Buying a house in Binghamton

[JimCali]

Hi Casey,
Depending on whether you like urban or country, the surrounding area offers a lot of diversity.
I prefer urban myself and Binghamton is as convienent as it gets.
There are a lot of great neighborhoods in all the districts of the City.
Of course, that being said, there is nothing better than an up close inspection to see which area will suit you needs.

[krissmk]

Moved w/ partner from Boston 20 years ago for the same reason (Binghamton U.) This area is generally VERY conservative...more like rural Pennsylvania than the New York state you read about. NO cultural offerings, very poor, yet undeservedly expensive restaurants (not much variety of 'ethnic foods'), and the economy is not even in the toilet; it is in the sub-basement. By the way, I've taken graduate level classes at B.U. and they fail to impress. I wish someone had warned me away from this area in time, but I suppose most people can only come to appreciate (or NOT) an area once they take the gigantic step of moving to it.

Hope not to see you here, friend.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by krissmk

Moved w/ partner from Boston 20 years ago for the same reason (Binghamton U.) This area is generally VERY conservative...more like rural Pennsylvania than the New York state you read about. NO cultural offerings, very poor, yet undeservedly expensive restaurants (not much variety of 'ethnic foods'), and the economy is not even in the toilet; it is in the sub-basement. By the way, I've taken graduate level classes at B.U. and they fail to impress. I wish someone had warned me away from this area in time, but I suppose most people can only come to appreciate (or NOT) an area once they take the gigantic step of moving to it.

Hope not to see you here, friend.

It's that bad? Doesn't Binghamton have an opera, symphony, live theater, sporting events, a decent arts scene and an area of town with an influence from those affiliated with the University on the city's Westside?

[EndicottNewYork]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

It's that bad? Doesn't Binghamton have an opera, symphony, live theater, sporting events, a decent arts scene and an area of town with an influence from those affiliated with the University on the city's Westside?

Yeah in my opinion it's definitely a little different from that. It's no cultural destination but it's not quite like he described. As far as it being extremely conservative(I assume you mean in a political sense) Bing, End and JC are more liberal, but in the rural areas it is mostly conservative.

[Binghamton]

Cultural mecca"? Just because there isn't much to see or do in the Greater Binghamton area does not mean that it is not a livable city. The toxic fumes are limited to a few areas and the cancer cluster is only in Hillcrest or Endicott. Due to the exodus of all industry from the area, the air pollution is nothing like what it used to be. It is true that the opera is crappy but they have one and the city has tried to become the artiste's alternative life style capital of Broome County. I'd say that, aside from Boome Community college, it is fair to say that Binghamton University is the Public Ivy of Broome County. Don't worry about the polluted well water because you can buy bottled water.