Are you thinking of moving to Beacon New York so you can live in the Hudson Valley in a beautiful Hudson Valley town?
Beacon is a great choice if you are thinking of relocating to the Hudson Valley and putting your roots down.
People who think about moving to Beacon New York want to know the pros and cons of living in Beacon so I’ve put together a list of reasons why I love Beacon and how it has been a good place for me to live. I’ll also point out some of the cons of living in Beacon, NY so you can consider your options when it comes to potentially moving or relocating here.
Living in Beacon, NY – My Experience
I consider myself highly qualified to guide you because I’ve lived in Beacon since 2018 and have made Beacon my home every year since. In 2018 I was living in the Poconos and looking for a cool town in New York by the Hudson River that had art, a food scene, nature and culture. A friend of mine who had a house in New Paltz recommended looking at Beacon as a place to move to.
My partner and I came out to see a very nice loft rental building in Beacon that was an old factory turned into lofts. The price was right – it was 2018 – and the space was superb. We sold our house and relocated to Beacon, NY within a few months.
The transition from the Poconos was pretty seamless. There were a lot of artists, writers, and tons of other Hudson Valley towns surrounding Beacon with the things we were hoping for. Although Beacon is a lot smaller than anywhere I have lived, it was a great fit in so many ways.
Living in Beacon makes getting to the things the Hudson Valley offers so easy. Beacon is centrally located in the Mid-Hudson Region where you can easily get to cool towns like New Paltz, Kingston, Cold Spring, Rhinebeck, Woodstock & Newburgh which has a thriving art scene and some terrific vintage shops.
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Why do people move to Beacon, NY & the Hudson Valley?
I love the Hudson Valley because it’s so incredibly beautiful and has so much to offer people who want to be near NYC but not in a congested area like some of the towns in Westchester or Putnam.
People are flocking to Beacon and the Hudson Valley because it’s quaint, beautiful, close enough to NYC to commute and has a small town vibe with big town people.
When I’m driving anywhere or even just looking out my windows at home at Mt Beacon, I’m struck by how gorgeous the scenery is. And, the communities have a long history reflected in the architecture and homes in the different towns.
Where is Beacon, NY Located?
Beacon is located in southern Dutchess County about an hour and a half by train from NYC. Beacon is a compact town that is nestled at the base of Mt. Beacon and cozies up to the Hudson River to the west. There is plenty of nature to enjoy in Beacon.
Beacon is situated on I-84 and is close to the Taconic Parkway which heads north to upstate NY or south to NYC. It’s also near the NY State Thruway which goes from New Jersey to Canada. There’s also a Metro North train station which makes commuting to NYC easy.
Watch My Video About Moving to Beacon, NY Pros & Cons
Pros and Cons of Living in Beacon, NY
If you are thinking of moving to Beacon, NY, here are some of the Pros and Cons that I see… please let me know what YOU think the pros and cons of living in Beacon New York are if you currently live here. If you are thinking of moving, please call me. I’d love to help you find a place to live in Beacon or in the greater Hudson Valley area.
Pros of Living in Beacon, NY
- Art and Museums – Dia Beacon is the most pivotal thing to happen to Beacon. Modern art museum in an old Nabisco factory – very close to train station so it is a huge draw for people wanting to get away from NYC for the day and visit a cute town in the Hudson Valley
- Weather in the late spring, summer and fall is gorgeous. Leaf peeping is off the chain and no matter where you go during these seasons, you’ll love the weather and nature
- Little appreciated gem is the Yankees Minor League baseball team, the Renegades, which has a stadium about 8 minutes from Main Street in Wappingers Falls. Great place to go to watch live sports action during the summer. Have fun family nights and special nights to honor different demographic groups and diversity
- Outdoor activity – there is amazing hiking at Mt Beacon and kayaking on the Hudson River.
- You don’t necessarily need a car to live here if you don’t drive. There is public transportation, grocery stores and pharmacies on Main Street. You may need a car to go to a doctor or dentist, but you can get most of what you need to get done at the smaller specialty shops on Main or by using Instacart or another delivery service to deliver to your home.
- Variety of housing. Beacon has high end condos and townhomes, loft factory condos and rentals, plenty of historic homes and also some new construction. Beacon has a diverse style of housing with many neighborhoods sharing different styles side by side.
- Working out – there are not any large gyms like Planet Fitness, but there are Pilates, Yoga and Specialty Fitness Gyms
- No drive throughs within the city – closest are in Fishkill – Wendy’s, Taco Bell, McDonalds, Burger King and also pop in places like Chipotle & Five Guys
- Movie theater on Main Street – Story Screen Beacon which gets new movies hitting the market
- Strong sense of community and purpose. The town rallies around each other to enjoy the diversity of its population. There are so many community events and local groups for you to get involved with or even start your own based on your interests if they don’t exist
- During the summer, Long Dock Park on the Hudson River is overflowing with people soaking in the sunset.
- Beacon is a wonderful town with a beautiful sunset and residents who take advantage of it when the weather is nice. There’s always something beautiful to see in Beacon!
- Lots of families and young professionals combined with a long time generational population.
- Team sports for adults and kids – softball, pee wee football, etc.
- Big dog park so you can socialize your pup while meeting local people and making friends!
- Art studio rental for the artists in your life
- Gay and trans friendly town -people often ask if Beacon is LGBTQ friendly – yes! Beacon celebrates its diversity for everyone!
Watch a Beacon, NY Driving Tour
Search for homes in Beacon on my Real Estate Website: https://carlinfelder.exprealty.com/ask/606125ecf5ade7016fe59bec0e682e51
Cons of Living in Beacon, NY
- It’s small – you’ll run into people you know all the time even when you travel to other Hudson Valley towns – especially Newburgh across the river
- The town is compact and covers a small area and is “land locked” between the mountain and Hudson River so very little new construction going on.
- Homes tend to be older and not updated so you may spend a lot of money for something that needs to be renovated completely.
- Winter weather lasts from November to April – some warm days sprinkled in but overall it can be very gray and rainy on a daily and weekly basis.
- The economy in Beacon is driven a lot by tourism. From Thursday’s through Monday’s, especially during the warmer seasons, the town can be packed, and it may be difficult to find seating if you want to go out to eat without a reservation.
- Careers: If you work remotely and lose your job, you’ll probably not find a comparable job within Beacon’s city limits. There isn’t a robust and diverse economy within the township. You’ll have to find another remote job or commute to a new position or move… And if you are moving and need to sell, please call me!
- Homes are significantly more expensive than Fishkill or Wappingers Falls. The housing market is also incredibly competitive.
- Rents are very high and increasing at a faster pace than inflation
- No big box stores to buy bulk items within 5 miles – this is a pro and a con
- Cost of living is higher than some nearby Hudson Valley towns.
- There is only one grocery store in town so you’ll have to travel out of town if you want more than the main street store offers. However, there is a butcher in town and the weekend farmers market is a great place to shop. There is a natural market on main street to pick up some extras that you may need to buy if the grocery store doesn’t have it
- No higher education directly in Beacon unless you drive to Poughkeepsie where you can find Marist & Vassar or Newburgh across the river where you can find Mount Saint Mary. Nearby Fishkill has also a DCCC Campus.
Final Thoughts on Moving to or Living in Beacon – the Pros and Cons of Living in Beacon
Overall, Beacon has a lot to offer people of all backgrounds. The housing is diverse and lets you find whatever you may be looking for. Historic homes, shotgun style houses, factory loft buildings, classic architecture and mansard style homes are all over Beacon as well as the usual raised ranch and 50-60’s style ranch houses.
There isn’t a ton of new construction and not all houses have been renovated. You’ll pay more for the same style house in towns a little further out, but you’ll not have the same access to arts, culture, restaurants and the commuter rail to NYC at your fingertips.
If Beacon sounds like something you want to explore, contact me. I’m ready to help you on your journey to buying a home in Beacon or anywhere in the Hudson Valley.
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