Picturesque, rural living in Summerhill
Summerhill, located 27 miles southeast of Auburn, is a small rural town in Cortland County with single-family home prices below the U.S. national median of $420,000. "It's the Finger Lakes area, so we have rolling hills, green trees, flowers everywhere, corn fields, dairy cows," says Loueen Rosenbush, a Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CNY Realty agent with over 15 years of experience. A few restaurants and churches dot the town, including the 200-year-old Summerhill Baptist Church. Scenic spots like Lake Como and the Dorothy McIlroy Bird Sanctuary draw residents and visitors year-round. "It's country living at its best, with friendly neighbors," Rosenbush says.
Lakefront living and single-family homes with acreage
Summerhill's single-family homes are typically early-to-mid 20th-century farmhouses and late 20th-century manufactured homes dotted along country roads. Many homes are set on spacious lots with pastoral views, allowing for privacy and additions like barns, workshops and stables. Around Lake Como, homes are closer together. Some of these waterfront homes have sought-after features, like private docks and fire pits.
Homes don't come on the market often, but prices range from $50,000 to $300,000 depending on size and features. "The average house is $220,000," Rosenbush says. "The further you go out from Ithaca, the cheaper [it's] gonna be." Land is occasionally for sale, too, offering opportunities for new construction or farming. Prices range from $50,000 for 20 acres to $300,000 for 70 acres.
Extracurriculars and concurrent enrollment at Moravia High
Summerhill is part of several school districts, including the Moravia Central School District, rated B-minus overall by Niche. Kids in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade can start at Millard Fillmore Elementary before moving to Moravia Junior/Senior High for seventh through 12th grade — both are rated C-plus. At the latter, teens explore their interests in extracurriculars like Future Farmers of America, jazz band and art club. Kids in first through eighth grade may also attend the private Summerhill Parochial School.
Exploring forests, wildlife and the Finger Lakes
Summerhill offers dense forests with meandering trails and natural bodies of water. Lake Como is the town's go-to for a boating day or bass fishing trip. Nearby, the Dorothy McIlroy Bird Sanctuary is a serene hiking and birdwatching spot for mourning warblers and winter wrens.
The Summer Hill State Forest is over 4,400 acres of mature pines and spruces. During the appropriate seasons, the forest is popular for hunting white-tailed deer and trapping small mammals, like beavers and squirrels. Less than a mile away, the 950-acre Fillmore Glen State Park offers a handful of tree-lined hiking trails. The Waterfall Loop Trail is a highlight, leading past several falls and a stream-fed swimming area. "If you like the outside, you have lots of options," Rosenbush says. Twenty-five miles away, Skaneateles Lake is a popular vacation destination for swimming, boating and fishing.
Country eats, global flavors and everyday essentials
On Lake Como, The Watering Hole is a laid-back grill serving country classics like bacon cheeseburgers, bologna sandwiches and mac 'n' cheese with applesauce. The restaurant doubles as a bar and also hosts occasional concerts. Nearby, Summerhill Brewing pours locally crafted ales, like the Cherry Sour — wheat ale fermented with cherry purée. Rosenbush says residents go to neighboring cities for broader shopping and dining options, like Cortland, 9 miles away.
Cortland offers dozens of restaurants, bars and cafes. New York Bagel covers morning coffee and bagels, while the old-school Cortland Diner features indulgent eats, like Texas toast patty melts and Oreo waffles with ice cream. International flavors are nearby, including Kalash Kitchen with lamb gyros, Wild Ginger Asian Fusion with hand-rolled sushi and Los Lagos with chicken chimichangas. Grand Union Supermarkets stocks grocery essentials, and the Cortland City Farmers Market offers locally sourced produce. "Cortland is known for apples," Rosenbush says. "They have great, big, red, juicy apples."
Festivals and arts in Cortland County
Cortland County hosts a handful of annual events throughout the year. In June, Homer Firemen's Field Days is a carnival-style party with live music, rides and a parade through the town of Homer, eight miles away. In October, The Great Cortland Pumpkinfest celebrates the fall with a craft show, pony rides and a pumpkin patch. There's also the Cortland Repertory Theatre, which has brought Broadway, concerts and game nights to Cortland County for over 50 years. In October, the Fall Fiber Arts Festival raises money for the theatre with artisan crafts and handmade souvenirs.
State Route 90 and the nearest hospital and airport
Summerhill is car-dependent. State Route 90 passes through Summerhill, granting connecting access to Auburn. Cortland Regional Medical Center is about nine miles away, and Ithaca Tompkins International Airport is an 18-mile drive.
