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I've been thinking about it for a while, but I think I'm ready to try and make it happen.
This is what is most important to us:
1. Employment: My wife would need opportunities in the fields of Chemistry, Instrumentation Analysis or maybe Quality Assurance. I haven't finished my degree yet, but it will be in Supply Chain.
2. Education: Great public schools for my son, who will be starting Kindergarten later this year.
3. Affordable housing: We have a time share already and are avid travelers. We are also possibly going to start a business one day within the next 5 years or so, so this is a big deal. Max we'd be willing to spend is in the 175k range for a good sized single family home with a fenced in backyard and maybe a basement if there aren't a lot of rooms. From what I've seen this shouldn't be too hard.
4. Ease of travel: Not too far from a major airport (1-2 hours maybe?). Most places up state seem to be close to cool drivable destinations also...
5. Safety/Crime Self explantory, but living near good schools should hopefully take care of this I think. Not trying to live in the core or downtown either.
6. Size: Cozy suburb or smallish/mid size city
7. Cleanliness: Would prefer to live somewhere that is aesthetically pleasing, not dirty and has clean air.
What is pretty important to us:
1. Acceptance: Interracial family (black wife/white male). Don't want to feel like outcasts. The racial demographics of the area we live are not that important as long as we feel like we belong.
2. Outdoor recreation/access to nature: Hiking in particular. We are nature lovers. Also like to go to the beach. It would have to be a lake beach if it were close by obviously. We are from FL.
3. Access to a Jamaican community: Mostly for the food and so my wife (she is Jamaican) can get the ingredients she wants and feel comfortable.
What is NOT important to us:
1. Nightlife: Don't care about clubs and partying. As long as the city is not inconvenient and you can grab a bite to eat, see a movie or shop at night we are good.
2. The Arts: Don't care. I LOVE cool museums. Just don't care about drama, plays and art in general
3. Festivals and cultural events: I never go to these. Much prefer to interact with those communities directly in their neighborhoods, restaurants, etc.
4. Public Transportation: Walk, drive or fly for me
I think that is a good starting place. Thanks for your help in advance and if you want to ask some questions to further narrow it done that is fine.
Last edited by Juice Malone; 05-14-2017 at 10:20 AM..
I'd say Rochester and in particular a suburb like Brighton or Henrietta due to proximity to the airport, the Jamaican restaurants in parts of the 19th Ward, good schools with cultural diversity and shopping nearby, among other things.
Syracuse also has some Jamaican restaurants and fits a lot of the criteria as well. I'd say to look into the Janesville-DeWitt, Liverpool, North Syracuse or perhaps Onondaga Central in terms of suburban areas, but there are others that could fit. In terms of employment, I'd say to look into a place like Galson Labs or maybe Bristol-Myers for the misses and places like Dot Foods, Byrne Dairy and Raymour & Flanigan for yourself.
You could look into Buffalo, which is also close to Jamaican communities in Canada; the Albany area or even some of the smaller areas as well.
I'd say Rochester and in particular a suburb like Brighton or Henrietta due to proximity to the airport, the Jamaican restaurants in parts of the 19th Ward, good schools with cultural diversity and shopping nearby, among other things.
Syracuse also has some Jamaican restaurants and fits a lot of the criteria as well. I'd say to look into the Jamesville-DeWitt, Liverpool, North Syracuse or perhaps Onondaga Central in terms of suburban areas, but there are others that could fit. In terms of employment, I'd say to look into a place like Galson Labs or maybe Bristol-Myers for the misses and places like Dot Foods, Byrne Dairy and Raymour & Flanigan for yourself.
You could look into Buffalo, which is also close to Jamaican communities in Canada; the Albany area or even some of the smaller areas as well.
Don't focus too much on the Jamaican community thing. It is nice,, but it isn't everything. She has family in Toronto and Montreal plus I have a sister in NYC to visit.
Do some of the lesser known upstate cities in NY fit any of these criteria? Binghamton, Plattsburgh, Watertown etc.
Also please don't flood the thread with links. It is not helpful.
Don't focus too much on the Jamaican community thing. It is nice,, but it isn't everything. She has family in Toronto and Montreal plus I have a sister in NYC to visit.
Do some of the lesser known upstate cities in NY fit any of these criteria? Binghamton, Plattsburgh, Watertown etc.
Also please don't flood the thread with links. It is not helpful.
Oh ok........Just addressing #3 in terms of your own criteria.
Anyway, yes those smaller areas could work. I'd say to look into Vestal and Maine-Endwell in the Binghamton area, General Brown(the SD for the Brownville/Dexter/Glen Park area), Carthage and perhaps more suburban parts of the South Jefferson SD(Adams/Adams Center) in the Watertown area and Plattsburgh, Peru, Beekmantown and Northeast Clinton area in the Plattsburgh area. There are others in these metro/micro areas that could fit.
I'd also possibly look into the Lewiston-Porter and Niagara-Wheatfield areas in Niagara County.
If you want to split the difference between the family in those locations, the Syracuse or Utica-Rome areas may actually be a happy medium. If you are open to the Utica-Rome area, I'd say to look into the New Hartford area, which may one of the most underrated communities in Upstate NY due to its very good schools, it has the bulk of the big box shopping in the area, it is safe and it has the option for a walkable or typical suburban environment while being right by the city of Utica, among others things.
Oh ok........Just addressing #3 in terms of your own criteria.
Anyway, yes those smaller areas could work. I'd say to look into Vestal and Maine-Endwell in the Binghamton area, General Brown(the SD for the Brownville/Dexter/Glen Park area) and Carthage in the Watertown area and Plattsburgh, Peru and Northeast Clinton area in the Plattsburgh area.
I'd also possibly look into the Lewiston-Porter and Niagara-Wheatfield areas in Niagara County.
If you want to split the difference between the family in those locations, the Syracuse or Utica-Rome areas may actually be a happy medium. If you are open to the Utica-Rome area, I'd say to look into the New Hartford area, which may one of the most underrated communities in Upstate NY due to its very good schools, it has the bulk of the big box shopping in the area, it is safe and it has the option for a walkable or typical suburban environment while being right by the city of Utica.
It's my fault I shouldn't have mentioned it. Distracts from more important criteria.
Thanks this is a good post. I will do a little research.
It's my fault I shouldn't have mentioned it. Distracts from more important criteria.
Thanks this is a good post. I will do a little research.
No problem and to suggest a couple of other Syracuse area SD's, Westhill and Fayetteville-Manlius would be a couple of other districts to consider.
Syracuse has an International airport, but the International airports in Buffalo, Rochester and Albany tend to have lower rates. Not sure about the rates at Plattsburgh and Watertown's airport is pretty small with less access. Not sure about Binghamton's airport. This is also where New Hartford may be a good place to look due to being within the criteria from Syracuse's and Albany's airports(Utica-Rome has an airport at the former Griffiss AFB).
On the other hand, Syracuse is still within or close to the criteria in terms of proximity to those other bigger Upstate area airports. So, that may be something to consider.
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