Seclusion and serenity in rural Butler
In the heart of Wayne County, the town of Butler has a rural atmosphere and relaxed pace about 15 miles from Lake Ontario. The town of 2,000 includes three small hamlets and swathes of rich farmland. “We normally get a lot of people who are coming from the city and want quiet. They want to start a little hobby farm, grow organics and have the quiet ‘Let’s sit on our porch and have coffee’ kind of thing,” says resident and town clerk Kim Parmeter. “Everybody kind of keeps to themselves, but if something really bad happened, your neighbors will be the first ones there for you.” The community has a CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, which is lower than the national average of 4.
Single-family homes with room to grow
While some farmhouses were built in the mid-1800s, the area has a mix of manufactured, National and ranch-style homes. Lot size is a main factor for home prices, and many buyers seek properties on multiple acres with room for farming, hunting and snowmobiling. Single-family homes without acreage tend to range from $100,000 to $150,000, while properties with an acre or more sell for $130,000 to nearly $280,000. Small or unrenovated manufactured homes go for $20,000 to $60,000.
Lakes, nature preserves and a casino offer weekend escapes nearby
Less than 15 miles from Butler, Lake Ontario is a premier fishing destination known for its massive chinook salmon and trout. Bald eagles nest at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, a 10-acre preserve with hiking trails, fishing spots, observation decks and seasonal hunting areas for permit holders. Wildlife Drive is a seasonal 3-mile driving route through the preserve with dedicated stopping points to spot deer, osprey, blue herons and sandhill cranes. Residents are about 20 miles north of Cayuga Lake, part of the Finger Lakes region, and roughly the same distance to del Lago Resort and Casino.
Three school districts serve Butler
A handful of school systems serve Butler, including North Rose-Wolcott Central, Red Creek Central and Clyde-Savannah Central. North Rose-Wolcott receives an overall C-plus grade from Niche, Red Creek gets a B-minus, and Clyde-Savannah gets a C-minus. “I’m an alum of Rose-Wolcott, and my kids and grandkids went there,” Parmeter says. “Red Creek is ranked a little higher [academically], but sports-wise, it’d be North Rose-Wolcott or Clyde-Savannah. Clyde-Savannah has football.”
Essentials in Wolcott, with more options in Auburn
Residents drive to Wolcott to grab essentials at Dollar General or groceries at Save A Lot, and Auburn has more options about 20 miles away. “We have the Village Restaurant, two pizza shops and we do have a McDonald’s, surprisingly,” Parmeter says. “We do have several area farmers that grow apples, and they’re awesome because they’ll do pick-your-own and have celebrations.” The Dugout, a seasonal food stand, serves ice cream, hot dogs and hamburgers. Waterfront dining around Sodus Point, including restaurants like Skipper’s Landing, is also a short drive away. Retail shopping at the Finger Lakes Premium Outlets is about 30 miles away.
Butler, Rose and Wolcott have a joint Christmas parade
While Butler doesn’t have its own events, the town pairs with neighboring communities to celebrate the holidays. “There’s a three-town annual parade every Christmas which goes through parts of Butler, Rose and Wolcott, and everyone looks forward to that,” Parmeter says. “The North Rose-Wolcott School District does a huge trunk-or-treat every year along with a Halloween party at the high school.”
Within an hour of Rochester and Syracuse
There’s no public transportation in the area, so residents are car-dependent. It’s about a 40-mile drive to Syracuse and 50 miles to Rochester and Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport. Medical care is available at Auburn Community Hospital, 20 miles away.
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Written By
Leslie Klosterman
