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One thing that is striking about downtown Rochester when I do a virtual drive thru on Google Maps is Where are all the people? Nice buildings, lovely city, NO PEOPLE?!
Creepy in a way. Sort of like a twilight zone episode.
Indeed, but Buffalo has the people on the streets, not as much in Rochester.
what are the ups and downs of living in other cities than Buffalo aside from lower taxes and better income - less crime, etc?
There are a number of things I like about Buffalo: Delaware Park, some festivals (Wing, Taste of Buffalo), proximity to Canada
Things I don't like: The expressways are a hassle to go anywhere (33, 198, 190) mostly because downtown is right on the lake, it seems that anything to do in Buffalo revolves around drinking heavily (Bills, Sabres, casino, Chippewa), no great family attractions (in Rochester -- Strong, Seabreeze), violent crime is more prevalent and spread out throughout the city it seems (East side, University district, downtown vs. crescent in Rochester)
Intangibles of Rochester vs. Buffalo: Better suburbs, cleaner looking, more high-tech industry, better waterfront, better self sustainment (less reliant on state payoffs to remain afloat), more managable snow vs. huge storms especially early in the season
There are a number of things I like about Buffalo: Delaware Park, some festivals (Wing, Taste of Buffalo), proximity to Canada
Things I don't like: The expressways are a hassle to go anywhere (33, 198, 190) mostly because downtown is right on the lake, it seems that anything to do in Buffalo revolves around drinking heavily (Bills, Sabres, casino, Chippewa), no great family attractions (in Rochester -- Strong, Seabreeze), violent crime is more prevalent and spread out throughout the city it seems (East side, University district, downtown vs. crescent in Rochester)
Intangibles of Rochester vs. Buffalo: Better suburbs, cleaner looking, more high-tech industry, better waterfront, better self sustainment (less reliant on state payoffs to remain afloat), more managable snow vs. huge storms especially early in the season
Better suburbs? And it's a shame that Rochester doesn't have it's downtown on Lake Ontario - that would bring a lot more of interest there. Thankfully, Buffalo's waterfront is improving, and I know Rochester's is nice, oh but do they really have more mangable snow removal? But what do the Rochester suburbs have over Buffalo's? And yes, the violent crime is the big difference. Now, why did Rochester build the inner loop? - That thing is crazy.
Better suburbs? And it's a shame that Rochester doesn't have it's downtown on Lake Ontario - that would bring a lot more of interest there. Thankfully, Buffalo's waterfront is improving, and I know Rochester's is nice, oh but do they really have more mangable snow removal? But what do the Rochester suburbs have over Buffalo's? And yes, the violent crime is the big difference. Now, why did Rochester build the inner loop? - That thing is crazy.
I'm not sure that you know this but Rochester is built on two Waterfalls. What other city in the U.S. can say that?
Better suburbs? And it's a shame that Rochester doesn't have it's downtown on Lake Ontario - that would bring a lot more of interest there. Thankfully, Buffalo's waterfront is improving, and I know Rochester's is nice, oh but do they really have more mangable snow removal? But what do the Rochester suburbs have over Buffalo's? And yes, the violent crime is the big difference. Now, why did Rochester build the inner loop? - That thing is crazy.
Snow removal is much much better...at least than when I was there. Anything up to 6 inches during the day is removed and the roads are just wet. In Buffalo, the main lines are ok, but going from a main line to side street usually resulted in plowing through a snow drift from the plow. And get this...in Rochester...they usually plow the sidewalks (at least in pedestrian areas)!!!
For the suburbs, I think it is mostly the fact that the city is not on the water, but it is very easy to get around and the suburbs are not full of congested arteries (Every suburb seems to have a "W Ridge Rd." in Buffalo). It also seems that Rochester suburbs have more character (canal towns, old railway stops, etc.), but that might just be because I have more exposure to Rochester.
Snow removal is much much better...at least than when I was there. Anything up to 6 inches during the day is removed and the roads are just wet. In Buffalo, the main lines are ok, but going from a main line to side street usually resulted in plowing through a snow drift from the plow. And get this...in Rochester...they usually plow the sidewalks (at least in pedestrian areas)!!!
For the suburbs, I think it is mostly the fact that the city is not on the water, but it is very easy to get around and the suburbs are not full of congested arteries (Every suburb seems to have a "W Ridge Rd." in Buffalo). It also seems that Rochester suburbs have more character (canal towns, old railway stops, etc.), but that might just be because I have more exposure to Rochester.
Alrighty then. You provide some good points about Rochester than I have failed to recognize. But, I still like Buffalo better - not sure why but I do - and it's my hometown, as well as my high hopes for the city that keeps me Buffalo-occupied
Hometown bias is actually a perfectly good reason to like Buffalo better than Rochester. It's nothing to be unsure/ concerned about. In reality the two cities are much more similar than different. Personally, my opinion is that the city of Buffalo seems to be more liveable than the city of Rochester; but as Rochacha said I think that the suburbs of Rochester are IMO, nicer than the suburbs of Buffalo. I'd take Greece, Gates or Irondequoit (typically the "looked down upon" suburbs of Rochester, the first of which I call home and love) over Cheektowaga, Kenmore, N. Tonowanda (sp?), Lackawana any day. I'd also take Pittsford, Fairport, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, over Orchard Park, Lancaster, Clarence, or Hamburg....eventhough they are all nice towns from what I've seen.
I've lived in Rochester (Greece) my whole life and I lived in Buffalo (at UB) for a year. Rochester is definitely better for work especially in fields like engineering; Buffalo's economy sucks and is getting worse. Both of the cities have their poverty, but I feel like Buffalo is just dirty and poor in general, when in Rochester that applies to more-so just 'the hood' or whatever you wanna call it. I agree that Rochester's suburbs are nicer from what I've seen of Buffalo's suburbs, although I haven't seen a ton of areas. I think both of the cities' downtowns are pretty much equally lively, and I love being by Lake Ontario!
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It was a fun city for college, but I wouldn't want to live there.
what are the ups and downs of living in other cities than Buffalo aside from lower taxes and better income - less crime, etc?
And yes, the violent crime is the big difference. Now, why did Rochester build the inner loop? - That thing is crazy.
