Buffalo vs. Rochester (Cheektowaga, Tonawanda, Lancaster: insurance, loan, homes)

[By~Tor]

OKay - - so, I've been looking into Rochester, relocating from NYC for cheaper housing and overall cost-of-living.

But, I'd be remiss, if I didn't also consider Buffalo, since it IS the larger of the two cities and would have (presumably) more job opportunities.

In that light, what neighborhoods IN BUFFALO would I be able to find the following, and, as a second part to the question, what benefits might I have in Buffalo that I wouldn't get in Rochester?


* CHEAP (under $120K) housing

* SAFE neighborhood

* Good Public Transportation closeby (walking distance)

* Close to downtown / business centers

* GREAT Supermarkets

[CAugust]

lots of ideas within buffalo ny - south buffalo (some areas), cheektowaga, sloan, the burbs in buffalo with transit do not run consistently. Most of the areas are close to downtown - many jobs are located in the burbs as well - as an agent, I could recommend a lot of areas to you, my main concern is your need for public transportation. Driving here is much different than in NYC - not a problem at all. You can find some great homes in Williamsville, yes you can for 120k - they wont be huge, but its a very safe place, do you have children? if so, then schooling will be important to you as well. Is public transportation really important?
Colleen

[By~Tor]

Thanks, Colleen... ideally, we'll be getting a car within 6 months after settlin in wherever we go, but at first, we do want to be close to the bus (trains??) just for ease of commuting purposes. I've actually lost not one, but TWO cars here in NYC, due to parking tickets, so we decided just to not own one anymore, while here... this town is a big "racket", when it comes to parking/towing, etc...

Will be in Rochester this weekend, actually, and I'd love an opportunity to get started talking with someone of an "agent" caliber, in anticipation of whenever we do decide to make that move (within the next year). Maybe we can meet up...

-Mike

[BuffaloTransplant]

You don't lose cars here for parking and the insurance is a lot less than NY.

I don't know what you want to pay, but Lancaster village has lots of buses into town, then there is lots of walking to wherever you go. There are lovely older homes in the village. They cut the bus service to go farther out. Check NFTA for busses to Buffalo. Lots of areas have am and pm commuter buses to the city.

Being in Sloan and Cheektowaga is small homes ( 1950s ish capes) at low prices where older people who built them are moving off. Williamsville has lots of service and higher prices. Same with the town of Tonawanda. More buses here than other towns.

Lots of parochial schools in all areas; the law is that if your kid is bused to a parochial school or private, they have to be taken ( I think it is 15 miles). There are many RC, some Christian and Lutheran around.

If your fear of a car being ripped off is the reason not to get one, it is not a problem here.