Two miles northeast of Downtown Rochester , Brown Square is a compact, pedestrian-friendly community with homes priced below nearby neighborhoods. Residents are surrounded by locally owned restaurants, neighborhood parks and access to the Genesee River, making it easy to balance city living with time outdoors. The area is also commuter-friendly, with convenient access to city buses, the Inner Loop and the nearby Rochester Amtrak station.
Brown Square is home to a mix of single-family and multifamily homes, often situated just blocks from businesses. "It's a combination of commercial and residential," says Ignazio Vaccaro, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty Greater Rochester West and a Rochester local. He says housing inventory is limited throughout the city, but it's even more pronounced in Brown Square.
Most homes were built between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. American Foursquares are common, typically featuring painted clapboard siding, white trim and wide windows that allow for natural light. Streets are lined with sidewalks, modest lawns and parallel-parked cars shaded by maple trees. More than half of Brown Square residents are renters. The median sale price is in the low $70,000s, lower than in nearby Edgerton or Beechwood , about 4 miles away. Prices range from the upper $30,000s for small fixer-uppers to the low $200,000s for turnkey multifamily properties.
Brown Square is part of the Rochester City School District, which allows school choice. Families may choose an elementary school in their assigned zone or a citywide school; Brown Square is located in the Northwest Zone. Secondary schools are citywide. Kids in kindergarten through eighth grade may attend the neighborhood's John Williams School No. 5, which offers the English Language Learning program. At the highly rated Rochester Early College International High provides, students may earn between 24 and 60 college credits before graduation.
Jones Square Park features paved walking paths, picnic areas with grills and open grassy fields that change with the seasons. Brown Square Park offers another quiet spot to relax, with Verona Playground nearby. Baseball fans can catch the Rochester Red Wings at Innovative Field Stadium or attend soccer matches at the Rochester Community Sports Complex, home to the Rochester Lancers. There's also an indoor training facility for student athletes. The 13-mile Genesee Riverway Trail runs nearby and is popular for jogging and cycling, offering riverfront views and access to High Falls, a natural waterfall.
Two miles away, Maplewood Park is a highlight for its tennis/pickleball courts, smallmouth bass fishing and the Maplewood Rose Garden, which includes over 250 varieties. The 300-acre park also hosts the Lilac Festival, a spring celebration featuring artisans, live music and fun traditions like the Donut Dash, where runners race for pastries.
Residents of Brown Square have access to a diverse dining scene. Options in the area include:
Brown Square is walkable and bike-friendly. The Inner Loop borders the neighborhood, connecting with Interstate 490 and providing access downtown. Regional Transit Service buses serve the area, and the Louise M. Slaughter Rochester Station is about 2 miles away.
Andrew Hannan
Real Broker NY, LLC
(585) 514-5927
426 Total Sales
1 in Brown Square
$120,000 Price
Kirsten Perkins
SLF Realty LLC
(585) 514-5314
190 Total Sales
3 in Brown Square
$39K - $115K Price Range
Duk Kharel
Keller Williams Realty Greater Rochester
(585) 572-5588
92 Total Sales
2 in Brown Square
$100,000 Price Range
Austin Moyer
Coldwell Banker Custom Realty
(585) 378-5175
96 Total Sales
1 in Brown Square
$29,000 Price
Shaheen Hyde
Coldwell Banker Custom Realty
(585) 378-4130
37 Total Sales
2 in Brown Square
$115K - $205K Price Range
Deborah Renna-Hynes
eXp Realty, LLC
(315) 903-5777
209 Total Sales
1 in Brown Square
$150,000 Price
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Brown Square | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 7 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 9 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 9 | 4 |
| Robbery | 8 | 4 |
| Burglary | 5 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 5 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 7 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
On average, homes in Brown Square, Rochester sell after 19 days on the market compared to the national average of 56 days. The median sale price for homes in Brown Square, Rochester over the last 12 months is $68,250, down 23% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
$299,900
221 Spencer Street, Rochester, NY presents an opportunity to acquire a 5-unit multifamily asset in Rochester’s Edgerton neighborhood, offered at $299,900. This income-producing property features a desirable unit mix of four 2-bedroom apartments and one 1-bedroom apartment, with all utilities separately metered for streamlined management and expense control. Currently generating $4,375 per month
Mark Palazzo Rich Realty
$319,900
Turnkey investment opportunity in the City of Rochester! This well-maintained 6-unit apartment building features six 1-bedroom, 1-bath units, offering strong income potential and flexibility for both investors and owner-occupants. Each unit offers a spacious layout with eat-in kitchens. Currently, 4 units are rented, 1 is owner-occupied, and 1 unit is vacant and producing a monthly gross income
Anthony Butera Keller Williams Realty Greater Rochester
$149,600
Great opportunity for a first-time homebuyer looking to build wealth through homeownership. This spacious two-family home allows you to live in one unit and rent the other, creating the potential for rental income that can help offset your mortgage and housing expenses. With 6 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms across two units, this property provides flexibility, space, and strong long-term potential.
Ronald Wright Summerrain Realty Group
$122,900
New Year Special! Massive 6-Bed Home Near Downtown Rochester! Discover the unlimited potential of this expansive 6-bedroom,2-bathroom residence, ideally situated just steps from Innovative Field and the heart of downtown. The flexible layout offers a large open living/dining combo and an eat-in kitchen on the first floor, alongside 3 bedrooms and a full bath. The upper level features a second
AbuBakr Abdul-Latif Nationwide Houses LLC
$99,000
Down unit is vacant and ready for immediate possession. Upstairs unit is currently rented to a very long term tenant $650 per month. Does not have a current c of o, looking to sell AS IS.
Tiffany Angelo One Seven Realty Inc
$845 per month
2 bedroom second floor apartment for Rent. *Heat Included. No pets allowed.
Alissa Johansen Rik Management
$2,025 per month
RARELY AVAILABLE! Gorgeous 1 bedroom, 1 bath loft in the High Falls District. High ceilings, large windows provide tons of natural light. You’ll have beautiful views of the district, including your walk out the front door to the historic pedestrian bridge that crosses the Genesee River at the High Falls. Rooftop patio presents breathtaking views of the falls and Innovative Field! Gleaming
Christopher Cady Mitchell Pierson, Jr., Inc.
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Waterfall views, downtown access and historic homes in Rochester
A redeveloping community northwest of downtown and the Genesee River
The heart of Rochester, filled with dining and parks beside the Genesee River
Rochester’s oldest and most diverse neighborhood along the Genesee River
A walkable, community-oriented neighborhood with convenience to Rochester's finest
Handyman’s dream in the Northwestern Quadrant of Rochester