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Eleanor Sanchez living

Raising a family in Buffalo -thoughts?

OK so I'm single, late 30s, and Average temperature is around 56--F, so the weather is moderate. It's a a small town city with about 1,110 people. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Any advice would be great. I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
6 upvotes

8 Replies

Ella Phillips
I've lived in Downtown for about 4 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.

I'm still on the fence after all this time. When I first moved here from Houston, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.

A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Strong job market in several industries
- The housing market scene is better than expected

The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Limited entertainment options

Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for singles. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
39 upvotes
Benjamin
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a chef, 43, moved here 2 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Riverside and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The nightlife situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for couples. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 Francisco, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $60K-$150K here.

**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
37 upvotes
Owen Ramirez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value walkability, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely surprisingly good and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Westside) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. nightlife is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.

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.
32 upvotes
Katherine M.
I'm a marketing manager and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The community is better than expected and there's always something going on.
29 upvotes
Andrew Moore
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I genuinely enjoy living here.
15 upvotes
Isabelle Kelly
+1
10 upvotes
Serenity Torres
thanks for sharing
7 upvotes
Isabelle Davis
exactly what I was thinking
3 upvotes
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