Lincoln offers a rural escape near Oneida and Syracuse
Lincoln is a quiet stretch of farmland, fields and forests about 30 miles east of Syracuse . Many of the town’s 1,800 residents have addresses listed as Oneida or Canastota , the closest commercial hubs. “It’s quite rural,” says Evelyn Emerson, an associate real estate broker with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services who has over 30 years of local experience. “A lot of farmstands, the homegrown stuff — corn, maple syrup, a lot of crafts, a lot of zucchini and tomatoes.” Small hamlets and communities like Clockville, Merrillsville and Lenox are scattered throughout the town.
Spacious wooded lots offer privacy and garage space
Country roads lead past broad meadows, acres of cornfields and spacious wooded properties, some of which are hidden down long gravel driveways. “You have bigger lots. You can find an acre very easily — 2 acres, 5 acres,” Emerson says. “And you can have as many chickens as you want.” Some land parcels are also suitable for keeping horses. Attached garages are common features that come in handy during upstate New York’s cold, snowy winters. Early-1900s National, midcentury ranch-style and Colonial Revival homes sell for $200,000 to $380,000. Lincoln has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, well below the national average of 4.
Hiking trails and parks blend nature and history
Outdoorsy residents enjoy abundant hiking opportunities. The North Country Trail Association maintains a trail on the western side of town, and the Canastota Cazenovia State Trailway is popular with hikers and snowmobilers. Portions of the trails might be washed out during periods of heavy rain. Scenic waterfalls draw visitors to Oxbow Falls Park, which features a hilly and challenging 18-hole disc golf course. Nichols Pond Park is best known as the site where Samuel de Champlain and the Hurons laid siege to an Iroquois village in 1615. Modern-day visitors bring picnics and try to spot beavers from the wooden walkway over the pond.
Students attend zoned schools in Canastota Central School District
Most students attend Peterboro Street Elementary School, rated B by Niche, from prekindergarten through first grade. For grades 2 and 3, they move to South Side Elementary, rated C. Roberts Street Middle and Canastota High are both rated C-plus. At the high school, students in grades 7 through 12 participate in crafts, cooking, community service and physical activities through the “Adrenaline Junkies” program. School choice is limited to traditional zoned schools, with out-of-district transfers allowed under open enrollment rules when space permits. The district doesn’t offer any magnet programs, and placement decisions are based on policy and capacity rather than a lottery.
Canastota and Oneida are nearby for restaurants and shopping
Most locals do their shopping in Canastota, about 3 miles away. Groceries are available at Aldi and Tops, and the downtown area has a pharmacy, banks and a few specialty shops. Beer and lively conversation flow at Erie Canal Brewing Company, while Brown Brothers BBQ serves pulled pork, smoked chicken and kielbasa. Lowe’s Home Improvement and Walmart Supercenter are 5 miles away in Oneida.
Country roads connect to I-90, health care and transit hubs
Lincoln has no major highways, but travelers can hop on Interstate 90 in Canastota for the 30-mile drive to Syracuse and the nearest major airport. Medical care is available at Oneida Health Hospital, about 7 miles away.
