least a handful of larger, more expensive homes here with big lawns and pools, but by no means does that describe everyone's living arrangements. The communities seem to be on the more tight-knit side.

Finally, there are parks in the area. Three that come to mind as being in this general vicinity are James Baird State Park, Overlook Park and Stringham Park, all of which are worth a visit. It's not uncommon to hear of festivals at places like Stringham Park during the year.

There are some nice sights in LaGrange, and though it has more noticeable auto traffic coming through, it feels like a peaceful community. You may not have every modern convenience in the world right here with you, but you're close enough to them (in other towns) that it's not much of a bother.

Tivoli is a small village in the northwestern corner of Dutchess County which borders the Hudson River. It may not look like very much is there on a map, but there are actually things to enjoy if you live here or visit.

First, Tivoli does not have one issue that most northern Dutchess County towns do: lack of public transportation access. The Dutchess County Loop Bus DOES run through town, and Tivoli is the last stop on the line; residents, if so inclined, could take the bus to Poughkeepsie. I can't imagine it's a short ride, but the option is open. Unfortunately, it does not have access to the Metro North train to New York City and the nearest station for both that and Amtrak is in Poughkeepsie. You'll still need a car to get around from place to place, since not everything you need is located right there in the village, but even with that said, traffic is hardly a major issue (at least it has never been in my experiences).

For full disclosure, there are no medical facilities in town, there is no significant shopping around aside from local businesses (you'll have to do some driving even to get to a supermarket), and good luck finding a gym. The good news is that unlike some of the other northern towns like Milan, there actually are places to go for a night out. Tivoli is home to a few local restaurants, some or most of which are quite respectable. There is also a bar in town, for those looking for that kind of nighttime experience.

There are a few other amenities available, such as a library, nicely-kept town parks, the Hudson River and its views of course, and an inn or two for visitors.

Tivoli is green and quiet while having some of the charms of a rural village. With an art gallery and dance studio also in town, that almost makes it feel a little bit on the trendy side.

Still, there is some level of isolation here, despite the nice setting and the few restaurants in town. The next closest town of consequence is Red Hook, and you'll be driving about 5-10 miles to get there -- and they don't even have medical facilities, major shopping, etc. That'll all be in the Poughkeepsie area. If you don't require those things, then there's no harm in giving Tivoli a look. In spite of that, it has always seemed like a nice place to stop by and enjoy the local charm.

For residents of Dutchess County, mentioning the Town of Union Vale brings very little to mind. A few who don't live in said town might even say "where's that?" It's not hard to imagine why, because even though this town shows up on a map, there's basically nothing in it of which to speak (aside from the aforementioned natural phenomena). I'm not kidding: there is almost literally nothing here in the way of local businesses or other establishments aside from private homes. You could drive through it from end to end and not even know you were in a town, because you won't see much of anything like a cluster of civilization.

If peace and quiet is your thing, you'll likely find it in abundance here. Being more towards the eastern side of Dutchess County, like nearly every other incorporated municipality around here, it's scarcely populated. If being surrounded by wide-open spaces and nature's beauty are also your thing, there's no reason you wouldn't find Union Vale appealing. There is also quite a bit of farmland that one can even see from a satellite view, which should adequately demonstrate what a quiet lifestyle you're likely to experience here. This also means that traffic is essentially not a concern.

There are some schools here in the general area, if not in the town proper; some are newer and appear to be nice facilities for schoolchildren.

Now the bad news, and there's plenty depending on your perspective: first, you're pretty isolated. There are no malls, hospitals, major retailers, or fitness facilities anywhere near Union Vale. Next, restaurants, bars, or other nightlife attractions simply do not exist here, and if they do, I've yet to learn of their existence. Finally, there is no public transportation for miles around. Your best bet on accessing the latter from Union Vale would likely be Dover Plains for the Metro North train to New York City, and perhaps Millbrook for the Dutchess County Loop Bus, both of which would take a little bit of time to get to, but you'll need a car to live here and get around, anyway.

Union Vale is the kind of place you want to live if you seek a quiet, undisturbed lifestyle. Perhaps you want to raise your kids or maybe you're just a country lover or retiree who seeks a peaceful setting. If that's your aim, then consider this town. If you're looking for activity or close proximity to restaurants, stores, and so forth, this is not the place for you.

If you're very familiar with US geography, you may know of the "Land Between the Lakes" in Kentucky. Fairview is kind of like the "Land Between the Colleges" as you have Marist on one side and Dutchess Community College on the other. In the middle you have homes, local businesses, medical facilities, and much more.

Being a part of the Town of Poughkeepsie -- none of which is isolated in any way, shape, or form -- Fairview houses a decently-sized population and plenty of modern conveniences. Being wedged in between two colleges, you'll find lots of things that college kids might enjoy, notably restaurants, bars, stores, and gyms. Furthermore, you're not that far of a drive from the malls in Poughkeepsie (around which there are many more restaurants and restaurant types), so if you want greater options, they're reasonably close.

Driving through here on Route 9, it can get irritating, especially during rush hour. The problems are exacerbated by Marist College foot traffic: the crosswalks are part of the traffic light cycle, and some traffic lights are FOR crosswalks in this area, so add an extra 30 seconds to a minute each time you sit at a light and watch the college kids walk through. I used to thoroughly despise this part of my late afternoon commute, but on the bright side, there are stores and restaurants on the other side of the street, which is probably appealing to many.

Both major hospitals in the Poughkeepsie area are very close, with Saint Francis Hospital practically visible from Marist College and Vassar Brothers Hospital only a few minutes away by car. As you might expect, there are a number of clinics and doctors offices near the hospitals, so medically, you're pretty well covered in Fairview. You won't have far to go in an emergency.

With the population being what it is, there are schools nearby (and not just the aforementioned higher education) at all levels.

Some parts of this neighborhood are nice and suburban, while others are a little more urban getting in towards the City of Poughkeepsie. On the northern end of it, there is some nice parkland and very nearby Fairview is the entrance to the Walkway Over the Hudson, one of the more popular and notable state parks around.

There are some things to do here, and even if it's not enough, you're close enough to big population centers to be able to get to more. It's not as quiet and peaceful as some areas outside Poughkeepsie, and it's definitely not secluded, but there are worse neighborhoods around.

Fishkill is one of the more noticeably growing areas of Dutchess County, and why not: it's located roughly at the junction of Interstate 84 and Route 9 and is home to some new housing developments and many, many relatively new businesses.

Along Main Street (Route 52) in the village, there are many quaint buildings and it sort of gives that small-town feel, but once you see the traffic crawling through, you realize that it's not really much of a small town -- it's instead become a very busy village despite looking the part otherwise. The traffic light at the intersection of Main Street and Route 9 usually sees backups.

A little further north, there is a supermarket (Shoprite) in a strip mall with restaurants and other stores. This is across the street from an elementary school, some gas stations, more restaurants, and a Dunkin' Donuts.

Further south of the light, in between Route 52 and Interstate 84 on Route 9, is where most of Fishkill's action is. Some of the highlights include a Wal-Mart, a Sam's Club, Starbucks, Cracker Barrel, multiple hotels (several of which are relatively new), and a large medical clinic. There are many other restaurants and shops available here, but mainly because of the Wal-Mart and the outflow from the interstate, this area is capable of experiencing heavy congestion.

There is a little of everything available here, also including public parks, bars, and a fitness center. With plenty of new housing having been built around here in the last decade (Merritt Blvd. comes to mind), it's clear that there's a push to grow the area, and it's succeeding. Fishkill has plenty of local commerce, though you won't find most of it in that quaint center of the village.

If you live in Fishkill, you'll get by with the conveniences available to you, which are plenty and increasing. Fishkill is far too busy to be quiet, but it's still safe and clean. With all of the hotels right off the interstate, it's also a decent place for tourists to spend the night.

Wingdale is on the eastern side of Dutchess County near the Connecticut border, and anyone who knows this county is aware that the western half (particularly the southwestern quadrant) and the eastern half might as well be in other states. The difference could not be bigger: in Poughkeepsie, it's built-up, suburban and urban, and with plenty of modern conveniences and hangouts like malls, restaurants, bars, clubs, and more. In Wingdale, you're just not going to find much of anything, try though you might.

If your idea is to be out of the way in a small town, then Wingdale may be the place for you. There is a strip mall with a pizza place and a hair salon, amongst other things, as well as a library, an elementary school, a diner, and a very good bakery called Cousin's (try the danishes -- in fact, try everything at least once). There is also a gas station nearby, and Dover High School is not far from the main intersection (Route 22 & Pleasant Ridge Road). That's about it.

If you're looking for wide-open spaces and a place with scenery and parkland, this might be a good destination. If you're looking for nightlife, however, this is definitely not the place for you. You'll almost certainly have to go out of Wingdale to find a nice restaurant, either in Poughkeepsie (over half an hour away), Pawling, or maybe even Connecticut.

This is the kind of town where you'll see the occasional Mercedes or BMW on the roads, because there are wealthier areas around, but Wingdale still is not what I would consider a destination for the rich and famous. Indeed, a great many houses there are modest, as is the way of life here. Speaking of roads, Route 22 is the main road passing through here, and although it is a useful state highway which is no stranger to through traffic, any congestion you'll see is nowhere near that of the Poughkeepsie area. In fact, I have never seen any traffic backups here whatsoever. Seeing more than a few cars stopped at the main traffic light is almost shocking.

Wingdale is a very quiet, small town which is not all that close to major amenities like shopping malls or major medical facilities; if that and the prospect of wide-open spaces has appeal to you, then certainly give it a chance. It's a pleasant community, but if you need to be near civilization, you probably won't think much of it.