4Q08: LI 3rd Least Affordable Metro Area (New York, Syracuse: crime, neighborhoods)

[TheTruth08]

Yeah but isnt Syracuse boring? The area my mom moved to IMO is very boring. Sure its nice and pretty but I don't think I could ever live there unless I had a wife and kids to keep me entertained. Now that my mom moved to PA I'm kinda torn. My mom wants me to move down there after college but I plan on living in the outer boros of NYC until I find a wife and have a kid then out to the suburbs. But it will be hard because all my friends would be on Long Island most likely but my mom and brothers out in PA. Oh well. I have a lot more years till then

[AlexisT]

Syracuse is OK. My sister went to college there. The economy has had issues as major employers like Carrier cut so many jobs. The worst part about Syracuse is the weather. It's awful--very snowy winters (IIRC the snowiest city in the state), very grey (a problem throughout central and western NYS--you can go weeks without real sunshine).

Rochester is, IMO, a nicer city than Syracuse, but most LIers won't be able to stick the weather in either.

[AlexisT]

Originally Posted by Transpl

PA can be very expensive as well. Most towns use a 3rd party agency, Burkheimer to collect school taxes. This is a different tax bill from the county/township. Taxes are levied and calculated independently by County>Township>Town.

LI has its own absurdities as we all know.

Having lived in all 3, LI taxation is by far the highest. I still can't get over the sales tax pushing 9%!!

Philly burbs are expensive though not quite as bad as LI. I heard from one poster here that his parents in Delaware County are paying $2K but they must be quite a way out--further in (and same in Montgomery and Bucks) you can pay $7-8K. Income tax is lower. If you are high income you will do better in PA - unless you live or work in a wage tax city like Philly. NEPA is low tax, at least for now.

Southern NJ is NOT necessarily cheap. NJ has the highest tax burden in the country by some measures. Highest property taxes, some of the highest income taxes (and it's graduated, so if you're high income, it really hurts). The more desirable suburbs in southern NJ have taxes up to 50% higher than ones across the Delaware. The only thing you get off cheap on in NJ is sales tax.

[boomvang]

Originally Posted by AlexisT

Syracuse is OK. My sister went to college there. The economy has had issues as major employers like Carrier cut so many jobs. The worst part about Syracuse is the weather. It's awful--very snowy winters (IIRC the snowiest city in the state), very grey (a problem throughout central and western NYS--you can go weeks without real sunshine).

Rochester is, IMO, a nicer city than Syracuse, but most LIers won't be able to stick the weather in either.

While we do get a bunch of snow here in Syracuse, the winter season does not last too much longer than L.I. The difference is that while Long Island seems to hibernate for the winter, up here there is much emphasis on winter activities, such as skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and sleigh riding. There is a winter fest, and dedicated winter races. It is not for those who don't like snow, we have had over 140" so far this season, with more in the forecast. As far as sunshine, some days we get sun-snowshowers. As far as I'm concerned, it does not seem any more dreary than downstate.

[gmagg]

You get much more home for your money in CT, especially in the northern part of the state, there is no comparison to Nassau or W Suffolk County for that matter. In terms of taxation, while high it is not as absurd as LI's multi-layering of government taxation. Even though some costs and taxes may be on the high side in CT at least there is much less congestion, its cleaner and the towns are much nicer and well kept and there is open space. I think its worth every penny. I am not talking about Hartford proper here.

[Crookhaven]

Originally Posted by gmagg

You get much more home for your money in CT, especially in the northern part of the state, there is no comparison to Nassau or W Suffolk County for that matter. In terms of taxation, while high it is not as absurd as LI's multi-layering of government taxation. Even though some costs and taxes may be on the high side in CT at least there is much less congestion, its cleaner and the towns are much nicer and well kept and there is open space. I think its worth every penny. I am not talking about Hartford proper here.

Northern CT is a steal compared to LI.


Crooks

[bamba_boy]

My daughter moved up to Syracuse from Texas and, believe it or not, she loves it - even now in the winter with all the snow! Her little son loves it. It's a very reasonable sized metro area with mostly anything you'd want to do - a short half-day drive to Buffalo or NY for pro-sports and major culture - but midwest Rust Belt prices on a place that isn't that rusty. I had been there earlier for some work projects and think the surrounding hills and Finger Lakes georgous - just dense forest all around looks like one big national park or forest. If I could get a good job there like her I'd consider the move too.

Originally Posted by boomvang

Those posters who responded negatively about Syracuse reveal quite a bit of ignorance IMO. We moved to an outlying area of Syracuse 2 years ago after a lifetime spent on L.I. Aside from the long snowy winters, I feel this area is far superior in most ways. Much nicer parks, much less frantic, less litter, less rudeness, with some of the best schools in the state. The local libraries are much nicer as well. Taxes are still high, but you can see tangible results for money spent. The roads are very well maintained, cleared of the aforementioned snow in no time, and repaved before potholes can develop. You would be surprised to see some of the newer developments, some of the area has a north shore of L.I. vibe. It's not paradise, but it is a great value for the money.

[Jrprofess]

Originally Posted by Transpl

Small correction, Mystic is in Southeastern CT (not northern). CT is a bit odd in that you travel the length of it along the shore east to west using I95 North/South.

That area is very rustic, Stonington and North Stonington even more-so, less touristy. I prefer Long Island by far. I found it boring having lived there. As they say, nice place to visit but...unless you are into casinos.

Correct. I always make that error when describing it given the east/west run of 95. Tolland is another area that might be a decent bang for the buck, and more "northern" so to speak.

[AlexisT]

Originally Posted by boomvang

While we do get a bunch of snow here in Syracuse, the winter season does not last too much longer than L.I. The difference is that while Long Island seems to hibernate for the winter, up here there is much emphasis on winter activities, such as skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and sleigh riding. There is a winter fest, and dedicated winter races. It is not for those who don't like snow, we have had over 140" so far this season, with more in the forecast. As far as sunshine, some days we get sun-snowshowers. As far as I'm concerned, it does not seem any more dreary than downstate.

compare this data:

Climate Information for Syracuse*-*New York*-*Northeast*-*United States*-*Climate Zone
Climate Information for New York Central Park*-*New York*-*Northeast*-*United States*-*Climate Zone

NYC is the sunniest part of the state, and the 2nd wettest (after the Catskills).

[TheTruth08]

Originally Posted by bamba_boy

My daughter moved up to Syracuse from Texas and, believe it or not, she loves it - even now in the winter with all the snow! Her little son loves it. It's a very reasonable sized metro area with mostly anything you'd want to do - a short half-day drive to Buffalo or NY for pro-sports and major culture - but midwest Rust Belt prices on a place that isn't that rusty. I had been there earlier for some work projects and think the surrounding hills and Finger Lakes georgous - just dense forest all around looks like one big national park or forest. If I could get a good job there like her I'd consider the move too.

Yeah it might be fun for her because she has a kid. But for a single 17-28 year old. That area doesn't really have what we want.

I honestly think the only places I could be happy is NYC, Long Island, New Jersey, Denver, and SoCal. But lets see, I'm heading up to Albany for college.