$100,770Average Value$65Average Price per Sq Ft3Homes For Sale
The Brown Square neighborhood has less than 1,000 residents and is minutes from downtown.
Close to downtown and poised for a comeback
Brown Square has seen its purpose shift since it was first established in the early 1800s. Originally named for brothers Matthew and Francis Brown, who were instrumental founders of Rochester’s industry, the neighborhood includes Rochester’s first tract of public land designated as a city park. Brown Park was used as a training ground for the city’s militia before becoming a public site for fitness and city events. The neighborhood surrounding the park features several investment-ready properties, a robust neighborhood association, and a five-minute proximity to downtown Rochester.
According to Niche, the majority of homes in Brown Square are rented.
Investment opportunities
Brown Square includes a mixture of single-family homes and residential structures converted to multi-family housing, and the majority of residents are renters. American Foursquare homes are popular, with the large windows letting in lots of natural light. Driveways are few, so streets are lined with cars parked in the shade of mature trees. Many homes in the neighborhood are advertised as investment properties, and homes can be purchased for as low as $45,000. Most properties run for between $100,000 and $170,000. While the underserved nature of the neighborhood makes it more affordable, it also comes with challenges. The CAP score for Brown Square is 9, compared to the national average of 4. “It’s something that concerns me, because there seems to be a lot of car break-ins,” says Stephanie Barner, a two-year resident who organizes book clubs for the neighborhood.
The peaceful greenery of Jones Square Park make it one of Brown Square best attractions.
Jogging at Jones Park
Residents seeking outdoor recreation opportunities have several destinations within the neighborhood. Brown Square Park serves as the heart of the neighborhood, with trails and ball fields beckoning fitness enthusiasts and neighborhood kids to come and play. The 6-acre Jones Park offers a looped running track surrounded by mature trees, with several picnic tables throughout the park, while Verona Playground, located in the heart of the neighborhood, offers a place for neighborhood kids to burn some energy. The Rochester Community Sports Complex, which opened in 2019, hosts sports clinics including lacrosse, football and soccer. In 2021, the complex opened the R-Training Center, a state-of-the-art indoor sports facility.
Regular customers ensure Rocky's Restaurant is busy during lunchtime.
Rocky’s serves Italian favorites
Since 1949, the neighborhood Italian restaurant Rocky’s has been serving large portions of freshly made Italian cuisine that keeps patrons coming back. “People come from all over to eat at Rocky’s,” says Realtor Colleen Bracci with RE/MAX Realty Group. Residents can also sample the Japanese cuisine at Roc City Ramen for a steaming bowl of soup alongside sweet treats like Earl Grey hot chocolate or mochi. For residents who want to multitask, Gorkhas Grocery Store offers simple grocery staples as well as fresh food like momos, Nepali steamed dumplings. Gorkhas is one of several corner stores for quick grocery trips, while residents head to the Aldi supermarket less than a mile away for more extensive trips. Rochester Care Pharmacy, located on Lyell Avenue in the heart of the neighborhood, offers basic medical services like immunizations and health screenings as well as prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.
Holiday events and sports arenas
The neighborhood maintains its community ties with holiday events organized by the Brown Square Neighborhood Association. “We just had our annual Easter egg hunt,” says Barner. “The kids always love the energy and it’s nice to see everyone come out together.”
Sports fans will appreciate the proximity to several stadiums and arenas that host regular events. The Innovative Field Stadium is home of the Rochester Red Wings Minor League Baseball team. At Blue Cross Arena, located about a mile south of the neighborhood, visitors can catch pro hockey and lacrosse games. The arena also features live music events, ice shows, and kid-friendly performances like monster truck shows. The Marina Auto Stadium on Oak Street, home to the Rochester Rhinos soccer team, is another major draw to the neighborhood.
Kids play basketball at the Rochester Community Sports Complex in Brown Square.
Innovative Field was built in 1996 for $35.3 million dollars.
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Schools welcome international students
Students in the Brown Square neighborhood may attend John Williams School No. 5 for Kindergarten through 8th grade, where international students can participate in the English Language Learning program. The school has a C-minus grade from Niche. From there, students may go on to attend Rochester Early College International High School, which has a B rating. As of Spring 2024, the district is undergoing a reconfiguration plan that may alter the attendance zones for the neighborhood for the 2024-2025 school year.
Rochester Early College International High School received a B rating from Niche.
John Williams School 5 has a student to teach ratio of 11 to 1.
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Residents can easily travel to downtown Rochester using RTS buses.
Plenty of transit options
Brown Square is just outside of downtown Rochester, and residents can take the bus from one of several stops on Jay Street or Plymouth Avenue to get into the city. Those who prefer to drive can get downtown within about five to ten minutes depending on traffic. Interstate 490 runs adjacent to the neighborhood and can connect commuters to Buffalo to the west and Syracuse to the east. The Rochester Amtrak station is located 1.5 miles to the east in neighboring Upper Falls, and the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport is located about 6 miles southwest, a drive that will take between 10 and 15 minutes. The Unity Specialty Hospital is located about 1.5 miles southeast of the neighborhood.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Frederick Douglass/Greater Rochester International
8 min drive
Bus
Lyell & Saratoga
Bus
Lyell & Dewey
Bus
Lake & Lake Tower Apts
Bus
Lake & Lorimer
Bus
Plymouth & Platt
Bus
State & Platt
Bus
Lyell & Plymouth
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Brown Square
US
Homicide
10
4
Sexual Assault
7
4
Assault with Weapon
9
4
Robbery
10
4
Burglary
8
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
7
4
Larceny
6
4
Crime Score
8
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Brown Square Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Brown Square, Rochester sell after 37 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Brown Square, Rochester over the last 12 months is $98,950, up 32% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
