The allure of the Hamptons has all but fizzled out for New York’s wealthy elite, who are now looking to the Hudson Valley to get more bang for their buck. 

A realtor in the upscale Tuxedo Park area of the Hudson Valley told the Daily Mail the region is increasingly seen as an alternative to the Hamptons for wealthy New York City buyers, with some even choosing to make it their primary residence.

‘The Hamptons can feel like a shoebox on a very small piece of land – it’s crowded, there’s traffic, and it’s expensive,’ Elizabeth Broderick, realtor and owner of Tuxedo Hudson Realty, told the Daily Mail.

‘So many people from New York City are looking in the area here… in the luxury elite category, but really in all price ranges.’ 

In the Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh metro area, the top 10 percent of home listings now start at $1.295 million, according to a new Realtor.com report highlighting luxury communities across Dutchess and Orange counties. 

Listings priced above $1 million now make up 14.3 percent of the market there, while the number of luxury homes for sale has climbed 6.7 percent from a year ago – one of the biggest increases in the country.

The region includes destinations such as Amenia, Pine Plains and Tuxedo Park, where sprawling estates, rolling farmland and historic mansions offer an old-world atmosphere while remaining within commuting distance of New York City.

Tuxedo Park has increasingly become a magnet for affluent buyers seeking privacy, historic charm and a close-knit community without the soaring prices seen in Westchester County or parts of Connecticut.

Broderick said the ritzy enclave has seen a major boost since COVID, with many former weekend homeowners deciding to make the area their primary residence while commuting into New York City during the week.

‘A lot of people have kind of made that transition, and now they still, even six years later, they’re still here full time,’ Broderick said.

The realtor also explained how newcomers’ attachment to Tuxedo Park has only deepened over time, with many residents encouraging friends and family to move to the area as well through word-of-mouth recommendations.

That growing demand for homes in the Hudson Valley has pushed prices higher, particularly for properties with sprawling acreage. 

Median listing prices in Tuxedo Park and nearby Millbrook now hover around $1.2 million, though that remains well below Pine Plains, where the median listing price exceeds $2.3 million.

Originally founded in the 1880s by tobacco heir Pierre Lorillard IV and hotel magnate William Waldorf Astor, Tuxedo Park is known for its Gilded Age mansions, many designed by architect Bruce Price. 

The gated village still retains much of its historic grandeur, with lakefront estates, carriage houses and sprawling wooded grounds.

‘You drive through the gates, and it’s just stunning – the stone walls and the landscape and the unique Gilded Age architecture,’ Broderick gushed.

The area’s most expensive listing, a 19-bedroom estate known as Renamor, is currently on the market for $27.5 million.

The 151-acre French Provincial property, built in 1928, includes guest houses, a boathouse and off-grid solar and geothermal systems.

Residents are drawn not only by the historic homes and large parcels of land, but also by the lifestyle. 

The area offers private clubs, hiking trails bordering Harriman State Park, lakes and round-the-clock gated security.

‘You can do a different day trip like every weekend of the summer if you wanted to. There’s so many cool art galleries and restaurants and chefs coming out from the city, buying vintage houses and turning them into restaurants,’ Broderick said.

While the community is heavily car-dependent, many buyers are attracted to its quieter pace and strong neighborhood culture.

New construction remains relatively limited, accounting for just 12.9 percent of luxury listings across the metro area, reinforcing the region’s appeal as a destination centered on historic estates and established communities rather than modern high-density development.

One exception is Tuxedo Reserve, a new master-planned community developed by Lennar, where single-family homes start around $700,000. 

Broderick explained how her reality company benefits from the recent surplus in housing, as they’re able to curtail homes to homebuyers needs. 

‘We end up kind of doing like matchmaking,’ Broderick said. ‘Matching the personality of a house with the personality of the buyer.’ 

The development sits near the Metro-North Port Jervis line, offering rail access into New Jersey and Manhattan.

Much of the demand is coming from former city residents, particularly families leaving Brooklyn neighborhoods such as Park Slope in search of more space and Manhattanites who can afford a second home.

Buyers from Bergen County, New Jersey, have also increasingly flocked to the area, including retirees looking for large multigenerational homes rather than downsizing.

Families are also being drawn by the well-regarded Tuxedo Park School, along with the region’s combination of historic character, privacy and scenic Hudson Valley surroundings.

Broderick says she doesn’t foresee Tuxedo Park’s growth slowing down anytime soon and that it’s generational tight-knit community, four seasons charm and water features make it enticing to those looking to get out of the city. 

‘I would put my money on the fact that it’s going to continue to grow interest,’ Broderick said.