Buffalo Area (Amherst, West Seneca, Lancaster: crime rates, house, neighborhoods)

[JoshNHR]

Taxes in NY are pretty high but you do have options like the STAR program in New York which will help relieve you from taxes a bit. Our governor recently put forth a plan called Middle Class STAR which will dramatically increase tax savings on your home.

STAR site:

http://www.orps.state.ny.us/star/index.cfm

[4merWNYer]

Originally Posted by aka_mouse

I live out in the burbs.. and people like you are why I'll be moving downtown in a year or so...

....paranoid surburbanites. You have to be careful walking down elmwood, you might be accosted by a savage negro! Theyre everywhere down there, amirite?!

You people are nuts...



what the frig ?

Florida? The whole state's a toilet...filled with crocodiles, cannibal rednecks, and stupid gated communities for rich old people.

Ok I lived in Williamsville when I lived up there. Going out downtown I thought it was a bit scary but not that bad, till my friends and I were held up for our money one night. You call that safe???

As for your comments on FL...where in FL did you see all this? Miami maybe....as for where I am in NE FL it is not that bad. My job may take me to other places and states, but FL is not that bad of a place depending on where you are. Would I live in Miami or Orlando??.... you could NEVER pay me enough to live in either one!!
BTW...All gated communities are not for rich old people, I am far from being rich and old and live in one.

You have no clue...stay in Buffalo burried under all that snow and I will enjoy my sunshine thanks!! ....

[devoneri]

Where in Buffalo have you been offered jobs? That would effect which suburb you chose.

If you take one thing from this forum, make it the advice everyone is offering to keep your child OUT of the Buffalo city limits for schools.

Traffic is a breeze all over the entire county. Especially if you've lived in large cities before.

Houses, one thing I would caution is make sure your home is safe from lead risks. Buffalo has one of the highest percentages of children with high lead levels because the majority of homes were built back when lead paint was being used. See scorecard.org for more stats.

Best neighborhoods? Personally I like Kenmore much more than Amherst/Williamsville. Probably more affordable over all too.

Crime? I'm sure you can find stats online but here's what I know: every good friend of mine who is white & male has been jumped & beaten/stabbed in Buffalo at some point. I wish I was making that up. I even find it hard to believe since it really does seem like a nice place when you're walking or driving around. And it happened on Elmwood Ave and off Hertel Ave toward the UB south campus. Areas most people here adore. I'd say move here, just be careful.

[Thisbe]

I'm in a similar situation as marhughes--my husband is considering a relocation to Buffalo and I'll be giving up my job (next stress--looking for work)--the neighborhood info and housing prices are helpful. I was shocked at the taxes, relative to the housing prices, but I hear the schools in the surrounding areas are really strong. What's the cost of living compared to other cities (I live within commuting distance of NYC)? My apologies if this has already been addressed, but I'm brand new to this--any earlier discussions that can be recommended for reading? Thanks!

[aka_mouse]

Originally Posted by Thisbe

I'm in a similar situation as marhughes--my husband is considering a relocation to Buffalo and I'll be giving up my job (next stress--looking for work)--the neighborhood info and housing prices are helpful. I was shocked at the taxes, relative to the housing prices, but I hear the schools in the surrounding areas are really strong. What's the cost of living compared to other cities (I live within commuting distance of NYC)? My apologies if this has already been addressed, but I'm brand new to this--any earlier discussions that can be recommended for reading? Thanks!

Pay is lower and cost of living is lower (from the outside looking in, dirt cheap Im sure) here. People scream about the taxes... big deal...

You get a decent job, you can buy an ugly $150-250k mcmansion out in the burbs, out west you get a decent job and you can get the $800k mcmansion .. youll pay $4k a year in taxes on that $150k house here.. and youll pay $4k a year in taxes on the $800k L.A. property. Its all about quality of living. And its going to be pretty much the same (re: economics) whatever your station is, just with different #s... I could move to San Francisco tomarrow, get a job at walmart and live in a crappy neighborhood - I could do the same thing here too.

If your husband is getting a decent job in Buffalo, its not going to be an issue. Especially since AFAIK , downstate is just more expensive period, more so the closer you get to NYC cause everyone piles in there. I think Id love NYC but I doubt I could afford it. I hear there are waiting lists for apartments and everything.. I dunno how people do it.

[marhughes]

Well, We have decided to make the move. We flew up there a couple of weeks ago and really liked the Williamsville area. We will be leaving Ga for the trip in 10 days.

[JustSayNo]

Williamsville is very nice-was there this summer. I have original family in Kenmore and simply put from a non-resident perspective-Kenmore is an old Buffalo burb and Williamsville is a new one! The restaurant in Williamsville that sits next to the "river" right on the bridge is lovely to eat at outside in good weather. Pretty good beef on weck and the stuffed banana peppers rock-good cocktails too! Williamsville is mor typically suburan, with access to large roads, malls, talbots (yikes) movie theaters and the like. When I was up there this summer the family lamented the good old days of the city-with the dance halls and burlesque halls lining the streets, lighting up the whole city. The movies, the shows, the restaurants. Sadly, city proper has been left behind and suburbia sprawled! Wht is the area by the B-U campus? I remember some family saying it used to be the upper-crust of Buffalo-now middle-class-also very nice. Good luck!

[twingirls2boys]

Marhuges- I sent you a private message!

Good luck in your move!!

[baby4brenn]

Originally Posted by marhughes

Come on someone can tell me more about this area.

Where are the best schools?

Where is the best place to live?

Its 2009 , are you still planning on it or is that old? I live in Kenmore, NY. Its nice here in Kenmore. My daughter is 6 and goes to a kenmore school and they have good schools here in Kenmore i hear. you can email me with any questions if you still plan on moving here
baby4brenn@aol.com
Brenda

[SSawyer]

Originally Posted by 4merWNYer

Live in the suburbs, not the city!! I would not consider any area of the city a safe place to live...

I would have to agree...the city is not the greatest (safest) place to live. I've lived all over western NY and the suburbs are definitely nicer and safer. West Seneca, Orchard Park, Cheektowaga, Depew....all pretty nice places.