There are a few sidewalks in the Raintree Island neighborhood.
An island that is not an island on the south end of Tonawanda
The Raintree Island neighborhood of Tonawanda, New York, is not technically an island. “It is right between the Erie Canal and Ellicott Creek, and the east side is basically right at the Niagara River,” says Realtor Joseph Sciandra with Avant Realty, a lifelong Tonawanda resident. However, the east end of the community bumps against Ellicott Creek Park, which connects overland to the wide-open farms of eastern Erie County. This means that, while residents of Raintree Island are isolated enough to enjoy the natural beauty of Western New York, the neighborhood also offers access to the region’s Twin Cities of Tonawanda and North Tonawanda. “There’s a lot going on in those towns, and Raintree Island has great proximity to that,” Sciandra says. “The thruway is right there, the water is right there, there’s a great park right there and it’s far enough above the lake effect area that you’ll avoid most of the heavy snows.”
Three single-family subdivisions on the small Raintree Island
Raintree Island is small, just over a mile laterally and just under a mile long, and it is dominated by rental properties. “There’s a real big apartment complex there,” Sciandra says. “There are a couple of streets of single-family homes, but because the area itself is just a couple of blocks, you’ll notice that most people are renters.” Single-family homes are contained entirely in subdivisions along Raintree Parkway, Lorna Lane and Creekside Drive. Colonial Revivals, ranch-styles, mid-century split-levels and even Tudor Revivals can all be found sitting on lots with spacious front and backyards. Most homes have garages and driveways that set them back from the sidewalks. Prices range from $275,000 to over $520,000 depending on build year, lot size and number of bedrooms. Although the island sits in between the canal and the creek, only homes on the canal side are in a potential flood zone.
There are some stunning homes to be found in Raintree Island.
Lots of homes in Raintree Island have a garage or driveway.
Colonial Revival homes are found throughout the neighborhood.
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Sweet Home Central Schools and the coed Cardinal O’Hara High
Students in Raintree Island are zoned for the Sweet Home Central School District, which scores an overall A-minus from Niche and recently received a $1.6 million state grant for introducing electric buses to its fleet. Children begin at Glendale Elementary, which earns a B-plus and is located 2 miles from the neighborhood, just across Ellicott Creek. Sweet Home Middle and Sweet Home Senior High both also rate B-plus. Sweet Home High was named one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation in 2020 and 2021. Cardinal O’Hara High School provides a faith-based alternative, offering a co-educational Catholic curriculum since its founding in 1961.
Sweet Home Middle School in Amherst is for students in grades 6-8.
Sweet Home High School in Amherst has a student teacher ratio of 11-to-1.
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There is a bike path along the water in Ellicott Creek Park.
Ellicott Creek Park offers year-round outdoor recreation
The east side of the neighborhood is a hub for outdoor recreation. “Ellicott Creek Park is a real fun place,” Sciandra says. “There’s an area where you can kayak, a dog park and a walking path.” Other park amenities include an 18-hole disc golf course and several picnic shelters. Local anglers enjoy bass fishing in the routinely-stocked creek, and during the winter, the park’s 165 acres of open space allow for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. During spring and summer, golfers head just across the creek to the 18-hole Brighton Park Golf Course. When the weather prevents outdoor play, they can practice at the adjacent Paddock Chevrolet Golf Dome, which features an indoor driving range, practice bunker and a challenging miniature golf course.
Friday night fish fry at Raintree Bar and Grill
Raintree Market is a small convenience store located in the center of the neighborhood, but residents will have to venture across Ellicott Creek to Tops Friendly Markets in Tonawanda to shop for groceries. The closest Target is about 3 miles away at The Boulevard, a shopping center on Niagara Falls Boulevard that is also home to Trader Joe’s and Lowe’s. Raintree Bar and Grill, also in the center of the neighborhood, is the closest place for locals to get their Friday night fish fry, although they can also head into the Tonawandas for more extensive options. “Dockside Bar and Grill is a really happening place. The views are incredible – they have patios overlooking the canal,” Sciandra says. “It’s really cool that during the spring and summer, people can just pull their boats up and head in.”
Rock Burger near Raintree Island is famous for its stuffed burgers.
Raintree Bar and Grill in Raintree Island is one of the few restaurants in the neighborhood.
There are plenty of shops close to Raintree Island at Niagara Falls Boulevard.
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A community framed by two thoroughfares
Raintree Island is flanked by two major area expressways. Twin Cities Memorial Highway frames the neighborhood to the east, providing the quickest access to North Tonawanda 3 miles away. Niagara Falls Boulevard, on the west side of Ellicott Creek Park, is a hub of shopping that connects the community to Interstate 290 and Buffalo Niagara International Airport, a 12-mile trip southeast.
Halfway between Niagara Falls and downtown Buffalo
This small neighborhood is located almost directly between Niagara Falls and Buffalo, allowing for access to all both towns have to offer. Niagara Falls is a popular tourist destination in the summer, when rides on the Maid of the Mist are most comfortable. However, the casinos on the Canadian side of the falls are packed year-round with visitors who come to shop and take in concerts and stand-up shows. Shea’s Buffalo Theatre in downtown Buffalo also hosts comedians, along with Broadway musicals and nationally touring musicians. Hockey fans can head to KeyBank Center for Sabres games, and of course, Bills tailgates at Highmark Stadium are a way of life in Western New York.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Kathy Anderson,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Mayors Park
Ellicott Creek Park
Bike Trails
Disc Golf
Dog Park
Gateway Harbor
Eastern Park
Isle View Park Office
Transit
Airport
Niagara Falls International
21 min drive
Bus
Moon Walk & Colvin Blvd
Bus
Colvin Blvd & Raintree Parkway
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Raintree Island
US
Homicide
3
4
Sexual Assault
4
4
Assault with Weapon
4
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
3
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
3
4
Larceny
3
4
Crime Score
3
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Raintree Island, Tonawanda sell after 27 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Raintree Island, Tonawanda over the last 12 months is $372,187.
Located in a tranquil, park-like setting, Raintree Island Apartment Homes offers a variety of amenities and is just minutes from downtown Buffalo, the airport, Niagara Falls, and the University at Buffalo. Located in Tonawanda, NY, we offer one- and two-bedroom apartments with central air conditioning, dishwasher, and laundry facilities in every building. Our community boasts a swimming pool with
Experience suburban living while being only minutes away from Downtown Buffalo. Tonawanda offers dining, entertainment and many shopping centers. Our spacious floorplans offer a great place for you to unwind after a long day. Does your family include small furry ones? We are pet friendly and our park-like setting offers plenty of spaces to walk your furry family member. We would like to invite
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Kathy Anderson,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,820
Median Age
38
Population Density
9 ppl/acre
Population under 18
18.2%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.9%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$61,339
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$81,650
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
95.8%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
44.1%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
18.2%
% Population in Labor Force
69.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
35''
Average Winter Low Temperature
19°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
112''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
41/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
5/ 100
Minimal Transit
Transit Score®
24/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
