Best Place to Live in and Around the Capital Region? (Albany: new home, construction)

[Murmist]

Joe,

Thank you so much for your insight into the area. I am getting ready to relocate to Watervliet and although I grew up in western Mass...the area is familiar to me. Your descriptions have provided me with a braoder range with which to begin my housing search.

[aallwine]

We too are trying to decide between Pa (Carlisle) or NY (Capitol region). Utica is where I grew up and my parents still live there but I don't want to live exactly there. I've been away for 20 years and would like to go back to the area now. PA seems to have the same features that I'm looking for and may be cheaper. We are also a retiring military family and Carlisle has a larger military community but the towns around Saratoga Springs sound tempting (and there is also a small military unit there). Still haven't decided but am leaning towrd being closer to home (finally!). Have you decided?

[trussell]

I am moving from SC - very little time for a turn around but need to be close to a good high school for my daughter. I will work in Albany, near SUNY. I know we will need a short-term rental for the first 6 months but dont want to change school districts once we get there.

Any suggestions - not looking for big bucks - mostly safe, good place for teenagers and good quality of life features for families.

Originally (I posted on another stream earlier) we had settled on Bethlehem Central for the High School, but I am getting the idea that it is not so middle class - more upper? Which can spell trouble with the kids.

any help would be appreicated

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by trussell

I am moving from SC - very little time for a turn around but need to be close to a good high school for my daughter. I will work in Albany, near SUNY. I know we will need a short-term rental for the first 6 months but dont want to change school districts once we get there.

Any suggestions - not looking for big bucks - mostly safe, good place for teenagers and good quality of life features for families.

Originally (I posted on another stream earlier) we had settled on Bethlehem Central for the High School, but I am getting the idea that it is not so middle class - more upper? Which can spell trouble with the kids.

any help would be appreicated

I would say try South Colonie schools, which seem to be more middle class and is still of high quality in terms of schools. I think you would be really close to work too and it is probably the most diverse of the suburban school districts in Albany County behind only Watervliet. Here's some information on the district:South Colonie Central School District :: South Colonie Central School District - A school district near Albany, New York.

https://www.nystart.gov/publicweb/Di...t=010601060000

and some more school info. for Albany County:https://www.nystart.gov/publicweb/Co...&county=Albany

New York schools - NY elementary, middle and high school information

Hope this helps.

[piperspal]

I agree w/ ckhthankgod: South Colonie is worth a look. My neighborhood has a LOT of school-age kids, all grades k-12 & they all seem like good kids. S.C. has a lot of extra-curricula (sp?) activities that seem very popular with the students. Almost every weekend (during nice weather) there is one group or another hosting a car wash or other fund raiser along Central Ave. I lost count of how many fireworks displays we had this past year - there was always some reason to celebrate! I lived in the North Colonie school district for a few years & the Nisky district for 18 yrs. IMO, South Colonie is the least "snobbish"; the kids come from good families for the most part - but they aren't spoiled w/ an attitude. I can't say the same for the other 2 districts!

[Leslieshomes]

Originally Posted by gnaska_witko

My husband and I are thinking about moving to the upper New York area. We would like to be close to Albany, but not necesarrily in Albany. We need to know what the construction business is like there. He is a formsetter and would like to get back in the union. I will be graduating in May and would like to find a job working with at-risk youth. I need to know where to look. We have two kids, one who will be entering middle school and the other is still in elementary. We will need a middle school with a good music program. I wouldn't mind something with a rural feeling yet close to city amenities. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Saratoga school system has a great music program! also the philharmonic is in summer residency for 3 weeks here every summer. and the NY city Ballet for 2 weeks, you can go sit on the lawn and enjoy great music for almost nothing..kids often for free!( SPAC ) great small town feel, we walk to wonderful downtown with over 30 great ( non chain) restaurants. walk to farm market, library and concerts in the park. great appreciation for music and the arts here..also you can rent your house out during track season and get enough cash to vacation almost anywhere...or stay and your kids can sell lemonaid to make college money..about $2000. in 6 weeks.. very nice town everyone loves living here.. 35 minutes to Albany, 1700 sq ft + houses start at about 225,000 in outskirts of town and in town for 300,000 for a family of 4. Everyone who lives here loves it!
Construction is booming... 5 condo complexes with units selling in the 700's +currently under construction. Most trade workers charge premium rates in Saratoga.
Les

[shonda026]

Hi, I was just reading a few threads about places that are good to move to and places that are not so good to move to. This is very good insight because I plan on moving to Albany in March of 09 and I have a 16 year old son and Im looking for a good place to live where I wont be afraid. So far sounds like the south end of town has the best apartments. Any other ideas with a good school?

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by shonda026

Hi, I was just reading a few threads about places that are good to move to and places that are not so good to move to. This is very good insight because I plan on moving to Albany in March of 09 and I have a 16 year old son and Im looking for a good place to live where I wont be afraid. So far sounds like the south end of town has the best apartments. Any other ideas with a good school?

Well, from what I've heard, the South End is a rougher neighborhood, but I think it depends on where you are too. Albany's City School District only has 1 public HS. So, there isn't much choice on those terms, but a lot of kids go to private schools. Bishop Maginn is a nice, small, diverse Catholic HS on that side of the city that you might like. Some send their kids to Albany Academy, which has separate schools for girls and boys or to other Catholic HS's like Academy of Holy Names for girls or Christian Brothers Academy for boys.

Some areas outside of the city of Albany you might like are: the South Colonie area, East Greenbush, the Lansingburgh area of Troy and if you don't mind blue collar but generally safe, communities like Watervliet, Rensselaer and Cohoes could be an option.

[averillparkre]

Originally Posted by Phish Head

does anyone know about Rensselear county? Particularly living in Sand Lake, West Sand Lake, or Averill Park? Prices seem a bit cheaper here than Saratoga County.

I really love this area - rural, close to cities, reasonable house prices, great schools.

[liv2sell4u]

Waterford has a small town with a historical buildings , its coming back with new business and is 1/3 of the taxes of Saratoga Springs and the school district is still part of Saratoga county, All of the above county’s you mentioned are great as well they however do have higher taxes but some do have better schools, are you buying are renting?