Moving to the Buffalo area: Why or why not?

[Mr. Miyagi]

I'm considering moving my family to the Buffalo area. Probably consider a suburb like Tonawanda or West Seneca. I don't know. Just anywhere outside of the city but still within reach.

I think I can find an engineering job out there. That's doesn't worry me. My wife is stay-at-home, so that makes no difference either.

But how is it for families? Good schools? How's the crime rate? Do I have to worry about letting my kids play outside and get kidnapped? Cultural diversity? Progressive or conservative? Cost and standard of living?

These are the things I have to consider. Convince me one way or another.

[L.A. Playa]

everything is within reach of the city, live in the suburbs low cost of living and safe and good for families, the taxes suck though

[Earthquake Enyart]

All the Asians live in Ft. Erie.

[Mr. Miyagi]

All the Asians live in Ft. Erie.

YES!

[Earthquake Enyart]

YES!

That's Canada.

[G. Host]

Not many asian grocery stores in Western New York. I do not know if your wife is asian or not. Gives you an excuse for a monthly trip to Toronto but I know my wife would hate the lack of stores as well as lack of community.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Not many asian grocery stores in Western New York. I do not know if your wife is asian or not. Gives you an excuse for a monthly trip to Toronto but I know my wife would hate the lack of stores as well as lack of community.

My wife is white. OK so I'm a sellout.

Don't really care about specifically Asian population, but just diversity in general. Don't want to be in another Wisconsin especially when my kids are mixed.

[Amare]

To many black people in tonawanda / kenmore now a days!

[G. Host]

My wife is white. OK so I'm a sellout.

Don't really care about specifically Asian population, but just diversity in general. Don't want to be in another Wisconsin especially when my kids are mixed.

Well my wife is NOT a sellout (I think).

My Aunt is Japanese (born in Japan) and lived in Buffalo since 1950's. My cousins did not have mamy issues as far as I understand.

Even in ethically mixed Northern Virginia my daughter gets teased so I do not think you avoid it no matter where you move to. I would not an issue with moving back to Buffalo burbs but I think the more affluent burbs (i.e. Amherst) will allow you to fit in more rather than West Seneca and such. The key thing I have found out when there already is a lot of racial tension the "lesser" minorities (those which are not in high concentration) get picked on by the "dominant" minorities (those which are high concentration). It also depends frankly on how much they look asian and how much they look caucasian.

[Earthquake Enyart]

They would definately be squeamish about you in Eden.

[Mr. Miyagi]

but I think the more affluent burbs (i.e. Amherst) will allow you to fit in more rather than West Seneca and such.

Sure but Amherst is a bit too spendy.

[L.A. Playa]

To many black people in tonawanda / kenmore now a days!

guess you dont want Amare moving there huh ??

[chernobylwraiths]

To many black people in tonawanda / kenmore now a days!

Some people don't like diversity.

[L.A. Playa]

Some people don't like diversity.

whats funny to me is his screename and avatar is based on a black athlete

[chernobylwraiths]

Positives:

Low housing. Even living in Amherst, Orchard Park, Williamsville, Sloan you can get a really nice house for the price of a hovel in big cities. Regardless, you can get a very nice home with some room for between $100 and $150 thousand. You can live in a city type setting where homes are right on top of each other or you can live in a rural area where you have a a couple of arces and in each senario only be less than an hour from home.

Food: You can get just about any type of food you want and it will be relatively inexpensive and close by. Buffalo has some really good Italian places to eat but if you want Chinese food, you will do better going over the boarder. The good part about that is that the border is only about 15 minutes from Buffalo and Toronto is only an hour to hour and a half away.

We have great places to go for the Arts (Albright Knox Art Gallery, Shea's Performing Arts, Artpark) along with a few Frank Lloyd Wright built homes and such.

Don't really have to go into being close to the Bills and Sabres do I?

Very diverse population. There is a decent sized Asian population that lives around here. Many go to school at the University at Buffalo (on of the best values for a decent education) and stay. There is also a large hispanic and black community but Buffalo is still known for a very large Polish population.

As with any community, you have to watch where you are sometimes. There are wierdos anywhere and Buffalo is no exception, but it is far worse in bigger cities. The bigger the city, the more weirdos there are.

Politically, Buffalo is kind of backwards because they always seem to elect people who will raise their taxes and do nothing to help the city. Along with that, every time it seems as if something will happen to bring jobs to the city, something happens or some small group tries to squash it. Personally, I think Buffalo is finally back on the rise and is in for good times ahead if this Bass Pro deal can get done.

Negatives:

high taxes - you nice home will cost you more the better the area is that you want to live in. yearly taxes can cost anywhere between 3000 and 6000 for that nice house.

Make sure you have a nice job with a secure company. The job market isn't great around here and they like to hire engineers to do drafting right now. With your experience, I don't think you will have to worry about that, but make sure you got something before you come.

You might have to watch Eb and Clump eat at a zone lunch.

Good luck man!

[clumping platelets]

Plenty of houses for sale in my neighborhood

I'll make sure I tell everyone that the "asscupper" is coming

I live in the Maryvale district......I can be downtown in 15-20 mins

I'm about 1-2 miles from the airport.......I would say Amherst is best for diversity because of UB......but Cheektowaga ain't so bad

[clumping platelets]

I would be honored if would join us at a Zone Lunch

[shelby]

Good luck with whatever you decide, Double M.

[BAM]

We need a structural engineer here... badly! You're into mechanical though right?

[Mr. Miyagi]

We need a structural engineer here... badly! You're into mechanical though right?

Correct

Sounds like exactly what I expected, family friendly enough but still not bumble-f USA like where Cntry is

The taxes do sound a bit high.

I have family in Toronto as well as Long Island so the area has some advantage for me. And it sounds just like Rochester as I remember it from my college years.

I think I'll go ahead and get serious with the job search there. Thanks!

As far as Zone Lunch goes, if I move there I'll buy the first one I attend.