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happy_angel67
qa
How are the schools in Schenectady?
Poverty rate is 19.3%, which is higher than I expected. Am I wrong here? Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
11 upvotes
16 Replies
Dylan F.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value healthcare, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely challenging and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Springfield) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability is completely different here. And Bugs and humidity in summer.
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 healthcare, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely challenging and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Springfield) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability is completely different here. And Bugs and humidity in summer.
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.
38 upvotes
Michael K.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from Pittsburgh about 12 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Affordable housing options
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are reasonable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from Pittsburgh about 12 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Affordable housing options
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are reasonable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
34 upvotes
Cooper Roberts
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 25, moved here 15 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Oak Park and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Friendly community, easy to meet people
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The school system situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for remote workers. excellent vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 Portland, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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 lawyer, 25, moved here 15 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Oak Park and The Heights, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Friendly community, easy to meet people
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Rising rent and home prices
3. The school system situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for remote workers. excellent vibes, walkable.
- The Heights: 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 Portland, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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.
32 upvotes
colton_soul
Used to live on the Pine Hills side, now on the Cedar Grove side. Completely different vibe. it's not perfect but it works for me.
32 upvotes
Grace Torres
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is healthcare. it was the best decision I ever made. Worth doing your research before committing.
30 upvotes
Clara
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 5 years. Moved from Atlanta for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Lakewood schools are pretty good. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Limited high-paying job options. Dating scene is rough. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 9/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Lakewood for 5 years. Moved from Atlanta for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Lakewood schools are pretty good. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Limited high-paying job options. Dating scene is rough. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 9/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
22 upvotes
Ezekiel Gonzalez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely tough and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Old Town) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Austin, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
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 weather, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely tough and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Old Town) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Austin, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
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.
18 upvotes
Cora Foster
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Compared to Chicago it's underrated.
15 upvotes
Bennett Bennett
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
14 upvotes
Santiago Sanchez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in West. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in education. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in West. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in education. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
13 upvotes
Christian Harris
I've lived in Highland for about 4 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Affordable housing options
- The job market scene is solid
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for families. Feel free to reach out with questions..
it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from San Francisco, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Strong job market in several industries
- Affordable housing options
- The job market scene is solid
The downsides:
- Limited public transit options
- Limited shopping options
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for families. Feel free to reach out with questions..
13 upvotes
Emily Edwards
We moved here with our family and it's been a really good experience overall. Schools in South area are excellent. Kids love it here.
12 upvotes
Luke Flores
We moved here with our family and I love the pace of life here. Schools in The Heights area are better than expected. Kids love it here.
11 upvotes
Wesley Moore
glad someone said it
7 upvotes
Edward M.
The food scene here is pretty good. Tons of great sushi places. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
6 upvotes
Genesis Campbell
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great Southern places. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
5 upvotes