Rural, family-friendly living between Rochester and Syracuse
Covering 60 square miles, the town of Galen stretches across farmland and woods in upstate New York. Families are attracted to this area for its peaceful setting and relatively low cost of living compared to Rochester , 50 miles west. "Galen has gotten quite popular in the past two or three years because you can get an affordable, nice-sized home and you're not too far away from the city," says Rachel Roberts, Realtor at Re/Max Revolution. Still, necessities are close by. Within the town, the village of Clyde has locally owned businesses, town parks, Clyde-Savannah public schools and institutions that anchor the community and fulfill everyday needs.
Homes on acres of land or closer together in Clyde
The village of Clyde has gridded, residential streets with Colonial Revival and traditional homes from the 19th and early 20th centuries. A handful of ranch-style houses from the mid-to-late 20th century can also be found throughout town. Alternatively, properties outside the village area span several acres of woods or farmland. Homes in need of renovations can sell for under $100,000, and larger homes in better condition go for between $100,000 and $400,000. While Roberts emphasizes that larger homes can be found at moderate prices in Galen, the market can be slow. "There's only ever a handful of homes that come up. You're not going to find that every day," she says.
Youth sports and recreation along the Erie Canal
Locals can walk or bike along the Erie Canal on the Empire State Trail system going through Galen. Lauraville Landing has a playground and a launch for kayaks and canoes on the canal. Paddlers can also get out on the waters of Lake Ontario and Cayuga Lake, both about 15 miles from Galen. The Clyde-Savannah Jr. Eagles youth football and cheerleading teams host their practices and games at the central school district. "Pretty much anyone that has kids is in that program in some way, shape or form. The rest of the community—teachers, grandparents, relatives— everyone helps out and volunteers," Roberts says.
The area receives an average of 42 inches of snow annually, which is less than some other communities in this region around Lake Ontario. "There's not a ton of lake-effect snow. It's more mild," Roberts says.
Schools in the Clyde-Savannah Central School District
Students here typically begin at Clyde-Savannah Elementary School and continue to Clyde-Savannah Junior High School, both of which earn C-minus ratings from Niche. Older students can attend B-rated Clyde-Savannah Senior High School. The city’s Capital Improvement Project, scheduled for completion by fall 2027, includes the expansion and updating of the district's educational facilities. The project includes a renovated auditorium, STEM classrooms and lab spaces, a new playground, improved athletic facilities and building energy-efficiency upgrades.
The village of Clyde has local businesses in Galen
In Clyde, PaPa's Place has pizza and wings to-go, and The Landing by the Park has all-day breakfast and comfort foods. Longstanding institutions like Christ Community Church, Global Methodist Church, the Galen Historical Society and the post office are also situated around Clyde Village Park. Roberts expects the area to continue growing. "With the traffic moving through, there's a lot of opportunity. There's a lot of open business space in downtown Clyde," she says. For necessities, Dollar General is in the village, and other retailers like Aldi are nearby in Lyons .
The town and fire department host community events
The Clyde Village Park hosts the community market each Tuesday from June to October, where vendors sell baked goods, homemade items like quilts and local produce. Other events, such as the annual Miss Clyde-Savannah Queen pageant, are also held at the park. The Clyde-Galen Fire District puts on family-friendly festivities, too, like trunk-or-treat in October, fundraiser dinners throughout the year and the three-day Clyde Fire Department Community Carnival in August.
Getting around town on NY-31 and I-90
Galen is between Rochester and Syracuse , and drivers can get to either in under an hour on state Route 31, which goes through the town, by taking Interstate 90. Rochester and Syracuse both have international airports. Nearby medical facilities include Newark-Wayne Community Hospital and Geneva General Hospital, both under a 30-minute drive from Galen.
![Faith Wakefield]()
Written By
Faith Wakefield
