Rolling hills, country lanes and rural charm in Randolph
With country lanes surrounded by the rolling hills of the Allegheny Highlands, Randolph offers small-town living with easy access to the outdoors. The town is in the furthest reaches of western New York, about 60 miles south of Buffalo and just a short drive from Allegany State Park. It’s home to about 2,500 residents, older homes, farm properties and a handful of shops and restaurants. “We’re a big farming community, and an Amish community,” says Realtor Tonya Studley, a longtime Randolph resident. “It’s very rural. Our version of traffic is getting stuck behind a horse and buggy, or a kid riding a Shetland pony to his farm, or a cow that won’t get out of the road.”
Century-old homes and farm properties on spacious rural lots
Randolph’s housing stock mostly dates to the late-19th and early-20th centuries, although some midcentury homes also make an appearance. Century-old cottages, ranch-style homes, traditional homes and sprawling farm properties are a common sight. Homes around the town center are on smaller lots, with neighbors close together, while those farther out feature large lots, some of which have more than 50 acres of land. The streetscape is bucolic, with plenty of greenery all around. Prices range from around $100,000 to $270,000, although some fixer-uppers have sold for less.
Randolph offers easy access to parks, trails and resorts
Randolph is surrounded by outdoor recreation, including Allegany State Park. “We’re right on the doorstep of Allegany State Park and Allegheny National Forest,” Studley says. Located about 17 miles east of town, the state park is a well-known camping, fishing, hiking and boating destination. It covers more than 64,000 acres, features numerous hiking trails and connects with Allegheny National Forest in northeast Pennsylvania. Randolph is also just 20 miles from Holiday Valley Resort, a vacation and ski resort in Ellicottville, and the largest tourist destination in Cattaraugus County. Within Randolph, residents can enjoy the playgrounds, meadows and ballfields at Weeden Park. Golfers can tee up at Cardinal Hills Golf Course, which is open to the public.
Local schools with strong sports and high graduation rates
Students attend school close to home, beginning with Gail N. Chapman Elementary School, which serves kindergarten through sixth grade. Niche gives it a B rating. The last step is Randolph Junior/Senior High School, which gets a B-minus. The high school serves seventh through 12th grades, and has a 95% graduation rate, nearly 10% higher than the statewide average. It’s known for highly rated athletic programs, including its championship-winning boys basketball team. “We have people who come from nearby towns and enroll their kids in Randolph schools, and part of that is because of our sports teams. We’re big on sports,” Studley says.
Shops, restaurants and handmade goods on Main Street
Randolph has a small downtown district situated around Main and Jamestown streets. It has old brick storefronts and a few shops and restaurants, including a hardware store, a post office and a country store. “There’s a large Amish population here, so you can get really well-made craftsman goods and handmade furniture,” Studley says. Randolph Peaches & Ice Cream is a local spot with fresh produce, flowers, Amish canned goods and homemade ice cream. There’s also R & M Restaurant, a local breakfast spot, and Big John’s Pizza for takeout. Groceries and everyday goods are found at Tops Friendly Market and Dollar General.
No public transit, but highways connect to nearby towns
Residents will need a car to get around, as public transportation is not available in the area. Interstate 86 skirts the southern edge of town, offering a direct route to larger towns like Jamestown and Olean. Olean General Hospital, the nearest medical center, is about 40 miles east. Buffalo Niagara International Airport is the nearest major airport, about 65 miles away.
