rochester (Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Binghamton: insurance, apartments, travel)

[nicegirl]

Hi all,
I'm originally from the Finger Lakes Region and Rochester is a wonderful place to live. So much to do and see...NY in general is chock full of American History, lots of Forts. The area is focussed on a healthier lifestyle: No smoking in public buildings/restaurants/bars (which is actually a state law, now); diet and exercise is promoted (not hard to do with the Erie Canal trail flowing through the entire region- best place to exercise). Beautiful four seasons, yeah there's a lot of lake effect snow, but all the bugs die off in the winter. Besides, the state knows how to deal with the snow and allots enough money to the NYSDOT to keep things plowed and salted. The state has a wide variety of events: fairs, festivals, Watkin's Glen racetrack, Cooperstown, Howes Caverns, Horse racing/casinos and some of the best semi-pro sports teams around: Roch Americans Hockey, Red Wings Baseball, soccer and other sports. Don't worry, you won't be condemned if you're not a Bills fan When your in WNY Niagara Falls is a nice day trip for the family and Toronto is just on the other side of Lake Ontario, too.
I like the Upper Monroe Neighborhood. Large homes that are pretty cheap to rent. The Park Ave area is also nice and artsy (Corn Hill, too). Brighton is the best for schools, though (rated in the top 50 in the nation) and cleanest neighborhood. Generally the entire East/southeast side is good. The Greece area (NW Suburb) is nice as well. Moving out a little SE; Fairport, Pittsford, Victor or any town along the Canal is a safe bet. Henrietta is OK. Downtown area and north is not recommended.
Sure, the taxes are high, but there's so much to do and it is a very liberal state. I'm a single woman who has lived in a couple different states and has visited many others and I gotta tell ya that I took the freedoms that I grew up in from WNY to other places and I definitely felt the sting of conservatism and small minded opinions. I haven't been so happy to move back to NY state.
I believe the City officials of Rochester understand how depressing it can get in the winter months, so when it starts to warm up I guarantee you won't stay in your home for long...there's a festival every weekend celebrating food, flowers, art and culture somewhere in the area.
Hope this has helped.

[melkat]

I LOVE Rochester and miss it! All of our family is there but us..my husband always looks for jobs there but the market isnt' very good sadly. Anyways I grew up in Brighton and the school there is great (though very competitve and since it is a bit wealthier there is a bit of a drug problem..my brother in law teaches at the high school and says this is still the case) My husband went to McQuaid which is a wonderful school as well. If we were to move back I would choose Penfield schools though.

It is a wonderful city to raise a family with so much to do. Have a wonderful move! I'm jealous!!!

[NYTom]

From Newsweek...

The Complete List of the 1,000 Top U.S. Schools

Rank / School / Location / State / Index / Subsidized Lunches

27 | Wilson Magnet* | Rochester | N.Y. | 3.895 | 63

39 | Pittsford Mendon | Pittsford | N.Y. | 3.584 | 1.8

47 | Brighton | Rochester | N.Y. | 3.422 | 7


Rochester has three in the top 50.

[melkat]

Originally Posted by NYTom

From Newsweek...

The Complete List of the 1,000 Top U.S. Schools

Rank / School / Location / State / Index / Subsidized Lunches

27 | Wilson Magnet* | Rochester | N.Y. | 3.895 | 63

39 | Pittsford Mendon | Pittsford | N.Y. | 3.584 | 1.8

47 | Brighton | Rochester | N.Y. | 3.422 | 7


Rochester has three in the top 50.

I really wouldnt' judge anything by those lists (though Brighton was #1 the year I graduated and those schools above are really good) Put it this way..I currently live in Charlotte NC and there are a few schools on that list..the schools here are HORRIBLE. One of the highschools that ranked better than Brighton has a HUGE gang problem..police have been there many time tazering people, arresting etc...We are actually moving out of here soon b/o the schools and I am not looking at lists to choose a school..there are too many variables..word of mouth is much better!!!

[I'minformed2]

You've had enough of the "paradise" that is NC too huh? I'm planning on returning to Rochester from the Triangle pretty soon as well. My issue with the schools in NC isn't so much the poor quality of education, but the RIDUCLOUS way they make the school districts.....one school system for a county of over 700,000 people. Could you imagine a Monroe County School system? No, there are Brighton School, City Schools, Greece Schools, Pittsford Schools and so on.

[dgflightnurse]

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum, but I'm looking for a property manager for a single family house in Rochester (19th Ward). Property managers are everywhere in California, but I can't seem to find one in Rochester. If anyone could help, I would appreciate it. Thank you.

[melkat]

Originally Posted by i'minformed

You've had enough of the "paradise" that is NC too huh? I'm planning on returning to Rochester from the Triangle pretty soon as well. My issue with the schools in NC isn't so much the poor quality of education, but the RIDUCLOUS way they make the school districts.....one school system for a county of over 700,000 people. Could you imagine a Monroe County School system? No, there are Brighton School, City Schools, Greece Schools, Pittsford Schools and so on.

Yep! Ours is a county wide school system (Mecklenburgh County) it is RIDICULOUS!!! The way they force education down the kids throats really gets to me. My daughter is in kindergarten and has to be at school at 7:25 (yes that is not a typo 7:25 at 5 yrs old..I didn't have to be at BHS until 7:45!) Plus she has 30 minutes of homework per night! Luckily she is considered gifted so it is a breeze for her but I feel bad for kids who are not. Plus they don't have to have masters here or even a degree in education..did I mention that she goes full day and only gets playground time 2 times a week and the schools are so overcrowded here it is not uncommon to have 40+ trailers at each school. They would NEVER put up with that in Rochester!!!

So if you live in Rochester be thankful you do I would love to move back there..My husband just got offered a job in Pittsburgh..it isn't Rochester but it is better!!!

[chokkan7]

Originally Posted by cadence75

I will be moving to rochester from tacoma washington in December. It seems that Rochester is going through the same revitalization that Tacoma is going through. Rochester has more wonderful neighborhoods it seems and magnificent homes for alot less. My wife was there and picked the upper monroe neighborhood. She was stunned to see how beautiful all of rochester is and nice the people are. I feel like we have been lied to all along in regards to the housing market in the northwest. The northwest is beautiful, but people are beginning to become money hungry and it is hurting the region. I lived in new york as a kid and looking forward to going back. I ask that if any one has a comment please remember that I am not knocking the northwest, as it is beautiful.

That's quite a coincidence - I live in Tacoma, and am considering a move to the area myself. The taxes are my main sticking point right now - ouch!

[I'minformed2]

Yeah...Monroe County has some of the highest property taxes per capita in the nation...stickershock for a lot of people moving to the area....the other stickershock howwever, is how much more affordable almost everything else is (especially homes and groceries). Taxes in the city tend to be lower than the suburbs...but the schools are also much much much better in the suburbs (with the exception of Wilson T. Magnet in the city of course)

[mothernature]

I have been an educator-both public and private for over 20 years and I disagree about a few areas around Rochester. I believe that fairport is much too big and the competition for your child to become a musician, athlete or anything else is too great! I believe that Penfield has much to offer in regards to the music program. West Irondequoit, is the secret that few know about. It is in the top 10 districts in the country when it comes to the AP's that are offered. It has a wonderful small town feel where you can walk,bike, jog all over the place especially the new trail by Lake Ontario. The teachers work very hard to make sure that they are giving the students the tools they need. Yes, Pittsford is snobby, Brighton caters to the top students mostly. If your child is gifted and talented----then I would say Brighton. Another great district is Honeoye Falls Lima. A great pre school is also Trinity Montessori School in East Rochester.