6 Most Affordable Towns To Retire In The Finger Lakes
Located in New York State, the Finger Lakes Region spans nearly 9,000 square miles of elevated lakes, towns, and rich Indigenous history. The lakes in the region are interconnected via rivers that all ultimately feed into Lake Ontario, and the region is home to countless state parks, including the Letchworth State Park. An all-season outdoor playground rich with culture, heritage, and rolling nature, the Finger Lakes are full of affordable towns that are excellent choices for retirement. The rich quality of life that each town offers is unique to the town and to the region as a whole, ensuring a scenic, engaging, and rewarding place to play throughout retirement.
Canandaigua
Located on the Canandiagua Lake and 25 miles from Rochester, Canandiagua is a small historic town known for its wine, tourism, and proud history. Home to roughly 11,000 residents, this town is an artisan's haven full of farms and markets such as the Wegmans Food Markets and Organix Farm. It also has many wineries, like the Canandaigua Wine Company, and countless independent small stores located along Main Street. Canandaigua has a relatively affordable cost of living, sitting at 9.2% below the national average and 25.3% below the New York State average. A typical home in town costs under $200,000, making it an accessible investment for many for their retirements.
Geneva City
Geneva City is comparable in population and affordability to Canandaigua but with more affordable housing, as the median home price sits around $120,700. Geneva City hosts the Hobart and William Smith Colleges and sits on the northern end of Seneca Lake. This town is a historic and picturesque community known for its wine, food, and history. The town found its roots in farming and is home today to several farm-to-table restaurants and markets. Linden Street downtown becomes a pedestrian haven each weekend during the warmer months, offering an urban setting in the center of a tiny community.
The town's largest employer is the Geneva General Hospital, meaning that there will never be a shortage of access to healthcare or community volunteering opportunities. Belhurst Castle and Geneva On the Lake are two of Geneva City's historic landmarks, drawing in tourists from close and far. There is also the Smith Opera House that still hosts live theatre, music, dance, and film as well as over 83 acres of nature trails in the Kashong Conservation Area.
Seneca Falls
Known as the "birthplace of women's rights," Seneca Falls is a proud historic community that was home to the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, a trailblazer for women's rights across the United States. Slightly smaller than both Geneva City and Canandaigua, Seneca Falls has a population of 9,000 residents and is slightly more affordable. With the average cost of living sitting at 21.1% below the national average, 35.1% below the New York State Average, and with an average home costing around $162,500, Seneca Falls is a smart financial move for those hoping to retire in the Finger Lakes Region.
Seneca Falls has numerous museums, such as the National Women's Hall of Fame and the It's A Wonderful Life Museum. The town is located on Cayuga Lake and is known as the gateway to the greater Finger Lakes Region. It is a great community for boating lovers, as the town is part of the New York State Canal System, allowing people to move seamlessly through the Cayuga-Seneca Canal to continue exploring the region on day or overnight trips near home.
Skaneateles
Another smaller community with roughly 7,000 residents, Skaneateles, is an affordable option for many retirees but with a higher housing cost. Although the cost of living is generally comparable to Canandaigua and Geneva City, the average housing cost skyrockets to nearly $500,000, sitting at 42.5% more expensive than the national average. Located along the shore of Skaneateles Lake, this village is a vibrant tourist hub nestled within an eclectic all-season community.
The historic downtown is full of restaurants, boutiques, and galleries that attract tourists and locals alike. Every weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the village hosts the Dickens Christman Celebration. Every Friday in July, Clift Park also hosts live music. The village is also home to the Dutch Hollow Golf Club, Skaneateles Area Arts Council, and several marinas and boat rentals to keep you busy all year round.
Penn Yan
This tiny community of only 5,000 residents is of comparable affordability to Skaneateles, but the average housing cost drops to just under $260,000. Pen Yann sits on "The 100 Best Small Towns in America" list and is home to incredible municipal recreational infrastructure, including beaches, public boat dockage, tennis courts, and playgrounds. From May through December, the Windmill Farm & Craft Market is home to roughly 250 vendors every Saturday selling farm foods, antiques, and artisanal crafts.
For outdoor enthusiasts, the Keuka Lake Outlet is a 6-mile linear park and trail connecting the Keuka and Seneca Lakes. Like much of the rest of the Finger Lakes Region, Penn Yan has the Keuka Lake Wine Trail and Keuka Spring Vineyards, offering you countless opportunities to integrate yourself into New York's wine country's nature and commerce.
Auburn
A larger community but with similar affordability as Seneca Falls, Auburn has a population of just under 27,000 and is 17.7% less expensive than the national average and 32.3% less expensive than the New York State average. Houses are around the same price range as in Seneca Fallas with the average home costing around $170,000. Like many other towns in the Finger Lakes Region, Auburn has several historical and cultural centers and museums, including the Seward House Museum, Cayuga Museum of History and Art, and the Harriet Tubman House. Auburn sits at the northern end of Owasco Lake and its downtown is lined with beautiful historic buildings and the Owasco River running through it. Although the town is "full-service," it is less than an hour by car to larger Syracuse and Ithaca, making it an accessible option for those who are not yet ready to be a day away from larger communities.
The Finger Lakes region of New York State is a beautiful, scenic, and vibrantly historic region to relocate to for retirement. With most communities being accessible to major towns via reasonably short drives, the region provides the promise of small-town living with the convenience of major cities in its backyard. Generally more affordable than the rest of New York State, the region's cities are promising communities for retirement that are both a smart financial choice as well as a rewarding and rich natural and cultural climate to integrate into.
