Ilion, NY

Ilion is a small Mohawk Valley village of about 7,600 residents situated right along the Erie Canal in Herkimer County. For nearly two hundred years, the village grew around the Remington Arms manufacturing plant, which occupied a massive brick complex right in the middle of town. Following the factory's closure in 2024, the community has turned its attention to redeveloping the property, improving local flood protections, and updating neighborhood streets. Housing here is largely made up of older single-family homes that remain significantly more affordable than the state average.

Families are served by the merged Central Valley School District, sharing athletic teams and academic programs with the neighboring village of Mohawk. Downtown Ilion features convenient neighborhood staples, including local restaurants, service shops, and the Ilion Free Public Library. For broader shopping, specialized healthcare, and college campuses, Utica sits just 15 miles west along Route 5S and the Thruway. Living in the valley means preparing for cold, snowy upstate winters, but Ilion provides an affordable base for commuters who want a quiet, traditional village setting.