$260,943Average Value$201Average Price per Sq Ft9Homes For Sale
Living in the land of Oz's L. Frank Baum
Click your heels three times, and you might arrive fifteen miles east of Syracuse, where towering sycamores and a web of creeks and rivers form the landscape around Chittenango, a small village of just under 5,000 people.
Founded in the mid-1800s, Chittenango grew alongside the development of the famous Erie Canal. Chittenango is also famed as the birthplace of L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. So, if you choose to live here, you might find that there’s no place like home. “We have the Oz Museum in the village and host the longest-running Wizard of Oz festival in the world each year. We also have an Erie Canal museum. We draw people from all over the country, all over the world,” says Bob Freunscht, a Hunt Real Estate associate broker who previously served as village mayor and administrator for over 25 years. “Other than that, we’re a close-knit community that’s unique and has a lot of activities for kids and the community.”
A high-demand bedroom community east of Syracuse
Chittenango exudes an old-fashioned character. Along Genesee Street, the community’s main thoroughfare, sidewalks inlaid with yellow bricks front historical shops, businesses and homes in the heart of the village. Around this highly walkable section of the community, historical Colonial-style homes and other older properties sell for between $100,000 to $200,000. In the more residential sections of the village west of downtown, a mix of Cape Cods, contemporary split levels and prairie-style homes have sold in recent years for between $300,000 and $400,000. Freunscht says inventory in the community is at an all-time low, driving prices up. He attributes the increasing demand to several reasons, including the ever-growing presence of Syracuse University, development plans for a massive Micron chip manufacturing plant and the region’s tourism and entertainment industries. “There’s a lot of convenience where we are,” he says. “I can be in downtown Syracuse in 15 minutes and the Turning Stone Resort Casino in 20 minutes. We have a very active park system and Oneida Lake is also just a few minutes away. A lot of these factors make Chittenango a great place to live.”
Split level homes are also available in Chittenango.
Chittenango features a few Victorian style homes built in the late 1800s.
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High-ranking schools in the Chittenango Central school division
Kids can attend Bolivar Road Elementary for kindergarten through fourth grade and Chittenango Middle School for fifth through eighth grade. Both are ranked a B-plus and No. 1 in Madison County by Niche. From there, students go to Chittenango High School, notable for an average SAT score of 1240 and a 34% AP enrollment rate. Across the board, highly rated teachers and class sizes of about 20 students allow every child to receive equitable, quality education. Highlighting the school system’s support of the arts, The National Association of Music Merchants named Chittenango Central Schools one of the best school divisions for music education.
Just over 500 students attend Bolivar Road Elementary School.
The Chittenango High School is ranked 246th within New York State.
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Local eats and finding luck at the Yellow Brick Road
Near downtown, Nina’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant imports its ingredients directly from Italy for an authentic dining experience at a reasonable price. La Cocina receives glowing reviews for its extensive Tex-Mex menu and above-and-beyond service. Darlene’s Kitchen is where longtime locals go for classic diner food, while the Olive Branch Flower and Gift Shoppe is renowned for its unique bits and bobs. On the west side of town, TOPS Friendly Market sources its groceries from 300 local growers and companies. As you might expect for the birthplace of L. Frank Baum, Oz is everywhere in Chittenango. The Yellow Brick Road Casino invites adults to games and entertainment, including a virtual golfing suite and six bowling lanes. At the All Things Oz Museum downtown, passionate volunteers have curated over 15,000 pieces of rare memorabilia from the iconic book and classic Hollywood film it inspired.
Nina's Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant is the most popular Italian Eatery in Chittenango.
Fresh coffee is always served with a smile at Serendipity Cafe in Chittenango.
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Playgrounds at Sullivan Town Park and hiking trails all around
Living in Chittenango, residents are only moments away from outdoor recreation. Sullivan Town Park, near the center of the village, is a sports hub with hard-surface courts, fields and courses for everything from tennis and soccer to disc golf. Old Erie Canal State Park contains miles of trails for walking, biking, horseback riding and more. About five miles down Route 13 from the village, hikers adventure through a gorge to snap photos of water cascading nearly 150 feet at Chittenango Falls.
Walk the trail around the lake at Green Lakes State Park in Fayetteville.
At the bottom of Chittenango falls, a bridge crosses Chittenango creek.
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Meeting storybook characters at the Oz-Stravaganza
The community’s pride in its most famous son culminates every year with the Oz-Stravaganza. The three-day fair regularly draws over 20,000 participants and boasts everything from rides and games to costume contests and fireworks. On Tuesdays during the summer months, locals flock to Dr. West Memorial Park near the center of the village for a weekly farmers market, car show and concert that brings neighbors together for music, food and fun.
Quick access to Syracuse on Route 5 and Interstate 90
State Route 5 directly links Chittenango to Syracuse, about 15 miles away, making the village a bedroom community for many commuters. With Interstate 90 about four miles north of the village, residents can drive into the big city even faster, whether for work at the university or one of the four medical centers downtown (St. Joseph's Health Hospital, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Crouse Hospital and the Syracuse VA Medical Center.) The interstate also leads to the Syracuse Hanock International Airport north of downtown Syracuse, making domestic and international air travel less of a challenge.
The population of Chittenango in 2020 was 4,896 people.
You can travel 15 miles from Chittenango to Downtown Syracuse.
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Written By
Sian Syring
Photography Contributed By
Ryan Gwilliam
Video By
Matthew Bloch
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Evelyn Emerson,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Chittenango, NY sell after 63 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Chittenango, NY over the last 12 months is $290,000, up 38% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Fantastic ranch with a fully renovated kitchen and bath! The brand-new kitchen features stainless steel appliances and connects to a convenient pantry/laundry area with a new stackable washer and dryer. All-new flooring runs throughout the home, including brand-new carpeting in the bedrooms. The updated full bath impresses with a double vanity and ample storage. A new sliding door opens to the
This house is waiting for a new owner. A ranch-style home offering single-floor living. Open floor plan (kitchen through to living room), eat-in kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, and front alternate side entrance to utility room and kitchen. Large backyard with NO ONE behind. The house is unoccupied and offers great potential and inherent value. With a little TLC, the property can reach its full
Charming Colonial with Modern Updates Awaits!Step into this beautifully maintained 4-bedroom, 1.5-bath Colonial that seamlessly blends classic charm with desirable modern upgrades. Peace of mind comes standard with a brand new roof (2024) and a new water heater (2022).Inside, you'll be greeted by refinished hardwood floors that gleam throughout the upstairs and kitchen (2022/2023). The home also
Recently remodeled home featuring custom-designed bathrooms, elegant granite countertops, and sleek stainless steel appliances. Enjoy the comfort of forced air natural gas heating and central air conditioning. Don't miss the opportunity to be the first to live in this stunning, like-new home!
Spacious and sunny townhouse apartment located in the Village of Chittenango. Across the street from the High School and walking distance to Village eateries, banks and shops. Large eat in kitchen with a slider to a private deck overlooking the back yard and seasonal stream. Formal dining room and living room with hardwood floors. Three good sized bedrooms one full bath up and a 1/2 bath on the
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