Info on Utica (New York, Albany, Rome: crime, houses, job market)

[Signora]

Hello,

I am looking for info (the good the bad the ugly) on Utica.... So far, I have only read that it is VERY Italian and not doing very well....

Could anyone expand on this?

Thank you!!!

[recluse]

It was very Italian but now its more bosnians. I have lived here my whole life (26 years) and Utica now has the largest Bosnian population in the country or something like that, but they're descent not trouble makers or anything but they are buying up property like crazy which is pushing all the criminals into more quiet neighborhoods. So crime is on the rise all over the city. I live a block away form the public highschool and my parents house is vandalized at least once a month, twice I was home when kids from the highschool tried to break in right in the middle of the day, snowballs thrown through our garage window, paintballs shot at our house, we get egged every halloween ect... And jobs aren't the best, mostly retail and medical is what you'll find unless you own your own business. The public school system is crap And there are only two highschools in this city one public and the other one catholic so if you want to live in Utica and send your kids to a good school you have to send them to the catholic one. Most people with kids choose to live in the next town over New Hartford because they have better schools, but property is much more expensive there. I am trying to move out of here as fast as I can and I wouldn't recommend moving here unless you absolutly had to.

[BKQC]

I was born and raised there, but like many others, left for college and never returned. My family has left as well, but I keep in touch with people that still live there, and get back there at least once a year because there are some positives to the area and it is my original hometown.

Here's what I consider the positives of the Utica area:
Excellent food at cheap prices, especially Italian
Natural beauty of the area, especially just north in the Adirondacks
Architecture of the older houses / buildings
Size - it's not too big, but you have everything you need right there
Nice smaller towns on the outskirts of Utica (New Hartford, Clinton, Whitesboro, New York Mills, etc.)

Negatives
Job market - most of the available jobs are low paying hourly type
Taxes / Utility Costs - cost of living is pretty high for what you're getting
Winter - depends on where you're coming from, but now that I live in the south, I realize just how long and cold winter is up there
Attitudes of the people - A whole lot of negativity

Honestly, I miss certain aspects of that area, but I don't think I could live there. Between the lack of quality jobs, long winters and relatively high cost of living, it just wouldn't be worth it to me. However, if you do choose to live there, I'd look into the neighboring towns I mentioned above, especially if you have children. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

[Signora]

Wow.... I sounds kind of scary. Thank you for your honest evaluations of the area. We have young children and a good school system is extremely important to us.

[BKQC]

If I were moving there, I wouldn't have any problem sending my kids to any of the school districts I mentioned - New Hartford, Clinton, Whitesboro, New York Mills. All are safe and offer a solid education. I hate to say it, but yes, I would avoid the Utica school district. There are a couple Catholic grade schools in the area, and Notre Dame Jr. / Sr. High School beyond that. I attended schools in Whitesboro and Notre Dame High School, and wouldn't have a problem sending my child to either.

[mark06]

If you want a nice school DON'T move to Utica. The cops live at the schools, there is so much trouble. I agree with the above post, Used to be lots of Italians. Utica is pretty much split into 4 sections North South East and West. Right now taxes are extreme in Oneida County and Utica taxes go up every year. Alot of the city is run down and abandoned, housing is very cheap in the crummy parts which is why alot of foreigners are buying property there. Some places are still nice to live but I would highly suggest the outskirts, if you can afford it. Right now people think their houses are made of Gold. There is also way too much criminal activity going on all over.I wouldn't recommend Rome either. Same kinds of problems. Utica does have some great things to offer, that other nearby areas don't have. Tons of stores and different types of food. Lots of people with all types of backgrounds. It also does have 3 colleges. and some hospitals. Hope this helps.

[corduroyboy]

I lived in the Utica area until I was 25, been gone for 5 years and would never move back. My family is all there. I go back home 3-4 times a year. Sure I miss them, and I do miss home. However, Utica is in a state of decay. No jobs, no economy, no social life, no nothing. If you like to eat, drink, and smoke, it's your place. If you like to hunt, fish, and snowmobile, go 20 miles outside of Utica and it will be your place too. I was at the breaking point and had to leave. The negativity there is for real. It's the same old thing there. Nothing changes, especially attitudes. I do miss the Italian way of life there (being that I'm 1/2), but not the fake ass wanna bee mafia gangster way. Utica has a lot of good, well the outskirts do. Great place to raise a family and afford a decent home without coughing up hundreds of thousands. But if you want my advice, go somewhere else. I don't see Utica turning around for a long time. The politicians there suck.

[AlbanyMetsFan]

I lived for five months in Utica and I will warn anyone who comes from outside of not only the city but the region, that this is by no means an exciting place to live.

I could write a book about how awful that place is. Starting with the fact that the job market there is geared towards the lower end and that there is NO downtown in Utica--despite what residents and the newspaper try to tell you.

Add the fact that you can't park your car on the streets in Utica between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.--an obvious incentive for a cash-strapped city to make money--and this city already gets off on the wrong foot.

Utica is bad for so many reasons. It is not a pretty place. The buildings are busted up, much of the city condemned and a dangerous arterial runs through it, making driving somewhat dangerous.

As for nightlife, unless you want to get bombed out of your mind only, this is not the place. The bands that play are almost exclusively bad jam bands that have been around the block. But since most Uticans have never been anywhere, the jam bands are considered cool and get full billing there. Also, someone once wrote that Utica is stuck in the early 1990's. They wrote that two years ago. I'd say that's partially true. Another also wrote that being in a Utica bar, one should be prepared to listen to a lot of George Thorougood from the jukebox. People are that dated there.

One more thing, the newspaper and some of the younger folks there attempt to make their bar out scene out to be hip and swanky. They point to one bar in particular, Electric Company. Don't buy into that nonsense. It's the same jam bands that play all the time.

As far as Upstate New York goes, there's a lot of beauty, but only a few cities one could prosper in. You'd be better to live in the Hudson Valley or Greater Albany area. At least out in those towns and cities there are jobs and people are aware it's 2007.

[dcomposto]

Utica itself does need some improvements as far as entertainment goes. There are some good restaurants and good shows that come to the Stanly Theatre. The surrounding areas are nice. New Hartford has built up quite a bit. I have been here for 4 years and seen a lot of improvements and I am hopeful things will get better. I agree that it is not a place to come to if you are young, but it is a great place to raise a family, especially if you are into the great outdoors!

[corduroyboy]

Originally Posted by dcomposto

Utica itself does need some improvements as far as entertainment goes. There are some good restaurants and good shows that come to the Stanly Theatre. The surrounding areas are nice. New Hartford has built up quite a bit. I have been here for 4 years and seen a lot of improvements and I am hopeful things will get better. I agree that it is not a place to come to if you are young, but it is a great place to raise a family, especially if you are into the great outdoors!

Trouble is, half the people stay indoors all winter because it's too cold and there is too much snow, and they stay indoors all summer because it's too humid and raining too much. I'd only move back under a worse case scenario. The 5 good restaurants and Stanley Theatre just aren't enough. I agree with AlbanyMetsFan on a lot of his points. But yes, to raise a family it's a good place. Then your kids realize they live in a suckhole and they flee as soon as they can!