Buffalo & Detroit similarities and differences (Boston, Rose: foreclosed, movers, crime)

[I'minformed2]

The city of Buffalo is nicer than the city of Detroit. The city of Buffalo is much more diverse (has whites, blacks, and hispanics, whereas Detroit is almost all black) has more nice neighborhoods, etc. BUT...the suburbs of Detroit (excluding some of the seedy ones like Dearborn, Southfield etc) seem to be nicer, from what I've seen, than the Buffalo suburbs in general. Buffalo has nice suburbs like Clarence, Orchard Park, Lancaster, and Amherst...but it also has some kind of dumpy looking ones like Cheektowaga, Tonawanda, Kenmore, West Seneca, etc.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by I'minformed2

The city of Buffalo is nicer than the city of Detroit. The city of Buffalo is much more diverse (has whites, blacks, and hispanics, whereas Detroit is almost all black) has more nice neighborhoods, etc. BUT...the suburbs of Detroit (excluding some of the seedy ones like Dearborn, Southfield etc) seem to be nicer, from what I've seen, than the Buffalo suburbs in general. Buffalo has nice suburbs like Clarence, Orchard Park, Lancaster, and Amherst...but it also has some kind of dumpy looking ones like Cheektowaga, Tonawanda, Kenmore, West Seneca, etc.

Are Tonawanda, Kenmore, West Seneca and Cheektowaga are "dumpy" or are just more working class or blue collar? In the Detroit area, such suburbs would be Ecorse, River Rouge, Hamtramck, Highland Park(the latter two are surrounded by the city of Detroit though), Redford and Warren(in some parts), among others. Southfield is actually a nicer suburb or it was about 10-12 years ago. It is a suburb that has been in transition demographically, but still looks nice generally speaking.

[I'minformed2]

Regardless, what I may not have made clear...I would still rather live in the Buffalo area than the Detroit area.

[iloveupstateny]

i think if this question was posted on the michigan forum, the answers would be less biased. My vote Buffalo but that is because I am from here. My friends from Mi. would obviously vote Mi.

The Detroit metro area though has appeared to fare better in the suburbs...A lot of nice new shopping and they are more ahead with building the brand new villages and have tons more of the upscale stores that have not made it to Buffalo--which may never make it to Buffalo. I have always found that an oddity though. Detroit is so scary, but outside of it in Oakland county, it does quite well....much better than the 'posh' or 'upper to middle upper class' neighborhoods in Buffalo.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by iloveupstateny

i think if this question was posted on the michigan forum, the answers would be less biased. My vote Buffalo but that is because I am from here. My friends from Mi. would obviously vote Mi.

The Detroit metro area though has appeared to fare better in the suburbs...A lot of nice new shopping and they are more ahead with building the brand new villages and have tons more of the upscale stores that have not made it to Buffalo--which may never make it to Buffalo. I have always found that an oddity though. Detroit is so scary, but outside of it in Oakland county, it does quite well....much better than the 'posh' or 'upper to middle upper class' neighborhoods in Buffalo.

I know what you mean. There are some parts of the city of Detroit that are down right abandoned and desolate, and have been that way for a while. There still some nice neighborhoods in the city like Corktown, Sherwood Forest, Palmer Woods, Green Acres, Parkland, Boston-Edison and Indian Village, among others.

[incircles]

I find it humorous that somebody referenced Kenmore as being dumpy when some of the nicest homes in the area can be found in Kenmore and Amherst as nice when Amherst has several housing projects and problem areas. Stereotype much?

Also, have you ever been to Detroit? Outside of their downtown "revival," it might be the scariest place I've ever been to. Seriously.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by incircles

I find it humorous that somebody referenced Kenmore as being dumpy when some of the nicest homes in the area can be found in Kenmore and Amherst as nice when Amherst has several housing projects and problem areas. Stereotype much?

Also, have you ever been to Detroit? Outside of their downtown "revival," it might be the scariest place I've ever been to. Seriously.

Does Amherst really have MANY problem areas? I know that some have mentioned that there are a couple in the Sweet Home district part of Amherst, but are there more?

[iloveupstateny]

Originally Posted by incircles

I find it humorous that somebody referenced Kenmore as being dumpy when some of the nicest homes in the area can be found in Kenmore and Amherst as nice when Amherst has several housing projects and problem areas. Stereotype much?

Also, have you ever been to Detroit? Outside of their downtown "revival," it might be the scariest place I've ever been to. Seriously.

The burbs to the West and North of Detroit actually has a lot of dough and are wayyyy nicer than any Buffalo burb. Oakland County is the one that keeps coming to mind...but really, who cares? Both cities are in royal trouble and losing tons of its residents and identity..and I wonder if they will ever be able to bounce back.....sad to say.

[cheese9988]

I think at the present time Detroit is still in a position for a continued decline. The auto industry as everyone knows, has a much higher influence on the greater Detroit area than Buffalo.

If the auto industry continues to decline, I think the impact would be much larger on Detroit than it would on Buffalo. Although the auto industry is still entangled in Buffalo. Ie (Delphi, Trico, Tonawanda Engine, Dunlop, Ford stamping plant, American Axel).

At its present time, it *looks* like Buffalo's recession is starting to slow. I base this off of population trends, current building projects and and unemployment rates. Its my own observation so please critque me. If the two links below are credible (which they seem to be) Buffalo is actually slightly better than the national unemployment rate.

Buffalo: Unemployment Rates - Buffalo Niagara Enterprise

Detroit: Detroit area unemployment rate falls to 8.3 percent - Crain's Detroit Business

I hope that both cities can pull out of thier slumps. Both have had a significant impact on America. But I think because of Detroits size, if the auto industry does leave the city, Detroit will be in far worse condition than Buffalo.

[ocean2026]

Looking over the responses it seems Buffalo has a slightly more optimistic response than Detroit. Yes Detroit is much larger but otherwise they seem similar- any other contributors are welcome.