Looking For The Perfect Upstate Town - Moving From Bergen County New Jersey (New York: rentals, crime)

[JennyOnTheMove]

We are a couple in our late 30's early 40's, have two kids in college already, so school systems do not apply.
We live in Jersey, and have hated it for EVER, but wanted to let the kids finish out their school careers here. My husband is just finishing college, for the second time, and will be working in a hospital- so we figure we can move wherever we like. I am into antiques, collectibles, do some eBay, I cook and bake, and like to sell my wares at farmers markets and the like, and I also have two dogs that we ADORE and need a 'dog friendly' town, with hopefully a 'bark park' or the like.

My daughters are in college in New Jersey, and likely will remain there for another 3 years.

We are looking for a town in New York state/Connecticut/Pennsylvania with the following criteria:

NOT expensive. Rentals in the $900-1100 a month range for a 2-3 bedroom.

I'd like an artsy/cool town in walking distance. I like to walk, take a train, don't like to NEED a car. I prefer my husband use the car for work.

I'd like a relatively safe area to live, but I'm from Jersey, and we have crime left and right here. You can't be safe at the mall. I mean cars get broken into every day. My daughter has had her car broken into twice, Once at the mall and once at the iHop. We have plenty of non-English speaking immigrants in my area. Namely a lot of Hispanic, Polish, Bosnian, Pakistani, Middle Eastern and Asian. I'm talking blocks and blocks of ethnic shops and folks. So, I'm not necessarily looking for white bread, but I wouldn't mind it either.

Just trying to say, 'safe' is relative, and although I don't always feel safe in my own neighborhood, I'd like to feel about the same way in my new one, or better.

We'd like to be 2 hours TOPS from Bergen County, NJ, (which is 10 minutes from NYC) because that is where my family is.

I am looking for some suggestions, because I have been to Woodstock, which is very nice, but I think might be too expensive. I want to live right in the town, maybe buy a city home, townhouse style, with a storefront. Maybe somewhere like Troy? I've heard good things, but also bad.

Coming from Bergen County, I want a "montclair" type town, or "Ridgewood" but not snooty. More artsy, and health-food oriented, kind of like Nyack, without the fancy price tag.

Can anyone help me with some suggestions to look into! Thanks so much!!!

[superk]

Saratoga might suit your needs.

[HomerBrink]

You certainly are looking for a lot. May I suggest New Paltz or someplace in southern Dutchess County.

[rubygreta]

Saratoga is too far from Bergen. New Paltz is a cute college town in Ulster County. Also in Ulster County is Kingston, which is a city of something like 20,000 people. Yes, it has its problems, but there are very nice charming areas and lots of restaurants.

[ontheroad]

Most of the wonderful, beautiful, walk-able and artistic towns in Upstate NY have become rather costly, and don't have many rentals that I am aware of in any price range.

But here are a few I love: New Paltz, Woodstock, Phoenicia, any of the towns around Kingston and Saugerties, Ithaca, Hudson, Saratoga, many of the towns around rte 100. You might also like to check out the Narrowsburg and Callicoon area (possibly more affordable, and within easy highway reach to NJ).

[just_sayin']

There are many towns like that in the Western NY/Finger Lakes region...they meet all of your criteria, including pricerange..with the exception of distance to NJ...it would probably be more like 4-5 hours.

[rubygreta]

Originally Posted by ontheroad

Most of the wonderful, beautiful, walk-able and artistic towns in Upstate NY have become rather costly, and don't have many rentals that I am aware of in any price range.

But here are a few I love: New Paltz, Woodstock, Phoenicia, any of the towns around Kingston and Saugerties, Ithaca, Hudson, Saratoga, many of the towns around rte 100. You might also like to check out the Narrowsburg and Callicoon area (possibly more affordable, and within easy highway reach to NJ).

Narrowsburg and Callicoon, I believe, would be much too rural for your tastes.

You mentioned Troy. I have heard they have made great improvements to the downtown area. However, again, it is well over two hours from Bergen County.

[Hartwick]

No matter where you look in the Hudson Valley, you are going to pay a hefty premium for housing, be it rentals or home ownership. And taxes associated with home ownership here are also going to be much more expensive than in other parts of New York State. Food is also going to be more expensive. But you will be closer to New Jersey than in upstate New York, although you will have to deal with heavy traffic, associated with commuters, truck traffic, etc.

Most other areas of New York State will be beyond your two hour preference for travel to New Jersey. If you can stretch that time limit to 3 to 4 hours, Ithaca may be ideal according to your criteria. Safe, affordable, artsy scene, very eco-friendly, abundant cultural opportunities, lots of employment in the medical field, dog-friendly, great shopping, not snooty, walkable. But, no trains nearby unless you go to Syracuse, about 45 minutes away. Many, many postings about Ithaca on this forum.

Good luck

[ontheroad]

You are probably right, rubygreta, about rural, but lots of art venues around here.

And Troy has some great restaurants, and is up and coming, or came.

[omimom]

Hi-

We live in Ghent, NY which is in Columbia County. We are 2 hrs to NYC, 2 hours to Boston, 45 minutes from Albany. You should look in Hudson, NY. It's the new NY City with LOTS of antique shops. Cost of living has gone up since the influx of New Yorkers but it's still a small town atmosphere. Chatham is a lovely small town. [cut - no links to direct competitors] Also check out Chatham and Hudson.