Dreaming of upstate NY....help (Rochester, Syracuse: real estate, homes, good schools)

[averagenyjoe]

Glens Falls, Saratoga. Between Small to medium communites with stable economies. Saratoga a bit more expensive but both cities are very clean, family oriented and still close enough to the city to get specialized services. the winter has the potential to get alot of snow but not the crazy insane amount that the middle or western part of the state get. Saratoga county has some of the cheapest taxes in the state for areas that are healthy in their economies. Check them out. I belive you will will be happy with what you see.

Ps: Schools system in Southern Saratoga county is rated as one of the very very best. But a very big school system. good quality of children. Very safe as well

[bellafinzi]

Originally Posted by averagenyjoe

Ps: Schools system in Southern Saratoga county is rated as one of the very very best. But a very big school system. good quality of children. Very safe as well

I'm a little confused by you averagenyjoe. You post and post about the sprawl in North Carolina and in CNY/WNY. Yet you are fine with suggesting places like Clinton Park, Halfmoon, etc. Southern Saratoga County is probably the most sprawled out place in all of Upstate NY.

As I've said, I understand why sprawl is exists and why people choose to live in suburban towns. I'm not against suburbs/sprawl. What I do have a problem with though is how inconstant you are about sprawl. Essentially you saying that sprawl is OK in your area.....the Capital District...., but elsewhere it's a major problem.

Please reflect on the mixed messages your sending here. Not to get this thread off topic, but I let your off topic posts on my photo threads of suburban Syracuse stand.

[mainegirl]

Originally Posted by relocating23

Thank you for all the info so far. A few of you have mentioned the Rochester area.....how are the schools there?

I can't speak for Rochester, I do know that my cousin was happy with the schools his children attended in Manlius NY ( a suburb of Syracuse).

Here is a website for the Rochester City School District.

Rochester City Schools...Discover the Excellence

[garmin239]

You mentioned something about a growing crime problem in Albany. Albany does not really have a growing crime problem. It has its good and bad neighborhoods like every other city. Any upstate city you choose will be fine.

[jfkIII]

surrounding neighborhoods to Albany (E. Greenbush, Latham, Colonie, Delmar. etc) have very little to no crime to speak of.

[jfkIII]

Originally Posted by bellafinzi

I'm a little confused by you averagenyjoe. You post and post about the sprawl in North Carolina and in CNY/WNY. Yet you are fine with suggesting places like Clinton Park, Halfmoon, etc. Southern Saratoga County is probably the most sprawled out place in all of Upstate NY.

Clifton Park = Upstate LI.

I grew up on Long Island, but left in 1988...hated what it has become. Clifton Park is crowded (like LI) and The Northway in rush hour is not much different than the LIE. A lot of LI'ers who move upstate, move to Clifton Park.

[I'minformed2]

I'm DEFINITELY dreaming of Upstate NY right now....the forcast high for here in Raleigh is 103!!!! heat index in the 110s!!!!!!! God help us, only 8 more days till we're back in Rochester for good...and of course my last week in NC is one of the hottest ever.

[milliehubbard]

I'm a Rochester native now living in the Triangle area of NC. I'm happy here but would move back to "Rachacha" in a hearbeat if I could get my hubby to move. He just can't stand the snow any longer!

Anyway, Rochester is a great city for raising a family. Honestly though you'll want to live in the suburbs if you have children in school. Academics-wise I'd say the east-side suburbs are superior, not to say that a good education can not be had on the west-side but I think the expectations are different. One friend had her children in Brighton schools and both have gone on to major universities with great success.

As far as being a "liveable" city, the commutes are generally very good. You can be "out in the sticks" and make it into the center of the city in 40-45 minutes. With most of that being highway "driving" rather than highway "sitting". My commute was about 8 minutes - 6 if I hit the lights right!

There are lots of things to do in Rochester. Some folks complain that the cultural opportunities are not as good as other cities, and that may be true if you're comparing Rochester with NYC or Toronto (which is only about a 3 hr drive away) but if you compare apples and apples, Rochester has wonderful cultural opportunities. Great concerts, with a nice assortment Rock/Pop/Jazz/Classical, broadway touring companies, nice museums (love the Memorial Art Gallery collection). The arts community in Rochester is very strong, between the visual arts programs at RIT and the Eastman School of Music at the UofR - there is great support and commitment to the arts.

Recreational opportunities are wide open - if you're into sailing there is Lake Ontario, Sodus Bay, the Finger Lakes. If you're into biking there are lots of greenways and trails, hiking - head out east, south or west and you'll find all sorts of trails. Sports - lots of opportunties to participate - softball is a hugely popular sport with the area workforce, almost every company has a team in some league somewhere. The Rochester Red-Wings AAA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins play in a really nice ballpark. The Amerks are a minor league ice hockey team (I think still an affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres-correct me if I'm wrong on this one). Pro football is only about an hour and a half away in Buffalo and major league baseball is a nice weekend away in Cleaveland (Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame too!!) or Toronto.

The sense of commitment to the community is one of the things that I really admire about Rochester. There are a number of important "firsts" in that city. The Community Chest was founded in Rochester and is the precursor to the United Way...now some folks have issues with the UW and their administration of funds but the community commitment to service and charity has a strong foundation in the Rochester community. The opportunities for volunteer service are boundless, any cause you feel strongly about - there is a service organization that you could hook up with.

I'm loving being in the Triangle, but I will always be a Rochesterian at heart. I suggest a visit. The city itself, like so many does have it's problems with crime...sadly, today, I don't think you can avoid it unless you live on top of a mountain. Visit some of the suburbs, get out to the parks, head to the Finger Lakes - take in a wine tour or a sightseeing cruise on one of the lakes. The area has so much to offer...just keep your eyes, ears and mind open.

[I'minformed2]

Just curious....how long have you been in Wake County? I've been here for almost 13 years now...moving back to Rochester (Greece) a week from tomorrow.

[mainegirl]

Originally Posted by i'minformed

I'm DEFINITELY dreaming of Upstate NY right now....the forcast high for here in Raleigh is 103!!!! heat index in the 110s!!!!!!! God help us, only 8 more days till we're back in Rochester for good...and of course my last week in NC is one of the hottest ever.

Wow, that's terrible. Stay safe !