Bad areas to avoid (New York, Buffalo: low crime, houses, safe area)

[nanita]

Me and my family will be moving to Buffalo soon, my husband and I have school age children and we would like a nice area where my kids can feel free to play outside. What are the bad areas to avoid when moving to Buffalo? Where are the best schools?

[ckhthankgod]

check this out about schools:https://www.nystart.gov/publicweb/Di...t=140600010000

Also, here are some of the better schools in the district:Discovery School - Buffalo, New York - NY - School overview

Frederick Olmsted #56 - Buffalo, New York - NY - School overview

Frederick Olmsted #64 - Buffalo, New York - NY - School overview

Hutchinson Central Technology High School - Buffalo, New York - NY - School overview

P.S. 81 - Buffalo, New York - NY - School overview

City Honors School-F Masten Pk - Buffalo, New York - NY - School overview

and the whole district:Buffalo City School District schools, Buffalo - NY: charter and public schools. Buffalo school district - Buffalo NY school district

Buffalo City Schools

As for neighborhoods, it seems like North Buffalo, the Elmwood area, South Buffalo and some of the areas in the Far Westside of the city are fine.

[mikesuicide]

Here we go again. If children playing is a concern, watch them in ANY neighborhood. Safe from traffic, gang violence, noise, lousy schools? which?

[Buffalonian4life]

Don't stay away from - but look at Parkside, around the Delaware District, near Elmwood, etc.
These are really nice, safe areas that are probably as good as you'll get in Buffalo for your situation!

[nanita]

Thanks for all the comments! How's Amherst, West Seneca, Clarence and surrounding areas?

[Urban Peasant]

Originally Posted by mikesuicide

Here we go again. If children playing is a concern, watch them in ANY neighborhood. Safe from traffic, gang violence, noise, lousy schools? which?

(This posting is kind of off topic but . . .)

If everyone listened to advice like yours, then the City of Buffalo and perhaps every other major city in the US would be bereft of school age children and nuclear families. There is absolutely no need to spread false rumors about the entire city being unsafe because it is simply not true. The City Honors School has been named in the top 50 category of several national periodicals such as US News and I am sure there are several other good schools in the city. One just has to find the right fit. Traffic and noise are hard to avoid but I really can't believe I'd get run over on every street in Buffalo nor can I believe that all Buffalonians like to turn up their music to deafening levels.

A note to Nanita: I am not from Buffalo but I have visited the city several times and have seen different neighborhoods. As far as I know, the Elmwood Village between Richmond Avenue and Main Street, any of the streets closest to Delaware Park, North Buffalo between Elmwood Avenue and Main Street, and much of South Buffalo are fine. Areas to avoid are the neighborhoods east of Main Street (just drive through them once and you'll agree to avoid them) and the far west side of Buffalo near the Peace Bridge. Amherst and Clarence I heard are very safe suburbs with excellent schools but are pricier for the most part. Good luck!

[mikesuicide]

Originally Posted by Urban Peasant

(This posting is kind of off topic but . . .)

If everyone listened to advice like yours, then the City of Buffalo and perhaps every other major city in the US would be bereft of school age children and nuclear families. There is absolutely no need to spread false rumors about the entire city being unsafe because it is simply not true. The City Honors School has been named in the top 50 category of several national periodicals such as US News and I am sure there are several other good schools in the city. One just has to find the right fit. Traffic and noise are hard to avoid but I really can't believe I'd get run over on every street in Buffalo nor can I believe that all Buffalonians like to turn up their music to deafening levels.

A note to Nanita: I am not from Buffalo but I have visited the city several times and have seen different neighborhoods. As far as I know, the Elmwood Village between Richmond Avenue and Main Street, any of the streets closest to Delaware Park, North Buffalo between Elmwood Avenue and Main Street, and much of South Buffalo are fine. Areas to avoid are the neighborhoods east of Main Street (just drive through them once and you'll agree to avoid them) and the far west side of Buffalo near the Peace Bridge. Amherst and Clarence I heard are very safe suburbs with excellent schools but are pricier for the most part. Good luck!

Before you go making assumptions, maybe you should try to comprehend the post. I in no way berated my city. I in fact did quite the contrary. I was waiting with baited breath for someone else to make a sweeping generalization actually. If the O.P. is looking for a safe place to raise a child Western New York is about the safest. In any town you must watch your children, and never assume because your in "nice" neighborhood you will be safe. Drugs, gangs, predators know no boundries. Schools really excell based upon the time teachers can 'teach' as opposed to discipline.
Suburban schools statistically come out on top.
I so happen to live in the Elmwood area and have lived in almost every neighborhood in the city limits. I am a life long city resident and know personally whats what.

[nanita]

Originally Posted by mikesuicide

Here we go again. If children playing is a concern, watch them in ANY neighborhood. Safe from traffic, gang violence, noise, lousy schools? which?

Well i won't be leaving my children completely unattended, i realize that bad things can happen anywhere anytime, but I just wanted opinions of residents as to which areas are family-friendly.

[Snarky Prof]

Amherst is very family friendly. I have lived here 18 years and found the community to be friendly. Plus, you have access to the University which is nice.

I have friends who live in Orchard Park who enjoy it there are well.

[Canerican]

Originally Posted by nanita

Thanks for all the comments! How's Amherst, West Seneca, Clarence and surrounding areas?

Amherst and Clarence are really great towns. Amherst and Clarence both have great school systems. Buffalo is a really a dying town, look at a map and look at the towns to the North, they are where there is slight growth. Amherst, Clarence, and Tonawanda to a lesser degree are good.

You can find nice houses in the suburbs for very reasonable prices, if you live in Buffalo, Clarence is probably about a 25 minute drive to Buffalo, Amherst, about 15.

Avoid Buffalo proper to live. Some of the suburbs are going down fast (Cheektowaga, Snyder, Lackawanna).

I would stick with Amherst if you work in the city, Clarence, if you like more green space, and don't mind a small commute. Both Amherst and Clarence are low crime (Amherst on the rise a bit, Clarence doesn't even have a police dept.).

An area to consider is Getzville, quiet, close to SUNY at Buffalo, and the interstates.