Built up around the banks of the historic Old Erie Canal, Canastota offers a charming small-town feel located within easy reach of Downtown Syracuse. “We have always been known as a bedroom community for both Syracuse and Utica,” says Liz Metzger, the Canastota Public Library director who has been living in the neighborhood since 1992. “The people are definitely the jewel of this community but we’ve got great businesses and schools too, and a lot of it is walkable.”
From colonials to Greek revivals to duplexes
Homes in Canastota can date back as far as the 1800s and range in style from colonials and Greek revivals to duplexes and Second Empire-style homes. Brightly colored facades are commonly paired with spacious front porches and lush greenery. Prices can be anywhere from $80,000 to $380,000 depending on the age of the home and how recently it was last updated. Homes are between 600 and 3,000 square feet in size and rest on lots between 5,000 square feet and 5 acres. In total, there are roughly 2,100 homes in Canastota and the average number of days on the market for the neighborhood is about the same as the national average.
Many of the original homes in Canastota built in the 1800s have been remodeled over the years.
In Canastota you can also find Second Empire style homes built in the 1870s.
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Follow along the Old Erie Canal by bike or on foot
The Old Erie Canal State Park is actually a trail that follows the old canal for about 36 miles of its 363-mile stretch. “Lots of hikers and bikers use the trail year-round,” Metzger says. “It’s a popular spot.” The Canastota Recreation Park is another option with multiple baseball diamonds as well as tennis courts. The nearby Oneida Lake is just a few minutes north of the neighborhood and a common fishing destination for locals.
You can take a brisk walk on the Empire State Trail in Canastota.
The Canastota Recreation Park offers multiple baseball diamonds for locals to use.
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Retro vibes, authentic Mexican and fresh bagels
Locals enjoy Prevo’s Diner, which has a retro vibe and is famous for its soups, sandwiches and fish fry Fridays. Canastota Bagels and Subs has a full-service breakfast menu, hot and cold subs and handmade cream cheese. La Bamba MTZ has authentic Mexican dishes made fresh daily, including made from scratch salsa. Locals can grab their groceries from Tops, Walmart and ALDI.
Patrons enjoy lunch at Prevo's Diner in Canastota.
A couple enjoys their dinner at La Bamba MTZ Mexican Restaurant in Canastota.
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Visit the town museum and boxing hall of fame
The Canastota Canal Town Museum offers visitors a deeper look into the neighborhood’s history through authentic memorabilia and art that demonstrate Canastota’s industrial and agricultural contributions to the area. The neighborhood is also home to the International Boxing Hall of Fame because the community produced two world-class boxers, Carmen Basilio and Billy Backus. Visitors can even see Basilio’s home. “The Hall of Fame does a parade every year in June and a lot of big boxing names come to participate,” Metzger says.
Impressive architecture and extracurriculars
Students in Canastota can attend Peterboro Street Elementary School, which received a B-minus rating from Niche, first opened in 1927 and resides in an impressive gothic revival-style building. Otto L. Shortell Middle School received a C-plus rating from Niche and serves about 400 students. Oneida High School also has a B-minus rating from Niche along with an impressive collection of extracurricular opportunities from the school literary magazine to the ski club.
The Peterboro Street Elementary School in Canastota opened in 1927.
The Oneida Senior High School is Ranked 750th within New York State.
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Interstate 90 helps make an easy commute
Canastota locals have easy access to Interstate 90, which heads west into Downtown Syracuse, just 25 miles away, making an easy commute for work or for students attending Syracuse University. Additional city amenities like multiple museums, shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities are available downtown as well.
History dating back to the early 1800s
Canastota’s history dates back to 1810 when it was first founded by Captain Reuben Perkins, then later formally established in 1835. The Old Erie Canal runs through the center of town, marked by a mural on a bridge that shows what the town looked like back when it was a busy trading and commercial center. Unlike the canal, many of the old retail buildings left over from this time are still in use. “We’ve got a lovely historic downtown with some lovely historic buildings,” Metzger says. “The wonderful Erie Canal Museum is run by volunteers and we have a 120-year-old library that’s on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s stunning and has beautifully served the community the whole time it’s been standing.”
The famous boxer Carmen Basilio was born in Canastota, NY.
The history of the Old Erie Canal runs deep in Canastota, NY.
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Written By
Jordan Hamner
Photography Contributed By
Ryan Gwilliam
Video By
Mark Tilley
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Becky Christmas,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Canastota, NY sell after 45 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Canastota, NY over the last 12 months is $229,000, up 8% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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