Ithaca, New York? (Syracuse, Hanover, Lincoln: how much, hotel, tech job)

[mbgith]

I moved to Ithaca from Columbus in 1999 with the expressed desire to "stick it out" for a year, then move on. I had lived in Columbus for 7 years, and I was sure Ithaca was going to be BORING! Well, it's 8 years later and I'm still here! Ithaca is a great place for families, with lots of activities for kids, both inside and out. The school system(s) is/are amazing by comparison, with dedicated professionals and active school boards. If you want data for yourself, search the Ithaca Journal archive (they published the state exam scores in late June, I think). The same info may be available via the school system(s) individual website(s). Really useful info about any school system is also available via the National Center for Education Statistics (Search for Public Schools).

When I moved here, the area known as "Fall Creek" was described to me as "Clintonville" and that's about right (think of the area between North Broadway and about Tulane). It's also a bit like Short North, but without the commercial component. (Center) Bexley = Cayuga Heights. Older homes with lots of architectural nuance and above average (75th percentile+), price wise. There's an area called West Hill that seems to have lots of young professional couples and younger families. I'd compare it to Grandview (think Goodale north to 3rd, as far east as Grandview Ave), although there are a lot fewer rentals and no "center," or the southern part of Upper Arlington (Kenny Road, Fishinger Road, Zollinger, etc.).

Personally, I live out in the country, west of the lake, and I absolutely love the quiet. Still, I only have an 18 minute/8 mile commute! There are some gorgeous old federal style homes dotting the countryside all within an easy drive to town/shopping/etc. That said, there are less distinct "areas" here, so a big old colonial might be right next to a midcentury modern ranch right next to a never-been-painted, self-built house (you'd be surprised what some people will use as siding!), right next to a working farm, all with little effect on house value.

Things to love about Ithaca: June, Wegmans, Chili Festival, Farmer's Market, Ithaca Bakery, Taughannock State Park, visiting dignitaries and speakers, Cinemopolis/Fall Creek Pictures, local music, and the fact that you are assured, as one of my friends from Indianapolis states, "rain isn't supposed to smell".

Things you learn to live with: snow, rain, snow, rain, snow, rain. There's even a unique mix of weather that's kind of snowy-rainy-sleety. Some call it "Ithacating". I used to call Columbus "the city of the perpetual cloud". Then I moved here. Columbus is downright sunny! Also, being 40 miles from an interstate is a bit strange, and comparison shopping is pretty nonexistent (though that's changing).

Biggest hassles: Property taxes ARE high (as others have mentioned), but parts of Tompkins County outside of the city/Town of Ithaca have a bit lower rate. Also, the Ithaca City Schools have a big budget (but remember, quality to match!). If you are in a different school district, your overall tax bill might be lower. Sales tax is ridiculous (4% state + 4% county), so purchase pricey items online as much as possible.

Best of Luck!

[mbgith]

Originally Posted by WallStreetWarrior

However, every year Ithaca stood out. I think it's because while most liberals, unfortunately, are more concearned with having as many anti-Bush bumper stickers as possible and tuning in only to "drive-by media", Ithaca has a lot of damn smart liberals. ... For the most part, what I remember is people who actually cared about political science and what it really meant to be a liberal, or a Democrat for that matter. A lot of "liberal" towns are filled with hippies who drive Toyota Priuses and practice extreme cultural liberalism, but couldn't tell you a thing about social contract, the Magna Carta, or even liberal democracy.

That is quite nice of you! There are still lots of hippie, Prius driving types (and Ithaca has more bumper-stickers per capita than any other town in the US, I think!), but there are also a lot of people who respect informed debate on matters of national importance, regardless of party affiliation. And yes, there are a lot of people here who take the term "conservative" for its original meanings (noninvolvement, free market, etc.). Anyway, nice post!

[ex-AK-er]

We're moving to the Ithaca area from Alaska in a few weeks. We sold our house here and are in the process of packing and getting ready for the long drive across Canada and south, with our 11 year old boy-genius, our 13 old Malamute Husky, a couple of middle-aged cats, our book collections, antiques, and All-Clad cookware. After much research, we are so excited at making Ithaca our home for years to come.

And for those of you that complain about the winters there in Ithaca, here's a little pic of high noon, 12:30pm, in our lil corner of Alaska, on Dec 24th, 2006. It's as light as it gets, the sun as high as it gets, and the snow wasn't very high because it was just too darn cold to snow.



But I have to say, I will miss my old backyard here in Alaska, part of my heart will always be here. It couldn't help but be.

[Michelle_InMi]

Hello everyone,

Could anyone tell me about the Newfield area and the schools there? Anything would be helpful!

Schools - academic success, parent involvement, band/theatre, sports, special education services, etc.?

Area - how long it takes to get to Cornell, the people there, community events, etc.?

Basically I'm looking for a small town on the outskirts of Ithaca that would be a place for my daughter and I where it feels safe, there are lots of young families, and the schools are good. While I'll rent initially, home ownership is a probability in a year or two, so the average costs compared to Ithaca would be nice to know about as well.

Thank you!!!
Michelle

[skibums]

My family is also considering a move to Ithaca. We'd want to live outside of Ithaca and commute in for work. We'd like a minimum of two acres w/ our house. We have a 3 yr. old son and about a 300k-400k budget for a house. Can anyone suggest a few areas to look into?

[BuffaloTransplant]

I have a cousin who is a teacher in the schools. There is quite a bit of turmoil, check the Ithaca Newspaper and search the racial incidents over the past few days. They also had a kid w/a gun at the HS a few weeks ago. The cost of living is fairly high, due to the colleges. She lives several towns away, for the quiet and the cost of living.

The Ithaca Journal - www.theithacajournal.com - Ithaca, NY

SORRY - the link I got worked. This does not. Search the Ithaca Journal

[kbeejbee]

i lived in ithaca for 10 years in the 70's to 80's. it was a really great place to live (i was in my 20's) and i loved it. its politics are very liberal and does affect many of the local laws and culture. if you don't like that, well, don't live there. but the beauty of the area is incredible and that also affects the culture of the area. i spent so much of my time hiking and being in the woods, climbing gorges and driving scenic routes around the lake. summers are just poetic.....being on the lake is like on golden pond. the agricultural areas in the small towns outside of ithaca are so sweet and the people are strong and supportive of their local economies. the new wineries are an additional plus!!! i miss living up there (except for the winters!! now a floridian). elmira and binghamton are gray, bleak and very economically depressed areas. they are not cities, they are depressed economies and it shows up in everything. neither city has ever spent much time beautifying it's public areas.

[whit_x]

Originally Posted by skibums

My family is also considering a move to Ithaca. We'd want to live outside of Ithaca and commute in for work. We'd like a minimum of two acres w/ our house. We have a 3 yr. old son and about a 300k-400k budget for a house. Can anyone suggest a few areas to look into?

Ellis Hollow would be a good place to look. If you want more land, Lansing is good as well.

[whit_x]

Originally Posted by BuffaloTransplant

I have a cousin who is a teacher in the schools. There is quite a bit of turmoil, check the Ithaca Newspaper and search the racial incidents over the past few days. They also had a kid w/a gun at the HS a few weeks ago. The cost of living is fairly high, due to the colleges. She lives several towns away, for the quiet and the cost of living.

The Ithaca Journal - www.theithacajournal.com - Ithaca, NY

SORRY - the link I got worked. This does not. Search the Ithaca Journal

Having grown up in the Ithaca area, this has always been just under the surface, mostly as a product of placing the kids from the most ignorant, redneck areas of the county (Caroline and Enfield) in classrooms with the students from the few African American neighborhoods in Ithaca. The prejudice and mistrust is rampant in these groups.

[hello-world]

Originally Posted by skibums

My family is also considering a move to Ithaca. We'd want to live outside of Ithaca and commute in for work. We'd like a minimum of two acres w/ our house. We have a 3 yr. old son and about a 300k-400k budget for a house. Can anyone suggest a few areas to look into?

can i suggest looking by the golf courses, near the cornell plantations, or out by ludgates (the little farmer's market)? if you were to live by the golf courses, i know a lot of people practically make them their back yards - cross country skiing, walking etc.. i know some people that live in the area.