Thinking of Relocating to Rochester (Greece, Henrietta: high crime, how much, houses)

[ahart]

I live in TX. Born, and raised. I am a single mom in my 30's, and I am interested in Rochester, NY. I love the homes there, and the prices. I have always wanted to live somewhere that has more than 2 seasons. Here it is warm, and hot. I am in medical billing, and I have seen mixed reviews on the job market there. Can anyone tell me if it is hard to find a job there? Also, is Rochester receptive to people who relocate there?

[breezy1]

Rochester does have a mixed job market, but usually does pretty well for jobs in the medical field.

Just curious, what made you especially interested in Rochester, versus other areas?

[ahart]

My ex-husbands parents are retiring in Wayland, and he would like to move up there also. We always talked about moving up north, and we are still great friends. I don't want to live in a town as small as Wayland, but I also don't want to be in a big city either. I have been researching Rochester, and find the festivals and community feel appealing. I just wonder how much of what I read is accurate.

[gastric]

There's tons of Rochester information here. Return to the NY form, click Search, type in Rochester, and away you go!

[miskitty]

I spent many years in Rochester and the area. It has many things to recommend it, including:

-houses with great architecture. You'll find a lot of nice bungalows with beautiful woodwork, tudor-revival styles from the 30s, and rambling Victorians especially in the outlying towns.
-I don't know if this is still true, but if you're looking at the suburbs, East Rochester, while not considered as "posh" as Pittsford, had many lovely areas and a strong sense of community, excellent small-enrollment school.
-people in Rochester tend to be very friendly and unpretentious, rather like what you'd expect in the mid-West.
-there are many cultural and arts activities, although they seem to be focused in center city Rochester which has some high crime areas.
-near the Finger Lakes which are known for their beauty, vineyards.
-a surprising range of good restaurants and ethnic foods

cons-
this may be an impression from long ago, so take it with a grain of salt, but despite the presence of the University of Rochester and RIT, it doesn't have the feel of a "college" town at all as the campuses seem isolated from the community as a whole. However, Park Avenue and East Avenue areas in Rochester are where you'll find more artistic types and historic homes.
THE WEATHER. Get ready for this. Not only is Rochester northern, but it is afflicted by what the locals with perverse pride call "Lake Effect" which basically means that the proximity to Lake Ontario means you'll get bombed by snow even though it may be clear 20 miles south. Rochester is very gray and cloudy--so if you're a person who gets depressed without sun be prepared. However, like most snowy cities, the natives take the weather in stride (don't call in to work because of the snow if everyone else can make it in) and the road crews do a good job of clearing snow compared to other cities less prepared to deal with weather. Don't put asny flowers in your garden til Memorial day!
How to speak "Rochesterian" pry= probably, hamburg=hamburger, boughten=bought

Overall, a great place for kids and many good school districts.

[I'minformed2]

Rochester job market is actually very strong in the medical feild right now...it's probably the leading sector for job growth in the region. If you are looking for a community feel that is great for kids....i can honestly say Rochester should be near the top of your list (as i see it is). It is the EPITOMY of a family oriented community. The suburbs that get the most attention and adoration (especially on this forum) are "the p towns" (Penfield, Perinton, and especially Pittsford) and Webster. Those are all wonderfull places to live, but other areas of Rochester (more affordable too) like Henrietta, Chili, Greece, and Hilton are also great communites. The best schools are in Brighton and Pittsford....the most house for your money will be in Chili or Greece. You said you were interested in the architectural aspects of the area...i'm assuming you mean the older turn of the century homes. Most of the older housing stock is in the City of Rochester itself, and while there are some beautiful, safe, and family-oriented neighborhoods in the city (especially in the southeastern quadrant of it), unless you can afford Catholic/Private schools...i'd suggest you stick with the suburbs. The city school district, with the exception of a few amazing magnet and special schools..is overall very poor.

[omar1]

guys where is a safe place to move upstate? im looking at a home in amherst but if i have to work in buffalo and theres a lot of crime it may not be a good idea. can anyone give me so advice?

[melkat]

Originally Posted by miskitty

How to speak "Rochesterian" pry= probably, boughten=bought

.

born and raised in Roch and my family has lived there for over 100 years and have never heard anyone say those things

rochester is a great place to live and raise a family..counting down the days until our visit next month

[I'minformed2]

yeah....that sounds more like "Pittsburguese"...not Raaach'ster talk.

[ahart]

Thank you all for your input. I love the older homes, but safety, a good school district, and affordability are higher on my list. I am a little concerned about the gray skies. I have nothing to compare that to except a rainy day in TX, but overall this is a sunny state. I just HATE the HEAT! I don't mind a high of 80, but the upper 90's and 100's are horrible. Especially with 100% humidity. I have only been in real snow twice in my life, and they were both in Utah. It was wonderful!!! It was a dry cold. How is the cold in Rochester? And is it really gray there most of the time? Thanks again for everyone's help.