Rochester area: Fairport vs Pittsford vs Penfield (New York, Albany: real estate, how much)

[JWilliams]

These are three areas we've identified as probable places to move. I am having a hard time getting an on-the-ground perspective of costs, though. I know that Pittsford is probably the best suburb in the region for education/snoobiness. Fairport is another strong consideration because its schools are good, but its houses are cheaper, have risen in value a bit more over the past few years, and its electric is cheaper. I have found that property taxes in Pittsford are 3.33% of the house's value, but I have some other questions if anybody could help!

1) What are the tax rates for property in Fairport and Penfield?
2) For all three, are the values these taxes applied against realistic, or is the assessed value of a home generally above or below its market value by a large margin?
3) How quickly have tax rates risen? I Have found that in pittsford since 1994, for instance, property tax has gone up 41% but home value only 30%, I think.
4) Would would the average annual or monthly electric rate (very loose ballpark) be for Fairport for maybe a 2100 square foot home vs one in Pittsford?
5) Will Fairport always have their super-sweet cheap electric rates (I know they have for many decades)?
6) Are there any major traffic considerations between these areas? I work in IT and my wife is a nurse, so that will influence our market area.
7) Including "typical" cross-border time, what is the drive time from Rochester to Toronto, in particularly Toronto Pearson airport in Mississauga, ON?

Thanks for any help!!

[I'minformed2]

Well, I grew up on the west side of the Rochester area in Greece; but my brother lives in Pittsford. Pittsford is the town that every town says they hate but really wants to be. It's the most affluent town in the Rochester area, and probably in all of New York State west of Albany; and it is fairly snooty. But it does have some of the best schools you can find and is in a very beautiful setting..... lots of rolling hills and farmland that looks great in all seasons. It's the most expensive town in the area; but the median home price is only about $220,000; not much above the national average. Taxes are HIGH in Pittsford, probably the highest in Monroe County. I don't know much about Fairport; but I wonder if you have considered another town just to the west of Pittsford, called Henrietta. It probably has the lowest taxes of Rochester's immediate suburbs, great schools, and is much less "snooty" than Pittsford. I'm not sure where you are going to be working; but if it has anything to do with any company besides Xerox, Kodak, or Baucsh&Lomb (all of which have their headquareters and most of their high-tech employees downtown), chances are it's in the huge industrial/technical/eduacational cluster in Northern Henrietta; home to the campus of RIT, MCC, and not far from UofR, which is just inside the Rochester city limits. If you want to compare real estate and taxes, the best website would be Nothnagle.com They are Rochester's largest (by far) real estate agency and on their internet listings they give you the annual property taxes. You'd be surprised at how much they can vary even within the same town.

[JWilliams]

Originally Posted by i'minformed

If you want to compare real estate and taxes, the best website would be Nothnagle.com They are Rochester's largest (by far) real estate agency and on their internet listings they give you the annual property taxes. You'd be surprised at how much they can vary even within the same town.

Thanks! BTW< how is it that property taxes vary within the same town? Does a $200k house cost the same in taxes in pittsford, regardless of its location? Would two equally-valued houses in the same town really have varying rates? I see they do on the online listings, but assumed it's because the tax rates are out of date in some cases... Thanks for the info, though!

[snowbound]

from going up to those areas, fairport has cheaper homes than pittsford. Make sure they are in the pittsford central school district though. This is a known fact amongst realtors in the area.

[snowbound]

try to use realtor.com as much as possible for the pittsford area.

[I'minformed2]

Originally Posted by JWilliams

Thanks! BTW< how is it that property taxes vary within the same town? Does a $200k house cost the same in taxes in pittsford, regardless of its location? Would two equally-valued houses in the same town really have varying rates? I see they do on the online listings, but assumed it's because the tax rates are out of date in some cases... Thanks for the info, though!

Frankly, I'm at a loss as to the answer of that question. The biggest variations by far are in the town of Greece, where I looking to move back too within several months. I have seen houses for $165k that have taxes of as high as 6k and as low as 3k in Greece. Maybe it goes by zipcodes? I have no idea but I have noticed that in general, the lowest taxes in Monroe County are in Henrietta and especially Parma/Chili, where you can see taxes as low as $2400 for a 4 bedroom 1900 sq ft house priced in the 160's-180's.

[spkintx]

Looks like we will be moving to the area in the coming months. I meet with a realtor next week and I told her only to include houses in the Brighton and Pittsford area. After reading several entries, i'm thinking i should consider Penfield as well. We have 2 young children and can afford housing in the 6000,000-900,000 range. We are from TX and would choose to be in a more down to earth community instead of a "snobby area". Schools are the utmost important. How much better are Brighton and Pittsford schools compared to Penfield. Can anyone compare the personalities of each community. The people that have recruited my husband assume that we would like to live in either Brighton or Penfield.

[I'minformed2]

housing in the $600k range will get you a monsterious new house in Pittsford or Penfield. Pittsford will have more homes in that pricerange, and that's because it is the most affluent town in the region, i.e. the most "snobby". Penfield is still fairly well-off, but not very snobby and probably more down to earth like what you are looking for. Brighton's housing stock tends to be older and smaller, but there would probably be a stronger neighborhood feel there too. In your price range the sky's the limit as far as housing options go in Rochester....property taxes will be high, so you may want to look for a somewhat cheaper home, like 400k (which agian, in Rochester still gets you A LOT of house), to make up for the difference you'll pay in taxes over the years.

[kitty71]

I have to mention that in that price range, there are some GORGEOUS houses right on the lake, north of Webster. I was looking online at them recently, DREAMING, but hey, for you it could be a reality!

[spkintx]

I saw some beautiful houses online too on the lake, but the schools are not as highly ranked. I have a 4 y/o and a 7y/o so I need a good neighborhood and good schools