best place to live in Saratoga county

[mary30]

Originally Posted by Ellwood

I'm not a realtor but agree about Saratoga and Schuylerville school district. Check out Northunderland, Gansevoort and Schuylerville. Nice family new development is Brampton Woods. I think housing starts around 250K new construction.

My husband and I live in the Village of Schuylerville. We looked for a town with a great school system, beautiful historic homes, and wide tree lined streets. We saw the kids running up and down the roads and the little town is charming. However make sure you don't live near one of the many section 8 housing available. There is a huge drug and crime problem in Schuylerville. Look it up in the news, they had to have the Sheriff's Dept. come and monitor the streets. There is a huge problem with the old "townies" not wanting the "city folk" to come in and ruin their town and improve too much. I have had people tell me to my face that they don't want us here. The only thing about this town that is great is the school. I wish we never bought this house, If the people hear are not drunks and drug attics then they are complete snobs. I just wanted a nice neighborhood with a nicely educated population, professionals, like my self and my husband. I wanted to make friends with the people and enjoy our life, but it is a living hell. My boy and girl don't even like to go outside because of the screaming drunks in the section 8 housing and trailer nearby that somehow we missed before moving here. Look carefully, very before a move here. Everyone at my job at the Track in Saratoga is aware of Schuylerville's reputation. They tell everyone, it is just a local known fact the it is the armpit of the county. maybe in ten or twelve year it will be better when the taxes go up so much that the townies can't afford it anymore, I can't wait until that day is, I will laugh when my neighbor's have to get rid of their homes because me and my kind made them by improving our homes too much. Seriously the commute to Albany is like and hour and ten min during commuting hours don't let anyone tell you it is only 40. maybe on sunday or if you want to take risks with speeding the cops monitor both roads out of schuylerville on a regular basis because of the drunks.

enjoy searching for a home, but don't buy one here, it is not worth it.

[Ellwood]

Originally Posted by mary30

My husband and I live in the Village of Schuylerville. We looked for a town with a great school system, beautiful historic homes, and wide tree lined streets. We saw the kids running up and down the roads and the little town is charming. However make sure you don't live near one of the many section 8 housing available. There is a huge drug and crime problem in Schuylerville. Look it up in the news, they had to have the Sheriff's Dept. come and monitor the streets. There is a huge problem with the old "townies" not wanting the "city folk" to come in and ruin their town and improve too much. I have had people tell me to my face that they don't want us here. The only thing about this town that is great is the school. I wish we never bought this house, If the people hear are not drunks and drug attics then they are complete snobs. I just wanted a nice neighborhood with a nicely educated population, professionals, like my self and my husband. I wanted to make friends with the people and enjoy our life, but it is a living hell. My boy and girl don't even like to go outside because of the screaming drunks in the section 8 housing and trailer nearby that somehow we missed before moving here. Look carefully, very before a move here. Everyone at my job at the Track in Saratoga is aware of Schuylerville's reputation. They tell everyone, it is just a local known fact the it is the armpit of the county. maybe in ten or twelve year it will be better when the taxes go up so much that the townies can't afford it anymore, I can't wait until that day is, I will laugh when my neighbor's have to get rid of their homes because me and my kind made them by improving our homes too much. Seriously the commute to Albany is like and hour and ten min during commuting hours don't let anyone tell you it is only 40. maybe on sunday or if you want to take risks with speeding the cops monitor both roads out of schuylerville on a regular basis because of the drunks.

enjoy searching for a home, but don't buy one here, it is not worth it.

I was not referring to the Village of Schuylerville, more so the outskirts. We live 5 miles out of the Village and do not have the same experience as you seem to be having. We have great friendly, helpful neighbors and haven't had any issues with drugs or drinking.

[dave230]

I lived in Dutchess County for over forty years - Millbrook as a kid, then Hyde Park and Pleasant Valley - and moved up here in 2003 for the same reasons you are thinking about it.

Best thing we ever did. We live in the Town of Waterford, right by the Halfmoon line, which is next door to Clifton Park. An earlier poster is right, that there is really not much as far as a walkable town center, but you pick up the feel of the place very quickly. We know the dry cleaner guy, the manager of Panera, everyone at the nearby Stewarts stores (the center of life around here, apparently), people at the bank, all by their first names. It amazed me when after a month or so, every time I walked in to the First Niagara branch in Halfmoon, the tellers would greet me by my first name just when I got into the lobby if it wasn't busy. We would never go back.

The Northway is definately a pain in the butt during rush hours, but it's like your own personal driveway the rest of the day. If you can work just a little off hours, it's a lot easier. If you can work in Saratoga Springs and go the opposite of everyone else, it's a dream.

[looking2moov]

How long is the commute to Albany during rush hour? I would plan on spending up to an hour on some days, if there is an accident or anything like that.
Is it snobby? In all of my experiences, yes. From what I've seen there is a lot of "new" money there, which generally makes for a little snottiness. Although, there are PLENTY of nice people, you will encounter snobs. This is the same with any nice areas however- they attract wealthy people, and money causes snobs!
I heard of Ballston spa, Guilderland (?), are they nice? Guilderland is very nice, you may encounter a nicer commute from there. Ballston Spa from what I hear does have a teen pregnancy problem, I'm not sure how accurate this is, as about 50% of the people concur. You would probably get a better bang for your buck for Ballston Spa homes than Guilderland.
And are the winters REALLY that bad? They get a little worse the more North you get, but nothing that severe that you would really realize.

[suzeq822]

I live on the outskirts of Schuylerville, 3 miles to be exact I have resided here for 23 yrs. and I love it I have decent neighbors non drinking nor drugees. I will have to agree with you on the school district. Schuylerville is known for their excellant curriculum. My 3 children attended & graduated so I would know. Unfortunately you are going to find low lifes no matter where you live.

[Ellwood]

Originally Posted by suzeq822

I live on the outskirts of Schuylerville, 3 miles to be exact I have resided here for 23 yrs. and I love it I have decent neighbors non drinking nor drugees. I will have to agree with you on the school district. Schuylerville is known for their excellant curriculum. My 3 children attended & graduated so I would know. Unfortunately you are going to find low lifes no matter where you live.

I guess we are almost neighbors. We live about 4 miles on the outskirts (Quaker Springs area).

[Dahl]

Originally Posted by Miker

I hate to be argumentative but to claim "Shenendehowa is by far the best school district" is definitely a false statement. I agree it probably ranks in the top ten but "by far the best"...you took it a little too far.

Well it does depend on what the person who made that statement is factoring in his(her?) choice to call it the best. Sportswise it appears to be top in the area from what I have gathered. Academically it is above average but I don't really see it producing Yale-bound graduates. I subbed there a few times (teacher on an extended maternity here) and I was not blown away by the teachers. It was just like your average good school in the states, nothing about it made it stand above the rest academically.

Originally Posted by rajmelk

I'd rate Clifton Park highly for tight-knit neighborhoods/subdivisions (which can help you assimilate quickly), but very low in terms of "character." No town center, one concentrated commercial district around Exit 9, and lots of 2-lane roads to get just about anywhere.

I keep hearing this about CP. I am really interested in exploring this idea further. What makes it low in character? I have enjoyed the last 3 years I've spent in CP but I'm not completely sold on this town. Since we only rent, we still have some time to figure out where we plan on settling down.

Originally Posted by colbean8

I went through the Albany schools and I'm surprised I can type or spell.

ROFL!!!

[Rumblebelly]

[quote=Dahl;6136532]

I keep hearing this about CP. I am really interested in exploring this idea further. What makes it low in character? I have enjoyed the last 3 years I've spent in CP but I'm not completely sold on this town. Since we only rent, we still have some time to figure out where we plan on settling down.

[quote]

In regards to character, it's aesthetics. It's just a suburb with stripmalls. There is no historic district or downtown to speak of.