In 1998, Stephen Leven and his business partner, David Elwell, bought a farm in the upstate village of Millerton, N.Y., turning the old carriage house on the property into a roastery for their coffee company, Irving Farm New York. In 2003, the men opened a cafe on the village’s Main Street (their other seven locations are in New York City).

For years, Mr. Leven and Mr. Elwell, both city dwellers, alternated weekends on the farm. In 2014, Mr. Leven built a house nearby, but remained a weekender. And things might have continued that way, if not for Covid-19.

Brooklynites have flocked to Hudson Valley communities, including Millerton, bringing a youthful energy and spawning businesses that cater to their tastes. The Oakhurst Diner, formerly a greasy spoon, serves pho and Beyond Meat burgers. Saperstein’s, a five-and-dime that for decades sold everything from work boots to baby clothes, is now Westerlind, a high-end outdoor apparel and home boutique that opened last May.

Salisbury and Sharon might drive to Millerton to dine out or shop at the weekend farmers’ market, while Millerton locals might head to the Berkshires to take in cultural events at Tanglewood, Mass MoCA or the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center.

10 Coolest Small Towns” back in 2007.

And when a sleepy rural village becomes a hip destination, it can cause tension between longtime residents and new arrivals. “In some communities, that tension can be destructive,” said Chris Kennan, the North East town supervisor. “Fortunately, in Millerton, while I’m sure it exists, it’s much less so.” Mr. Kennan cited his own personal history as evidence of community openness — he was a weekender who became a resident, got involved in local nonprofits and was elected to local office.

Millerton appears to exist in a sweet spot. It’s vibrant and on the upswing, but not yet overcrowded or overdeveloped. One source of mild resentment among locals, however, is a commercial mix that favors the visiting New Yorkers: While you can buy a $5.25 mocha at Irving Farm cafe or a $275 jumpsuit at Westerlind, there hasn’t been a supermarket in the village since the Grand Union closed four years ago.