Cayuga Heights was made to be convenient to Cornell
In the early 1900s, faculty members at Cornell University had to move off campus to make room for an influx of students. Seizing this new opportunity, two local developers turned farmland near Cornell into Cayuga Heights, a suburban area where homes are on large lots surrounded by tall trees. “When you’re driving through Cayuga Heights, you know you’re in a different place,” says Brian DeYoung, an associate broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Heritage Realty. “The houses were built in the ‘20s and ‘30s, and they were made for professionals who worked at Cornell. So if you’re looking for a home with a library or office, there are options in Cayuga Heights. These are picturesque, storybook homes that were built with stone or slate roofs.” Cayuga Heights was incorporated as a village in 1915, and the wooded area with quiet streets still attracts Cornell staff to this day.
Spacious Tudor Revivals and smaller colonial homes on large lots
The storybook homes DeYoung highlights often have Tudor Revival designs and sell for nearly $1 million to $3 million. Colonial-inspired and ranch-style homes with around five bedrooms can go for $600,000 to $900,000, while slightly smaller properties with four bedrooms can sell for $350,000 to $600,000. “There are a few rentals, but what’s happened is Cayuga Heights, for decades, has been priced higher than Ithaca,” DeYoung says. “Recently, the surrounding areas have grown in cost faster than Cayuga Heights. Now, the price difference is much smaller, which makes it a tremendous option for a quieter setting." DeYoung also points out the large lot sizes, which create space between neighbors, so they don’t feel on top of one another.
Attending some of the top-rated schools in Ithaca City School District
Cayuga Heights is a part of the Ithaca City School District, which Niche gives an A-minus. The district’s schools are highly rated, like Cayuga Heights Elementary School with its A-minus grade. Boynton Middle School also receives an A-minus. Niche gives Ithaca High School an A and ranks it the best public high school in Tompkins County. Students can apply for Ithaca High’s Career and Technical Education program to study specialties like public safety and welding. Cornell University is a private Ivy League institution that earns an A-plus and is one of the county’s major employers.
Commutes are a breeze to Cornell, Ithaca and Lansing
Cayuga Heights is minutes from Cornell’s campus, but the village is also a short drive from downtown Ithaca and shops in Lansing. “Cayuga Heights has slower speed limits, and it’s quieter since there’s no busy main street,” DeYoung says. DeYoung points out the scenic suspension bridges that stretch of Fall Creek and give walkers a path to Cornell's campus. It takes about 20 minutes to walk to Cornell, and less time to bike over, but Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit buses also serve Cayuga Heights. There are stops along the Triphammer and Highland Roads and The Parkway. One of the bus stops is near First Congregational Church of Ithaca, which has been in the area since the 1960s. Residents can visit Community Corners for primary care services, but the Cayuga Medical Center, 5 miles away using state Route 13, is the nearest hospital and emergency room. Some people drive about 3 miles or take the bus to Ithaca Tompkins International Airport.
Taking in Cayuga Lake views or exploring Cornell's Botanical Gardens
People who want to get outdoors have plenty of options. Some go to Stewart Park to walk the paved trail with views of Cayuga Lake or launch kayaks onto Fall Creek. “We go to Flat Rock. It’s a long tributary that connects to Cayuga Lake,” DeYoung says. “It’s knee-deep water, sometimes ankle-deep. We take the kids there. They can wade around and play, and there are usually a lot of families there.” Writers who attended or taught at Cornell spent time in Cayuga Heights and areas like Flat Rock to gain inspiration from the lush natural scene. Notable authors like Carl Sagan, E. B. White and Vladimir Nabokov spent time in Cornell’s Botanical Gardens, which are open to the public throughout the year. Members can book tee times at the private RaNic Golf Club, but the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course at Cornell University is open to students and the public.
Easy access to Community Corners and restaurants in downtown Ithaca
Early morning coffee runs and last-minute pizza orders are no problem for Cayuga Heights residents, who are surrounded by retail and restaurants. “There’s an area called Community Corners,” DeYoung says. “There are medical offices, and there are two coffee shops. One primarily sells coffee, Adams Corners Cafe, which expanded to another location because it’s so popular. Some things are right there, and people can go to Lansing or Ithaca. Both are five to 10 minutes away.” Locals can go up to Lansing to shop at Target or get groceries at Aldi. Downtown Ithaca has a variety of restaurants, and people can visit to order brunch at Revelry Yards or Vietnamese dishes at Saigon Kitchen.
