Stellar schools, stylish homes and an accessible location in Lima
Lima is an easy-going Livingston County community with access to the highly rated Honeoye Falls-Lima Central School District, historic homes and vibrant community events. The town includes the village of Lima and a few small hamlets, and the village is located at the junction of State Route 5/U.S. Route 20 and State Route 15A. “They call Lima ‘The Crossroads’ because you have two major routes that cross over,” says Matthew Sharman, a Realtor with Empire Realty Group and one of the top agents in the region. “It’s a good spot for a lot of people because you can get more house and more land than suburban Rochester, but there is a bit of an inflated cost because of the school district.”
Colonial Revival homes have historic charm
Lima has “some absolutely gorgeous 1800s homes with beautiful features, large columns and everything kind of indicative of that style,” Sharman says. The median year built in Lima is 1969, but even newer builds have styles reminiscent of the early 20th century, such as Colonial Revival, farmhouse, bungalow and National. Mature trees shade the village sidewalks, and most properties feature driveways and garages. Rural homes sit on multiple acres of rolling countryside with room for outbuildings. Mobile homes range from $30,000 to $70,000, while homes in need of repairs or updates can cost between $100,000 and $200,000. Most move-in ready homes sell for $200,000 to $350,000. Homes with four or more bedrooms, acreage or homes built after the ’90s tend to fetch more, selling for $350,000 to $550,000
Highly rated public and private schools, plus Elim Bible College
Many students attend schools in the Honeoye Falls-Lima Central School District, which locals shorten to HFL. Niche gives the school system an A rating and ranks it as one of the top five districts in the Rochester area. “Their athletics and academic programs really stand out, and they’re kind of leading the pack for suburban schools,” Sharman says. “They have small class sizes and very strong parent support.” Lima Primary School, graded B, is located in the village of Lima, but the remaining schools are based in Honeoye Falls . Manor Intermediate and Honeoye Falls-Lima Central Middle both receive an A grade, while Honeoye Falls-Lima Central High receives an A-minus. Lima Christian School offers private education for students in kindergarten through 12th grade and is graded B-plus. Lima is also home to Elim Bible College, which offers bachelor's degrees in theology and business management and certificates.
Parks, trails and Conesus Lake offer year-round recreation
Mark Tubbs Memorial Park is a family and pup-friendly park in the village with a playground, walking trails, picnic tables and sports fields. The semi-private Lima Golf and Country Club has two 18-hole courses open to the public just outside of town. Honeoye Creek Wildlife Management Area offers hunting, trapping, hiking and wildlife spotting. “You’re probably less than 20 minutes to Conesus Lake and you’ve got a good shot down some of the wine trails,” Sharman says. Watersports and boating are popular during the summer, but Conesus Lake gets year-round use with hockey and ice fishing once the lake freezes.
Local shops, live music and seasonal farmstands
Lima has a Dollar General for everyday essentials, but the closest grocery store is Honeoye Falls Marketplace, which is a few miles away. “It’s got a vibrant village that’s really starting to come up,” Sharman says, pointing towards live music at Fanatics Pub, coffee at Milk and Honey Café, and barbecue at The Normal. Crossroads Antiques has antiques and collectibles in a converted church, while WE Shop — short for Women Entrepreneurs — features wares from 35 women vendors and artisans. Residents can get fresh produce at seasonal farmstands and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. Consumers pay farmers up-front at the start of the season and receive shares of the harvest in return.
Seasonal events celebrate heritage and agriculture
Each summer, the annual Crossroads Festival brings Lima’s heritage to life with live music, a parade and a variety of food trucks. Come October, the Lima Pumpkin Festival and Ag Day shines a light on Livingston County’s agricultural roots. Green thumbs compete to grow the largest giant pumpkin and the tallest sunflower, while visitors of all ages showcase their creativity in the pumpkin carving contest.
Several houses of worship are in the village, including Lima Presbyterian Church, which dates back to 1802. The church hosts the Lima Farmer’s Market from June through October.
Major roads and highways offer quick access to Rochester
State Route 5/U.S. Route 20, which runs east-west, and Route 15A, which runs north-south, intersect in the village. Interstate 390 is nearby and can get drivers to Rochester and Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport in about 25 miles, or less than 30 minutes. Regional Transit Service (RTS) Livingston offers limited bus service to Mount Morris and Dansville. Medical care is available at F.F. Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua about 20 miles away.
![Leslie Klosterman]()
Written By
Leslie Klosterman
