Perinton's trails, schools and Fairport village drive demand
Perinton is a sought-after suburb just outside of Rochester . The area is known for its exceptional schools and the small but lively village of Fairport along the Erie Canal, plus its impressive trail system. These factors combined make Perinton one of the most expensive communities in Rochester’s eastern suburbs. “It’s always been an exclusive area,” says Andrew Hannan, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Greater Rochester, who lives in Perinton. “If you look at the history of it, Rochester was built by Kodak. The executives all lived on the east side of town, the factory workers lived on the west side of town, and that kind of just played out over the years.”
Midcentury subdivisions and New Traditional housing developments
The median sale price for a single-family home in Perinton is around $850,000. Subdivisions in and around Fairport feature ranch-style homes, Colonial Revivals and other styles from the mid-1900s in a classic suburban setting. Housing developments featuring 21st-century New Traditional homes are generally on the northeast and southern outskirts of Perinton. Larger lots are typically on the south side, offering anywhere from 2 to 7 acres of land. Townhouses are less common but scattered throughout town, with a median sale price of around $530,000.
Fairport Central School District earns high marks
The Fairport Central School District receives an A grade from Niche and is considered one of the top school districts in the Rochester area. According to GreatSchools, nearly half of all Fairport High School students are enrolled in dual-enrollment courses, allowing them to earn college credits. The high school also has a competitive athletics program: The Fairport Red Raiders boys soccer team won the state championship in 2024.
Abundant trails, local parks and a community center
Perinton has several trails throughout town, many of which are close to homes. “When I moved here, my neighbor said, ‘You have to get a mountain bike,’ and he convinced me. I have a trail right behind my house that is great for hiking and mountain biking,” Hannan says. Egypt Park is popular for its barn-style playground and for access to the Rochester, Syracuse and Eastern Trail. The Crescent Trail system spans over 35 miles and is exclusively designated for hiking or snowshoeing. The trail at Spring Lake Park runs along Irondequoit Creek and connects to a trail in the neighboring town of Penfield. Fellows Road Park features a playground, picnic pavilions and several athletic facilities, including six pickleball courts with a sign-up sheet. “Often, there’s a waitlist of like 50 people. That’s just how into pickleball people are,” Hannan says. The Perinton Community Center is also a well-used facility in town, featuring an indoor gym, a fitness room, and an indoor aquatics center with a lap pool and water park.
Shopping centers with big-box retailers, local businesses in Fairport
Locals have several options for shopping and dining. In the middle of town, Highway 31 is lined with shopping centers and big-box retailers like Wegmans and Aldi. This area also has several fast-food chains and a few local establishments, including Perinton Hots, known for its homemade hot sauce and comfort foods. The south side of town is home to Eastview Mall, which is surrounded by more shopping centers with other big-box retailers, including Walmart and Target. Restaurants in this area are mostly national and regional chains. On the north side, Fairport features many local businesses by the canal. For waterfront dining, there’s Lulu, which serves Mexican food, and The Porterhouse, known for its steak, seafood and scotch. The area also has several popular watering holes and late-night hangout spots. “What’s going on now is young people are coming to Fairport on the weekends for entertainment because there’s a bunch of new bars with live music,” Hannan says. Iron Smoke Distillery is one of several businesses set up in an old factory known as The Cannery. The distillery makes apple wood-smoked whiskey and is a popular spot to catch bands or even participate in live band karaoke.
Fairport Music Festival and Canal Days draw summer crowds
Every summer, the Fairport Music Festival draws massive crowds with six stages featuring local and regional bands. Proceeds from the festival go towards the Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong. Fairport Canal Days is another popular summer event, which also features live music, along with blocks of local vendors.
Highways and buses connect Perinton to downtown Rochester
Regional Transit Service operates buses along Highway 31 and Fairport’s Main Street, among a few other areas. Commuters can take a bus to downtown Rochester, about 10 miles away. To drive to the city, it’s about a 15- to 20-minute trip via Interstate 490. Travelers can also head to Rochester to fly out of Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport.
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Written By
Nicolas Stuart
