Catlin offers rural living near Corning and Horseheads
Catlin offers more space and privacy while not drifting too far from shopping, dining and museums in Corning and Horseheads. Most of the town sits in Chemung County, while the west edge is part of Steuben County. Catlin, as well as other neighboring towns like Hornby, serve as rural extensions to the nearby cities. “These nearby towns are essentially considered Corning North and Horseheads North,” says Daniel Mower, a Licensed NYS Associate Broker and lead agent for the Mower McLennan Team at Keller Williams Realty, who’s been selling homes in the area for nearly 20 years. Catlin also sits just south of the outdoor attractions of Watkins Glen, Montour Falls and the Finger Lakes region.
Outdoor adventures from trout streams to NASCAR tracks
Catlin State Forest provides open space for hunting and off-roading. Catharine Creek is a popular fishing spot just west end of town. “It’s known as one of the top trout fishing streams in the country,” says Mowers. Sing Sing Creek, in the southeast corner of the area, is stocked with trout. Locals make the 12-mile drive to Montour Falls to hike the town’s scenic trails that pass by landscapes like Eagle Cliff Falls. Residents also drive 12 miles to Watkins Glen State Park, a 778-acre green space with nearly 20 miles of hiking trails. Watkins Glen International is close by too, a road course hosting everything from monster truck events to professional NASCAR races.
Older and modern homes have spacious lots
The town has some Nationals that were built in the early 1900s, but most homes are more modern colonials and ranch-style houses. There are also Colonial Revivals. “You can get into smaller streets that have more of a neighborhood feel, but that’s few and far between,” says Mower. “For the most part, it’s homes with more acreage.” Lot sizes in town usually range from half an acre up to 10 acres. Since homes may be in one of two counties, taxes vary depending on the location in town. Prices range from about $140,000 to $645,000.
Kids can attend Horseheads Central School District
The area's schools are part of the Horseheads Central School District, which earns a B from Niche. Big Flats School teaches kindergarten through fourth grade and gets a B. Horseheads Intermediate covers fifth and sixth grades and also earns a B. Horseheads Middle receives a B and teaches seventh and eighth grade. Horseheads High earns a B-plus and its baseball team won the 2025 state championship. The school district's multi-phase capital project is set to add a stadium and a library, renovate the cafeteria and upgrade classrooms by 2030.
Residents shop in Big Flats and dine in nearby Horseheads
Locals head 10 miles south to Big Flats for its shopping centers. There are big-box stores like Sam’s Club, smaller grocers like Aldi and additional chains like T.J. Maxx, Best Buy and Petco. Arnot Mall has more than 100 stores and chain restaurants. Main Street in Horseheads is a popular spot for locally owned eateries like Louies Hanover Square for Italian food. The Diner was originally located in Elmira when it first opened in 1941, before the diner car moved to its current home in Horseheads in 1974. The local staple opens early in the morning for breakfast and stays open through the afternoon for lunch.
Commuting via Chambers Road
Houses of worship in the area include Tompkins Corners Country Church and the Full Gospel Church of Catlin. Commuters take Chambers Road 5 miles south to connect to Big Flats. Nearby Interstate 86 connects Horseheads and Corning, while also running north to Interstate 390. Elmira Corning Regional Airport is just 7 miles away, and Guthrie Corning Hospital is 13 miles away.
![Logan Soter-Reardon]()
Written By
Logan Soter-Reardon
