Clarendon is an agricultural community of about 3,000 residents in Orleans County. Fields of corn, soybeans and wheat stretch across the landscape, and homes along country roads feature spacious lot sizes with a relaxed atmosphere. “Clarendon is a very rural location and it’s just a quieter way of life,” says Jim Theodorakos, broker and owner of Morrison Realty with more than 40 years of experience. While residents have to travel a few miles from home for shops, restaurants and schools, Clarendon offers an easy-going vibe with room to breathe 25 miles west of Rochester. The community has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, which is lower than the national score of 4 out of 10.
Tree-lined streets and colorful fall foliage highlight Clarendon’s peaceful neighborhoods and open landscape.
Single-family ranch homes often sit on several acres, giving residents plenty of space for outdoor activities.
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Manufactured homes and single-family houses on multiple acres
The area’s housing stock ranges from 1800s farmhouses to midcentury ranch-style homes to post-2000s builds. “If people live in Rochester or Buffalo, the lots for the houses are 50 feet across,” Theodorakos says. “Here, there’s an acre, two acres, 10 acres, and that’s just what we’re used to.” Homes in the country often have room for outbuildings, farm equipment, horses or livestock. Manufactured homes are common and can sell for $50,000 to just over $100,000. Units in the 55-plus Heron Falls community can fetch a slightly higher price. Single-family homes cost between $150,000 and $250,000, and homes with five acres or more can range from $300,000 to $400,000.
Manufactured homes are common in Clarendon and offer affordable country living with modest lot sizes.
Homes on large rural lots provide privacy and beautiful views across Clarendon’s farmland.
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Clarendon and Holley parks feature waterfalls and picnic spots
Clarendon Falls is in the community's only park and provides a tranquil setting for relaxation and picnicking. The 25-foot cascade is most impressive in early spring after the winter thaw or following heavy rainfall. The park also includes a pavilion for gatherings and a grassy area for open play. Just a few miles away, Holley Canal Falls in Canal Park flows steadily from spring through late fall, stopping only when the canal is drained in winter. Holley also offers fishing and paddling on the Erie Canal and access to the Erie Canalway Trail, a 360-mile route of mostly paved, off-road trails stretching from Buffalo to Albany. Fishing and boating on Lake Ontario, plus camping at Hamlin Beach State Park, are less than 20 miles away. Locals also enjoy hunting, typically on their own property or with permission from other landowners.
Clarendon Town Park features a covered pavilion and picnic area surrounded by woods, perfect for small gatherings.
Clarendon Falls, located within Clarendon Town Park, cascades over shale rock and provides a peaceful natural backdrop.
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Kids can attend Holley Central Schools
Most Clarendon kids attend schools in the Holley Central School District, which receives a C-plus rating from Niche. The district serves about 1,000 students on a single, central campus just a few miles from town. Holley Elementary receives a B-minus, and the combined Holley Junior/Senior High receives a C-plus. In 2024, the district broke ground on an $18 million improvement project that added classrooms and improved athletic facilities. The project should be completed by December 2025.
Holley Schools serve families across the village and surrounding communities, offering a close-knit educational setting.
Students start out at Holley Elementary, with a large, modern campus surrounded by open fields.
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Less than 30 minutes from Rochester
State Route 31 cuts through town and goes about 25 miles to Rochester, which is home to Strong Memorial Hospital and Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport. “For the most part, Clarendon is termed a bedroom community, where people live there but they drive to Rochester or Batavia for work, more than likely,” Theodorakos says.
Groceries and restaurants are out of town, but farms fill the gap
Nearby Albion has fast-food options, casual sit-down restaurants and grocery stores like Walmart. Holley also has a handful of local eateries like Sam’s Diner and Dustin’s Pizzeria, and Brockport has even more options less than 10 miles away. Although residents have to leave town for groceries or grab a bite to eat, several Clarendon producers specialize in home-grown goodness. Sweet Cindy’s Honey runs a seasonal roadside farm stand with raw wildflower honey, beeswax products and a produce wagon. K.I.S.S. Farms offers a variety of products, including eggs, beef, poultry and maple syrup.
Clarendon has some small events
Town events are rare, but residents have gathered in recent years to celebrate the holiday season with a lighted parade in early December. For more than 50 years, students from Holley Central have led a Flag Day parade through the Holley town square each June.
Written By
Leslie Klosterman
Photography Contributed By
Logan Cox
Video By
Dan Mack
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Roxanne Stavropoulos,
an experienced agent in this area.
Selling will be 67.9 acres of farmland. Land is all Loam soils and has one low spot, very little woods and a good amount of road frontage on both roads! The land is planted now so this crop is subject to tenant rights until the crop is harvested.
Escape to nature with this serene .28-acre wooded lot in the charming town of Holley, NY. Nestled among mature trees and surrounded by the tranquility of the countryside, this property offers the perfect opportunity for a private retreat or a future home site. Please do not walk the property with out an appointment.
Robert MaloneKeller Williams Realty Greater Rochester
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