Canton vs Potsdam NY for a single person?

[Mercator Projection]

Crime? What crime?

For entertainment, check out this old (2005) Potsdam police blotter.

DWI
public urination
speeding
drive off w/o paying for gas
underage drinking


The list is fairly typical of a small college town. Ogdensburg might be a little more seedy. I'm sure Watertown is too.

[copygirl33]

I currently live in the Rochester, NY area. Looking at properties in upstate New York for the summer and possibly for year round living.

I was looking at a property in Norwood, NY. I know that in the fall, spring and summer it must be beautiful. What worries me is the winter..could anyone give me an idea about the amount of snowfall during the winter and the temperatures. I see that Potsdam is only about 15 miles away. I might look for work there. How are the roads during the winter?

Thank you so much for any insight!

[JiminCT]

Not nearly as much snowfall as Watertown...but it does get mighty cold in the winter (I did a few years up there and we had a couple of -20F nights). The road crews are great about cleaning the snow. The main routes up there are in great shape (well maintained and paved)...really because they HAVE to be for this area....

Norwood is remote...but it is near Potsdam and about 65 miles south of Ottawa. Montreal is about an 85 mile ride. You might feel like you are in the boonies in Norwood...but in truth if you draw a radius of 70 miles there are a lot of people.

[Expat Forever]

Hello, I would like to continue this thread, if I may. It answered some of my questions, but I have others!

Most crucially, I am looking for a place to live in Canton. I have looked for listings and I must say it is very thin when it comes to Canton!

I would like a rental for now. If there are suggestions, I would welcome that. I am not averse to a bit of driving, if it means a better place, and a bit more head space, as I do like my solitude.

Thank you.

[clynnog]

Originally Posted by Expat Forever

Most crucially, I am looking for a place to live in Canton. I have looked for listings and I must say it is very thin when it comes to Canton!

I would like a rental for now.

I'm not in Canton (my brother taught at SLU for about 6 years) but are there any rental boards at SLU with places for rent on offer.

Is northcountrynow.com any use?

[Expat Forever]

Thank you for the reply. I did look at Northcountrynow com and it was useful for Potsdam mostly. Some Canton listings too. I will look at the rental boards at SLU as well--thanks! When I last looked at it, there were fewer listings, perhaps due to the academic year in session then.

If I may ask how did your brother like SLU? As you might have guessed, I am going there (for the long haul), so I will also be looking to make friends outside of SLU. I wonder if that is easy, given there seems to be little outside the community.

With a bit more time looking around, I see that there seems to be a farm/rural set, Canton town set and a Potsdam set. The idea of living in the rural area appeals to me, but then there are the winter issues!

Anyway a visit there again in June to look at places is on the cards, and I need to make a list of places to see.