Twenty-six minutes. That is the drive separating a $237,000 median home in Washington County from a $588,000 one in Saratoga Springs. For a growing business trying to hire and keep good people, that affordability advantage is one of the reasons Washington County has become the best place to live in NY’s Capital Region. Yet the case for it starts well before any tax incentive comes into play.
The Best Place to Live in NY’s Capital Region Starts With Affordability
Housing affordability is often the deciding factor in whether a candidate accepts a job offer. If a new hire cannot afford to live near the job, retention becomes an uphill fight before day one even starts.
Washington County’s housing affordability is not an isolated example. Compared with communities across the Capital Region, home prices remain significantly more attainable. In fact, as of early 2026, the median home sale price in Washington County was $237,000, compared to $254,000 in the city of Albany.
For employees, that difference translates into greater purchasing power. For employers, it provides a compelling advantage when recruiting talent from higher-cost communities throughout the Capital Region and beyond.
Overall, a competitive salary in Washington County provides homeowners with more home—and greater financial flexibility—than the same salary would elsewhere.
Minutes From Everywhere That Matters
Affordability is only part of the equation. Washington County combines attainable housing with convenient access to the employment, education, healthcare, shopping, and cultural amenities of the Capital Region.
From Hudson Falls, Saratoga Springs is just 25 and Albany approximately one hour away. Whitehall, one of the county’s northern towns, sits directly on the New York and Vermont border along Lake Champlain, with Fort Ticonderoga about 25 to 30 minutes north. Also, Lake George is close, making a weekend on the water an easy plan rather than a day trip.
That means employees living in Washington County are not having to choose between affordability and access. They get both. A team member can own a home at a fraction of the cost of Saratoga Springs while still enjoying its world-famous attractions, along with Albany’s job market, airport, and amenities. All reached in under one hour.
Close to the Action, Free of the Gridlock
Luckily, Washington County residents can experience Saratoga Springs’ vibrant summer season while enjoying the peace and quality of life found at home. Each summer, Saratoga Race Course attracts nearly one million visitors during its renowned Thoroughbred racing meet. This influx increases the demand for parking, housing, and other local services. A trip from Washington County means showing up for the fun, then heading home to a quieter street – and a free parking spot.
This is not just Washington County’s own pitch. Andrew Kennedy, president and CEO of the Center for Economic Growth, has pointed to this same tradeoff as one of the region’s strongest selling points. A company can offer its employees a genuine mix of rural, suburban, and urban lifestyles, all within an easy drive of one another. That flexibility becomes a real advantage when competing for talent.
Healthcare and Higher Education Within Reach
In Washington County, residents do not have to choose between access to healthcare and education. They enjoy access to both.
Glens Falls Hospital, a 410-bed hospital serving Washington County, is part of the Albany Med Health System, the same integrated system that includes Saratoga Hospital. It was named a 2026 U.S. News High Performer for Maternity Care. For seniors, Fort Hudson Health System has served the county for more than 55 years as the region’s only nonprofit, multi-level, integrated senior care provider.
Access continues to expand. Hudson Headwaters Health Network opened Salem Family Health in 2025, a 14,300-square-foot primary care center offering family medicine, pediatrics, and on-site lab services through a partnership with Glens Falls Hospital, its 26th health center in the region.
Education tells a similar story. WSWHE BOCES, partners directly with SUNY Adirondack on programs including the Early College Career Academy, providing the opportunity for high school students to earn college credit and industry certifications while training alongside employers including Adirondack Studios and the Fort Miller Group, the same companies anchoring the county’s manufacturing base.
In fact, that partnership was recognized in 2026 as part of the New York State School Boards Association’s “Champions of Change” program. In addition, employees or family members pursuing a four-year degree have a plethora of local options. The University at Albany, RPI, Union College, Skidmore, and Siena are all within the same easy drive, just as the region’s major employment centers are.
Small-Town Community, Big Recreation Access
Not everything of value can be measured in dollars: a community where people choose to build their lives. Employees at Telescope Casual Furniture in Granville have spoken to exactly this, describing a company and a community where people look out for each other and where growth within a job feels genuinely supported.
Room to Choose Your Own Pace
Washington County is not just one kind of place. It is the quiet of a farmhouse on a back road, the walkable Main Streets of villages like Cambridge and Greenwich, and the more suburban feel of Fort Edward and Hudson Falls, all within the same county border. That range means employees can find the setting that fits their lifestyle without leaving the workforce area altogether.
For the growing number of employees working remotely or hybrid, quiet is a major benefit. Where city life brings traffic, noise, and constant motion, Washington County offers actual room to think, a stark contrast for anyone used to commuting into or working in a crowded downtown.
Carrie Armenio, a Human Resources Manager at Saint-Gobain‘s Washington County facility, has seen firsthand how the county’s quality of life strengthens the company’s ability to recruit and retain talent: “Our recruiting pool has gotten a lot bigger because it is so much easier to get people to move here. We’re pulling from the local community, but we’re also bringing people into the area from different parts of the country. I mean, I’ve got people that have moved from California to come here. They come here, they establish roots, they become a contributing member of the community, which is great. For me, it’s not just what are they going to do for Saint-Gobain for a business standpoint, but are these people that are going to be able to come in and contribute to the community, spend their money, make this area a better place. It’s bigger than just Saint-Gobain.”
Recreation and Amenities Close to Home
Outside of work, the county offers plenty to fill that time. The Battenkill River and the Adirondack foothills draw paddlers and hikers throughout the summer. Farmers markets and u-pick farms run from strawberry season in June through apples in the fall. A craft beverage trail, historic Main Streets, and events like the Washington County Fair round out a calendar that keeps residents engaged year-round. For an employer, that is not just a nice backdrop, but a recruiting tool that helps new hires put down roots instead of treating the job as a stopover.
Where Quality of Life Becomes a Hiring Strategy
This ecosystem is the result of a deliberate approach to economic development. Washington County Economic Development connects employers with the workforce, resources, and partnerships that make long-term business growth possible, from financing through the Washington County Local Development Corporation to workforce pipelines developed with regional partners.
Ultimately, the businesses that thrive in Washington County are those who recognize what their employees already know: affordability, proximity, and community are not soft benefits – they are assets. They are the reasons people choose to stay.
Ready to see what Washington County can offer your business?
Washington County Economic Development supports businesses at every stage of growth. Connect with us to learn how we can help your company start, grow, and succeed here.
