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James C.
best-worst
Worst things about Albany nobody talks about
Longtime lurker here, It's a a small town city with about 19,768 people.
13 upvotes
15 Replies
Abigail Morris
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 28, moved here 10 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in West and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The school system situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for young professionals. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Minneapolis, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $40K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 28, moved here 10 years ago from Minneapolis. I've lived in West and Maple Ridge, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The school system situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for young professionals. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Maple Ridge: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Minneapolis, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $40K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
33 upvotes
Luca P.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is pet-friendliness. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Worth doing your research before committing.
33 upvotes
Everly P.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a contractor who relocated here from Portland about 14 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are manageable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Definitely worth checking out..
I'm a contractor who relocated here from Portland about 14 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it hit or miss compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are manageable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Definitely worth checking out..
29 upvotes
Jameson E.
Came here for quality of life and stayed because I love the pace of life here. The school system is honestly solid and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
27 upvotes
Kyle M.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 8 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the East side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
I've been here 8 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is hit or miss.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the East side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
26 upvotes
Savannah Collins
yep
24 upvotes
Alexa Bailey
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely hit or miss and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Meadowbrook) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Property taxes are high.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely hit or miss and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Meadowbrook) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. safety is completely different here. And Property taxes are high.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
22 upvotes
Genesis Foster
bump
21 upvotes
Colton Nguyen
as a local I can confirm
19 upvotes
true_joshua86
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 29, moved here 2 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Property taxes are high
3. The cultural scene situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for remote workers. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from San Diego, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $40K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
Background: I'm a contractor, 29, moved here 2 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Property taxes are high
3. The cultural scene situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for remote workers. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from San Diego, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $40K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
17 upvotes
Eli Cruz
Moved here from Chicago about 7 years ago. it exceeded my expectations. Still getting used to nightlife but Definitely worth checking out..
13 upvotes
Grace Young
bump
7 upvotes
Julia Walker
good to know, thanks
6 upvotes
Emma Wilson
I've been living here for 10 years and I'd say I'm still on the fence after all this time. The traffic is hit or miss compared to other places I've lived. Overall Good luck with whatever you decide..
6 upvotes
Adrian J.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 37, moved here 3 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in South and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The weather situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for young professionals. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Baltimore, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 37, moved here 3 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in South and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The weather situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for young professionals. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Baltimore, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
0 upvotes