10 Best Places To Call Home In The Adirondack Mountains In 2025
The Adirondack Mountains are truly spectacular. The Adirondacks stand tall in upstate New York and hold ancient wisdom. These mountains were formed from bedrock that is over a billion years old. The mountains we see today were created through uplift around 5 million years ago and then sculpted by glaciers during the last Ice Age, which ended around 10,000 years ago.
Today, the Adirondacks are mountains that are well known to many, but to others, they are virtually unknown. If you do not know the Adirondack Mountains, then you should get to know them. This mountain range is located within Adirondack Park, which is a 6-million-acre public park that was created in 1892. It's the largest publicly protected area in the Lower 48, and it's full of not only mountains, including 46 peaks over 4,000 feet tall, but also beauty, lakes, rivers, wildlife, trees, flowers, and some really pleasant, charming, and welcoming small towns.
The Adirondack Mountain region is a wonderful place to visit and an even better place to live. If you're looking for somewhere to relocate now or in the future that will bring you joy every single day, then you should consider the Adirondacks. Read on to learn more about this area and about some of the very best towns within it. You're going to fall in love with New York's Adirondack Mountain region.
Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake, with a population of fewer than 5,000 residents, is a very small town by most people's standards, but it's actually the largest community by population within Adirondack Park. Although named for Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes, the village itself touches none of them. Instead, it's on the northern shore of smaller Lake Flower, which is part of the Saranac River.
Located in the middle of Adirondack Park, Saranac Lake is the perfect starting place for anyone who wishes to explore the incredible outdoor activity opportunities in this region. Residents love living in this small town for many reasons beyond that, too; Saranac Lake is known for its many galleries like the Adirondack Artists Guild Gallery and the NorthWind Fine Art Gallery, numerous fantastic restaurants, including the highly-rated Our Plates and Red Fox Restaurant, and music and theatrical venues such as the Pendragon Theater and the Waterhole Music Lounge. You're sure to find much to do in Saranac Lake, along with friendly folks and a tight-knit, active community. It's no surprise that many people who visit Saranac Lake fall in love with it during their first visit.
Tupper Lake
Not far to the west of Saranac Lake is the village of Tupper Lake. Tupper Lake is also right in the heart of the Adirondacks and is a small town with a lot of activity and opportunity. It's named for the 11,000-acre lake of the same name two miles south of town, but which can be accessed by boat by crossing Raquette Pond.
People come from all over New York State and beyond to explore and recreate in Tupper Lake and the surrounding areas. The Wild Center, a vast natural history center that's fun and educational for all ages is a huge draw, and visitors and residents also flock to the Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory to learn more about the night sky. Many hiking trails and boating opportunities are just a stone's throw from Tupper Lake for people who wish to really immerse themselves in the outdoors.
Of course, Tupper Lake also offers restaurants, golf at the Tupper Lake Golf Club, films at the Adirondack State Theater, and bowling at Lakeview Lanes, among other things. Residents find that there is plenty to do in Tupper Lake, even when you're done taking in all the surrounding beauty.
Lake Placid
Lake Placid is best known for being the home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, and many people still come the area to visit the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, the Olympic Center, and the Lake Placid Olympic Ski Jumping Complex even today. However, this town of 2,000 residents has much more to offer beyond that. The town is located between its namesake and Mirror Lake, both of which offer boating, swimming, and fishing opportunities to residents and visitors. Like all small towns in the Adirondacks, anyone living in Lake Placid can enjoy easy access to countless outdoor activities.
The local public schools are considered above average, and children can participate in a variety of youth sports programs that are unique to the area due to the town's Olympic past. Further, this same past means that the locals are interesting and diverse; you'll find a mix of professionals, outdoorspeople, and athletes residing in Lake Placid, and this unique mix of mountain folks makes this small town one that's different from all the rest. You'll love it.
Ticonderoga
The town of Ticonderoga is in the southeast corner of Essex County across the bottom of Lake Champlain from Vermont and at the top of Lake George. This town was visited by explorer Samuel de Champlain, was the site of several battles in the Revolutionary and French and Indian Wars at Fort Ticonderoga and is also famous for graphite mining and Ticonderoga-brand pencils. Thanks to all of these factors and events, this part of the Adirondacks is popular with history enthusiasts. Visits to Fort Ticonderoga, its beautiful King's Garden botanical garden, and the historic Hancock House should not be missed.
History is just one of many reasons that people love Ticonderoga, though. Its location offers easy access to other great small towns in Vermont, plus New York's Bolton Landing on Lake George, Schroon Lake, Crown Point, and canoeing paradise Pharaoh Lake Wilderness. Plus, as with all places on this list, hiking and camping opportunities are everywhere in this region, and residents can enjoy wildlife-watching just outside their doors. During the summer months, the Ticonderoga farmer's market is popular, and people love the combination of rural and suburban living in this small town of around 5,000 people. You will, too.
Warrensburg
Warrensburg is another great option for anyone who wishes to settle in the Adirondacks. This town of nearly 4,000 residents is just a short drive from Lake George, "The Queen of American Lakes" and everything that lake and the towns that surround it have to offer. It's home to the World's Largest Garage Sale, which happens annually in October during peak fall foliage. It's also a great stepping off point for hiking, boating, and other activities in the summer, and is not far from Gore Mountain and Hickory Ski Center for skiing and snowboarding in the winter. Warrensburg is also conveniently located just off Interstate 87, allowing for easy access to larger cities to the north and south.
People love visiting and living in Warrensburg for its lively community, many small, local businesses, and affordability. Specialty shops line the main drag, along with excellent local restaurants like New Way Lunch, George Henry's, and Mark's Hometown 'Cue. People come from all over to visit Oscar's Smokehouse, too, which offers a wide variety of smoked meats and some of the best specialty mustard you've ever had anywhere. Warrensburg is a great place to live and is a perfect spot to settle for the long term.
Schroon Lake
If you're looking for a very small town to try in the Adirondacks, then you'll love Schroon Lake. Like Warrensburg, this small town of about 1,000 residents is just off Interstate 87 and is only slightly further north. In Schroon Lake, you'll find a rural, slow-paced atmosphere that captures the overall vibe of this mountain region perfectly. In the summer, you can enjoy a well-maintained beach on the lake with public lifeguards and excellent boating and fishing opportunities. In the winter, you won't be far from numerous northern ski resorts in both New York and nearby Vermont. If you want to catch a movie at any time of the year, you can do so at the historic Strand Theater in town.
Although Schroon Lake is quite small, it's a lovely place to have a meal or stroll through the tiny downtown. The town plans and offers community events and cultural activities throughout the year that are fun for the whole family. In fact, Schroon Lake is an excellent place for families; the local school is small and personalized, and the locals are friendly and welcoming. Schroon Lake is an excellent option for anyone desiring true small-town American life.
Au Sable
The small town of Au Sable is simply lovely. It is across Lake Champlain from Burlington, Vermont, and in many ways, it feels more like a town in Vermont than one in New York. It's also less than half an hour south of Plattsburgh, so if you are looking for a place to live that is a small town but that offers easy access to a much larger town, Au Sable may be the right choice.
Au Sable has a population of around 3,000 residents and is named for the Au Sable River that runs through it. This river is full of brown and rainbow trout and is popular with anglers. Nearby Lake Eaton is a pleasant spot for canoeing and kayaking, and Whiteface Mountain provides many opportunities for skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing in the winter. You can get fresh cheeses, meat, and dairy from the family-owned and operated Asgaard Farm and Dairy year-round, and you'll love the small, mom-and-pop, locally-owned businesses in town, like the popular Ausable Brewing Company and others. Activities at the Tahwas Center — a local health club and arts center — will also enhance your time in Au Sable. This small town has a little bit of everything, but not too much of anything, making it perfect for people seeking a small town in which to live.
Plattsburgh
Anyone looking for a small town in the Adirondacks that is on the larger side will find what they seek in Plattsburgh. It has a population of nearly 20,000 residents, making it the biggest town by population on this list. It also grows beyond that for much of the year due to it being home to SUNY Plattsburgh, a state college that has a total enrollment of nearly 5,000 students per year. Thanks to the lively student population, Plattsburgh offers a wide variety of activities, restaurants, stores, and services that you won't find in many smaller towns in the region.
Plattsburgh is on the shores of Lake Champlain between the Adirondack Mountains and Canada. It's a safe and affordable place to live and has a lively and walkable downtown. In Plattsburgh, you'll find museums and galleries like the Kent-Delord House Museum, the War of 1812 Museum, the Rockwell Kent Gallery, and the Strand Center for the Arts. Outdoor activities are countless in the nearby Adirondacks, but in town, you can also enjoy spots like the Plattsburgh City Beach and Point Au Roche State Park, too. Due to the larger population and student community, you'll also find dozens of high-quality restaurants, breweries, and live music venues in town as well. Plattsburgh is a happening town in the far north of New York State, and you're sure to feel welcome in this lively and energetic community.
Speculator
The smallest town of all on our list is Speculator. This very small town has fewer than 500 residents and it is very deep in the Adirondacks. If you really want to get away from it all, then Speculator may be the best choice for you. NYS Route 30 and NYS Route 8 intersect in town, so people often pass through town, but few stay for long, which makes this the perfect spot for people who seek quiet, rural living.
Speculator is on the shores of Lake Pleasant and isn't far from the more popular Sacandaga Lake, but it's rather far from most other Adirondack towns. It's a bit over an hour from Lake George, Saratoga Springs, and Amsterdam, so residents must drive quite a distance to access shopping and other services. However, this type of rural living also offers opportunities for hiking, camping, and boating, and Gore Mountain and Oak Mountain Ski Center are nearby for skiing and snowboarding in the wintertime. The town itself is tiny, but offers numerous places to eat, drink, and relax, like Firetower Pizza, Timberline Cafe and Bakery, and Lemon Tree Brewery, among others.
You'll find a small, tight-knit community in Speculator. Residents are friendly and helpful and everyone knows everyone else, but they're also not nosy, and won't mind you keeping to yourself if that's what you desire.
Wilmington
Wilmington is a small town in northern Essex County, not far from Lake Placid and Saranac Lake. The population of Wilmington is just 1,200, making it one of the smaller small towns on this list, but its location offers quick access to a number of larger small towns nearby, allowing residents to enjoy several different towns and their offerings with ease. Wilmington is known as the gateway to Whiteface Mountain and the Adirondack wilderness, making it a strong choice for anyone who wishes to immerse themselves in the great outdoors while still keeping one foot in an active small community as well.
Locals love visiting Santa's Workshop theme park in town — it offers events throughout the year — and hiking at High Falls Gorge and along the Au Sable River nearby. The Town of Wilmington Beach is a great place for families to swim on Lake Everest during the summer months. Whiteface Mountain provides ample opportunities for hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing in the winter, and restaurants like Twisted Raven, Alpenglow Bistro, and Country Bear offer a variety of delectable cuisines. Wilmington is a splendid option for people who love outdoor activities but who also appreciate life in town. It offers a bit of both, and an intimate, welcoming community that is not closed off to newcomers.
Anyone looking for a pleasant and perfect small town in which to reside in the Adirondack Mountain region of New York will surely find one without much difficulty. The only thing that might slow one down is the fact that there are so many from which to choose. Each of the Adirondack Mountain towns described above has its own vibe and personality, and all of them have much to offer their residents and visitors during all times of the year. The Adirondacks are a true gem in New York and there's something for everyone in this part of the state. It's no wonder so many people choose to call small towns in this area their homes, and perhaps someday you can, too.
