Middlebury? (Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse: credit, home builders, YMCA)

[Terbear]

Hi...as some others I have noticed, we are thinking of leaving Cali for a better way of life! I would love to find a beautiful, safe, green, rural, family oriented community with excellent schools! Is that too much to ask? lol
My husband is a contractor here and is forever busy. Is there much remodeling or other home construction going on in upstate NY? I have been looking at homes with acreage in Ontario, Wayne, Monroe, Wyoming, and Genesee counties. From here they all seem really nice! There was something I was interested in in Middlebury. Can anyone tell me about that area? Nearest big city, schools, snow etc? If that is not such a great place, I would love to hear what others would suggest! I have a 'Norman Rockwell' fantasy I guess. lol Or maybe 'Mayberry'.

Thanks so much!

[heathersmom]

Well...first off it is not a "town" with a store or library, school, or much of anything- it is a drive through area backwoods--really--just outside of Wyoming (the town) in Wyoming County-Wyoming town is the closest school and that is only K-8-then your kids go to other area high schools. It is hilly, fields and not many close by houses. There is not a police dept. (like mayberry)--I believe the Wyom. Co. Sheriffs Dept. would have that jurisdiction??? A railroad track is the area- not many trains though. Winters are rough- the hills and such- last plowed because there are no main roads through that area. If you are in that area it is because you or lost or out Sunday driving- we go through there on our motorcycles a lot. As for home builders...there are a few home based contractors that probably do alright- but WNY is not really booming right now-people do it there own self or look for the cheapest alternative...a few farms in that area too--not mega milkers (over 1500 cows) but smaller Mom/Pop (150-200 cows)farms. Any other questions--fell free to ask--I've lived in WNY (Wyoming County) all my life...too many years to tell

[Terbear]

Wow.. thanks for the reply! I didn't think I was going to get one! lol
Sounds like you know the area pretty well! I want rural....but not THAT rural. Can you suggest a nice family oriented rural community not too far from everything? I do have a 17 year old son with Cerbral Palsy, and will need to have a really good program for him. I have 1 daughter that will be in 6th grade, and one that is a sophomore. So, great schools are very important to us.
Thanks so much...
Terri

[heathersmom]

There are many small towns that are rural but closer to bigger towns. Schools vary because of funding- we live in Perry- population 5000-(more milk cows than people) we do not have a Wal-Mart but we do have a grocery store and gas stations. 2 schools- 1 is newer--it is the Elementary /Middle school. We have a great Special Education department and alot of therapist. The next town over is the county seat- that is Warsaw- there is a hospital, lots of Doctors offices,2 more schools, a college off campus site, YMCA and a smaller Wal-Mart. The other direction is Geneseo--that is Livingston county but only 20 minutes away- close to the thru-way, an off site hospital, a large State college (SUNY Geneseo), a Super Wal-Mart (1+ year old) and McDonalds, Wendys, Pizza Hut. It is not a big town by any means but it is the closest town for dining or shopping--unless you make the hour long trip to Rochester or Buffalo to shop, go to Doctors ect...any little town in between is rural- you have Wyoming village, Java, Dale--these are all small towns outside of the valley (Warsaw being the valley) and then the other direction you have Leicester (pronounced: Lester), York, Mt. Morris, Letchworth State Park (3 waterfalls), ...as I said we are Perry- a small town that has lost a lot of businesses in the last 20 years- now we are mostly a credit agency, a small sewing company, hospital workers and teachers...as for snow--Wyoming county gets snow from both lakes(Rochester/Buffalo)- we are in the snow belt---Feb-March good 5-12 inches any given week.
Good luck!

[Terbear]

Thanks so much for all the info! I really wish I could just hope on a plane and take a tour right now! I really think that will be the only way to figure this thing out!
Thanks again..
Terri in Ca

[greenm323]

Some of the small towns around Albany are very nice. Albany is the site of the Center for the Disabled, undoubtedly one of the greatest facilities in the northeast for CP folks. That said, the Greenwich- Schuylerville area is a growing area. Contractors are quite busy . . . I think your husband would find a lot of work. Nearby in Saratoga there is a new technical park that will be built and there will be a huge influx of new residents needing new houses. So don't count out Saratoga and Washington County in your search. We are rural and friendly and the schools are great (especially Schuylerville and Greenwich). Vermont is 30 minutes away! Good luck.

[Terbear]

That is really great to know!! Thank you so much! I will search that area too! I will let you know what I find, and ask more questions for sure!

Thanks again..
Terri

[winnie]

Syracuse burbs come to mind. There are pretty, rural towns all across the NYS thruway and there is beautiful scenery too.

Albany is nice, but a tad more expensive than Western NY. GREAT hospitals and health care though, they are a little more advanced than most western NY hospitals. Albany Medical Center is a top 100 hospital, and a teaching hospital with lots of knowledge and research. Also you would have access to some of Western MA's hospitals and MD's which are also tremendous assets if you need good health care.