Two of the local schools are clustered at the eastern end of the Plains - an elementary school and the regional high school, behind the stately gate of the former Sanborn Seminary. The regional middle school is located a few miles south in Newton. Boat launching facilities on Great Pond are open to residents and there's a town beach on Greenwood Lake. Rock Rimmon State Forest offers hiking trails, and for golfers, there's a miniature golf course and par-three course. Outside the Plains and the village proper is Kingston's countryside, with a variety of housing, from old homesteads and new construction to converted lakefront cottages.
Farms range from active horse farms to small cottage farms selling fresh eggs and produce.
Commercial activities are in small clusters, one in town, and the others along Route 125, where daily traffic brings a steady stream of customers. Along Route 111, through the center of town, the restaurants tend to be more family-oriented. For years, diners have come from miles away for meals at the popular Pond View Restaurant and the Kingston 1686 house, located in an historic house - on the Plains.