What about Auburn? (New York, Rochester, Syracuse: best town, crime, homes)

[anniebird]

I'm relocating to the Finger Lakes area in the very near future and am having a hard time figuring out which town would be best. Ideally, I'd like to be in a town with a realistic commute to Syracuse (have heard scary stories about the trek over 81 from points south in the winter) or Rochester and a place with things to do for teenagers.

Auburn seems to fit the bill as far as size, feel, affordability (great older homes!) and commute, but beyond published statistics, I'm wondering about crime, property values, taxes, and the overall economic prospects of the town. Also, is it a tough commute in the winter from Auburn to Syracuse? Would really appreciate any help/advice or comments about Auburn--or alternate suggestions -- as I will be visiting the area again next week.

Thanks!!

[homeward bound]

I can't be too specific since I've only visited it once, but I certainly agree it seems very appealing for the reasons you cited.

A number of people did give pretty negative views of Auburn, though, on earlier threads. I suggest you look back over previous pages or run the search option above.

What they said was that Auburn had declined quite a bit economically and in its "feel"--mostly because relatives/friends of prisoners were settling in Auburn to be nearer their imprisoned relative/friend, bringing a lot of their own dysfunction with them.

I have no way to gauge if this is so (other than what crime stats over the last ten years or so would suggest), but several people said this same thing.

To me and my wife, it seemed like a very attractive place, and well situated, too. I'd be very interested to hear others' further thoughts on & opinions about Aurburn, and I hope your move works out for you.

One thing that may be worth bearing in mind: Not to minimize the decline that many fine upstate towns/cities have experienced, but since these places were such tremendous places to live in for so long, their decline may seem worse to the people who live there than they would to people coming there from elsewhere. We've toured the Finger Lakes area quite a bit over the last several years looking to resettle, and the worst town in the Finger Lakes region is obviously far, far more livable than the best town in our current region (southwest Virginia). We don't have major prisons around here attracting dysfunction, it's true; but we do have a lot of run-of-the-mill decay, charmless isolation, and generic dysfunction. The negative views of Auburn may be right, but the town still seems to have a lot of positives going for it. Even a half-declined Finger Lake town seems so much better than most of the places I've seen throughout the whole country....

[Sgoldie]

I like Auburn. It's a nice size. Some nice neighborhoods and small museums, also a community college and hospital. Seems as if there's plenty of mall shopping on the outskirts of the city and it's only a few miles from Skaneateles, one of the expensive upscale lake towns. The downtown is cute and there are some older mega mansions lining a couple of the streets.

I'd move there. Can't tell you anything further than that.

[looking4home]

It's nice to hear that there are people wanting to move to Auburn, instead of away from it! I'm a former resident of Auburn, having left with my family when I was about 10 yrs. old. I plan on returning to my hometown this summer, after an absence of almost 30 years! I agree with Homeward Bound's theory that if one has lived in Auburn during more prosperous times, they will have a different perspective than those visiting the town for the first time. Auburn was once a bustling town with a lot of manufacturing, which provided good, blue-collar jobs, so Auburn had a healthy, thriving working/middle class. IMO, that was the hallmark of the successful city of yesteryear, and something that has disappeared from the American economic landscape, but I digress...

When the factories closed down, the people left. Auburn has roughly half the population it had when I lived there in the 1960's. One of the only major employers to remain was the state prison. So then you starting having issues with that dynamic. As was mentioned, prisoners often would stay in the Aubrun area after being released, and often times their families had relocated there to be close to them, and they sometimes brought their own baggage with them. But the main drawback for Auburn is that there still isn't any jobs in the town itself. But if you are planning on working elsewhere, you might not care about that too much. My parents owned a business in Skaneateles, and commuted there daily. While not a long distance, in the winter it could be a scary journey.

I hope you will give Auburn a chance. I had an idyllic childhood growing up there - to me, it was a cozy town filled with warm, wonderful people. Even though it is the Cayuga county seat, it still has a rural feel to it. On its outskirts, there are many working farms, and there is such a variety of trees, birds, and a lot of open space. Even though I now live in California, where the weather is so much better, and life is easy and laid-back, I still long for the quaint charm and serene beauty of Auburn, NY.

[anniebird]

Thanks everyone for your comments! I completely agree with Homeward Bound's comments about one's perspective. Having lived in California most of my life, I've seen so many changes here. When I was growing up, there was so much open space...orange groves and avocado trees. Now it's just cars and way too many people crammed into too small of an area. Housing is crazy and the traffic is impossible. I've visited Auburn several times over the last 15 years or so and have always thought there was something special about the town and the area.

Looking4home, you mentioned the drive to Skaneateles being scary sometimes in the winter...From what I can figure, I will have to commute to Syracuse for work and I'm really concerned about getting there in the winter. I've lived in California most of my life and have absolutely no experience driving in snow/ice conditions, so this is a real worry for me. Are you planning to move back or just visit this summer?

Would really appreciate hearing from any winter Thruway commuters.

Thanks again for the advice!

[looking4home]

Hello again, anniebird. If it isn't too personal a question, may I ask if you will be moving to upstate NY alone, or making the move with someone else? The reason I ask is that I think it would be easier to adapt if you were with someone who could help you out with things like driving on ice and snow. My parents often tell stories of driving home at night from their business, and hitting some ice and spinning wildly out of control. But because my father is a native New Yorker, he just took it in stride. Even my mother, who's not that confident of a driver in the best conditions, would tell me about how our old station wagon used to fish tail back and forth until she could regain control. I left Auburn as a child, so I have no memories at all of what it's like to drive in that weather, but just the thought of it petrifies me, so I can understand your trepidation.

I have read many threads, both on the NY forum and others, that have given practical advice about driving in ice/snow. Everyone seems to agree that practicing is the key, perhaps by going to a safe area where there are no other cars, ditches, or ravines and letting the car slip on the ice to find out how it feels and get used to steering. Apparently, they do a great job of clearing the main roadways, but you are always going to run into a patch of unseen black ice here and there, and it's best to be prepared.

I am going back to Auburn just for a visit this summer. Why did you pick this area of the country to relocate to? Do you have friends or family that live there, or did you get a good job offer in Syracuse? I currently live in northern CA, but I lived in So Cal after we moved from NY, and it was only after I married that I moved up north. How about you? Whereabouts in CA do you reside? I must say, you are very brave to make such a move, as it entails so many big lifestyle changes. Good luck to you!

[homeward bound]

Two things to bear in mind in terms of driving in the winter:

The area authorities generally do an excellent job clearing the roads (thus, in part, the relatively high taxes!).

Also, modern front-wheel-drive cars handle driving in snow a lot better than the older rear-wheel drive land yachts that I grew up driving, and that Looking4home's parents probably drove, too. All-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive make even more of a difference. Get good tires, don't panic (soft stops, easy accelerations, slow turning, leave extra space between you and the cars in front of you, etc.), and you'll be fine!

[ap_lynn]

Hi anniebird. I previously lived in Auburn and as winter can be quite rough, you may want to consider living a little closer to Syracuse if you will be commuting there on a daily basis. There are some really nice areas you could check into, such as Liverpool, Baldwinsville. A 30 minute commute may not seem like alot, but when its dead of winter and you're getting a storm....
Anyway, good luck with your move! -ap_lynn

[cuse]

Originally Posted by ap_lynn

Hi anniebird. I previously lived in Auburn and as winter can be quite rough, you may want to consider living a little closer to Syracuse if you will be commuting there on a daily basis. There are some really nice areas you could check into, such as Liverpool, Baldwinsville. A 30 minute commute may not seem like alot, but when its dead of winter and you're getting a storm....
Anyway, good luck with your move! -ap_lynn

Very True.....If I was you (and still wanted to move to the outskirts of the city...western subs) I would look into Camillus, Warrners or even Jordan Elbridge.. That extra 10-15 miles on Rt. 5 from Auburn can be brutal!!! Especially in the winter. I had to travel to Auburn every Mon and Wed. and some Sats during the winter months for fire/ems training in a fire vehicle and it was some times "white knuckles on the steering wheel" the whole way. With White-Out Conditions.

In the summer it's a breeze.....

In the fall....watch out for deer jumping out in front of you. ( Major damage can happen to your car/truck)

I'm also moving back up there and have also considered the Auburn area...Nice older homes, land, cheaper taxes, ect... but the commute....Not me, not worth it. Most jobs are in the Syracuse area. Too bad but it's the truth.

I'll find a home in Camillus, Geddes or Taunton. I've been spoiled too long with Florida winters, ( 4 years ) and coming back to the 'Cuse and remembering winter driving might be a *****! Although, I've had 4-wheel drive since I was 15. I really don't want to plow snow again though!!

[cuse]

I just noticed you are coming from Cal. w/ zero driving experience in the snow......I would recommend for you to find a closer area to the city and TRY a winter or two driving before a long commute, such as Auburn. Just my opinion. I've been a CNY driver and was pissed-off at some-one who could not drive in the snow....I'm not bashing Anyone from moving here, but PLEASE LEARN how to drive in the snow , ice and white-outs we have here. It really isn't something one can actually learn in one season.

I'm sorry to be so (mean,upfront) but look at a map. And you will see that some areas are closer and might be better for you and your family (schools, services...ect.)

As I already stated, I was/always will be a ff and I've seen way too many deaths on the highways for senseless reasons.

I wish you and your family the BEST Of NEW YORK!!!
We Welcome You!!!
Enjoy All We Have, Just Use Common Sense and Good Judgement!!