Richford offers lower home prices and natural beauty
Richford, 18 miles southeast of Ithaca and 33 miles northwest of Binghamton, is a town in Tioga County where single-family home prices sit below the U.S. median. “It’s a cute, friendly, small, rural area with a lot of farming,” says town clerk Velvet Lyke, a resident for more than 50 years. “It’s mostly just cows. We have lots of corn.” Shopping and dining are limited, so residents travel to neighboring communities for groceries. However, Richford offers its own appeal through unspoiled natural beauty, including deep forests and clean streams. Lower housing costs make the town desirable to commuters. “We are 30 minutes to everywhere — Owego, Ithaca, Binghamton and Cortland,” Lyke says. “If you want to be involved in a welcoming community, you can definitely be a part of [Richford]."
Charming farmhouses, ranch-style homes and land for sale
Housing in Richford spans from the mid-19th century through the present. In the hamlet, single-family homes sit close together along narrow, tree-lined streets with lawns and traditional mailboxes. Historic farmhouses have classic features like painted lap siding, exposed wood beams and wide porches. “They’re the old, double-story houses,” Lyke says. Cars are parked in gravel-packed driveways, some leading to detached garages. Homes built over the last 50 years are typically ranch-style. Beyond the hamlet, homes are more secluded, often set with acreage.
Properties rarely come on the market, but prices range from about $100,000 to $250,000, depending on size and features. Land is also available, ranging from $40,000 for 4 acres to $120,000 for 89 acres. The median sale price here is $150,000, lower than the U.S. median of $420,000.
Robust arts department at Newark Valley High
Richford is part of the Newark Valley Central School District, which is rated C overall by Niche. Kids can start at the C-minus-rated Nathan T. Hall Elementary before moving to the C-rated Newark Valley Middle and the C-plus-rated Newark Valley High. The latter offers a robust arts department, with courses like animation, ceramics and sculpting.
Fish, walk and play sports at Rawley Park
Richford is lush with state forests, rolling farmland and dozens of creeks and streams meandering through it all. However, Rawley Park is the central outdoor hub. “We improved the park so much,” Lyke says. “When I was a kid, it was basically just a pavilion.” Today, the park offers paved walking paths, a playground and sports like basketball and baseball. East Branch Owego Creek flows through the park — a popular fishing spot for brown trout and smallmouth bass. The Friends of Rawley Park help keep the park tidy and raise funds for renovations. “The town really loves the park,” Lyke says. “We have people who go down every morning and walk. [There] could be a wedding or family reunion picnic with kids playing — just people coming together.” Outside of the hamlet, the 1,150-acre Beaver Dam State Forest includes miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding.
Diner breakfast, New York-style pizza and brownie sundaes
In the hamlet, there's a small cluster of locally owned shops and restaurants. The Richford Diner is a popular start to the morning, serving hot coffee and breakfast favorites, like buttermilk pancakes and steak ‘n’ eggs. Nearby, Richford Pizza Plus offers all-day eats, from breakfast sandwiches and omelets to bacon cheeseburgers and authentic New York-style pizza. Across the street, Richford Tastee Treat is an old-school ice cream stand offering dozens of flavors. “The ice cream is awesome,” Lyke says. “They have brownie sundaes and wonderful shakes made with the softest ice cream.”
Mirabito, a gas station/convenience store with a Subway, covers grocery basics. “You can get some of the daily things, like bread, milk and that kind of stuff,” Lyke says. Dryden, 10 miles away, offers additional shopping and dining. Dryden Food Market stocks pantry staples and butcher cuts, and Dedrick’s Farm Market carries fresh-cut flowers and homegrown veggies.
Richford Historical Society and the Potato Festival
The Richford Historical Society preserves the town’s past in a 19th-century schoolhouse museum. “We have a lot of neat, old artifacts — lots of history,” Lyke says. Each September, the society organizes the Potato Festival. Visitors sample potato-themed treats, such as sweet potato ice cream and potato donuts, while enjoying live music, a silent auction and craft vendors. Festivalgoers also line up to ring Lula’s Old School Bell, a relic from 1870 that was donated to the museum on the condition it never leaves Richford.
Richford is also known as the birthplace of John D. Rockefeller, born in 1839. A street now bears his name, and a marker designates the site of his childhood home.
Commuter routes and the nearest hospital and airport
Richford is considered car-dependent, but the hamlet is walkable. “You can walk to the park, to the ice cream shop and stuff like that,” Lykes says. Routes 38 and 79 intersect in Richford, providing access to Ithaca and Binghamton. Cayuga Medical Center is 20 miles away, and Ithaca Tompkins International Airport is a 21-mile drive.
