A bucolic setting with regional access in York
York, New York, is a rural town in Livingston County, where agricultural land makes up 90% of the region. “It’s a relaxed farming community without the fast pace of cities like Rochester or Boston,” says Chris Harris, a York native and the town clerk. “Sometimes in these areas, we have more cows than we do people.” York is divided into seven hamlets, which are unincorporated communities that lack their own government and rely on the town for municipal services. Each hamlet provides a quiet atmosphere, surrounded by country land, though state highways are close by. With Geneseo 8 miles away and Rochester 30 miles northeast, York offers a secluded lifestyle without straying too far from urban convenience.
Spacious lots in the countryside
Buyers will mostly find 20th-century homes with ranch-style, Colonial Revival and farmhouse architecture. Properties are more densely packed near the state routes that run through the area. Others sit on far-off country roads and have privacy from their neighbors. The median lot size is over 20,000 square feet. Most sell between $100,000 and $300,000, though outliers can fall at either end of the range.
The York Central School District provides education
York Elementary and York Middle/High School share a campus, often referred to as York Central School. Both schools earn B-minus ratings from Niche. The community comes together to cheer on the Golden Knights' athletic programs, and football is especially popular in the fall, with many games streamed live online.
Outdoor recreation from yoga to water sports
The town owns one park in the hamlet of Piffard. The space has a playground, open fields and a basketball court. Harris mentions that people often use the athletic facilities at the school, as well. True North Farm offers morning yoga classes and aqua yoga sessions. About 10 miles away, Letchworth State Park features hiking trails by waterfalls and rapids for river rafting. York is also within 15 miles of Conesus Lake, a fully recreational reservoir with campsites, boat launches and public access points.
Shopping and dining in York and Geneseo
Restaurants in York are limited, though Yard of Ale is one of the town’s most prominent attractions for fine dining. “People from around the area come to eat here,” Harris says. Next to the school, The Barn Restaurant has been serving casual meals since 1972 out of a classic 1950s diner. Most stores are 10 miles away in Geneseo, including Aldi, Wegmans and Walmart. However, York has a few spots that sell everyday essentials. “We have the York Travel Center truck stop and Dollar General, and we’re ten minutes from several bigger towns,” Harris says. “We also have tons of little pop-up farmstands.” Anderson’s Produce is one option that sells a variety of flowers and produce right off the side of state Route 36.
State highways and health care within 15 miles
State routes 63 and 36 are the main thoroughfares into Geneseo, 8 miles away. Rochester and its international airport are within 30 miles, and Buffalo is 60 miles west. Residents travel about 15 miles to Warsaw's Wyoming County Community Hospital, which is the nearest full-service medical center. For more immediate assistance, Geneseo has a University of Rochester Medicine Urgent Care facility.
