Located in Upstate New York, Rochester is located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario. The city is located approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. Anyone buying a condo in Rochester, NY should be aware that being that close to the Canadian border, the winters get quite cold. Rochester has a few geographical features unique to its land. Firstly, there is a line of hills carved by the same advancing glaciers which created Lake Ontario in the Pleistocene Epoch. There is also the fertile Genesee River Valley which bisects the city. Before you begin looking for a condo to buy in Rochester, you need to consider what kind of neighborhood you want to live in. Is easy access to great primary and secondary schools more important than proximity to a university? Is great shopping more of an issue than an easy commute? Each part of the city has something unique to offer. Rochester Neighborhoods Charlotte The Rochester neighborhood of Charlotte is an ideal spot to consider if you are looking to buy a condo in Upstate New York. Charlotte is located on the shore of Lake Ontario and includes Ontario Beach Park. Charlotte is a quaint area with plenty of shops, restaurants and small businesses catering to both local and out-of-town visitors to Charlotte Beach. Homestead Heights Homestead Heights is an ideal location to look for a condo for sale in Rochester, NY. Homestead Heights is largely residential and is situated in the northeast of the town, next to the suburb of Irondequoit. It is not far from scenic Irondequoit Bay, and is a great place to live inside the city but still offers condos for sale with access to big yards. Susan B. Anthony/Preservation District The Susan B. Anthony Neighborhood and Preservation District is a great place to find well-preserved historic Rochester, NY homes for sale. Within easy walking distance of the downtown commercial hub, this neighborhood also has its own commercial and industrial areas. The neighborhood is centered around Susan B. Anthony Square and its large park. It also houses a museum dedicated to Susan B. Anthony, which had been her residence in the city. Swillburg The Swillburg neighborhood is a great place to find a condo in Rochester. This neighborhood is home to Field Street Elementary School, which is regarded as one of the best in the city. The neighborhood boasts one of the higher owner-occupied home ratios in the city as well. The neighborhood itself is wedged between Field Street, South Clinton Avenue and I-490, giving it easy access to both downtown Rochester and many of its suburbs. The 19th Ward The city’s 19th Ward is bordered on one side by the scenic Erie Canal and on the other by the stately University of Rochester. The 19th Ward first became a desirable residential neighborhood in the 19th century. In the 1960s, the neighborhood started to become known for its cultural, class and racial diversity. It has a great deal of commercial development, as well as historic districts like Arvine Heights, Chili-West, Inglewood and Thurstan.