Woodbury One of Best Places to Live: New Report

Woodbury, New York made it onto the new list of Top 50 Best Places to Live 2015.

Not because of Woodbury Common, though the outlet mall complex did get a mention since it is one of the largest in the world.

Money focused on what you get when you get off the Thruway and Route 17.

But keep driving deeper into its series of wooded hamlets 1 ½ hours from New York City and you’ll discover a family-friendly town with a rustic feel.

Woodbury stands out for its educational strength, with students consistently scoring above both state and national averages on standardized testing. The town is also recognized by the National Association of Music Merchants as a “Best Community for Music Education” – a designation given to less than 400 districts nationwide.

Outdoor lovers will feel at home here too: Woodbury’s expansive parks, pool and reservoir offer residents a variety of water sports and boating activities surrounded by forested areas and mountain views. Green hillsides around the town are also dotted with wineries – including the oldest operating winery in the country.

Just a few miles away on the Hudson River, visitors can tour the United States Military Academy at West Point. Another notable stop nearby is the Storm King Art Center. This world-famous outdoor modern sculpture garden, which features works from Richard Serra and Roy Lichtenstein, is surrounded by rolling hills and adjacent to Schunnemunck Mountain State Park.

Time ranked Woodbury No. 19 of the Top 50. It might have been higher if not for two things:

Unfortunately long commute times – clocking in at an average of 40 minutes compared to the national average of 25 – are a downside to living in this area. And property taxes soar to almost triple the average of other small towns on our list.

Woodbury was the only New York community to make the Top 50 list. Explore the Best Places and compare your town against them, looking at taxes, crime, median household income, cost of living and the like.

PHOTO: Time.com used a photo from Storm King Art Center to illustrate its write-up of Woodbury, NY