Deerfield blends quiet living with easy access to Utica
Stretching from the northern edge of Utica into the wilderness of Oneida County, Deerfield is a quiet community that caters to a mix of lifestyles. The neighborly atmosphere in Deerfield is bolstered by parks where residents can hang out and annual town events that bring everyone together to celebrate the community. Suburban streets and winding country roads make up the town, with major highways nearby offering quick commutes into the city. “People buy here because they love the community and they love the environment,” says Kate Despins, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Sexton Real Estate, with over five years of experience. “We’re close to everything you need, but we don’t have the big city chaos. We don’t have crazy traffic.”
Home styles range from suburban to rural across Deerfield
Ranch-style homes are typical in the southern part of town. They often sit on small lots with grassy front yards and leafy trees scattered about. As the community heads northeast, the properties get larger. Winding roads lead through fields and forests. Ranch-style homes are still typical here, but buyers can also find Cape Cods, Colonial Revivals and some farmhouses. The median lot size is around three-quarters of an acre; some are 5 acres or more. Prices in the suburban areas typically range from $160,000 to $390,000. The more rural parts of the community feature prices from $240,000 to $540,000.
The CAP Index Crime Score in Deerfield is 1 out of 10; compared to the national average of 4.
Parks offer trails, playgrounds and sports
Multiple parks throughout Deerfield include plenty of activities. Wilderness Park is among the largest, with nearly 4 miles of trails for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. It also has a softball field, playground and picnic shelter. Brazie Park is a small green space on Pauline Avenue with a playground and tennis courts. Residents can play a pick-up basketball game or bring the kids to spend time on the playground at Donald S. Youlen Memorial Park. West Canada Creek flows along the town’s north side, and there is a fishing access point on the riverbank just south of state Route 28.
Year-round events celebrate community spirit
The town hosts several events each year that bring neighbors together. “The biggest thing about Deerfield is the Deerfield Field Days,” Despins says. “Their Field Days are the biggest around here. They have food, rides, bands and things like that.” The fire department hosts the annual Field Days in June. The department also hosts fish fries on Friday during Lent and in the fall. The fun continues in the colder months with Snow Fest in February. The highlight of this event is a snow sculpture contest, while other activities include sleigh rides and food vendors.
Riverside Center and downtown Utica offer retail and food
Deerfield is almost entirely residential, with little commercial activity. However, the location close to Utica makes it easy to reach shopping and dining destinations. Riverside Center is a large mall along state Route 12 with Walmart, BJ’s Wholesale and Tractor Supply Co. Just south of the community on Trenton Road, residents can dine on Italian cuisine at Franco’s Pizza & Deli. Downtown Utica is nearby and has restaurants ranging from casual sandwich shops to fine dining. Groceries are available at nearby stores like Aldi and Price Chopper.
Public schools earn solid ratings and offer college credit
Deerfield Elementary School earns a B-plus from Niche. Parkway School serves sixth graders and gets an A-minus. Whitesboro Middle School and Whitesboro High School each get a B-plus. High school students can take dual credit courses through local colleges like Mohawk Valley Community College, Herkimer College and Syracuse University. The school is also one of only a few nationwide to have a scanning electron microscope, capable of magnifying samples up to 175,000 times.
Major highways and state routes make commuting convenient
Multiple major roads make it easy to commute around the region. State routes 5, 8 and 12 connect to nearby communities, while Interstate 90 offers an east-west highway across Upstate New York. Wynn Hospital is about 9 miles from the center of town, and the closest airport is in Syracuse, about 60 miles away.
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Written By
Matthew Atkins
