Rochester or Watertown? (New York, Buffalo, Syracuse: military, apartments, rental)

[Engineer]

Hello everybody,

I'm considering a job in either of these two cities and I need to decide which I'd like best. I did see many threads about Rochester but didn't want to hijack anybody.
Anyway, some background info first: I'm young, single from NYC/LI. Main reasons why I want to get out of here are the traffic/sprawl and high living costs. Both jobs are essentially the same so it will come down to which city I'd prefer living in.

Rochester seems more appealing at first--like NYC at a smaller scale, sprawl is not nearly as bad, housing is much cheaper and it would probably be much like how growing up on LI was, except for snowier winters. If i do go to Rochester, I'd like to get an apt outside the city; looking around with Google earth, it seems townhouse-type places are abundant in the suburbs and rentals are easy to find. Overall, Rochester looks good, but I'm not sure how good it will continue to be over the next few decades--don't want this place to look like NYC suburbs as it grows...

Now Watertown...I don't really know much about so I'm hoping there's somebody who lives/has lived there here who can shine some light. The fact that it's only a bike ride to the THousand Islands region is very appealing--I like the idea of being close to both city conveniences and the freedom of the outdoors. But rentals seem very difficult to find and while I can afford a house (so cheap compared to NYC!), I don't think I want to buy in a place I know little about without living for a while. Another knock against Watertown is that simply I think I'd run out of things to do. When it's cold, snowy or when I've seen enough of the outdoors, I'd want to do some indoor things and I don't think Watertown has the array of things to do to keep me entertained.

So can anybody out there for offer any more opinions?? I'd really appreciate it!

[USAGIRL]

I don't know Watertown but I've lived in Rochester and I liked it-its like you say a smaller version of NYC. I'm from Hollis and moved to Manhattan after High School. Anyway, in Rochester you'll find arts, culture, nightlife, and with your being a professional- top of the line housing for what we would consider dirt cheap. Check out Homeproperties website for apartments/townhomes/corporate housing. Check out Wegmans supermarket on East Ave. Best wishes.

[ny88]

Hello Engineer,

I live down south now. However, my family is from Watertown and spent some of my life in Watertown. I have family in Watertown. It depends on what you are looking for. Here is a little about Watertown. Watertown's economy is highly dependent on the U.S. Army. Fort Drum outside Watertown is the among the only Cold Weather Training bases in U.S. Right now Watertown is in a booming stage. There is very little industry in Watertown, and if the base closes it is in deep trouble. There is some tourism with the nearby Thousand Islands. The population is just over 27,000. There are a some growing areas around Fort Drum. The nicest areas I think are around the Thousand Islands and Sacketts Harbor Area. Salmon Run Mall is a decent size mall for a city the size of Watertown. They also have a Borders Book Store, ****'s Sporting Goods, and supposedly they are supposed to get a Target. Actually, there are quite a few restaurants and stores by the mall. They used to have a nice downtown full of stores. However, the mall took it away. Watertown has some good outdoor recreation (Kayaking, Skiing, Fishing). They have Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River, Dry Hill Ski Area, and the Adirondacks are close. However, not everything is rosy in Watertown. If you do not have a job you probably won't get one. At least not high paying jobs. The economy is geared around the base. There is a housing shortage due to the growth of Fort Drum. Some soldiers have to live as far away as Syracuse ( 70 miles). Watertown is a small town. The recreation is good especially in Summertime. Wintertime can be a bear. There is not too much entertainment in Watertown. Although, it is close to Canada and 70 miles from Syracuse. I hear a lot of soldiers complain about Watertown. I don't know much about Rochester. If you are from the New York City area you may find Rochester more entertaining. If you are looking to go to college Watertown only has a community college and Rochester has a university. Although, the crime rate is better in Watertown than Rochester. Just depends on what you are looking for.

[mml]

Hi Engineer!

I've lived in the Rochester area for 19 years and like it very much. Lots of activities, beautiful area. I don't think you need to worry about it growing like where you're coming from. Kodak is becoming a has-been and people are leaving to go south for jobs and better weather. However, if you have a good job, this is a great place to be. Affordable housing (though high taxes, but that's just NY in general), lots of arts & cultural events, several colleges, and yes there will be snow.

I have relatives in the North Country & went to college there as well. Watertown is pretty sleepy compared to Rochester. And yes, they really get slammed with snow and cold off Lake Ontario.

My personal preference is Rochester, hands down!

Good luck to you.

[Sgoldie]

Rochester without a doubt should be your choice. The differences are very great. Rochester has several top notch colleges for one, whereas Watertown has only a community college.

At this time the military base has greatly expanded as to size and housing is hard to come by in Watertown. They are building a bunch of new stores though if retail is your idea of a job or you want to enlist.

Rochester is not as close to the mountains but it is on the lake and a much bigger city with better amenities than Watertown.

[melkat]

I grew up in Rochester and all of my family still lives there. I would choose Rochester in a heartbeat Though I am laughing a bit at the person who said it is a smaller version of NYC..ummmmm not even close (except maybe the crime). There isn't much to do in downtown at all (no shopping) Park Ave is a cool place to live (in the city..my sister in law owns a boutique on park ave and we rented a place there for a few years) Rochester is not going to grow so don't worry about that..the economy there isn't that great...when we go home to visit everything is always the same and has been for a while now..though they are building some nice co-ops in the downtown area.

It does have wonderful restaurants, grocery stores that can't be beat (Wegmans..I would kill for a Wegmans here), close to the Finger Lakes (wonderful wine region..we have a cottage on Keuka) 3+ hours to Toronto, the minor league sports are VERY supported there (soccer, baseball, lacross and hockey), art gallery, planetarium etc...

Taxes are high but if you ever have kids the schools are fabulous!

What town/part of the city would your job be in?

[Lax]

I wouldn't say Rochester is not going to grow. Rochester is shifting its work force like many other rust belt cities did and this takes time. Rochester started to lose its manufacturing base much later than cities such as pittsburgh or cleveland so it is just beginning to catch up. All older cities have gone through transitions like this. Don't believe for a second that the area will stay like this anf not grow, because it will.
Also, the East End is part of downtown and there is plenty do to as far as restaurants, coffee shops and night spots.

[TughillTina]

Originally Posted by Engineer

Hello everybody,

I'm considering a job in either of these two cities and I need to decide which I'd like best. I did see many threads about Rochester but didn't want to hijack anybody.
Anyway, some background info first: I'm young, single from NYC/LI. Main reasons why I want to get out of here are the traffic/sprawl and high living costs. Both jobs are essentially the same so it will come down to which city I'd prefer living in.

Rochester seems more appealing at first--like NYC at a smaller scale, sprawl is not nearly as bad, housing is much cheaper and it would probably be much like how growing up on LI was, except for snowier winters. If i do go to Rochester, I'd like to get an apt outside the city; looking around with Google earth, it seems townhouse-type places are abundant in the suburbs and rentals are easy to find. Overall, Rochester looks good, but I'm not sure how good it will continue to be over the next few decades--don't want this place to look like NYC suburbs as it grows...

Now Watertown...I don't really know much about so I'm hoping there's somebody who lives/has lived there here who can shine some light. The fact that it's only a bike ride to the THousand Islands region is very appealing--I like the idea of being close to both city conveniences and the freedom of the outdoors. But rentals seem very difficult to find and while I can afford a house (so cheap compared to NYC!), I don't think I want to buy in a place I know little about without living for a while. Another knock against Watertown is that simply I think I'd run out of things to do. When it's cold, snowy or when I've seen enough of the outdoors, I'd want to do some indoor things and I don't think Watertown has the array of things to do to keep me entertained.

So can anybody out there for offer any more opinions?? I'd really appreciate it!

What type of "indoor things" do you speak of?

[TughillTina]

I live 15 minutes away from Watertown and yes they are going through a retail boom FINALLY! Panera Bread, Petco, Bed Bath and Beyond, Petco, Target, Texas Roadhouse, Ruby Tuesdays, Starbucks, TGIF, there are more coming too. Job wise it depends on what type of engineering you are looking for. My husband is a mechanical engineer and these are few and far between. Good Luck!

[I'minformed2]

Originally Posted by Lax

I wouldn't say Rochester is not going to grow. Rochester is shifting its work force like many other rust belt cities did and this takes time. Rochester started to lose its manufacturing base much later than cities such as pittsburgh or cleveland so it is just beginning to catch up. All older cities have gone through transitions like this. Don't believe for a second that the area will stay like this anf not grow, because it will.
Also, the East End is part of downtown and there is plenty do to as far as restaurants, coffee shops and night spots.

Yeah, Rochester didn't fall half as bad as Buffalo did in the 70's and Syracuse did in the 90's. It's the one Upstate city (Besides Albany) that really has the population and ammenties needed to make it in the high-tech economy these days..... it just has to utilize it more. My family says things are really starting to turn around this year compaired to the last several years. Rochester is the only upstate metro that gained population in the 1990's; it wasn't a boom by any stretch of the imagination, but the region gained about 30,000 people compaired to Buffalo which lost about that much. Rochester is actually not having a problem creating new high-tech jobs at all, it has by far the best numbers in that category Upstate, particularly in the medical and and technolagy fields; the problem is that it has been losing tons of relatviely high-paying blue-collar job at Kodak and other large manufacturers. The transition is already well under way, it's just going to take a little more time.