Living in NNY
About the North Country
Known as New York’s North Country, the region stretches from Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River on its eastern border, to Lake Champlain on its western border, and to Canada on its northern border. The region is blessed by the amazing natural resources that are the Thousand Islands, Adirondacks, Tug Hill, and Champlain Valley.
It is easy to see why so many soldiers and their spouses, upon leaving their military service from Fort Drum, choose to call the North Country HOME.
Welcoming Communities
Throughout the North Country, families and visitors alike enjoy safe, close-knit communities with neighbors helping neighbors. Quality healthcare, exemplary public-school systems, and abundant recreational activities make the region an ideal location to call home.
Amazing Experiences
The region is renowned for its world class fishing and hunting, boating the multitude of lakes and rivers, or camping at the many state-owned parks and campgrounds. If you enjoy hiking, become an Adirondack 46er, or join the Great 8 Challenge. In the winter, enjoy skiing, or snowmobiling the vast groomed trail networks.
Affordable Living
It is relatively less expensive to live in the North Country than most metropolitan areas across the country. The median home value is roughly half that of the United States, and it takes less time to travel to work in the North Country—meaning you have more time to spend with family and friends.
Learn More About Our Communities
Drum Country NY
Drum Country NY
Learn more about quality of life in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties.
Learn More
North Country
Good Life
North Country Good Life
Learn more about quality of life in the greater Clinton County area.
Learn MoreGo Adirondack
Visit 1000 Islands
Visit Tug Hill
Welcoming Communities
Throughout the North Country, families and visitors alike enjoy safe, close-knit communities with neighbors helping neighbors. Quality healthcare, an exemplary public-school system, and relatively low crime make the region an ideal location to call home. No wonder it is “the Army’s best kept secret!”
Exemplary Public-School System
The quality of New York State’s P-12 education system consistently ranks high among other states as demonstrated by recent surveys completed by WalletHub and U.S. News & World Report which ranked New York’s Pre-K-12 education #5 in the country.
The NYS Education Department provides leadership, guidance, and support in the areas of P-12 learning standards, instruction, educational program requirements, and graduation requirements. It does not mandate curricula, as this is done on the local level; however it does set standards for learning that include:
- The Arts
- Career Development and Occupational Studies
- Computer Science and Digital Fluency
- English Language Arts
- Family and Consumer Sciences
- Health
- Mathematics
- Physical Education
- Science
- Technology
- World Languages
Unlike other military installations, there is no school located on Fort Drum. The North Country is home to amazing public-school districts throughout every community, and all are supported by a regional Board of Cooperative Educational Services, or BOCES. BOCES provide shared education programs and services to the many school districts in the region. Together, students are afforded a high-quality education experience to prepare them for secondary education, or the workforce.
Quality Healthcare
Fort Drum is the only military installation with a division that does not have a hospital on post. Since the 10th Mountain Division was established in 1985, Fort Drum has relied on the surrounding community for urgent, emergency, inpatient, and some specialty services.
The North Country delivers high-quality care through a well-connected network of providers. Some of these external providers also bring specialty services directly into the region, expanding access in this largely rural area.
This system includes:
- Five local hospitals
- Community health centers
- Specialty providers
- Connections to larger health systems outside the region for advanced care
One of the region’s greatest strengths is its long-standing collaboration between military and civilian healthcare partners. The Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization (FDRHPO) is a nonprofit that formalizes and supports this structure by:
- Convening leadership across the healthcare spectrum
- Analyzing regional healthcare needs
- Leveraging resources to address identified gaps
FDRHPO’s focus areas include:
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
- Behavioral health and substance use
- Healthcare workforce recruitment and retention
- Care coordination
- Health information technology
- Telemedicine
- Population health
Amazing Quality of Life
Soldiers retiring from the military and their families can find the perfect home in the perfect community in the North Country. Communities across the North Country are relatively safe with lower crime rates than other regions of the state.
Median housing values in communities across the North Country are substantially less than the statewide and national median housing values for an occupied housing unit. In addition, travel time to work is much less in our communities than the statewide or national averages. Just imagine, you can be out of your home at 7:00 AM and be to work by 7:15 AM—and at your perfect job on top of it, leaving you more time to enjoy with family and friends.
| Watertown | Saranac Lake | Plattsburgh | New York State | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Housing Value | $149,800 | $188,900 | $189,600 | $420,200 | $340,200 |
| Median Gross Rent | $933 | $826 | $964 | $1,561 | $1,406 |
| Mean Travel to Work Time (minutes) | 16.1 | 14.6 | 15.1 | 32.8 | 26.8 |
2023 American Community Survey
Child Care Resources
If you are new to the North Country region, let Next Move NY staff assist you with the connections needed for quality, affordable child care. Throughout the region there are many child care centers and home-based providers to meet your needs.
NYS Division of Child Care Services
The NYS Division of Child Care Services allows you to search for regulated child care providers anywhere in the state by county, school district, and zip code.
Fort Drum Child and Youth Services (CYS)
Fort Drum Child and Youth Services (CYS) provides programs and services for children of eligible military and civilian Families. These programs continue to operate based on: Quality, Availability, and Affordability. Those interested in any CYS program must register with Parent Central Service first.
Child Care Coordinating Council of the North Country, Inc.
The Child Care Coordinating Council of the North Country, Inc. provides connections to childcare resources across northern New York State including Plattsburgh, Tupper Lake, and Malone.
Recreation and Adventure
The region is renowned for its world class fishing and hunting, boating the multitude of lakes and rivers, or camping at the many state-owned parks and campgrounds. If you enjoy hiking, become an Adirondack 46er, or join the Great 8 Challenge.
In the winter, enjoy skiing, or snowmobiling the vast groomed trail networks. Lake Placid is home to the 1980 Olympic Winter Games with its many facilities and events.
Families can enjoy the interactive and engaging museums like the Frederic Remington Museum or the North Country Children’s Museum, or get closer to nature by visiting The Wild Center in Tupper Lake or Zoo New York in Watertown.
Navigate the following resources to find your next adventure.