Palermo offers a quiet and secluded feel close to Oswego County cities
Palermo’s forests and crop fields make up most of the Oswego County town’s landscape, creating a quiet, secluded atmosphere. “Palermo is very quaint. It doesn’t have a ton of things. It’s more country living,” says real estate agent Benjamin DiBlasi with NextHome CNY Realty. “There’s only a Dollar General and a gas station.” Beyond the town center are a few restaurants, but the space between them adds to the rural, spacious environment without a town center. Despite feeling so private, Palermo is between multiple bigger towns and cities, from Fulton and Oswego 's riverside settings to Mexico 's commercial hub. New York Route 3 runs through the community, lined with bus stops, connecting the community with the amenities it doesn’t have, so it can maintain its small-town, rural feel.
Single-family homes at the end of long driveways in Palermo
Homes in Palermo sit at the end of long driveways, hidden from the road. Between the forests and open fields, homebuyers can find a mix of Colonial Revivals, Nationals and ranch-style and manufactured homes. Most properties span half an acre to 7 acres, costing between $80,000 and $250,000. Some properties with over 10 acres can cost closer to $370,000 and $440,000. Palermo receives a 2 out of 10 Cap Index Crime Score, which is lower than the national average of 4.
Palermo's town park and golf course offer ways to get outside
Palermo Town Park includes plenty of sports equipment, like the football field, baseball diamond and tennis courts. A walking trail circles the park, passing the playground, mini golf course and horseshoe pits. Emerald Crest Golf Course has an 18-hole green that’s open to the public. In nearby Fulton and Oswego, fishing is popular on the Oswego River.
Local diners and maple syrup sellers around the town
DJ’s Restaurant is at the heart of the town, right down the street from Dollar General and Red’s gas station. This diner serves classic American breakfasts, including egg dishes and pancakes. The Driveway Inn has a patio and outdoor bar, and its menu features plenty of burgers and seafood options. Red Schoolhouse Maple sells homemade maple syrup and offers pancakes to go with it. DiBlasi states that nearby towns like Mexico have more happening and serve as hubs for the area, including towns like Palermo. “It’s got the local libraries and all the local churches,” DiBlasi says about Mexico. The town has a Tops Friendly Market, about 7 miles away. Aldi is 9 miles away in Fulton, while Granby 's Walmart Supercenter is 10 miles away.
Students attend either Mexico or Phoenix's school districts
Palermo is split between Mexico and Phoenix school districts. Most of the town heads to Mexico’s schools, starting at Palermo Elementary School, which receives a B-minus from Niche. Mexico Middle School receives a C-plus. B-plus-rated Mexico High School offers career and technical education courses in fields like Information Technology, culinary arts and dentistry. The southern side of Palermo attends the Phoenix Central School District. Michael A. Maroun Elementary School receives a C-plus rating, while Emerson J. Dillon Middle School receives a B-minus. B-rated John C. Birdlebough High School offers dual enrollment courses through Onondaga Community College.
Annual church traditions and the Halloween haunted hayrides
Palermo Community Church hosts a few annual gatherings for the community. Every October, the Palermo Church Annual Harvest Supper invites the community for a roast turkey, butternut squash and mashed potatoes dinner. 2024 was their 15th year hosting this tradition. Christmas in Palermo is another church event, where locals can meet Santa, explore crafts and vendors and enjoy cookies, chili and hot chocolate. Frightmare Farms Haunted Scream Park is a Halloween tradition, offering different haunted trails and hayrides throughout the 48-acre property on Fridays and Saturdays in October.
Driving or taking the bus down New York Route 3
Palermo is a mostly car-dependent community, with New York Route 3 linking the town with nearby towns and cities. Centro buses also run along the thoroughfare, offering another way to get to Mexico and Fulton, both about 8 miles away. Oswego is 15 miles away, along with Oswego Hospital. Syracuse Hancock International Airport is the nearest airport, about 23 miles away, and Syracuse itself is about 26 miles south of Palermo.
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Written By
Caroline Ernst
