With nearly 10,000 residents, Fredonia is the residential and commercial hub of the Town of Hanover. The village is also one of Chautauqua County's most sought-after communities. Tucked within the Lake Erie Concord Belt, Fredonia offers a small-town lifestyle with suburban convenience and scenic surroundings. Diverse landscapes range from vineyards and rugged nature preserves to Lake Erie's sweeping waters. Agriculture and tourism are leading industries in the county, while other employers span across healthcare, manufacturing, distribution, healthcare and education. "There are many reasons why a homebuyer would choose to live here," says Louis Dispenza, a local Realtor with Midtown Realty, who has been in the industry for almost 20 years. "We have a lot to offer in terms of culture, a nice little Main Street, great schools and we're 10 minutes from Lake Erie."
With nearly 10,000 residents, Fredonia is the residential and commercial hub of the Town of Hanover. The village is also one of Chautauqua County's most sought-after communities. Tucked within the Lake Erie Concord Belt, Fredonia offers a small-town lifestyle with suburban convenience and scenic surroundings. Diverse landscapes range from vineyards and rugged nature preserves to Lake Erie's sweeping waters. Agriculture and tourism are leading industries in the county, while other employers span across healthcare, manufacturing, distribution, healthcare and education. "There are many reasons why a homebuyer would choose to live here," says Louis Dispenza, a local Realtor with Midtown Realty, who has been in the industry for almost 20 years. "We have a lot to offer in terms of culture, a nice little Main Street, great schools and we're 10 minutes from Lake Erie."
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Top-rated schools in Fredonia
The Fredonia Central School District scores a B-plus on Niche, which names it the best school district in Chautauqua County. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled across one preschool, one elementary school, one middle school and one high school, all of which earn a B rating or better. Fredonia High is also one of three county schools to offer Special Olympics Unified Champion School programming.
The community is home to the State University of New York at Fredonia, which offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. About 20 miles away, the Chautauqua Institution is the county's crown jewel. The institution was founded in 1874 when the Chautauqua Movement, a social movement emphasizing adult education, gained popularity. Today, thousands of lifelong learners gather every year for nine weeks of diverse summer programming.
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19th- and 20th-century homes
Residential streets fan off of the village's small Main Street. Quiet roads feature a mix of 20th-century bungalows, Cape Cods, Colonial Revivals and ranch-style homes, with some properties dating back to the 19th-century. Most homes sit on modest lots with enough room for detached garages or sheds. Both lot size and home square footage increase on the outskirts of town. The median sales price hovers around $185,000, ranging from approximately $100,000 to nearly $500,000. "We get a lot of buyers from Buffalo since their inventory is so low," Dispenza says. "You get a better deal out here."
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Green spaces along Lake Erie
One of the county's largest draws is its outdoor recreation. About 4 miles north, Dunkirk's Point Gratiot Park features stretches of sandy beachfront along Lake Erie. Amenities include a covered pavilion for sunset picnics, ball fields and a playground. A paved 1-mile path leads around the point to a historic 1826 lighthouse and another small beach. Several marinas dot the shoreline down the road. "You have Lake Erie on one side of the county and Chautauqua Lake on the other, so you don't have to go very far," Dispenza says. Due to the region's rural nature, expansive state forests and nature preserves offer thousands of acres for hiking, hunting, camping, snowshoeing and skiing.
Closer to home, Fredonia offers a mix of large central green spaces and small neighborhood parks. Russell Joy Park features a playground, a ball field, sports courts and pickleball courts. In the heart of town, Barkers Commons offers an open green space with fountains, benches and a gazebo.
Chautauqua County offers all four seasons. Temperate summers attract tourists, while harsh winters often shut down major thoroughfares. Due to lake-effect snow from Lake Erie, the region receives an average yearly snowfall of around 90 inches.
Point Gratiot is a community gathering place that offers swimmers in Dunkirk Township beaches.
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Festivities at Barkers Commons
The Village hosts five significant festivals a year, including Miracle on Main Street, when residents gather around Barker Commons for community tree lightings, carols, visits from Santa and more. Red, White, and Blues is another popular event that celebrates the region's wine industry, with blues music and bottles of reds and whites. Other seasonal events range from summer concert series to Easter egg hunts.
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Amenities on Main Street
Fredonia's Main Street features several locally owned establishments. Casual eateries and upscale restaurants are scattered between small bakeries, bars and beauty salons. Established in 1868, The White Inn is a recently renovated historic hotel and restaurant that has been a local landmark for decades, while the Fredonia Opera House is up the road.
Chain grocers sit about 2 miles east on the outskirts of the village, while big-box stores are scattered along U.S. Route 60 and Vineyard Drive. Additional chain retailers and the Chautauqua Mall are about 30 miles south.
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Commutes around the county
Fredonia is home to one bus stop along East Main Street, with routes leading to Dunkirk, Westfield and Mayville. However, most residents rely on personal vehicles to get around. Dunkirk's Brooks Memorial Hospital is about 3 miles north, and the City of Jamestown is about 26 miles south. Erie International Airport and Buffalo Niagara International Airport are approximately 50 miles away via Interstate 90. Other nearby roads include U.S. Route 20 and New York State Route 5.
Low crime rates
According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent crimes decreased by around 60% between 2022 and 2023, while property crimes increased by nearly 7% within the same period.
Written By
Lillie Duston
Photography Contributed By
Jack Lourenco
Video By
GL Moses
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GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Fredonia, NY sell after 76 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Fredonia, NY over the last 12 months is $184,900, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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