Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Would cheaper, faster, and more extensive rail service from NYC to the rest of the state make upstate more attractive?
It depends on what you are looking for. Upstate NY has a lot of outdoor options, history and the cities/areas still have a lot/enough to offer. I sometimes wonder if people really know what is up here versus being told by the media or from hearsay.
Florida is a larger state with a low cost of living and a weather some people especially the elderly prefer. It's amazing how it's grown over the last several decades.
It's a misperception that all of upstate is going towards population loss. Buffalo MSA and some smaller ones have posted losses, but generally not huge ones while Rochester MSA and some smaller ons have posted gains. Both the losses and gains are pretty minor though. What's more accurate is that the population of New York outside of NYC has more or less plateaud--not that it's overall going on a particular massive decline.
This is more accurate in terms of a variation in terms of population gains and losses in Upstate NY. Some metro grew and some lost a little bit between 2000-2010. Estimates overestimated losses in population up here in many, if not most cases.
Also, people use the if NYC wasn't there argument, as the Miami area is also a gateway for immigrants and retirement fuels a lot of Florida's growth.
Would cheaper, faster, and more extensive rail service from NYC to the rest of the state make upstate more attractive?
Absolutely, and I know first hand how often people my age (20s) go from Upstate to NYC.
The cultural divide between the two is there, but its much more apparent in older generations.
My generation is more mobile and socially connected, so when we went to college, we made friends with people from all over the state, the majority of which being from downstate (city, LI).
Its much much easier to stay in contact with people now, and there is more mobility than ever. I know people Upstate that go to the city probably once or twice a month, every month.
The vast majority of my friends actually that are from where I live are either still in my hometown, or NYC. Id say Boston comes as a close second.
NYC is a massive massive draw for young people Upstate, no question. Basically everyone comes Upstate to get a degree and then heads back down for a job, or just leaves the state entirely.
We all are dying for some sort of high speed rail to NYC from Upstate, or at least expanding the Metro North. NJ Transit and LIRR go further I believe, but to answer your question, simply yes.
It depends on what you are looking for. Upstate NY has a lot of outdoor options, history and the cities/areas still have a lot/enough to offer. I sometimes wonder if people really know what is up here versus being told by the media or from hearsay.
Theres a lot of transplants from downstate up here who just came for cheaper COL but still looking for the benefit of Upstate.
However, it may be one of the most depressing places to live in the entire country. The lack of jobs and awful weather alone. Then you have the higher COL to most other states even though its Upstate, its still NY.
Theres a lot of transplants from downstate up here who just came for cheaper COL but still looking for the benefit of Upstate.
However, it may be one of the most depressing places to live in the entire country. The lack of jobs and awful weather alone. Then you have the higher COL to most other states even though its Upstate, its still NY.
You can see why people are leaving in droves.
Upstate's overall cost of living is on par with much of the South, if not lower in some cases. So, it depends in that regard, as well as on the job front. Nowadays, jobs will depend on personal factors matching up with whatever is available anywhere.
Also, people leaving in droves is an exaggeration, as some areas have added population and some have lost in that regard. Either way, it hasn't been huge though.
Upstate's overall cost of living is on par with much of the South, if not lower in some cases. So, it depends in that regard, as well as on the job front. Nowadays, jobs will depend on personal factors matching up with whatever is available anywhere.
Also, people leaving in droves is an exaggeration, as some areas have added population and some have lost in that regard. Either way, it hasn't been huge though.
What part of Upstate are you from?
Pretty sure "Chicagoorseattle" actually lives in the Hudson Vally; not an area I'd really consider Upstate NY but whatever.
FL will probably pass NY in population soon; who cares? I'd much rather live in Upstate NY than anywhere in Florida. This might change when i'm in my 70s but for now as an active adult with kids and family; FL is one of the last places I'd want to live.
As to the notion than young professionals are making up the majority of new resident's in FL? Doubtful. That would require jobs and economy that wasn't based almost exclusively on tourism and services. Young college educated child-bearing age people are fleeing FL at at a rate similar to that of NY state if not higher; and are largely settling Atlanta, NC, DC area, and PA.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
