Anyone from Rochester/Buffalo/Syracuse NY? (Raleigh, Asheville: appointed, real estate, crime) - Western North Carolina - North Carolina (NC) -The Mountain Region including Asheville - City-Data Forum

Nene817 · 03-28-2008, 02:00 PM

Hi,

I live in Rochester, NY and have lived here all my life. I love summers in the Finger Lakes region...the area is gorgeous and the weather can be as well (for a couple of months, that is). I like the suburbs as well as the Park Ave area of Rochester. However, I've never enjoyed the long, cold winters and I know I never will. I like the area I live in, but the climate is what makes me want to leave. I do enjoy seeing all four seasons, but I don't enjoy the fact that winter can sometimes begin in early November and last through April. I would like to live somewhere where winters are much shorter and much more mild, but the "culture shock" of moving anywhere new does scare me a little.

I recently began looking into Asheville because the mountain scenery is gorgeous and it provides many biking and hiking trails...two things I really want to have nearby. But then I starting reading many posts about how disappointed people were after their move to Asheville. I am reading over and over again that "people are very weird." There seems to be a bit of a crime problem due to public housing projects. People say they're constantly bothered by panhandlers.

I want to live in an area where it's warmer than WNY the majority of the year and where there's plenty of ways to enjoy nature, but I don't want it to be so different or strange culturally, or in the way of life, from where I am now. I do enjoy "southern hospitality," I'm definitely not a big-city girl, so I'm actually looking forward to the idea of living somwhere where people may be a bit more laid back and friendlier than here, but it's the very liberal lifestyle I keep reading about in Asheville and the crime that has me questioning it as a prospective place to live.

I was wondering if anyone from this same area of NY has made that move and whether or not they liked it.

I apologize for the ridiculously long post and hope someone out there can help me out

Thanks!

vandemusser · 03-28-2008, 02:34 PM

I'm originally from Rochester, and made the move to Asheville a few years ago. That being said, I lived in a lot of other areas of the country before finally settling down here.

I'm not sure a side-by-side comparison can be done with Rochester. Rochester is a larger city than Asheville. As you already know, the climate is very different as well. You don't get nearly the same amount of snow down here. People also aren't used to functioning in it like us Great Lakers are, either (the town shuts down with a dusting on the roads. Far cry from Rochester, where the schools stay open with 3 feet of snow).

Speaking in stereotypical terms, things are slower-paced down here. Western New Yorkers think they're laid back when compared to their compatriots in NYC, but they're still not as laid back as those in WNC. Not necessarily a bad thing, but be aware that demanding things to be quicker down here won't get you very far. Once you get used to it, it's a really pleasant way to live.

Check other posts for general info about the area - cost of living, stuff to do around town, availability of jobs, etc.

I'll go on record to say that it was not a hard move (culturally) for me to go from Rochester to Asheville in any way. It's worth a short vacation to check it out and see what you think, though. Don't take my word for it.

Good luck!

timunh · 03-28-2008, 09:21 PM

I think that there's a bit of hype on the WNC board about panhandlers. All I can say is that when I was there three weeks ago for a job interview, I spent the majority of two days walking all over downtown. I was asked for spare change twice, and when I politely said that I didn't have any, the person who asked left me alone. I walked around late and never felt uneasy about my surroundings. (I have to point out that I didn't seek out bad areas and also that I look like someone you don't want to mess with.) I can confirm that there is a certain odor in the stairwells of the public parking decks, as some posters like to point out, but hey, when parking is only a buck, I can hold my breath for a couple of flights! If you've lived in a city the size of Rochester, you probably won't consider Asheville to have the typical "big city" problems that others are claiming.

Nene817 · 03-29-2008, 11:41 AM

Thank you both for your thoughts. You've relieved some of my anxiety

. I am looking to move in September so at some point during the summer I am planning a visit to the Asheville area, as well as one to Raleigh so I can get a good feel for both places.

And to Vandemusser, another Rochester native, I thought I'd inform you that 4 inches of snow fell two nights ago and no, it hasn't all melted yet...isn't it almost April???

Thank you both again!

mm34b · 03-29-2008, 11:47 AM

Total snowfall in Asheville this season was 3.8". A normal season is 15.1", but we've haven't reached that mark in years.

Loves mountains · 03-29-2008, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mm34b

Total snowfall in Asheville this season was 3.8". A normal season is 15.1", but we've haven't reached that mark in years.

Amen, mm34b! You have brightened my day - we have had 43 measurable snow events here.
want2leaveny - Coming from a big city, Chicago, Asheville's faults pale in comparison. You'll love it there if you like people who are somewhat laid-back (but not like Southern California (sorry Jan)), enjoy the outdoors with dogs, like to eat great, electic food, listen to lots of music, you get the idea. There'll always be negatives and negative opinions. Spend some time and see if it feels like someplace you could call home. Good luck

miz mac · 03-30-2008, 02:22 AM

I moved to Hendersonville, just south of Asheville after living out west for a few years..I was longing for 4 seasons and no 115 degree days...the weather in Western NC can't be beat as far as I am concerned. I am just a few hours from the ocean and am living in the

BLue Ridge Mountains. Hendersonville is a much smaller town than Asheville... more like Victor or Canandaigua NY . I have found it to be very friendly. Also I have several health concerns and there are two hospitals right in Hendersonville and many, many doctors..I had no trouble finding the specialists I needed right here in town...no driving to the big city for a specialits! I have been here just over a year and am very happy that I moved here! Good luck! Get out of Ro

chester while you can!!

archtopguitar · 03-30-2008, 08:21 PM

We are from south of Rochester, NY and moved to WNC 15 years ago. As someone said in one of these post ? NC is not like NY with milder climate and lower taxes!! Its very different. People are coming here from everywhere so its a fast changing & growing area. Real estate is waaay more expensive here!! but property taxes are much lower. This is a resort retirement area with lots of rich people. In my opinion you need to come here with some money and a job (or comfortably retired) or its not going to be pretty. It looks kind of like NY state (hills, trees) but is much newer ( new subdivision housing) with not near the open space. I don't think there is the same sense of community here but there are alot of nice people from all over to get to meet. We still miss NY state but we have done well here so its OK. best of luck to you.

cabinman · 04-01-2008, 08:59 AM

want2leaveNY I'll be curious to follow your posts. My wife and I have been looking to move to western nc for a couple of years now. We are just north of Syracuse in the infamous Tug Hill. Our motivations are very similar to yours. We have made repeated trips down and have narrowed our search to the Lake Lure area or areas nearby. Our difficulty is that we have to sell several properties and our business first. So far not much luck. It may take a while but we will end up down there yet. Each trip down we become more convinced that it's the right place for us to ease into retirement.
I would encourage you to spend some time really getting to know the area. We all have different needs and desires. What works for us may not for you. Best of Luck!

Nene817 · 04-07-2008, 10:57 AM

I want to thank everyone who posted for your thoughts and comments. The more research I do the more I think I'm moving my search from WNC to Raleigh. I'm only 25 and have yet to get settled into a career, and I think the job situation in Asheville probably is not the best thing for me right now. It sounds like a great place to retire to, but for someone who needs a wider selection of job opportunities right now, it may not be for me. I'm still very serious about moving to NC, but think I will begin to look into Raleigh a bit more.

Thank you everyone