Barre offers a laid-back lifestyle in agricultural Orleans County
Relaxed and rural, Barre is a sprawling, sparsely populated stretch of Orleans County. "If you’re looking for privacy and quiet, that’s what you’ll find in Barre,” says Ilene Benfer, a real estate agent with Small City Real Estate and a former resident. “People are looking more for acreage. A lot of hunting goes on up there.” Though it’s primarily a farming community, several renewable energy projects are charging up in the area, including a $370 million wind farm and a 200 megawatt solar project, both in the works.
Homes with multiple acres to hunt, farm and play
Acreage is the name of the game in Barre. Many homes sit on at least an acre, and bigger lots have room to hunt, farm and ride all-terrain vehicles. The landscape is peppered with Colonial Revival and National homes from the 1800s, postwar manufactured and ranch-style homes, custom builds and farmhouses. Prices largely depend on acreage: Properties with 5 acres or less often sell for $150,000 to $300,000, while homes with more land can sell for nearly $400,000. Barre receives a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, lower than the national score of 4.
World-class fishing on Lake Ontario
The town park features ball fields, a spacious playground and plenty of green space. A covered pavilion serves as a gathering place for birthday parties, graduations and community events. Barre is about 15 miles from Lake Ontario, and it’s a straight shot on Route 98 to Point Breeze, epicenter for the county’s fishing and boating scene. “It is a world-class fishing area,” Benfer says. “Lake Ontario doesn’t freeze like Lake Erie does because it’s so deep, but there’s some ice fishing on the tributaries off the lake.”
Kids can go to Albion for school
Students may attend school a few miles away in Albion, starting with Albion Elementary School, rated B-minus by Niche, before heading to B-rated Albion Middle School. Albion High School, also rated B, offers Advanced Placement courses, internship opportunities and college credit through Genesee Community College. The district wrapped up a $27 million facilities project in 2024 that included renovations and security improvements at every school.
Albion has groceries and restaurants
Most folks head a few miles north to Albion to run errands and grab a bite to eat. Walmart, Save A Lot and Tops Friendly Markets offer groceries, but residents also lean on local producers like Stymus Farms, which operates a seasonal farm stand with fresh produce. Some farms offer Community Supported Agriculture programs, a subscription-like service for buying fresh fruits and vegetables. Albion also has several fast-food options and casual restaurants like Romyn’s Smoked BBQ and 39 Problems, a modern tavern.
Casual summer concerts and an annual tractor parade
Locals look forward to a handful of events throughout the year, including a free summer concert series at West Barre Church and the annual holiday Barre Tractor Parade. Nearby Albion hosts an annual Strawberry Festival, which kicks off the harvest season with a weekend of food and fun every June.
A car-dependent community about 45 minutes from Rochester
Route 98 connects to Interstate 90, also known as the New York State Thruway, a major east-west highway that spans the entire state. Batavia is about 15 miles south. Medina and Orleans Community Health Medina Memorial Hospital are also roughly 15 miles away. It’s 35 miles to Rochester and Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport, or about a 45-minute drive.
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Written By
Leslie Klosterman
