Savannah is a quiet and remote community in the Finger Lakes region
Savannah is one of many rural towns in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, about 10 miles north of Cayuga Lake. “When you drive by, especially in the fall, you’ll see tall growing corn and fields full of green little soybean plants. We also have a lot of dairy farms, so you see a lot of cows and farm animals,” says Mara Gill, Savannah’s town clerk, who grew up in the general area. While having easy access to the second-largest Finger Lake, Savannah is also surrounded by farmland, nature preserves and the Erie Canal. There isn’t much in town other than a few small businesses, a couple churches, a post office and a volunteer fire company. However, stores and restaurants are just about 6 miles away in the village of Clyde, so locals aren’t far from basic amenities.
Homes sit on large lots and rarely hit the market
Houses in Savannah rarely hit the market. Only nine have sold in recent years. Of those homes, most had lots with an acre of land or more, including one with 66 acres. They include a mix of century-old farmhouses and mid-1900s ranch-style homes, with prices ranging from $220,000 to $380,000. Similar homes with lots smaller than an acre range from $50,000 to $190,000. One manufactured home sold for $15,000.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office serves Savannah. The town receives a CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Nature preserves and water access draw outdoor lovers
The Montezuma Audubon Center sits on 50,000 acres of wetlands, where visitors enjoy watching migratory waterfowl, including snow geese, various ducks and other birds. The Finger Lakes region is a common area to find arrowheads and other Native American relics. In 2025, the Montezuma Audubon Center hosted its second Native American Artifact Show, featuring collectors from all over the region showcasing their finds. There are plenty of other opportunities for water adventures in and around Savannah. Cayuga Lake is a popular destination for boating and fishing. It connects to the Erie Canal, geared more toward kayakers. Sodus Point Beach Park is about 30 minutes away along Lake Ontario.
Clyde-Savannah High School offers community access to facilities
The Clyde-Savannah Central School District serves most of the community, with all three schools in Clyde. Clyde-Savannah Elementary School and Clyde-Savannah Middle School both receive C-minus grades from Niche. The middle school is on the same campus as Clyde-Savannah High School, which is graded a B. The high school is small, with nearly 150 students in grades 10 through 12. The high school’s aquatics and fitness centers are open to Savannah residents who want to swim laps or work out.
Limited shopping and dining options with more in Clyde
Locals have very few options for shopping and dining in Savannah. “We have a gas station that has subs and pizza,” Gill says. “Other than that, you have to go to a surrounding town.” Clyde has the closest restaurants. Some options include pizza at PaPa’s Place and diner food at The Landing. Clyde has a few local shops, along with a Dollar General. Big-box grocery stores, such as Walmart, Aldi and Wegmans, are about 25 minutes away in towns like Waterloo and Auburn.
Commuting Syracuse, Rochester and nearby small towns
According to Gill, many locals work for Wayne County. “The Wayne County offices are in Lyons, so that’s only a 20-minute drive,” Gill says. “A lot of people also work for other small municipalities in the area.” State Routes 31 and 89 intersect in Savannah, and Interstate 90 is also nearby. Some commuters also drive 40 miles to Syracuse , which takes about 45 minutes. Rochester is about 60 miles away, which takes just over an hour. Both cities have international airports.
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Written By
Nicolas Stuart
