Do you think Buffalo is becoming a college town? (Rochester: loans, schools)

[cheese9988]

I had someone mention to me that they thought Buffalo was a college town, kinda like Boston. Now that I think about it, I know of alot of people in Rochester that went to Buffalo for college. I met my wife when I lived in Buffalo because she attended UB. It could be a positive, although we probably want more permanent residents.

So what do you think?

[Checkered24]

UB is the biggest employer. We have a lot of high quality schools, public and private. Yeah, it could be considered a college town in some respects. It's not totally reliant on the schools either, but they are certainly a big player in the local economy and social makeup of the area.

[garmin239]

Not even close. Buffalo is a city with a college in it. The city does not revolve around the college. When summer hits, the city is still packed with people. Business don't close come summer time when the college kids leave. The local businesses in general don't cater to college kids (a few exceptions).
All of these things happen in a college town.

[Canerican]

Becoming? Look at areas of Amherst (like Maple, Sweet Home, and parts of NFB) that are dead during the summer, are crazy busy in the school year.

Yes, I think so, with 50,000 people coming to college here every year, and a metro of about 1 million (that includes Niagara Falls), you can say the immediate suburbs of Buffalo probably gain 15% every school year.

Maybe not a college town like Morgantown, or Austin... but ranks up there.

[jblake78728]

Austin hasn't been a "college town" in a long time. Replace Austin with State College, Pa & I agree with your point though.

[7 Wishes]

If people keep moving out of the Buffalo area, what you'll have left is college students.

[Brewmeister Smith]

Buffalo is becoming a wasteland. But she's in good company.

[UpstaterInBklyn]

I'm with Garmin on this one. The city isn't small enough to be a classic college town like State College PA, Gainesville, FL or Ithaca, NY, where the college completely dominates the town.

[ocean2026]

Cheese why not do some research before you post? What percentage of Buffaloans attend college? My guess its way lower than most places. A college town is usually a place where the college is the central attraction and often the largest employer. Bloomington Indiana would be one- where Indiana University one way or another is what brings people there. Sure its scenic place with rock quarries, big lakes, national/state forest, a storied basketball program and 20,000 coeds, but its IU that people go there for. Berkeley California, College Station Texas, are other examples.

Buffalo is not known for its colleges and many who go there do not even think about SUNY or whatever. The answer is NO!

[Canerican]

Originally Posted by ocean2026

Cheese why not do some research before you post?!

He was just asking a decent and fair question... and there is no set definition as to what a "college town" is.

Manners...