Hudson, NY 81 Apartments for Rent

Hudson is home to the FASNY Museum of Firefighting, which features more than 50,000 square feet devoted to historic fire engines and firefighting gear. No wonder this city is so hot.

Hudson is a city in Columbia County, New York, on the eastside of the Hudson River, approximately 100 miles north of New York City and 30 miles south of Albany, the state capital. Once a manufacturing center, in recent years Hudson has experienced a revival. Many new residents are artists, musicians, or in other creative fields. The population of Hudson in the 2010 census was 6,713.

Moving to Hudson

There are a variety of apartment rentals in Hudson, but how do you find one that fits your needs? A little bit of prep will help you narrow down your search of possible apartments for rent.

Think about your needs and budget. Would you be comfortable living in a studio? Or are you looking for something a little quieter, maybe rental homes with a yard? If you need more space, you might want to consider two- or three-bedroom houses for rent.

Collecting paperwork in advance will help you act fast when you see a place you like. Most landlords will want to see photo ID and a letter of employment, and many will ask for bank statements and pay stubs. A credit and/or background check may also be required.

Hudson Neighborhoods

Hudson is small enough (2.3 square miles) that it doesn't have named neighborhoods. Downtown Hudson has many mixed-use buildings, with storefronts on the first floor and offices or apartments above. Hudson has a few historic districts in the downtown area that are named after the streets they include: Union/Allen/South Front Street; Warren Street; Willard Place; North Fourth; Armory; and Rossman Avenue/Prospect Avenue.

Route 9 is a major north-south route running along the east side of the city. On the west side, Route 9G runs parallel to the Hudson before making a 90-degree turn downtown, where it becomes Columbia Street. Warren Street, running east-west, is the city's major commercial strip, and Third Street is a major north-south street. Columbia Memorial Hospital is located east of Route 9 on the southeastern outskirts of the city.

Living in Hudson

Hudson's prime riverfront location offers peaceful living with easy access to New York City and the Hudson Valley. The Hudson Valley's many farms are visible in the landscape and on local tables. Restaurants and businesses, such as DABA, which serves Scandinavian food such as herring and meatballs, and Caf̩ La Perche, a French caf̩/bakery/bistro, cluster on Warren Street. Grazin', a restaurant housed in an old silver diner car, is famous for its grass-fed Black Angus beef burgers (vegetarian and lamb versions also available). Lick is an ice cream and sorbet shop scooping classic and unconventional flavors (think beet or salty caramel pretzel).

Nature lovers, rejoice! Riverfront Park is located on a peninsula stretching out into the Hudson River. The Hudson River Islands State Park, only reachable by boat/canoe/kayak, offers first-come, first-serve camping, and Lake Taghkanic State Park is another popular camping choice. The Catskills, Adirondacks, and Berkshires are all within driving distance.

There are many galleries and antique stores on Warren Street. Olana, the home and estate of the Hudson River School painter Frederic Edwin Church, overlooks the river. Warren Street is home to two independent bookstores: The Spotty Dog, which carries new books and has a caf̩, and Hudson City Books, which specializes in used and rare books.

Basilica Hudson is a performance/event space in a renovated 19th century factory near the river. Patti Smith has played there, and weekly film screenings draw a crowd. The Omi International Art Center, in nearby Ghent, is home to a sculpture park that features nearly 80 works of art on more than 60 acres. MASS MoCA, in North Adams, Massachusetts (one hour away), is a premier destination for contemporary art, with 110,000 square feet of gallery space.

The Hudson Valley comes alive in summer. Hudson has a Saturday farmers market from May to November. In the summer, many local farms also operate roadside stands and/or pick-your-own operations. The city of Hudson puts on a Fourth of July fireworks show on the river each year, and the Columbia County Fair is held in Chatham over Labor Day Weekend. The historic Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, the northernmost lighthouse on the Hudson River, is open for public tours on the second Saturday of each month from July to October.

The Taconic Parkway, the New York Thruway, and Albany International Airport are a short drive from Hudson. Amtrak service connects Hudson with Montreal, Toronto, and New York City. Columbia County Public Transit buses run a local shuttle around Hudson, and offer weekday commuter service to Albany.