Binghamton

Eastside Binghamton runs along the northern banks of the Susquehanna River, extending eastward from the city’s downtown area. The mostly residential neighborhood, known for its diners and Italian restaurants, has convenience to Interstate 86 and partially bridges the area between downtown and Fivemile Point. “There are a lot of residential homes and some really great restaurants and,” says Douglas Harrington, a licensed real estate salesperson with EXIT Realty and resident of Eastside Binghamton. “We have a really nice park, Howard Avenue Park, that’s right in there, as well. I like to walk my dog there.” Local celebrations and events give the area a close-knit atmosphere. “I’ve noticed, over the last 10 years, that there’s more of a sense of community,” says Tara Cataldi, a real estate salesperson with EXIT Realty. “More people are volunteering to get grassroots projects off the ground, and they’re growing.”<br><br>Eastside Binghamton is known for the prominence of diners and Italian restaurants. Jody’s Diner and Christy’s Diner both dish out breakfast and brunch along Court Street near the river. “You have Michelangelo’s, which is my personal favorite,” Harrington says. “They’re a good Italian staple. The Binghamton area has a really big Italian population, so there’s quite a bit in terms of Italian restaurants.” Michelangelo’s is complemented by Cortese Restaurant, and the two Italian diners are only about a mile apart. “If you go a little bit farther east, between Routes 11 and 17, there’s an ice cream stand called Frosty Joe’s,” Harrington says. “They have like 50 different flavors of soft serve. It’s a really nice place to go and it’s pretty inexpensive, especially during the summer.”<br>Less than 10 miles north of Eastside Binghamton, the Fat Cowboys BBQ plays host to a stocked menu and live music. “He has a bar-restaurant here,” Cataldi says of pit master Garrett Wagner. “He’s won multiple awards for his barbecue, and they have food trucks that are up here.” Dick’s Sporting Goods originated in the Eastside Binghamton neighborhood, and the very first location is still in operation just off Court Street. Less than half a mile up Ely Street, a Weis Markets provides convenient grocery shopping for residents. <br><br>Just east of the neighborhood, the Binghamton German Club plays host to an Oktoberfest celebration every fall. “They do the stein hoist, pretzel-eating contests and keg rolling,” Cataldi says. “They have the German beers there and authentic German food that they source from deep into Pennsylvania and from Germany itself.” To the southeast and across the Susquehanna, the annual Conklin Town Fair draws thousands of attendees for a three-day stretch of games, rides and events. “We’ve got something going on every single week,” Cataldi says. During the holiday season, Kirkwood Hometown Christmas schedules activities, contests, tree lightings and more.<br><br>SUNY Upstate Medical University sits on the east side of the neighborhood, which hosts transfer and graduate-school students. On the same grounds, the New York State Inebriate Asylum is more than 150 years old and sits vacant, though plans have been discussed to renovate the building ; it’s on the United States Register of Historic Places and is known as the Castle on the Hill. “It’s pretty cool,” Harrington says. “It’s a public area, and you can go drive up and check it out. It’s really cool architecture and a building on the grounds there."<br><br>Interstate 86 and Route 17 are concurrent in the area, and 86 runs through the northern side of the neighborhood before splitting with Interstate 81 in either direction. “It’s very convenient,” Harrington says. “It takes me two minutes from my home to hop on Interstate 86 and Route 17.” To the west, I-81 turns north, and to the east, it turns southward. “It’s just a minute or two from either highway, which is nice,” Harrington says. Public BC Transit buses run along Robinson and Court Streets.<br><br>The waters of the Susquehanna River flow along the south side of the neighborhood, and it’s not uncommon to see boaters and kayakers offshore. To the west, across downtown, the Chenango River is typically used more for fishing. “It’s a calmer river,” Cataldi says. “There’s several drop-off points and there’s several points where you can land, such as Beer Tree Brew. You can park there, get off and then there’s the restaurant, where they make their own craft beer.”<br><br>Near the middle of the neighborhood, Fairview Park’s playground and swimming pool are complemented by sports facilities like a baseball field, tennis courts and two basketball half-courts. Close to Court Street, Howard Avenue Park branches off Robinson Street, a linear green space amid the street of the same name. Past Colesville to the northwest, Nathaniel Cole Park sits less than 15 miles away and has a lake spanning more than 50 acres, beaches, trails and more.<br><br>Walkable, gridded streets line Eastside Binghamton, which is mostly residential. “On the Eastside, you’re looking at older, Victorian-style homes,” Harrington says. “My home was built in 1890.” The angular Victorian homes sit alongside ranch-style houses and Cape Cods, as well as some duplexes. Homes in the neighborhood mostly date to the early 20th century. “There’s a lot of really good character and charm that you’re going to find in those Eastside homes,” Harrington says. Single-family home prices typically range from $120,000 to $160,000, but can dip to $75,000 or go for closer to $200,000. The neighborhood earns a CAP crime score of 4 out of 10, equivalent to the national average.<br><br>Calvin Coolidge Elementary School begins education for Eastside Binghamton students, located in the center of the neighborhood amid its residential area. As such, it’s walkable from some nearby homes, and receives a C-plus from Niche. East Middle School is situated northwest of Coolidge Elementary and earns a C. Graduates then head west across the Chenango to Binghamton High School, which scores a B with Niche. Its boys’ basketball team scored a championship in 2024, and the area’s high school hoops tournament is set to return to the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena, just east across the river, in 2025.

The dense foliage that takes up much of Binghamton’s Ely Park neighborhood gives way to the massive Ely Park Golf Course in its center, where golfers hit the links during gorgeous-weather days to practice, send balls flying at the driving range or aim for par on the 18-hole complex. The sparse homes make for reserved, quiet properties, making Ely Park a retreat from the busier downtown and west side areas. “You have some houses up there and the golf course,” says Douglas Harrington, a licensed real estate salesperson with EXIT Realty. “Other than that, there’s not really much up there besides Legacy Bay.” The Legacy Bay townhouse community provides its residents with living space alongside the course less than a five-mile, semi-circular drive from its entrance. The golf facility and parts of the neighborhood sit on Mount Prospect; it’s more of a large hill than a mountain but rises over 1,400 feet above sea level and is a prominent feature of the hilly Binghamton landscape.<br><br>Just east, Otsiningo Park hosts the annual Broome Bands Together Concert Series, which fills the summer air with music almost every Tuesday from June to August. Bands from the area and beyond take the stage during the run of performances. The park’s flagship event is the Spiedie Fest & Balloon Rally in late summer, where crowds gather to savor Spiedies – cubes of meat that are skewered and grilled – and watch hot air balloons take to the skies. The festival and balloon rally has drawn over 100,000 people in a single year before. Seasonal celebrations also take place there later in the year, including a scarecrow contest, “trunk or treat” for Halloween and a Festival of Lights at Christmastime among the revelries. Residents can take part in a 5K race during the summer months, as Otsiningo is one of several venues for the 5K series.<br><br>At Union Park, residents shoot hoops or play tennis; or, sometimes, a hockey rink is outlined on the courts, complete with faceoff circles. North of Union Park, though, sprawls the Ely Park Golf Course. Situated atop Mount Prospect, the 18-hole complex spans more than 5,600 yards of links and also offers lessons, practice and more. It also has a driving range, putting green and rentals for golf carts, and takes up about half of the neighborhood. Otsiningo Park is just east of the neighborhood with numerous sports facilities, like beach volleyball courts, soccer fields and a softball field on its grounds. There’s also areas for picnics and grilling, as well as a paved trail.<br><br>Students usually attend Woodrow Wilson Elementary School from kindergarten to grade five, situated south of Ely Park on Prospect Street. It’s near Route 17 and scores a C with Niche. On the west side of the Chenango, graduates of Wilson Elementary move on to West Middle School, which receives a C-plus for its education of grades six through eight. Binghamton High School follows, rating at a B with Niche. Binghamton High also offers the Rod Serling School of Fine Arts, named for the famed author, Binghamton native and creator of the Twilight Zone television series. There, students can focus on theatre, music, visual arts or dance and various sub-concentrations within.<br><br>Interstate 86 runs along the south side of Ely Park towards the Chenango, meeting with Interstate 81 close to the river. The two highways run concurrently near downtown until I-81 splits and turns south. Via 86, which turns back into Route 17, residents can reach New York City in just under a 200-mile trip east; 81 also provides a route there or to Philadelphia in the southern direction. Both highways also connect to Buffalo, just over 200 miles northeast. Broome County Transit buses take on passengers along Glenwood Road, just west of Ely Park.<br><br>Interstate 86 runs along the south side of Ely Park towards the Chenango, meeting with Interstate 81 close to the river. The two highways run concurrently near downtown until I-81 splits and turns south. I-86, which turns back into Route 17, is part of the route to New York City to the east, while I-81 takes up a portion of the drive to Philadelphia to the south. 86 also connects to Buffalo, just over 200 miles northeast, while 81 reaches Syracuse to the north. Broome County Transit buses take on passengers along Glenwood Road, just west of Ely Park.<br><br>Residential living is scarce in the Ely Park neighborhood. Some single-family homes are scattered throughout the densely foliaged area, mostly in the north and south thanks to the golf complex in the middle of the area. Architecture is typically that of ranch-style homes, split-levels and more elaborate custom builds, and prices for single-family homes usually fall between $150,000 and $400,000. Just north of the golf course, townhouses in the Legacy Bay complex are a popular draw. “They’re two- and three-bedroom townhouses,” says Tara Cataldi, a real estate salesperson with EXIT Realty. “They used to be lower-income, but now they’re condos for people who want to be able to overlook the city.” Homes around the Ely Park neighborhood typically range from $150,000 to $250,000, and are typically colonial, Cape Cod and ranch-style properties. Ely Park also receives a CAP crime index score of 4, on par with the national average of 4.<br><br>The Broome County Regional Farmers Market sits north of the neighborhood, on the edge of Otsiningo Park. “They’re open all year round on Saturday mornings,” Cataldi says, adding that it’s also open on Tuesday evenings during the summer. “They pull in farmers and even wine makers. You can get anything from vegetables to eggs to organic meats there.” Most other shopping is found outside Ely Park; to the west, Cacciatore’s Italian menu and Golden Star’s Chinese fare both sit along Harry L Drive, and further down the road delectable treats are sold at Somethin’ Sweet Gourmet. Fountains Tavern and the Lestershire Pub are both south of the highway. Walmart’s location in Johnson City is less than three miles southwest from the center of the neighborhood for general shopping needs.

There are six carousels scattered throughout the Greater Binghamton area, and it's called the "Carousel Capital of the World" for a reason. Elaborate, carved horses bob their riders up and down on supports as the wood-paneled floor spins around and whimsical music fills the air around them. The half-dozen mechanized wonders are all within relatively short distance of First Ward, a neighborhood flaring westward off the banks of the Chenango River that helps bridge Binghamton and Johnson City. Single- and multi-family homes primarily dot the landscape in the south-central New York neighborhood, and residents aren't far from attending annual celebrations at Otsiningo Park, taking to the waters of the river or cheering on Minor League Baseball's Binghamton Rumble Ponies at Mirabito Stadium across the river. “The fact that they are the Rumble Ponies, and that our mascot is a carousel horse, relates back to the fact that it’s the carousel capital,” says Douglas Harrington, a licensed real estate salesperson with EXIT Realty.<br><br>The Old Union Hotel offers a bar-and-grill atmosphere in a building dating to 1888 at the corner of Grace and Clinton Streets. “It used to be a hotel back in the day,” Cataldi says. “Now, it’s one of the thriving bars. They’ve revitalized it. They’re just really trying to do a lot of work over there right now.” Sach’s Tee House features a semicircular bar and sports memorabilia on the walls, while drinks are served in The Ward’s pub atmosphere and plant-based options are on the menu at Parlor City Vegan. Collectors peruse single trading cards or hobby boxes at Collect Binghamton by Piece of the Game, while entertainment-seekers play vintage pinball or shop for the latest console releases at Robot City Games & Arcade. Both establishments are among the shops on Clinton. Walmart and Wegmans are each less than five miles from the First Ward.<br><br>Up the west banks of the Chenango, the smell of grilling meat and the colorful panels of hot air balloons fill the air and skies in late summer during the Spiedie Fest & Balloon Rally each year. The festival is held at Otsiningo Park and pays homage to spiedies, local creations that consist of various types of meat prepared on skewers. Combined with the balloons taking to the sky, it’s a treat for three of the five senses and draws thousands. Sports fans can head east across the river to Mirabito Stadium, where the Binghamton Rumble Ponies’ roster plays minor-league baseball en route to the majors, or to Visions Veterans Memorial Arena, where the Binghamton Black Bears of the Federal Prospects Hockey League claimed a 2024 championship on home ice.<br><br>Thanks to its gridded streets and largely suburban feel, quiet living in the First Ward isn’t hard to find, and for some areas it’s complemented by the sounds of the Chenango River flowing by. “They were the houses that were built first, in the early 1900s,” says Tara Cataldi, a real estate salesperson with EXIT Realty. “They’re on the railroad tracks, and the First Ward is kind of part of the West Side.” A few homes are right alongside or near the tracks, where trains rumble along before or after crossing the river depending on their direction. “It’s a mix of multi-family homes and single-family homes that have been owned throughout the generations of families,” Cataldi says. Homes primarily date to the first half of the 20th century, many to 1925 and earlier, and Cape Cods and colonials among the more popular single-family styles. Both types of residences typically cost between $50,000 and $150,000. The neighborhood receives a CAP crime score of 5 out of 10, just over the national average of 4. “The First Ward, I would say, is definitely a little more up-and-coming,” says Douglas Harrington, a licensed real estate salesperson with EXIT Realty. “There are development plans that were announced recently about building more sustainable housing in some of the vacant lots.” Those plans, implemented by the city of Binghamton, will include apartment complexes with more than 100 units with completion slated for 2026.<br><br>Veterans Memorial Park is the largest recreational green space in the First Ward, sitting right alongside First Ward Park in the center of the neighborhood. Between the two parks, they offer a softball field that’s converted into soccer or football fields in different seasons, as well as a basketball court, playground and more. Spring Forest Cemetery, spanning an even greater area than the park, sits just east with three looping trails within, while closer to the river Valley Street Park encompasses a ballfield, several pickleball courts, two basketball half-courts and several playground equipment installations. Gregory Lane Community Garden has standard rentable garden beds as well as accessible beds, and the Ely Park Golf Course is just north across the highway. Off of terra firma, boating and fishing are common pastimes on the Chenango River.<br><br>Interstate 86, which briefly starts in Pennsylvania before spanning much of southern New York, is in parts concurrent with Route 17 and lines the northern edge of the First Ward. It meets with Interstate 81 near the river, and the two join forces before splitting again east of Binghamton. I-81 is part of the routes to Syracuse, New York City and Philadelphia, while 86 is the primary artery to Buffalo. Buses make stops on Glenwood and Clinton Streets, while Prospect Street parallels the highway all the way to the river. There, it meets with Front Street, which is also serviced by BC Transit and runs along the riverbanks.<br><br>Woodrow Wilson Elementary School is the lone educational institution in or near the First Ward, enrolling kids up through fifth grade. The school garners a C rating from Niche, but is ranked the 152nd-most diverse public elementary school out of more than 2,600 statewide. West Middle School is located to the south, scoring a C-plus, while Binghamton High School is close to the banks of the Chenango River and is given a B by Niche. Binghamton High serves as an International Baccalaureate Accredited School and has more than a dozen such courses for its enrollment. All three schools sit west of the river.

Just above Binghamton’s downtown area, the Northside Binghamton neighborhood unfurls along the eastern shores of the Chenango River. Despite being a mostly residential neighborhood, it’s bisected into northern and southern sections by the concurrent route of Interstates 81 and 86, and residents aren’t more than a quick drive from the downtown area. America’s national pastime is a favorite of Binghamtonians, as Minor League Baseball’s AA-level Rumble Ponies play home games just south of the neighborhood and field future New York Mets stars. “There’s also things like Dick’s Sporting Goods being founded here and Rod Serling of The Twilight Zone being from here," says Douglas Harrington, a licensed real estate salesperson with EXIT Realty. The original location of Dick’s Sporting Goods is situated in Eastside Binghamton, while Serling is immortalized in the Bundy Museum of History and Art across the river in the Far West Side.<br><br>Just south of the neighborhood, baseball fans head to Mirabito Stadium for Binghamton Rumble Ponies games, the AA affiliate of the New York Mets. “Both of our minor-league teams are pretty popular, which is nice,” Harrington says. “It’s really cheap to go to games, so you’ll see a lot of family nights and stuff like that. I’m a big Mets fan, so it’s really cool to go.” Further south, the Binghamton Black Bears claimed the 2024 championship in the Federal Prospects Hockey League and play home games at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena. “They bring in good crowds and make it pretty accessible to families and patrons,” Harrington says. The annual Spiedie Fest & Balloon Rally has been held for 40 years and is held west across the river at Otsiningo Park.<br><br>At the corner of Doubleday and Chenango Streets in the southern half of the neighborhood, Happy Pappi Arepas Bar serves up authentic Venezuelan fare to its visitors and is one of the few restaurants within Northside Binghamton. Remlik’s Grille & Oyster Bar and Scoopy Dooby’s Ice Cream both sit just south. Several times throughout the year, Northside Binghamton residents don’t have to travel far to take part in food- or drink-centric walks and celebrations and, in doing so, visit multiple restaurants. “Definitely the Spiedie Fest & Hot Air Balloon Rally, which is nice,” Harrington says. “They have a Wine and Tapas walk, a beer walk within downtown Binghamton, Beer and Bites over the summer and a Martini Walk.” Just south of Lindsey Park, the Binghamton Plaza Shopping Mall is home to the expansive P&J’s Flea Market and some smaller outlets. Weis Markets stocks groceries about a mile east of the neighborhood.<br><br>The Broome County Farmers Market sits just across the river. “People rent that out for parties or weddings,” Cataldi says, adding that the adjacent Cutler Botanic Gardens also hosts events like weddings. “They can get married there and just walk over to the farmers market and have the reception.” The botanical garden itself grants free admission every single day, also providing guided tours, education on environmental issues and even programs for students to take part in.<br><br>Interstates 81 and 86 meet just west of the Chenango and concurrently bisect Northside Binghamton, flashing through the neighborhood before eventually separating east of the city. 81 winds its way up to the Canadian border and as far south as Tennessee, while 86 and Route 17 are partially interchangeable as they cross much of southern New York. Depending on the highway, each are also parts of routes that take Binghamtonians to Buffalo, New York City, Philadelphia and other major areas. Route 7 lines the eastern edge of the neighborhood and continues northeast, connecting to Schenectady, Rotterdam and the Vermont state line. BC Transit buses make stops along Chenango Street, which parallels the river.<br><br>Northside Binghamton is home to a wide variety of architectural flair. American Foursquare, colonials, Cape Cods, ranch-style and Craftsman houses are among the designs found in the neighborhood. Single-family properties typically range from $75,000 to $150,000, while multi-family homes usually fall between $80,000 and $200,000. Residential streets also orbit Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School in the northern half of the neighborhood, meaning classes are a walkable distance from some homes. The streets and properties are laid out in a grid-like pattern and take up most of the neighborhood, aside from several parks, the highways and the Binghamton Plaza mall. “The Northside is mostly residential,” says Tara Cataldi, a real estate salesperson with EXIT Realty, adding that Otsiningo Park, technically across the river but a major destination for recreation and events, is technically part of the neighborhood. “Those are the streets that lead you out into the highway area.”<br><br>The Chenango River runs along the western edge of Northside Binghamton, and in the southern half of the neighborhood Cheri A. Lindsey Memorial Park is one of the area’s largest green spaces. There’s a skate park for those inclined to extreme sports, as well as two basketball courts, a large pool, a playground and a lighted Little League baseball field. The smaller Phelps Park has a community garden in the northern half of Northside Binghamton, while river-goers set sail or cast lines in the Chenango. Along the river, the 1.5-mile Binghamton River Trail runs between Lindsey Park and Confluence Park, which overlooks where the Chenango and Susquehanna meet.<br><br>Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade, located in the northern half of the neighborhood and scoring a C-plus with Niche. Roosevelt Elementary is also ranked as one of the 100 most diverse public elementary schools of more than 2,600 across the entire state of New York. East Middle School follows, taking its name from its location in relation to the Chenango River and receiving a C. Binghamton High School concludes education for Northside students, also rating highly in terms of diversity and garnering a B from Niche. The school’s boys’ basketball team won the Section 4 Class AA championship in 2024.

The streets of Southside East Binghamton, a primarily residential neighborhood, sprawl south of the Susquehanna River in central New York. Close to the South Mountain area, where homes cost significantly more, prices seldom exceed $250,000 and properties are almost exclusively situated along suburban streets across the river from downtown. Housing for those working at UHS Binghamton General Hospital, to the west on Mitchell Avenue, is a prevalent feature. “A lot of people move in the area because it’s a teaching hospital,” says Tara Cataldi, a real estate salesperson with EXIT Realty. “They will either buy or rent houses over there, and a lot of our traveling nurses live on the south side right now.” The proximity makes a short trip to the hospital possible, with some homes even within walking distance.<br><br>Southwest of the neighborhood, the Ross Park Zoo houses endangered animals including red pandas, snow leopards and African penguins. It also offers a hands-on children’s museum with exhibits, activities and events. Across the Susquehanna, sports fans head to the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in the winter and early spring for Binghamton Black Bears, who won the Federal Prospects Hockey League championship in 2024. During the spring, summer and early fall, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies play in Minor League Baseball’s double-A Eastern League and are currently managed by former MLB player Reid Brignac.<br><br>Cape Cod and ranch-style homes are some of the most common architectural styles in Southside East Binghamton, along with some split-levels and multi-family residences. “Southside East is a little more stereotypical, where the homes are closer together,” says Douglas Harrington, a licensed real estate salesperson with EXIT Realty, who adds that properties there aren’t as large as those in South Side West. “Southside East and the East Side are pretty similar, in that sense of the houses aren’t on top of each other but they’re pretty close together.” Properties are rarely priced for more than $250,000, typically selling for between $150,000 and $200,000. The neighborhood receives a CAP crime index score of 4 out of 10, equal to the national average.<br><br>The eastern end of Southside Park meanders across the western edge of Southside East Binghamton, running along the river. Kayaking and some boating are the most common pastimes on the Susquehanna’s waters. Booth Field sits on the west side, where its baseball diamond has a pair of basketball courts beyond its outfield walls. Alfred Street Park and the Benjamin Franklin Playground both offer equipment for kids to clamber over, while Webster Street Park has a large swimming pool. If residents aren’t there cooling off in the water, they can take to the tennis or basketball courts. Farther east, there’s sports facilities and green space at Sandy Beach Park along the water.<br><br>The Relief Pitcher is situated near the river and channels the area’s connection to baseball via its name and logo. The sports bar has TVs adorning its walls and a menu replete with burgers, salads, nachos and more. Farther west down Conklin Avenue, the Park Diner has riverside views for patrons, while towards the center of the neighborhood, the locally-owned Me-Ma’s Pizzeria serves up pies fresh out of the oven. A pair of Weis Markets are less than 2 miles away, one west and one north across the Susquehanna, while further shopping at Target, Walmart and Wegmans require a slightly longer drive away. All three store chains have locations between 5 and 7 miles west.<br><br>Franklin Elementary School sits within the neighborhood and educates up through fifth grade, scoring a C with Niche. After graduation, most students move on to East Middle School, north of Franklin Elementary across the Susquehanna, which also garners a C rating. Enrollment then moves west, across the Chenango River, to Binghamton High School. Binghamton High receives a B and recently introduced the Patriots Aspiring to Succeed program, which helps ninth and 10th-grade students in the adjustment to high school learning.<br><br>New York State Route 7 starts at the Pennsylvania state line south of Binghamton, running north through Southside East Binghamton and across the river into downtown. It then turns northeast, connecting with areas like Rotterdam and Schenectady. North of the neighborhood and downtown, Interstates 81 and 86 run concurrently and then part ways to the east; I-81 extends north to Canada and south to Tennessee, while I-86 is part of Route 17 running east-to-west. The Brandywine Highway, designated as Route 363, carves its way along the opposite side of the Susquehanna and meets with Route 7. UHS Binghamton General Hospital is under two miles west from central Southside East Binghamton. Broome County Transit buses run along numerous roads throughout the neighborhood, including Conklin Avenue.

Where the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers meet in southern central New York, Downtown Binghamton serves as the centerpiece of the city. The rivers bound the neighborhood on three sides, and residents in and around the downtown area don’t have far to go to dine out. More than a dozen restaurants are situated within a couple blocks’ orbit of Court Street, the area’s main thoroughfare. Locals head south to Confluence Park at the water’s edge for views of the rivers, north for interstate access and west for groceries. On weeknights early in the year, the Binghamton Black Bears take to the ice at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena, and during the spring, summer and early fall, baseball fans flock to Mirabito Stadium for Binghamton Rumble Ponies games.<br><br>Most restaurants are concentrated south of Court Street in downtown around the Parlor City Commons , a small courtyard undergoing restoration, including Dillinger’s Celtic Pub & Eatery. “There’s a strong nightlife scene in downtown Binghamton,” Arnold says, adding that Dillinger’s has been a staple for nearly 20 years. Other eateries are scattered throughout downtown, and residents order drinks at the 205 Dry Speakeasy or breakfast at the Strange Brew Café.<br><br>The Lost Dog Café & Lounge is one of the most popular destinations, offering a menu stocked with cocktails, brunch options, sandwiches and more. Northeast of the Lost Dog, Station 45 American Chop House opened in early 2024. “It opened up in the old railroad station, and it’s fabulous,” says Linda Kent, an independent broker with Linda Kent Real Estate, adding that the station played a large role in commerce when trains ran through it. “The railway station was very interesting, because it had service from Binghamton to New York City.” Grocery items require a run across either river, to a Wegmans and Walmart in Johnson City or a Target in Vestal, but none of those stores are more than 6 miles away.<br><br>Mirabito Stadium is home to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the New York Mets’ double-A affiliate, which has had MLB stars like Pete Alonso and David Wright on its roster on their way to the big leagues. The Binghamton Black Bears’ home ice is at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena, and the team is a part of the Federal Prospects Hockey League. An annual Restaurant Week, usually held in the spring, spotlights participating area eateries , while the Luma Festival is a treat for the eyes each fall. “They have huge projectors and do digital art and project it onto the sides of these historic buildings in downtown Binghamton,” says Keith Arnold, a licensed real estate salesperson with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services.<br><br>Confluence Park has a looping oval path and a lookout offering views of the spot where the Chenango and Susquehanna rivers meet. Off the park’s east side, the South Washington Street Parabolic Bridge is open to those on foot or riding bicycles, linking downtown with the southern banks of the Susquehanna. The Binghamton River Trail extends northward from Confluence Park, and the paved trail connects to the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade. Kennedy Park is a small green space near the center of Binghamton, and kayaking is popular in the river. “The variety of the aspects of living here, to me, are tremendous,” Kent says. “You have the natural beauty of the river, hills, parks and trails.” <br><br>Single-family homes are scarce in Downtown Binghamton, with residential properties mostly consisting of duplexes, triplexes and some condos. Residential life is mostly concentrated in the southeastern corner of the neighborhood. Many homes date to the early 20th century, and investment properties are popular. Prices vary, but usually range between $100,000 and $200,000. Similar to the rest of the area, Binghamton University student housing is located within the neighborhood. The Binghamton University Downtown Center – College of Community and Public Affairs is a satellite of the college, and students live in the University Lofts in downtown. “It’s kind of been labeled as a college town,” Arnold says.<br><br>Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School is a quick drive north and enrolls students up through fifth grade . It scores a C-plus with Niche and ranks in the top 100 most diverse public elementary schools in the entire state, out of more than 2,600. East Middle School receives a C and offers a student-to-teacher ratio of 8-to-1, while Binghamton High School receives a B. The high school’s boys’ basketball team claimed the Section 4 Class AA championship at the end of the 2024 season, and the local tournament is set to return to the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in 2025. <br><br>Court Street is the primary thoroughfare running through Downtown Binghamton, effectively splitting the neighborhood in half, and it’s serviced by BC Transit buses, which also run along several other streets in the area. Route 363, also known as the Brandywine Highway, travels along the river and extends northward, connecting to Interstates 81 and 86. Philadelphia and New York City are almost equidistant from Downtown Binghamton, each about 180 miles away.