New York's Young People Fleeing the State (Buffalo, Albany: amusement park, credit)

[mom2gurls]

Originally Posted by summer grace

I thought your comment on young people who haven't seen the world staying in the Hudson Valley is interesting. I live in a area in the midwest where many people stay in the area their whole lives and have never seen the world, and where graduation from high school or a two year stint at the local community college is also a big deal.

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Well, the original post was the generalize NY as a whole...of course its a huge state..and people forget that there is life outside NYC. I am not a native of NY, but So Cal.

I think what makes the situtation so puzzling to me(in my 30's) with regards to the Hudson Valley area is that WE (along with the poconos are of PA) have essentially become a suburb of NYC..where people are commuting 1-2 hours per one way trip out to work--and that the younger generation to me (18-25) year olds -SOME not all but SOME are still under the impression that a HS degree is enough to survive in the NYC area. I could honestly understand that if we were waaayyyy more upstate, where the life is much quieter or even in a different state where in your area there are only 2 year colleges and you literally have to go away for a 4 year degree.

But we are burb of NYC...and you now have this clash of the younger generation..the hipsters and yuppies who have vision and may, and that is a may be more materialistic..but they have a drive to get an education..and go where ever the best offer is....most people do that...and they they all turn into the yuppie family (4 bedrooms, 2.5 kids, SUV). There is nothing wrong with that.

And then you have the opposite set who dont see the big picture and think that making 10 bucks an hour is fine..but then you fast forward 10 years from now and there mindset is different.

So as the previous poster said (minus the political comments)..you have the educated people making a better financial move in seeking out a place where the relative cost of living can at least compete with the salaries.

Its a shame really, because NY is a great and vibrant place....and this isnt a case of being "priced out"..but rather just making a choice on whether its really worth it to commute 4 hours a day in the long run, when you have student loans to pay off and you still want to achieve some sort of savings and invest in real estate.

Personally, its a loss for the Northeast area..but each person has to make the best choice for them.

[summer grace]

Originally Posted by Jason_Els

You might be shocked but I thought the quad cities much more interesting than rural Illinois or Nebraska or Kansas. Davenport seemed to have a little spark in it. I will say Iowa was the least bleak of them all. There was color in the landscape, trees where there weren't fields, and at least it had some gently rolling hillls.

I have to admit that I've never seen the Quad cities ( and I live in Iowa!!!). In my opinion, IA is more interesting than those states, agreed. But, I doubt IA is as interesting as upstate NY

[NickL28]

Originally Posted by mom2gurls

Well, the original post was the generalize NY as a whole...of course its a huge state..and people forget that there is life outside NYC. I am not a native of NY, but So Cal.

I think what makes the situtation so puzzling to me(in my 30's) with regards to the Hudson Valley area is that WE (along with the poconos are of PA) have essentially become a suburb of NYC..where people are commuting 1-2 hours per one way trip out to work--and that the younger generation to me (18-25) year olds -SOME not all but SOME are still under the impression that a HS degree is enough to survive in the NYC area. I could honestly understand that if we were waaayyyy more upstate, where the life is much quieter or even in a different state where in your area there are only 2 year colleges and you literally have to go away for a 4 year degree.

But we are burb of NYC...and you now have this clash of the younger generation..the hipsters and yuppies who have vision and may, and that is a may be more materialistic..but they have a drive to get an education..and go where ever the best offer is....most people do that...and they they all turn into the yuppie family (4 bedrooms, 2.5 kids, SUV). There is nothing wrong with that.

And then you have the opposite set who dont see the big picture and think that making 10 bucks an hour is fine..but then you fast forward 10 years from now and there mindset is different.

So as the previous poster said (minus the political comments)..you have the educated people making a better financial move in seeking out a place where the relative cost of living can at least compete with the salaries.

Its a shame really, because NY is a great and vibrant place....and this isnt a case of being "priced out"..but rather just making a choice on whether its really worth it to commute 4 hours a day in the long run, when you have student loans to pay off and you still want to achieve some sort of savings and invest in real estate.

Personally, its a loss for the Northeast area..but each person has to make the best choice for them.

I don't see it as an issue of $10 an hour versus $100,000 a year but more of this attitude of entitlement, materialism, & the inability to budget & save money. MTV & other reality TV shows glorify this insane materialism as well as going into enormous credit card debt (and student loan debt) to pay for overhyped 'wants'.

The attitude of entitlement just because you have a BA after your name or grew up in a particular neighborhood or because your parents are so & so really is sickening, but I see it all the time and it really is sad.

Making $40,000 or $50,000 out of school used to be considered a good starting salary. Now it is hard to find people who will work for less than $75,000 right out of school.

And, the 'young people' of today are probably better off economically especially in the NY area than any other time in the last 50 years. Except for 2001, the economy has been booming for at least 13 years and unemployment has been 5% or lower during most of this period.

People want to commute 2 hours a day (their choice) so they can buy the McMansion instead of renting a two bedroom apartment in any of the other 4 boros outside NYC, and drive the $50,000 new SUV because a late model Carolla or Civic isn't cool enough.

[Pam& Bill]

I used to live in the Hudson Vally area most of my life. After 9/11 the housing market went threw the roof. The negative side to those who didn't sell their homes at the height of the market and leave the area now no longer can afford to flip their homes and stay in the area.
So how long will Albany take to put a band aid on the draining of young adults? They may figure that there are enough "city" people flooding the area and nothing needs to be done.
Some things never change, New York is thought of as one big NY city. There are people who aren't aware there is an upstate NY or western NY region or the Adirondacks either, all anyone knows is NY city and it seems Albany forgets too.

[bellafinzi]

Informative article....

Few are moving to upstate
Analysis of census data reveals people in prime earning years don't flock here
Democrat & Chronicle

While the upstate population has barely grown for more than a decade, that's not because New Yorkers are fleeing the region in huge numbers, according to a new report.
Instead, it is that so few people are moving in — fewer than in any other region of the country, according to census data .....

Democrat & Chronicle: Local News

[Foley]

I believe that many young people are moving out for many reasons. One of them is the weather, if you don't have any hobbies to do in the winter, it can be very depressing. Another is the job market. Upstate generates jobs, jobs that pay $8.00 an hour! I lived in upstate my whole life and love it there. When I graduated from SUNY I got a job in RTP, NC. Been here ever since. Thought about moving home and even interviewed a few times. My wife makes triple down here doing the same job she did up there. I go back home and see the people I went to school with doing the same thing, complaining about taxes and trying to buy a house. Politicians need to take a look at NC and see what their doing to attract businesses. I mean businesses that come and hire people with an average salary of $50,000/year not worry about bringing in some distribution center and pay $8.00/hr. NC may be the oasis (and I'm no fan of the rapid growth) but they do know how to lure businesses and keep an economy stimulated. When teh average household brings in $75,000 + then the economy as a whole benfits. Money may not be the root of it all, but when you don't have to worry about it, it makes life that much easier! Just my thoughts.

[mom2gurls]

Originally Posted by Foley

I believe that many young people are moving out for many reasons. One of them is the weather, if you don't have any hobbies to do in the winter, it can be very depressing. Another is the job market. Upstate generates jobs, jobs that pay $8.00 an hour! I lived in upstate my whole life and love it there. When I graduated from SUNY I got a job in RTP, NC. Been here ever since. Thought about moving home and even interviewed a few times. My wife makes triple down here doing the same job she did up there. I go back home and see the people I went to school with doing the same thing, complaining about taxes and trying to buy a house. Politicians need to take a look at NC and see what their doing to attract businesses. I mean businesses that come and hire people with an average salary of $50,000/year not worry about bringing in some distribution center and pay $8.00/hr. NC may be the oasis (and I'm no fan of the rapid growth) but they do know how to lure businesses and keep an economy stimulated. When teh average household brings in $75,000 + then the economy as a whole benfits. Money may not be the root of it all, but when you don't have to worry about it, it makes life that much easier! Just my thoughts.

Agreed with you, having not experienced "upstate"...its no wonder that there is a lackluster in moving there..I think you just have to "like" it there..and be willing to deal with weather, snow, lower paying jobs, and of course with that comes the smaller town lifestyle..and if that is your style..then its perfect.

But of course it depends on how educated you are, the field you are in etc etc etc. Personally I think its a no brainer if you can make more and spend less on major expenses.

Again--depends on what you are looking for and your style. I wouldnt be surprised the capitals in the others states turn out to be some of the newer hotspots.

[jgreg]

Right there with you Foley. I grew up in Central NY and liked it very much, but when it came to careers, my wife and I headed for Raleigh.

There are many more opportunities here - good jobs with good companies.

North Carolina is extemely aggressive in recruting new jobs and capital investment. Rapid growth indeed creates some problems, but most poeple need a job and people will go to where the jobs are.

[rug city]

It is certainly no secret that many areas in Upstate Ny are struggling to keep & attract young people, but I have to say that my young family made a conscious decision to move back to the heart of Upstate NY. Believe me, I know & often see all of the negatives, but I find the Albany/Adirondacks area a very reasonable area to live. An area where you actually have time & money to enjoy your family & friends. State jobs are abundant, well-paying, and housing is relatively inexpensive. In addition to that we still have a connection to NYC and we are amongst family & friends. I'm amazed at how people can drop family & friends in a heartbeat to go to some perceived Utopia (North Carolina).

I remember growing up in Amsterdam, NY and it seemed all of my Italian friends had their grandmothers living with them & they're still there, still taking care of Grandma. That was my example of Upstate living- that, and going to our camp on Lake George in the Summers- can't wait for my son to experience that.

[Pam& Bill]

State jobs are not abundent. Nor is NY state inexpensive. The taxes alone will kill you. Although I will agree that the Adirondacks are a more reasonable area of the state, not all upstate is as reasonable.
I moved to Tn. where I can afford a lifestyle on a fixed income, in NY I had a struggle to lead an existence. So what is wrong with "dropping family and friends to move to some percieved Utopia"? You feel everyone needs to stay put so your little comfort zone isn't upset? You'd rather struggle to live there just to be around your friends that caregive their grandmothers? Not me, I'll take being able to afford to live and having a life outside of NY state.
But I will agree that upstate is beautiful and growing up in the Hudson Valley wasn't bad either, but there is a whole big world out there just waiting for me and it is better then taking care of grandma.