Best Towns for Families with School Age Children. (New York, Buffalo: ski resorts, 2010)

[Sumermarie]

Can anyone tell me what towns are good for families with school age children?

I'm already aware of the Williamsville School District but weighing other options, where else can I look?

[jblake78728]

Amherst, Iroquois (outer east/SE suburbs - parts of Elma, Lancaster, Aurora, and a few others), Lancaster, Clarence, West Seneca, East Aurora, Hamburg, Hamburg - Frontier & Orchard Park are all very good districts & nice family friendly areas. Most towns offer discounted child friendly lessons/activities to residents (skating, hockey, swimming, etc) & every area has nice parks to take children. One thing I like about the Southtowns over the Northtowns is our proximity to ski resorts & some really nice state parks as well as the fact that we have our own beach in Hamburg. It really depends on what kind of things you are interested in doing & how urban or suburban you prefer your surroundings to be. Here is a link that rates school districts as well as individual schools (high school, middle school & elementary). Just scroll down & click away, plenty of good info ..................
Business First of Buffalo: Business First's 2009-2010 Guide to Western New York Schools

Though it is from 2007 here is a good site to use that will give you an idea of tax rates in each school district ............

http://php.democratandchronicle.com/.../taxrates2007/

[jblake78728]

Sure they are ....... if you don't mind paying in excess of $325K for an average house. Just for the record, Maryland's tax burden isn't a whole lot better than NY's.

[Sumermarie]

Originally Posted by jblake78728

Amherst, Iroquois (outer east/SE suburbs - parts of Elma, Lancaster, Aurora, and a few others), Lancaster, Clarence, West Seneca, East Aurora, Hamburg, Hamburg - Frontier & Orchard Park are all very good districts & nice family friendly areas. Most towns offer discounted child friendly lessons/activities to residents (skating, hockey, swimming, etc) & every area has nice parks to take children. One thing I like about the Southtowns over the Northtowns is our proximity to ski resorts & some really nice state parks as well as the fact that we have our own beach in Hamburg. It really depends on what kind of things you are interested in doing & how urban or suburban you prefer your surroundings to be. Here is a link that rates school districts as well as individual schools (high school, middle school & elementary). Just scroll down & click away, plenty of good info ..................
Business First of Buffalo: Business First's 2009-2010 Guide to Western New York Schools

Though it is from 2007 here is a good site to use that will give you an idea of tax rates in each school district ............

2007 Tax Rates

Thank you for the information. That link has been a great help!

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by jblake78728

Amherst, Iroquois (outer east/SE suburbs - parts of Elma, Lancaster, Aurora, and a few others), Lancaster, Clarence, West Seneca, East Aurora, Hamburg, Hamburg - Frontier & Orchard Park are all very good districts & nice family friendly areas. Most towns offer discounted child friendly lessons/activities to residents (skating, hockey, swimming, etc) & every area has nice parks to take children. One thing I like about the Southtowns over the Northtowns is our proximity to ski resorts & some really nice state parks as well as the fact that we have our own beach in Hamburg. It really depends on what kind of things you are interested in doing & how urban or suburban you prefer your surroundings to be. Here is a link that rates school districts as well as individual schools (high school, middle school & elementary). Just scroll down & click away, plenty of good info ..................
Business First of Buffalo: Business First's 2009-2010 Guide to Western New York Schools

Though it is from 2007 here is a good site to use that will give you an idea of tax rates in each school district ............

2007 Tax Rates

What about places like Alden, Holland, the Lake View(Evans-Brant SD) area(Angola, etc...), Kenmore, Eden and the Tonawandas?

[Sumermarie]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

What about places like Alden, Holland, the Lake View area(Angola, etc...), Kenmore and the Tonawandas?

Doesn't most of the southern suburbs get hit the hardest when it comes to snow? I realize that snow will be a factor anywhere and that doesn't bother me, I just don't want to live in the thick of it, you know?

[jblake78728]

Hamburg & Orchard Park might get about 10-15 inches more a year than Williamsville/Amherst. No matter where you are you can expect a good 90 inches a year ..... so in the grand scheme of things 10 more inches is really no big deal. As long as you stay Hamburg/OP north its really no big deal, further south (Springville, Colden, Boston) it can get much worse.

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

What about places like Alden, Holland, the Lake View(Evans-Brant SD) area(Angola, etc...), Kenmore, Eden and the Tonawandas?

IMO these are all good areas too but some are pretty far out. A lot of Kenmore/Tonawanda is more of an urban looking area (not that its a bad thing) & the schools rankings are pretty average (at least for this area) ........ but honestly, any suburb other than Cheektowaga & Lackawanna could all be decent choices depending on how far out (or close in) you want to be.

[Sumermarie]

Originally Posted by jblake78728

Hamburg & Orchard Park might get about 10-15 inches more a year than Williamsville/Amherst. No matter where you are you can expect a good 90 inches a year ..... so in the grand scheme of things 10 more inches is really no big deal. As long as you stay Hamburg/OP north its really no big deal, further south (Springville, Colden, Boston) it can get much worse.



IMO these are all good areas too but some are pretty far out. A lot of Kenmore/Tonawanda is more of an urban looking area (not that its a bad thing) & the schools rankings are pretty average (at least for this area) ........ but honestly, any suburb other than Cheektowaga & Lackawanna could all be decent choices depending on how far out (or close in) you want to be.

Ah, I see, yes, 10 inches more isn't that big a difference. I like more suburban surroundings, I don't mind driving so anything within an hour to me is short. Heck anything within 8 hours is a day trip (for fun) IMHO.

A good education district is something I really want for my girls although compared to FL anything you have is going to be better, sadly.

[jblake78728]

Originally Posted by Sumermarie

A good education district is something I really want for my girls although compared to FL anything you have is going to be better, sadly.

Coming from Texas, I can certainly understand that


If don't mind mind being out a little ways I would say look into the Iroquois district or East Aurora. Iroquois High School is in Elma but the district includes parts of Elma, Marilla, Wales, Aurora, Lancaster, and Bennington.
East Aurora is a very nice, quiet, small town setting but is only about 30 minutes from downtown Buffalo. Both school districts are in very safe, family friendly areas. Property taxes in both districts are very low for the area & both schools are among the best in WNY.

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by jblake78728

Sure they are ....... if you don't mind paying in excess of $325K for an average house. Just for the record, Maryland's tax burden isn't a whole lot better than NY's.

Wow, you lucky guys, down here near NYC $325K buys you a house in an inner-city "ghetto" (really yeah I know there's an issue of salaries too....).

My sister used to live in East Amherst and really liked the schools there, the real reason I'm posting. Good luck!