Amherst

East Amherst — 17 miles north of Downtown Buffalo — is one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Erie County. Its nearest neighbors are the hamlets of Eggertsville, Getzville and Snyder and the town of Williamsville. Each of these areas encompassed by Amherst have their own parks, shopping and vibe while sharing a truly suburban personality. Aside from being more upscale than its neighbors, East Amherst is distinctive for its residences. “Most homes in Amherst are historic and built in the ‘30s. You’ll find more ‘90s-era homes and larger properties in East Amherst,” says Williamsville local Joseph Strano, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty NY. The average list price in East Amherst is around $480,000, though the larger and newer a property becomes, it may travel toward the millions. Entry points may also be as low as $250,000 for a three-bedroom condo or townhouse. A three-bedroom Colonial-style home with opportunities for updates might go for $340,000, a four-bedroom Tudor-influenced home on a quiet cul-de-sac for $470,000 and a four-bedroom New Traditional with a large back porch for $600,000. Architecture generally reflects these styles, though some homes have farmhouse and Victorian details. The area has a neighborly vibe, where kids play in the streets and friends stroll along sidewalks. Newly paved driveways, vibrant flowerbeds and large manicured lawns are common here. Trees are plenty, but not at all crowded, and the area is golden come fall. East Amherst is served by the highly regarded Williamsville Central School District whose motto is “Encouraging. Nurturing. Challenging.” One complete pipeline within this district is Country Parkway Elementary School, Transit Middle School and Williamsville East High School. The elementary and middle schools earn an A rating from Niche. The high school scores an impressive A plus. The performing arts thrive across all Williamsville Central School District facilities. Transit Middle’s performing arts department regularly hosts musicals where students were invited to participate on all levels — from acting to lighting to directing. The main thoroughfare of East Amherst is Transit Road. It’s lined with shops that offer a range of amenities: Tim Horton’s for grocery hauls, an Urgent Care for medical emergencies, a neighborhood bike shop called Love and Sprockets, Kohls and several local eateries including Zoé Restaurant — known for its Greek menu and all-day breakfast options. Transit Road, also known as New York State Route 78, runs for over 700 miles and passes through Williamsville, which has its own diverse array of shopping options. Eastern Hills Mall in Williamsburg, 6 miles southeast of East Amherst, has a Sephora, JCPenney, several salons and even a mixed martial arts academy. The Transit Valley Country Club on Transit Road offers an 18-hole golf course, a junior-Olympic-sized pool with a diving board, clubhouse with a dining area, and a recreational center with Pickleball courts to its members. Memorial Park, also centrally located in East Amherst, has an impressive range of public sports fields and a bike path. The 80-acre Amherst State Park is only 5.8 miles away from East Amherst via NY-78 and locals can spend a whole day there walking along its meandering trails. Nearby Glen Falls has vibrant flower beds and murals that depict wildlife, including a fox wandering through a forest — and of course, waterfalls. Eggertsville Community Park is also appreciated for its playground, basketball court, swings, and a multi-use looped trail locals love to walk, jog and bike on. Both Glen Falls and the community park are less than 7 miles southeast of East Amherst via Transit Road. Badding Farm Market and Garden Center, located in East Amherst on Transit Road, is open every year from April to December. Locals can purchase seasonal vegetables during those times, and even a fresh-cut tree for Christmas. Another favorite for all of Amherst is the annual Old Homes Day celebration in Williamsville. This four-day festival features rides, games, food and entertainment and all proceeds are donated to local children’s organizations. “The most walkable area of Amherst is Williamsville. Everywhere else, including East Amherst, you depend on your car,” says Realtor Devonte Davis of eXp Realty. Davis is a Buffalo local. Amherst as a whole is also highly bikeable, with bike paths along almost every main street. The nearest airport is Buffalo Niagara International Airport, 8 miles away via Transit Road. Interstate 990 and state routes 5, 62, 78, 263 and 270 also all cross through Amherst proper. There’s a spacious yet well-connected feeling within East Amherst, a true suburb.

Snyder is a hamlet of Amherst, one of the most populated towns in New York State. Established in the early 19th century, it’s also one of the oldest suburbs in Buffalo. The area is known for its highly regarded school system and proximity to all major highways. It’s easy to find diverse shopping from home, and locals are just 9 miles from downtown Buffalo. Snyder is also a friendly place. “Buffalo at large is known as the city of good neighbors and Snyder represents that so well," says Realtor Linda Ellson. Ellson used to live in Snyder and her Hunt Real Estate office is located in town. Most residences in Snyder were built in the ‘50s and they're all unique. “You could drive down any street and it’s anything but cookie cutter,” Ellson says. Neighbors are always out and about, too. “You see kids riding bikes up and down the streets here. People are always out enjoying their garden and walking their dogs.” It’s a typical suburban experience and layout here with sidewalks, well-tended yards and tall trees. A four-bedroom split-level traditional recently sold for $200,000, a four-bedroom brick ranch-style house for $300,000 and a three-bedroom Colonial for around $400,000. Homes also tend to sell fast, with one of these properties selling within seven days. Tudors, American Foursquares and bungalows are also common in Snyder. Students of Snyder are served by Smallwood School District and Amherst School District. Facilities they may attend include Smallwood Drive School for elementary, Amherst Middle School and Amherst Central High School. All of these schools earn A-minuses from Niche. The elementary school combats stress with their virtual calming space featuring guided meditation and relaxation practices for kids. Snyder decorates Main Street with lights each holiday season, adding warmth to the area during cold New York Winters, but according to Ellson, they mostly head outward for events. "You’ll see some Snyder folks every July at the Old Homes Day festival in Williamsville — a straight 3-mile drive away along Main Street.” Old Homes Day is a four-day festival featuring rides, games, food and entertainment where all proceeds are donated to local children’s organizations and charities. Main Street is the main thoroughfare of Snyder. It's lined by eateries, including Siena Restaurant with its Italian menu and upscale dining environment. Spot Coffee Snyder is a chill place to work remotely. And Bagel Jay’s is known for their sandwiches. For a village-like, highly walkable sequence of old-fashioned boutiques, cafes and gift shops, neighbors also visit Williamsville. Wegman’s is on Amherst Street, 6 miles away via Main Street, when locals need groceries. Amherst State Park on Mill Street is around 3 miles away from Snyder. It comprises 80 acres of diverse landscape, including wooded areas, meadows and old orchards. Elliot Creek also runs right through it, providing a fishing spot. Primarily a passive park, locals also use this space for bird watching, walking and jogging, and gatherings with family and friends. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority connects directly to Buffalo Metro Rail stops along Main Street. And while neighbors can walk and bike to shops, it gets pretty cold during the winter. A car is still important here. Rideshares like Uber, Lyft and taxi cabs also service the area. Snyder is close to everything, and locals enjoy a quiet, suburban life here.

Unrelated to Shakespeare, the hamlet of Eggertsville sits within the town of Amherst, bordered on the north by both Tonawanda and Niagara County. Ellicott Creek flows right through the town, and small, family-owned restaurants speckle Main Street and Niagara Falls Boulevard. Plus, locals love the convenience of close cities and other attractions. “It’s a small area compared to Buffalo, which is 5 to 10 minutes away,” says Maureen Flavin, a Realtor with Howard Hanna Brokerage, who has 32 years of experience in Buffalo. “You’re 70 minutes from ski country in Ellicottville, nicknamed The Aspen of the North.” A variety of homes are along double sidewalks and cul-de-sacs adorned with basketball hoops and hopscotch chalk drawings. “There are lot of charming, brick Tudors,” Flavin says. Cape Cods and a few four squares stand out with balconies and inviting front porches. Home prices vary by square footage. “The market in Buffalo is very strong,” Flavin says. “There’s not much competition, and prices are good. You have a good chance at a nice property.” Properties under 2,000 square feet and farther from Amherst sell for $100,000 to $120,000. For properties over 2,000 square feet, there’s a big gap. Homebuyers can expect prices between $200,000 and $400,000, apart from a few homes selling close to $700,000, offering four to five bedrooms and 4,000 square feet. The Sweet Home Central School District and Amherst Central School District have award-winning music and theater programs alongside high Niche ratings. “There are wonderful schools in Eggertsville, just wonderful,” Flavin says. “Some of the best in Buffalo. Many people move here for the schools.” Eggertsville’s youngest students may attend Windemere Boulevard Elementary School and Sweet Home Middle School, with B and B-minus Niche scores, respectively. Sweet Home Senior High School’s athletic program offers over 80 Teams. Alongside its impressive A-minus rating by Niche, Sweet Home is ranked in the top 10 Best Public High Schools in Buffalo. “It’s very walkable and highly desirable, but there are other ways to get around, too,” Flavin says. The NFTA Metro Bus System is also reliable most days. Locals can take Interstate 290 to Niagara Falls, and Buffalo Niagara International Airport is 6 miles away for longer getaways. “You couldn’t live in a friendlier city than Buffalo. Everything is a hop, skip and jump, plus there’s no traffic issues like in other cities,” Flavin says proudly. “Niagara Falls is 20 minutes away. You can literally be in a different country in less than half an hour. You can’t beat that.” Along with fishing on Ellicott Creek, there are beautiful green spaces in and around Eggertsville. Dellwood Park is the most popular choice, less than a mile away on Westfield Road. Next door, Garnett Playground features an immersive playspace, concessions stand and baseball field. Six miles away is Buffalo’s famous Delaware Park, home to The Buffalo Zoo. When locals don’t want to drive to Niagara Falls, Glen Falls is the perfect substitute 3 miles away and Amherst State Park is a minute's drive from the falls. In the summer, kids keep cool at Clearfield Community Park’s pool and splash pad in Amherst. Year-round indoor ice skating is available through the Northtown Center at Amherst and hosts beginner classes. Eggertsville is home to many eateries, bakeries, bistros and pubs. Duff's Famous Wings on Sheridan Drive and Tim Hortons Coffee & Bakery are notable favorites. Bocce Club Pizza and Family Tree, a Greek restaurant serving souvlaki dinners. There's Boulevard Mall 2 miles away on Eggert Road for retail and grocery options. The mall consists of department stores like Macy’s and DICK’s Sporting Goods. Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market, ALDI and Tops Friendly Markets surround the mall on Niagara Falls Boulevard, as well as Target and Walmart. For local produce, locals drive 12 miles away to Badding Bros. Farmers Market, popular for its berries, veggies and flower selections. On the weekends, Glen Park hosts an art festival in celebration of its local artists. For a larger festival, the Annual Italian Heritage Festival is in Kenmore, 4 miles away, and Taste of Buffalo is downtown, 8 miles away via NY-33 West.

The culture of the University at Buffalo North Campus seeps into the Getzville community. It is a public research institution and the largest of the university’s three campuses, with its Center of the Arts bringing world-class theater and dance performances to the stage along with crowds roaring for the Buffalo Bulls at UB Stadium. Getzville is a typical American suburb, 22 miles from Buffalo and 17 miles from Niagara Falls. Its namesake is derived from Joseph Goetz, a copper shop and mill owner when Getzville was known as a thriving agricultural community. Getzville is a hamlet in Amherst, the second largest town in Erie County, and offers residents a slower pace of life and natural amenities without being too far from the city. Getzville’s winding roads and cul-de-sacs are situated among whispering Pine and Maple forests. Sidewalks line streets alongside medium-sized, well-maintained lots with homes having driveways and attached garages. House styles vary from street to street, with some subdivisions catering to Neo-traditional architecture with brick, stone and wooden masonry. While other avenues have classic colonials, Tudors and Victorian houses dotted among the landscape. Neighbors take pride in their homes, often having backyard pools and renovating older homes built in the 70’s and 80’s, with the median home price being $410,500. Students residing in this quiet village may be a part of the Williamsville Central School District, the top school district in the Buffalo area. Heim Elementary has an A-minus, while Heim Middle and Williamsville North High School have an A, according to Niche. The middle school has STEM-centered after-school clubs revolving around astronomy, robotics and coding and the Science Olympiad. Continuing this STEM focus, the high school is home to the Space Lab Planetarium and offers both Regent and Advanced Regent diplomas. On Hopkins Road is Billy Wilson Park, designed to be wheelchair accessible with a sensory-friendly turf on the playground, equipped for all ages. Found here is the Margaret Louise Path, which weaves along the dense forests with a bridge over the swamp. The Great Baehre Swamp Wildlife Management Area is across the street, unfolding into whispering silver maple-ash woods and water-logged marshes inhabited by black bears, deer and turkey. Though hunting and fishing are prohibited, locals come for hikes, trapping and wildlife observation. Walton Woods Park is adjacent to the Audubon Branch - Amherst Public Library, with a rotating calendar of events. Audubon Town Park offers rolling greens for golfing and is next to Northtown Center, a multi-use mecca of sports, seeing seasoned figure skaters and hockey players take on the ice. Golf enthusiasts will find the Glen Oak Golf Club’s velvet greens on Smith Road and the Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo on Forest Road. Getzville is 5 miles from Trader Joe’s, Target, Lowe’s and Best Buy. It is also 5 miles from Boulevard Mall, with a mix of upscale and casual retailers and good places to eat. For a nice dinner after class or a visit to the park, Lebro’s Restaurant has been in the neighborhood for generations, dishing out authentic Italian pasta and pizza. Across the street, patrons can expect to get their hands dirty at 2 Forks Up, known for its lobster rolls and food truck seen around town. Williamsville, also a village within Amherst, throws Old Home Days, beginning with a parade and ending the evening with carnival games, live music and local food vendors. Williamsville also hosts a farmers' market every Saturday, where visitors will find alpaca wool products, locally-made wine, homemade treats, and storytelling. Getzville is conveniently located near major highways along UB’s campus, such as Interstate 990. It’s also down the street from Interstate 290 and New York 78. The neighborhood’s proximity to the university makes it a walkable and bike-friendly district, with crosswalks and bike lanes. NFTA operates public transit with several stops peppered on Millersport Highway. It is also under 10 miles from the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.