Relocating to Syracuse area (New York, Clay: new home, transfer, construction)

[SteveMax58]

I'm relocating to the Syracuse area because of a new job opportunity and was (you guessed it) looking for feedback on areas. I've gotten mixed feedback on a lot of the areas depending on who I ask, and was hoping to get some more opinions. I've read quite a bit of the other threads on here and rather than threadjack another thread, decided to just ask mine in here.

First, I'm moving from Florida (where it doesnt snow quite as much) . I have my wife and 2 kids under 5 yrs old. I have been to the area a few times, once for my interview and 3 times since as I've been working from Florida remotely. My job might be classified as white collar to some(engineering), but my wife and I are really from blue-collar backgrounds and families. My wife is not working and will likely not go back to work (FT anyway) until the kids are both in school (roughly 3 years).

The realtor my company has put me in touch with keeps pushing me towards Manlius, my boss says Cicero/Clay/Onondaga, and other co-workers have recommended Cazenovia and Skaneatles. I've driven around Cicero, Clay, and Manlius, and think they all look like great areas to me. I havent been able to look at Skaneatles or Cazenovia.

My biggest concerns for an area are good schools (safety, solid graduation rate, and solid athletic programs), affordable housing/taxes(1900+ sq ft and under $250k, but really prefer under $200k), reasonable proximity (say 5-7 mins) to shopping/restaraunts, and a decent commute to work (less than 30mins to East Syracuse even in the winter), and a place that welcomes new residents to the area(or even has quite a few other transferred people).

After looking quite a bit online at home prices, school test scores, and reading many websites, I have been thinking that Cicero or Liverpool might be the best fit for us. But I wonder whether the amount of snow is considerably more(in Cicero), if the roads get cleared well, and whether the schools are solid as I keep being told that FM is the best school district to be in. My concerns with Manlius are the taxes, prices, and then proximity to shopping/entertainment.

That's my initial observations and feedback I've gotten...I would very much appreciate any and all feedback about those areas, or any other areas for that matter.

[acknight]

Originally Posted by SteveMax58

I'm relocating to the Syracuse area because of a new job opportunity and was (you guessed it) looking for feedback on areas. I've gotten mixed feedback on a lot of the areas depending on who I ask, and was hoping to get some more opinions. I've read quite a bit of the other threads on here and rather than threadjack another thread, decided to just ask mine in here.

First, I'm moving from Florida (where it doesnt snow quite as much) . I have my wife and 2 kids under 5 yrs old. I have been to the area a few times, once for my interview and 3 times since as I've been working from Florida remotely. My job might be classified as white collar to some(engineering), but my wife and I are really from blue-collar backgrounds and families. My wife is not working and will likely not go back to work (FT anyway) until the kids are both in school (roughly 3 years).

The realtor my company has put me in touch with keeps pushing me towards Manlius, my boss says Cicero/Clay/Onondaga, and other co-workers have recommended Cazenovia and Skaneatles. I've driven around Cicero, Clay, and Manlius, and think they all look like great areas to me. I havent been able to look at Skaneatles or Cazenovia.

My biggest concerns for an area are good schools (safety, solid graduation rate, and solid athletic programs), affordable housing/taxes(1900+ sq ft and under $250k, but really prefer under $200k), reasonable proximity (say 5-7 mins) to shopping/restaraunts, and a decent commute to work (less than 30mins to East Syracuse even in the winter), and a place that welcomes new residents to the area(or even has quite a few other transferred people).

After looking quite a bit online at home prices, school test scores, and reading many websites, I have been thinking that Cicero or Liverpool might be the best fit for us. But I wonder whether the amount of snow is considerably more(in Cicero), if the roads get cleared well, and whether the schools are solid as I keep being told that FM is the best school district to be in. My concerns with Manlius are the taxes, prices, and then proximity to shopping/entertainment.

That's my initial observations and feedback I've gotten...I would very much appreciate any and all feedback about those areas, or any other areas for that matter.

Whereabouts in the East Syracuse area is the workplace you're coming for? (Some parts are easier to get to from different areas).

General rule of thumb, although hardly concrete, is that snow is usually worse north of the Thruway (I-90).

The eastern 'burbs all have pretty good school districts. All of them, excepting the particularly far out ends such as Pompey or Caz, are a year-round less-than-30 minute commute to East Syracuse. And the exceptions I'm only really making for wintertime

Minoa, Fayetteville, northern parts of the town of Dewitt, and the Manlius area all seem to fit what you're describing; depending of course on whether you're looking for more established communities or newer construction, proximity to area shopping, or whatnot. The tax burden in Syracuse's 'burbs, like the rest of New York, is probably a lot higher than you're used to in Florida, but the housing stock isn't nearly as expensive on the whole as elsewhere in the country. And the cost of living, overall, is quite inexpensive here.

I'm sure that opened more questions than it answered, but hopefully that will help!

[SteveMax58]

Thanks for the response acknight. It is much appreciated.

Work is basically right at I-90 and I-481 area(SW side off of Collamer).

My wife prefers newer construction, but we're both fine with fixer-upper types and the right older home would be fine for us. We dont tend to go out a lot, but definitely like to have shopping semi-convenient. I would say 5 minutes to shopping centers and restaraunts is what we would prefer, but certainly would go further for the right town and schools. We've lived in rural areas of Florida as well as cities, and probably prefer somewhere in the middle of the 2(not very specific, but I guess it just depends).

Yeah, I did research the taxes before accepting the position, so I knew that going in. But housing and general cost of living did seem pretty reasonable overall, and in my vists to the area I've really gotten a positive impression of the people and it really seems like the kind of place I would want to raise my kids. Seems like a very family-oriented, down to earth place to live, and I cant wait to get up there permanently so I can see the areas more.

Any more feedback would be appreciated, and I'll try to answer any questions I can if it helps.

[mommamia123]

Hi Steve,
Welcome! We have family in Winter Springs, FL. We go to visit them not the other way around Skan. and Caz ARE a serious hike! Beautiful, but the taxes will most likely give you a heart attack. Manlius, Fayetteville, DeWitt are great school districts (small and good) Cicero is HUGE the highschool is to big likewise with Liverpool. STAY AWAY from WESTHILL, Cicero, Liverpool, or anything on the West side (Town of Onondaga/ Onondaga Hill). The Eastside is the place to be. Good people, great schools and all around nice area. I grew up here so I know.

[proulxfamily]

Welcome to the Syracuse forum, Steve!

For what you and your wife want, it sounds like Fayetteville or Minoa would work well for you... and Manlius, if you can find the right spot. If you look at listings in Manlius itself, you'll find a food variety of home prices and taxes. Don't be afraid to look! I was browsing the listings the other day and found a great home with $3000/year taxes (VERY good for the area in general but especially low for Manlius) for $120K. I would have bought that house instead of ours, had it been on the market back in the spring! LOL

It gets tricky, with school districts, if you look in Fayetteville and Minoa though. Minoa listings will say Town of Manlius but the school district is East Syracuse-Minoa (ESM.) Likewise, you might be looking at a home in Fayetteville... let's say around the north side of Green Lakes... but the school district is still ESM. Make sure, when you look at online listings, that it specifies the school district the house is within.

Other than that, good luck!

[proulxfamily]

Originally Posted by mommamia123

Hi Steve,
Welcome! We have family in Winter Springs, FL. We go to visit them not the other way around Skan. and Caz ARE a serious hike! Beautiful, but the taxes will most likely give you a heart attack. Manlius, Fayetteville, DeWitt are great school districts (small and good) Cicero is HUGE the highschool is to big likewise with Liverpool. STAY AWAY from WESTHILL, Cicero, Liverpool, or anything on the West side (Town of Onondaga/ Onondaga Hill). The Eastside is the place to be. Good people, great schools and all around nice area. I grew up here so I know.

Oh dear... you're going to rile up a lot of people with this post. *I* prefer the eastern suburbs myself but your curt assessment of the northern ones and Westhill is hardly fair. Onondaga Hill and Westhill are actually pretty sought after, especially recently.

On the Cazenovia distance part, it's no more than 10 minutes from Manlius, which is only 5 miles from Syracuse's city limits. It takes longer to go from Clay to downtown Syracuse than Caz to Syracuse.

[mommamia123]

Oh you are right...sorry....just wanted to save Steve and his family some greeeef.

[Jeromeville]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the west side: Onondaga, Westhill and West Genesee (Camillus) are all decent school districts. The housing stock is a little older. Fayetteville-Manlius suggestions all the time without any alternatives suggested... some people find the F-M area to be too much about "keeping up with the Joneses" and kind of shallow.

But I think Steve could find what he's looking for closer to his job on the north or east parts of town.

[Fred C]

You may also want to consider Chittenango its bout 20 mins from e.syracuse with 3 new home developments. Two by Oot Brothers and one by Ryan homes. I also believe the schools are pretty good.
Might be something worth looking into.

[stapletonb4]

While Chittenango is a nice town, it's kinda far out there and not "somewhere in between" as the OP stated....
Will the company you will be working for let you and your wife come up for a househunting trip? You might want to ask that...