Reasonable Cost of Living Near Ithaca? (Binghamton, Owego: real estate, house, property taxes)

[steveinjersey]

I grew up in Ithaca, and would like to move back to the area to be near family when I retire. I do find the area beautiful. Ithaca itself strikes me as expensive with high cost of homes and property taxes. Are there nice towns within 30 - 45 minutes of Ithaca with nice homes of good value without excessively high taxes? Access to quality medical facilities would be a significant plus. Maybe a place like Homer, Trumansburg or Watkins Glen?

[gold dust]

I suggest looking into Endicott in Broome County.

[CarolL]

DH and I are considering retiring to Ithaca as well. We have family there and travel there a lot, so we're becoming familiar with the prices of property and real estate.

Frankly, coming from Chicago, the real estate looks very reasonably priced to us; it's the real estate taxes that are unbelievably high. My advice is to look outside of Ithaca and even outside of Tompkins County, if possible. Friends of ours just bought 3 acres and a house near Reynoldsville (Trumansburg address) in Schuyler County and pay a fraction of the taxes they would pay had they bought just a house in Ithaca. But it's still close enough for shopping, medical care (Cayuga Heights Medical Center) and work.

I love Trumansburg, but things seem a little more expensive there, too. We're also looking southeast of Ithaca—Caroline, Brooktondale, Slaterville— and in Dryden, Groton, Lansing, Homer, Burdett and that whole area between Ithaca and Seneca Lake. Property seems much cheaper there, as do taxes.

[steveinjersey]

Thanks CaroleL. Very helpful. Thanks also to Gold Dust, but I was thinking that Endicott was a depressed area. Maybe I was wrong?

[gold dust]

Originally Posted by steveinjersey

Thanks CaroleL. Very helpful. Thanks also to Gold Dust, but I was thinking that Endicott was a depressed area. Maybe I was wrong?

A little depressed perhaps, but I believe the whole Greater Binghamton area is poised for a resurgence. When I mentioned Endicott I was thinking more in terms of your specific requests in an area. And it is still close to Ithaca!!!

Glad you plan to move back to the area. Good luck in your quest!

[ckhthankgod]

Newfield is another town to look into as well. It's in Tompkins County and seems to be a bit more affordable as well. Cortland might not be bad either. Possibly even Horseheads too.

[Tioga]

The Owego area in Tioga county is about a 35-45 min drive from downtown Ithaca. Also, if you plan to travel outside the area much, Rt 17(future I-86) is nearby. That can quickly get you traveling east/west or hop onto RT 81 for north/south travel. We have folks both in the village and the surrounding areas who commute to Ithaca each day. And our taxes are lower, and home prices more reasonable than around Ithaca.