Cute, Safe, Affordable town to move to? (Syracuse, Ithaca: real estate, houses)

[It'sMe!]

I'm looking to move within the next couple of years to upstate NY. I want to buy a home and start a family there. I want to move to a smaller town with a quaint vibe, some place safe, where my kids can grow up. I am also looking for a place with inexpensive real estate, where I can buy a 3-4 bedroom house for under $300,000. Any ideas?

[ki0eh]

Cortland. See http://www.cortland.org/ , http://www.cortlandstandard.net/ , http://www.yaman.com/

[boomvang]

Take your pick! There are many great areas up here, it would help if you were even more specific, IE do you need to be close to shopping, culture, winter sports? Also, what do you consider a small town? Population of 500,1000, 5000? $300,000 will get you an nice house in many different areas. I've seen nice homes in eastern, northern and central NY in that range, and I know that western NY has its share of nice areas as well. Good luck.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by boomvang

Take your pick! There are many great areas up here, it would help if you were even more specific, IE do you need to be close to shopping, culture, winter sports? Also, what do you consider a small town? Population of 500,1000, 5000? $300,000 will get you an nice house in many different areas. I've seen nice homes in eastern, northern and central NY in that range, and I know that western NY has its share of nice areas as well. Good luck.

I agree. Really, you can take your pick. I think personally, you would like something maybe like Chittenango, Canastota, the Baldwinsville area(in some parts), Homer and even more affluent small communities like Marcellus, parts of Skaneateles or Cazenovia. You can get a lot for 300,000 in this area and pretty much most of Upstate NY.

Also, it depends on your criteria of what you mean by a small town too.

[ckhthankgod]

Here's some examples in Onondaga County, where Syracuse is located:http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...tID=&ML=179207

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...tID=&ML=187219

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...tID=&ML=199299

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...tID=&ML=199865

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...tID=&ML=200587

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...tID=&ML=203610

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...tID=&ML=202661

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...tID=&ML=202118

and much more here:#1 Syracuse Real Estate Website | CNYREALTOR.COM

[It'sMe!]

No more than about 4 hours away from the city, maybe 5 hours at the most. I need to be able to drive to the city not that often, but often enough since my whole family lives here. I'm from Brooklyn, so a small town to me would be anymore below 30,000. I'm really looking for the type of town you find somewhere down south, as my future husband is from GA and this is the best compromise I can do without actually moving down there! hah!

I will definitely be looking into all of your suggestions! Thank you! :-)

[It'sMe!]

I am checking out your suggestions and they are great! Can you tell me what county these suggestions would be considered?

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by It'sMe!

I am checking out your suggestions and they are great! Can you tell me what county these suggestions would be considered?

Onondaga County, which is the county Syracuse is in. Do you have any other criteria for what you are looking for? Some smaller cities in the area that are 30,000 or smaller are: Auburn(Cayuga County), Cortland(Cortland County), Oswego(Oswego County) and Oneida(Madison County). You might like Ithaca too.

[ckhthankgod]

Also, when you say a town like down South, what exactly do you mean? If you mean a cultural mix, I would go with Auburn, maybe Cortland or Oswego due to the SUNY schools there and increasing minority populations and Ithaca. Until I know what your criteria is, I can't really say though.

[It'sMe!]

I mean more like a rural, small town feel where everyone knows each other and the houses aren't right on top of one another, where it's safe for kids to play outside all day and where people are generally friendly (unlike the city!)