$123,639Average Value$97Average Price per Sq Ft4Homes For Sale
Close-knit community and lower home prices in Lyell-Otis
About 5 miles northwest of Downtown Rochester, Lyell-Otis is an active, close-knit community with historic homes priced below the city’s median. The neighborhood also features parks, fast-casual eateries and community resources such as the Lyell Branch Library. Families benefit from Rochester’s school choice program, while walkable streets, bus service and thoroughfares make it easy to get around the city.
Lyell-Otis is west of Interstate 490, just a few miles from downtown Rochester.
Lyell-Otis home prices are lower than the Rochester metro area average.
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Colonial Revival and Craftsman homes are popular with investors
Lyell-Otis features a mix of single- and multifamily homes set along sidewalk-lined streets shaded by mature trees. “Most of the people that I work with in that neighborhood are investors,” says Corey Wild, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Greater Rochester and more than 20 years of local experience. “There are a lot of rental properties.”
Homes here span from the late 19th to the late 20th centuries. Architectural styles vary, but Colonial Revival, American Foursquare and Craftsman homes are common, often with clapboard siding, white trim and covered porches. Ranch-style and split-level homes add to the mix, frequently featuring attached garages and finished basements. Some properties sit on quieter, greener blocks with manicured lawns and white picket fences, while others are closer to more urban stretches near shops and restaurants.
The median sale price is in the lower $100,000s, below both neighboring Maplewood and the citywide median. Prices range from the upper $40,000s for fixer-uppers to the upper $200,000s for updated, move-in-ready homes.
Lyell-Otis is characterized by tree-lined streets and well-maintained front yards.
Many of Lyell-Otis' home are from the early to mid-20th century.
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How Rochester’s school choice program works
Lyell-Otis is part of the Rochester City School District, which offers school choice. Families may choose an elementary school within their assigned zone or a citywide school. Lyell-Otis is in the Northwest Zone. Secondary schools are citywide.
Flower City School No. 54 teaches pre-kindergarten through sixth grade and is within walking distance of many homes. Teens can attend Edison Career & Technology High, which offers programs in carpentry, advertising design and automotive systems.
Flower City Community School 54 has a student to teacher ratio of 16 to 1.
Edison Career And Technology High School has a C- rating from Niche.
John Williams School 5 has a student teacher ratio of 11 to 1.
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Wegmans has served Rochester since it was founded in 1916.
Try international cuisine in Lyell-Otis
Lyell-Otis is primarily residential, but a handful of convenience stores and restaurants are dotted throughout the area with flavors from around the world. “The entire city is known for having very diverse food,” Wild says. Neighborhood favorites include:
Ting’s Diner, a classic American spot for no-frills brunch and coffee
Nam Vang, a Vietnamese restaurant known for its pho and banh mi
Rancho Palma, a fast-casual Latin eatery with chicharrones, carne frita and Cuban sandwiches
Linda’s New York Pizzeria, the game-day favorite for extra-large pies, Italian subs and barbecue wings
Two miles away, Gateway Plaza offers a wider selection of businesses, including grocery chains like Aldi and Wegmans.
Lyell-Otis’ parks feature sports, playgrounds and more
To spend some time outdoors, you can choose from several neighborhood parks. Sebastian Park offers picnic pavilions and a basketball court, while Paul Bianchi Park features baseball diamonds, paved walking paths and outdoor fitness equipment. The dog-friendly J.R. Wilson Park is a favorite for pickup soccer and basketball, as well as its blue-and-green playground designed with stepper pods, spider-web ropes and corkscrew climbers. About 2 miles away, Maplewood Park expands the options with the Maplewood Rose Garden, access to the 24-mile Genesee Riverway Trail and courts for pickleball and tennis.
Paul Bianchi Park has baseball diamonds and spectator seating in Lyell-Otis.
Sebastian Park offers a lush green space for Lyell-Otis residents.
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Pedestrian-friendly neighborhood and commuter access to NYC
Lyell-Otis’ streets are bike-friendly, sidewalk-lined and dotted with Regional Service Transit bus stops. “You can take the bus, you can walk — there are bikes [and] scooters that the city provides for a small fee,” Wild says. For a trip to New York, you can head downtown via Lyell Avenue and take the Amtrak from Louise M. Slaughter Rochester Station.
Regional Transit Service buses run frequently in Lyell-Otis.
The Lyell-Otis neighborhood has biking lanes for cyclists.
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Movies, crafts and more at the Lyell Branch Library
The Lyell Branch Library serves as a neighborhood gathering space, hosting programs for all ages, including movie screenings, professional workshops and hands-on craft sessions, like knitting and rock painting. The Lyell Otis Community Association meets at the library and organizes seasonal events, including an Easter egg hunt and a Christmas tree lighting. The group also promotes gardening initiatives, such as Plant a Seed Day, and helps maintain the Edgar Santa Cruz Peace Garden.
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
13 min drive
Bus
Glide & Bergen
Bus
Lyell & Avery
Bus
Lexington & Mt Read
Bus
Emerson & Santee
Bus
Glide & Freeland
Bus
Emerson & Robin
Bus
Edison Tech High School
Reviews
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Lyell-Otis
US
Homicide
7
4
Sexual Assault
7
4
Assault with Weapon
7
4
Robbery
7
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Lyell-Otis Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Lyell-Otis, Rochester sell after 20 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Lyell-Otis, Rochester over the last 12 months is $124,000, up 23% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Cash-flowing 3-bedroom, 1-bath single-family home with a long-term tenant in Rochester's Lyell-Otis neighborhood is available for its new owner. Whether a seasoned investor adding to an already robust portfolio or if you're just getting started, this one has to be on your consideration list. The tenants will love the convenient proximity to the airport, expressway, as well as having the benefits
Laura SwoggerKeller Williams Realty Greater Rochester
Opportunity knocks! Calling all investors or individuals who want to own their own home plus have or lease out a centrally located business/retail space on a main road. BONUS: The residential lot at 688 Glide St, directly behind 1100 Lyell, is also included with this sale. The three bedroom & two bath residential portion of this property is currently rented by a wonderful long-term tenant, who
Income-producing opportunity in the heart of Rochester! This tenant-occupied triplex on Otis Street offers immediate cash flow for investors and includes additional bonus rooms, providing added flexibility and potential value. Recent improvements include a brand new driveway (late 2025), new basement- Block windows installed last year, and a tear-off roof completed within the last 6 years.
Another Rockin' Rochester Property! This spacious 3-bedroom, 1-bath charmer is currently rented and earning, but with a little TLC, it could be your next dream home! Highlights include a kitchen with an awesome pantry (because we all need extra snack storage), a dry basement ready for projects or storage, and a quiet side-street location that’s perfect for peaceful mornings. Enjoy the large
Another Rockin' Rochester Property! All offers subject to Western District Court Approval. Please read allattachments before making an offer. Property is tenant occupied by PAYING long term tenant. Seller will NOT give notice to terminate month to month lease.
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Roomy 2 bedroom townhouse-style apartment close to schools, transportation and shopping!$1200.00 per month, includes water, garbage pick-upFreshly painted, new vinyl windows, flooringStove/Refrigerator negotiableNo petsThis is a Smoke-free propertyApplications must include: Photo ID, 2 months pay stubs, current utility bill, 2 months bank statements
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