relocating to WNY, near Buffalo (Amherst, Hamburg: crime rate, neighbourhoods, school)

[wheretolive?]

I am hoping for some advice on good places to live outside of Buffalo. I am looking for a mid sized family friendly town that is safe. My husband and I hope to open a small clinic and need a nice place to raise our family. Access to the outdoors is really important for us. Also we have a preference for older type neighbourhoods, not too suburban. Any suggestions would be greatly apprecited. Thanks!!

[bear]

Williamsville or Amherst on the east side of Buffalo. On the west side of Buffalo I'd try Orchard Park or East Aurora.

[cdcdguy]

What do you mean NEAR Buffalo? A suburb, or a town maybe 20 miles out? As mentioned, Amherst is a suburb east of Buffalo. It is safe, but at 110k, maybe little larger than what you are looking for. A bit further out, check out Clarence. It is more of a bedroom community feel, but still nor more than 25 min. drive to Buffalo.The southern burbs(Southtowns) are also nice. Orchard Park, Hamburg, and East Aurora are all nice, but be warned, you will be in the lake snow belt, and they tend to get more snow, than Buffalo's other suburbs.If you don't want something too Suburban, East Aurora and Clarence, might be more to your liking.

[aka_mouse]

Originally Posted by wheretolive?

I am hoping for some advice on good places to live outside of Buffalo. I am looking for a mid sized family friendly town that is safe. My husband and I hope to open a small clinic and need a nice place to raise our family. Access to the outdoors is really important for us. Also we have a preference for older type neighbourhoods, not too suburban. Any suggestions would be greatly apprecited. Thanks!!

I dont know why people are suggesting Amherst. It is a nice place to live, and very safe.. but id also say its very suburban. Amherst is constantly pointed to an example of sprawl and also poor planning. Parts of it are sinking cause developers wanted it developed and didn't want to listen to experts thats said the ground was damaged from draining swamps incorrectly.


I live (or rather lived, im away right now) in the village of hamburg. Hamburg itself is pretty big, but the central and older part is where main and rt 62 meet (and around). Lots of trees covering the streets. If you look at the pics on this wibsite for hamburg.. thats all pretty much main street and a few other locations. Pretty much anywhere in the 'village of hamburg' if you have kids they will be in walking distance to school 1st-12th grade and playgrounds and parks and stores etc.

[Samohtal]

Another vote here for Clarence, Pendleton, or South Lockport. If you wanted to go up near lake Ontario, I'd recommend Wilson or Lewiston ... but those are up there quite a bit. For the last 5 years or so I've lived in South Lockport, which is just a mile or so from Clarence and/or Clarence Center. Its nice and quiet, but with still good access to the 990. Like was previously mentioned, in winter if the area is getting a snow storm - we'll get 6 inches when the southtowns are getting 2 feet.

I also agree with the suburban Amherst/Williamsville. If you don't want typical suburb, then you don't want Amherst.

If you want to be south of Buffalo, try East Aurora. Orchard Park is quickly becoming Amherst-like, so again, if you don't want typical suburb, avoid OP.

If you want to be west of Buffalo ... you'll be in Lake Erie or Canada.

[RWilliams]

I'd say aim for the southtowns. Springville is a very nice little village not far from the ski areas and Alleghany state park.

[bridget9707]

I know it is farther they you probably want but I live in Kendall and it is a very small town pop is less then 3000! The crime rate is almost non existent here. We re about 1 hour from Buffalo tho

[wheretolive?]

Thank you all so much for your input, it has been incredible helpful. A few people have suggested Lewiston and Youngstown in addition to Amherst, any thoughts?

[cdcdguy]

I originally suggeted Amherst, but will withdraw it, as it is too suburban for you. Lewiston and Youngtown are both nice, less than an hour from Buffalo.These areas also get a little less snow than some of the Buffalos suburbs.

There are a lot of nice towns near Buffalo. Maybe you can give some more detail of what you are looking for in a town. The economy here is not that good, but cost of living is low, and people are real nice.

[Samohtal]

I recommended Lewiston because it is absolutely beautiful throughout. Youngstown has some nice places, but it has some run-down areas, too. Old Fort Niagara is a great park, I play soccer there a few times every year and it has a ton of history.

The "downtown" Lewiston looks like a postcard of a typical New England village to me. Brick crosswalks and even the grocery stores have to blend in rather than just be a big box. Its right on the river, so its obviously close to Canada as well. You'd be around a hour to Toronto, which is a great city and just across from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada - which is nice but nothing like the kitch of Niagara Falls (although the falls is a lot of fun to visit, too. You probably don't want to live in Niagara Falls, though).