Thinking about moving to Rochester, NY? Rochester has been known as one of the most affordable cities in the U.S. to live in and in a recent study by US News and World Report of the best places to live in New York, Rochester was ranked as #3.
Moving to a new city is a lot to process. If you are not familiar with the area, it makes it even more difficult. There are so many wonderful neighborhoods in Rochester and surrounding it in the nearby towns and villages.
While the city has much to offer, Greater Rochester sprawls out of Monroe County. One can live on the outskirts and still easily commute into Rochester. The surrounding towns and villages have a lot to offer families.
The city of Rochester was built the Genesee River and the Erie Canal. There are several quaint villages along the Erie Canal including Brockport, Spencerport, Pittsford and Fairport. Each neighborhood surrounding Rochester have their own hub for the town with shopping, libraries and area for family events.
- Irondequoit – Cozy neighborhoods with sidewalks, great starter homes and town square with library
- Webster – A variety of neighborhoods with two shopping plazas and village
- Penfield – With many local farms and parks, much of Penfield feels like you’re out in the “country”
- Brighton – It’s hard to say where Rochester ends and Brighton begins, with restaurants, bars, cafes and parks
- Pittsford – Has a suburban feel with lots of parks, cafes and the village along the Erie Canal
- Henrietta – Lots of shopping and restaurants in Henrietta as well as Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
- Chili – Pronounced CHY-LI, it has a small-town community with a shopping plaza with restaurants
- Gates – Has a dense suburban feel with parks, shopping and industrial business centers
- Greece – Lots of shopping and restaurants, including The Mall At Greece Ridge and town hall campus with playground, splash pad and library
Things For Moms To Consider When Moving To Rochester
Schools
As moms, one of the first things we consider when moving to a new area are the school districts. US News and World Report has a helpful database of ranked schools. Also check out our Guide To Private Schools, Preschools & Child Care and our Guide To Homeschool Co-ops and Groups.
Groceries & Shopping
Around Rochester, you will find Wegman’s, Aldi, Tops, Target and Walmart for grocery shopping. For fresh produce and food, you don’t have to go very far outside of the city to find a local farm. Your choice of mall-shopping is at The Mall At Greece Ridge in Greece and Eastview Mall in Victor. For bulk-shoppers, there is a Costco in Henrietta and BJs in Gates, Henrietta and Webster.
Amenities
Some of the great amenities to consider living near include a local library. The Monroe County Library Systems has over 30 locations throughout Rochester. The YMCA of Greater Rochester hosts classes for adults and children and most locations have Child Watch. There is a lot to love about being outdoors at the Monroe County Parks. Rochester is also full of great playgrounds and splash pads.
Commuting
Rochester is a very drivable city, but also has the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation System (RTS) with bus routes throughout the city and Monroe County. Living near one of the freeways is convenient for traveling around Rochester.
Safety
Safety is always a concern for moms in a new neighborhood. You can check the CrimeGrade for different areas of Monroe County.
