Georgetown gives residents rural privacy
Georgetown is a central New York outpost offering slow-paced living surrounded by thousands of acres of farmland. This is a place where homebuyers can find spacious properties and well-established houses that provide a feeling of seclusion. “I would say most people tend to like it because of the privacy,” says Laurie Omans, a local broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CNY Realty who’s been in the business for almost 50 years. “The country ambiance. And the average sale price of properties is always better when you drive a little further in the country.” As remote as parts of Georgetown may feel, it’s about 35 miles from Syracuse and 13 miles from the more developed village of Hamilton.
Homes come with old-fashioned character
The area has homes dating to the 1800s, including colonial- and farmhouse-style options. Properties in the Georgetown hamlet, at the center of this community, are relatively close together, on lots starting around a fifth of an acre. Multiacre lots are more common as Georgetown expands outward. Homes in Georgetown don’t change hands particularly often. However, according to a Homes.com calculation, which uses a combination of estimate data, the average home value in the area was around $205,000 in late 2025.
Local school offers career-focused courses
The Otselic Valley Central School District serves students in Georgetown. The system has one school, which spans prekindergarten through 12th grade and receives a C grade from Niche. The school’s kindergarten through third-grade students participate in a daily physical education course, and high school students can take classes in topics like food science and business.
Air travel and health care are within reach
Georgetown residents are just about 35 miles from Syracuse using New York state routes 80 and 92. The city’s Syracuse Hancock International Airport offers nonstop flights to over 20 cities, including Las Vegas and Miami. Hamilton is accessible via Lebanon and Reservoir roads, and its Community Memorial Hospital has an emergency room.
Hamilton has a jam-packed downtown, full of businesses
Georgetown itself is nearly entirely residential, so locals drive to Hamilton for shopping. It's home to Colgate University, a 3,100-student private school, and offers a college-town environment. The village’s downtown is full of coffee shops, pizza parlors, bars and other businesses. FoJo Beans specializes in small-batch brews and also serves up breakfast sandwiches and pastries. Oliveri's Pizzeria has popular garlic knots, and Rusch's Bar & Grill features multiple TVs for sports. Retrospect is an antique store downtown, and more shopping is available at Shol's Boutique, a women’s clothing store. Price Chopper, north of downtown, is an option for groceries.
Forests accommodate recreation for all seasons
There are thousands of acres of state forest land in the Georgetown area, in addition to the swaths of farmland. Muller Hill State Forest is 3,090 acres and has over 7 miles of access roads. Texas Hill State Forest, on the opposite side of town, stretches another 704 acres. Both spaces are open to hunting and snowmobiling. “They’re huge activities in Georgetown,” Omans says. “A lot of snowmobilers, a lot of hunters.” Locals also have Fireman’s Field, a 7-acre park featuring a baseball field and direct access to the Otselic River.
Breakfast is the centerpiece of an annual tradition
Community events in town include an annual pancake breakfast in March, hosted by the Georgetown Volunteer Fire Department. The fire department also hosts an annual Easter egg hunt in April, featuring refreshments and prizes.
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Wayne Epps Jr.
