Buffalo NY info

[katy1844]

Hi Ladies,

My husband has an job offering in Buffalo and we know NOTHING about buffalo.  We are currently living in Northern VA/DC area, we like many things about here but do NOT like the cost of living that is the mean reason for the move.  Some of our questions are about the cost of living-I know housing appears MUCH less much I am wondering about the utilities, my understanding is its winter from Oct to May-is that true?  We actual like winter/snow were a family that really likes all seasons especially winter/fall and spring- I'm not big with lots of heat (I went to ASU in phoenix for undergrad and don't know how I managed the heat!) but I do worry about heating costs and property taxes.  We are currently homeschooling our children but my daughter (10) would like to consider going to 4th grade so schools are some what a consideration also, is the kindergarden full-day or half day there?  If he worked in Buffalo where should we live?  I noticed there is no whole foods or trader joes, where do people shop for organic food? and is that very $$$$.  Furthermore what is the overall culture there?  We worried there wont be much diversity, is that true?  Thank you thank you thank you!!!

Katy

[changingal]

For organic foods, people go to Wegmans. Which is similar to Whole Foods. I live south of Buffalo, I don't go there often. What I do know is Buffalo has many things to offer for families, seems to be diverse. Here are some sites to check out: https://www.google.com/search?q=buffalo+ny+family+activities&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari
Buffalo has a high crime rate, so there are definitely areas to avoid. Overall, it's a nice place.

[Chapsie]

Hi Katy!  I grew up in Buffalo and now live in a suburb north of the city.  It is only winter from November to March.  :)   The past couple of winters have actually been pretty mild.  Our heating bill isn't that bad, either.  You can do balanced billing (where you pay the same every month even in the summer) and ours is $77 bucks a month (we have natural gas, baseboard heat) for a 1500 sq foot house.  It can get pretty warm here in the summer.  I think we have beautiful summers here! Taxes depend on where you decide to live.  Grand Island is a great town north of the city (10 minutes from everywhere because of throughway access) and has lower taxes and good schools.  I think we pay about $2500 a year in taxes and you can get quite a bit of house for your buck.  Our real estate market has stayed very stable over the past few years, unlike other areas.  Amherst and Williamsville also have good school districts.    Kindergarten is full day.  If you live in the actual city, the school districts are not great (they are infamous for being pretty bad actually) so I would definitely look into charter schools.  

We are getting a Trader Joe's soon in Tonawanda (YAY) and Wegmans is an amazing grocery store that carries a lot of organic food.  We also have a natural foods co-op called the Lexington Co-op on Elmwood Ave in Buffalo (lifetime membership is $80 I believe) and it is an awesome place.  We also have Feel Rite.  There are many CSA farms, too (community supported agriculture) where you can buy a share of organic food-- Thorpes, Native Offerings, Porter Farm to name a few!  I don't think its a lot of $$, but I'm not familiar enough with grocery prices in other areas to be able to compare!

Overall, Buffalo is known for being a friendly place to live.  People are very outgoing and helpful.  I really like living here.  Whenever we travel, I miss it.  

Good luck with your move, and let me know if you have any other questions.  You can PM me!

[katy1844]

Thanks for the help!  After looking at the property taxes in amherst, I freaked out a little---grand island does seem better.  Were still on the fence mostly because of the taxes......

[sherryvhkb]

Hi,
I am a bit late but i recently located to the buffalo area from Brooklyn. I am living in the "South towns" area. East Aurora. It's been a loooooong winter. Much more snow than i anticipated! We chose to be out here to get a taste of nature. We bought a house with 9 acres for about what tuition per month cost in the city(NY).

Excuse typos i am on my phone.

I am not an expert but will share my experience. I adore East Aurora. They have a well preserved and active adorable downtown that just begs to be walked through. Lots of little shops and eateries like a sweet spot you find in a big city but can't afford to live in. We live just outside so lower taxes but it seems like lots to do. Parks and history art and festivals. I love the fresh air here and the options for food from the local farms. The schools public, seem great. Small class sizes and you get much more here for free than you get for $1000 month in the city. People are friendly. They dont lock their doors and leave their keys in the car!

Ok. Downside. I miss Trader Joe, whole foods, Fairway, Ikea, public transportation, and walking. I can't find a decent Mango to save my life. This is very much a car culture. I go out of my way to get to Wegmans but it is different. SO big that i spend hours hunting down what i need. It is not an organic kind of store but rather a mega box with treasures hidden throughout.

City, diversity? No. Just NO. My husband is west African. I am plain white american. We seem unusual enough to draw uncomfortable stares. You can seek out diversity, and culture, but it's just that. The city is ok for specific events- sports- theatre- or hospitals...other than that kinda seedy. Nice little zoo and science museum. Waterfrront is nice for a stroll but seems aimed at the bar/rock concert crowd.

And snow. A lot. Up through early April. We had to buy. Equipment. Really!

We were able to heat mostly with wood, and cost of living is low. We have definitely spent a lot more in gas in the car, but traffic seems non existant to me. The 8 miles i drove to work in the city took an hour. It would be15 minutes here at most.

I hope I helped. Feel free to pm me if i can assist!

[Tahpenes]

Katy, we actually moved from Buffalo to Alexandria, VA a few years ago. :)

Buffalo is a city with shrinking pains. There are a lot of bad neighborhoods and a high crime rate, and the city is ostentaciously segregated (an older gentleman I knew who was a native Buffalonian once commented that the city "has always been diverse, because we had the Irish, the Italians, the Germans, and the Polish"). I don't know where your husband's job offer is, but if it's within walking distance of Main Street within Buffalo itself you might want to consider getting a house further out within walking distance of the metro. I worked downtown, and there were a few snowstorms where I don't know how I'd have gotten home if it wasn't for the trolley/subway. If you're going to live by Main Street, though, keep to the blocks off the west side of the street rather than the east side; there are many more abandoned properties and higher crime on the eastern side.

Kindergartens are mostly full-time. If you're interested in having more children in a hospital-with-midwife setting, Women's and Children's is a great hospital in Buffalo, and there are midwives who have admission privileges there. One of the best benefits of Buffalo is Delaware Park - a huge park in the middle of the city with some buildings that date back to the PanAmerica Expo held in Buffalo in 1901. The Buffalo Science Museum is also GREAT; even with access to the Smithsonians, I miss that museum.

People in the city sometimes have a kind of band-together attitude that isn't present in northern VA, mostly because of the fact that the city is shrinking and nobody really wants it to die. Because of that, there are a lot of cultural festivals and other activities which are widely attended. A significant number of folks put a lot of investment into being Buffalonians. It's a very walkable and bikable downtown, though there aren't too many businesses left. The central library (and the library system as a whole) are impressive. In addition to Wegmans and the CSAs already mentioned, the area also has a good number of large farmer's markets, including one on Elmwood, which rivals any that I've seen in the Alexandria area. Another nice thing about Buffalo is that there are a lot of day trips available, including to Niagara Falls, Toronto, Letchworth State Park, and a particularly cool, kid-friendly hike to an "eternal flame" behind a waterfall in Chestnut Ridge Park (http://www.nyfalls.com/eternalflame.html).

When I moved to Alexandria, I was struck by how many more people there are everywhere, how much worse the traffic is, how long the lines are, and how difficult it is to get a network of people together. On the other hand, the streets in Alexandria are cleaner and there's a lot more diversity. Reverse those, and you'll probably get a good idea of the cultural shocks you'll find in Buffalo.

[sherryvhkb]

Tahpenes

How great to hear reverse perspective!! Haha about the diversity!!
I will have to check out some of the places you mentioned!

[katy1844]

Thanks for the help Ladies, its appearing that we will be making the move after all!  For the last couple moves (yes we move a lot!) I have found a home on my own but since this is a completely new area if anyone has a realtor they really like please let me know.  My husband will be working in downtown Buffalo, we don't want more then a 30 minute commute max- which here in Northern Virginia is about 5-8 miles...really looking forward to being away from all this traffic, Taphenes, my husband and I both lived in Alexandria when we first met and then years later we spent a summer living right downtown (the parking was a nightmare-I think if we didn't have two young kids at the time we would of enjoyed it more!).  Sheeryvhkb, thanks for the tip of east aurora, the small downtown seems dreamy- we actual don't mind the snow we love the cold weather-just not the heating bills......  Most of my husbands co-workers have been recommending Amherst?  Any thoughts on that area, we want someone not too far from work-I would prefer a somewhat crunchy feelings (and I am bummed about the lack of diversity) I know a trader joes is coming soon so would love to be near that, the local farmers also sound awesome.  We are lending towards homeschooling, wondering if there is an area that has more homeschoolers then other??  Anything else you ladies think I should know before looking for a new house?  Thanks again!!!!

[sherryvhkb]

Hi. Amherst is nice but $$$$. I make it to gates buffalo general downtown in about 30 minutes. I felt chrunchiest here. I guess here the city didn't work for me, and after brooklyn i wanted to be out a bit. All the other burbs...Amherst, williamsville, seemed to be concrete blacktop sprawl. I didn't want to be in a cookie cutter house planned community adjacent to a shopping plaza. But thats just me. We got a house with 9 acres for under 100k and are renovating. I am seed starting and excited even if we just get a few carrots and tomatoes this year for the kids to have started with seeds what 2e will eat.
I am 10 minutes to Kissing Bridge ski resort. The finger lakes trail is in my backyard and people ride their snowmobiles to the store.

THAT being said. I am a 10 minute drive to a regular grocery. I am 20 minutes to any bigger stores or malls. My dh is an MD and still back and forth to BK so I sometimes feel isolated.(sahm)

I just joined an online community called buffalomommies.com to find some local like minded mommas.

Trying to type with a teething baby- haha sorry.

Let me know how it goes. I have a realtor but ibthink he is lical here

Pm me or i am same name on IG. I will put up dome pics of town up as we are goingvfor a walk soon

[madler]

I grew up in Holland, NY, which sounds like it is right near you. If you are looking for like minded Mommas there are groups in East Aurora and Downtown Buffalo. Great farmers markets in both areas as well! I still miss WNY alot

[tigerlilymomma]

I am also a Buffalo native (I grew up in West Seneca) and after 12 years of living in New Mexico I am moving back.

I am so glad I found this thread as after being gone for so long, it's nice to have a little advice. It's going to be a whole new world for me as when I was there last it was all about the local music scene and now I am trying to get into the local birth scene. ha!

well looking forward to going home!

[katy1844]

I'm still trying to figure out the best place to live, does anyone have any ideas what areas (if any) have a more active homeschooling group.  The housing market here in Northern Va is really picking up-its been pretty down for a few years, whats everyone's thoughts on the market up there?

[Chapsie]

Sherry, you make me want to move to East Aurora!  I've always loved it there; my DH and I try to stay at Roycroft Inn at least once a year for an overnight date.  :)   Does your MD DH work at a hospital in the city?  I'm a nurse, so I wonder if maybe I'd recognize his name.  What field is he in?

TigerLily,  haha, I also made the jump from "local music scene" to "local birth scene."  When you move here, PM me and I'll get you connected!  :)

Katy, I used a realtor named Gerrie Andolina.  She's awesome.  I think she typically stays to the "North Towns" though.  (Grand Island, Tonawanda, Amherst).  

Don't know if any particular area has more homeschoolers than others.  I seem to find the most "crunchy" folk and the most homeschoolers living in North Buffalo.  (Probably because the school district in Buffalo is so bad that they feel like they have to homeschool).  Whenever I meet a cool, young, crunchy-type mama, and I ask where she lives, it's usually "near the zoo."  

[katy1844]

I'm assuming the zoo is in Buffalo, correct?  Most of my husbands co-workers have suggested amherst (that's where trader joes is opening so I have been looking there) but Sherry's place does sound super dreamy  :-) I'm wondering which area has a larger homeschooling group......  I'm also looking for a good midwife if anyone has any suggestions that would be awesome!  Thanks again ladies!!

Kt

[Chapsie]

Originally Posted by katy1844 

I'm assuming the zoo is in Buffalo, correct?  Most of my husbands co-workers have suggested amherst (that's where trader joes is opening so I have been looking there) but Sherry's place does sound super dreamy  :-) I'm wondering which area has a larger homeschooling group......  I'm also looking for a good midwife if anyone has any suggestions that would be awesome!  Thanks again ladies!!

Kt

Yep, "Zoo" is North Buffalo.  Trader Joes is actually opening on the border between Tonawanda and Amherst.  

Are you wanting to home birth?   There are two homebirth CNMs in the Buffalo area.  Khristeena Kingsley (wnymidwife.com) and Eileen Stewart (buffalomidwiferyservices.com).  I saw Khristeena for the most amazing prenatal care and had a wonderful homebirth with her 6 weeks ago.  :)   I can't recommend her highly enough.  Both are out of network for most major insurances, so you have to pay the fee upfront and then hope to be reimbursed by insurance afterward.  Homebirth in NY is more pricey than other areas because NY only recognizes CNMs, not CPMs.  Look for prices above 4K for midwifery services.  

If you want a hospital based practice, the only group that guarantees you will have a midwife at delivery is Nurse Midwifery Associates of WNY (Sarah Worrell and Elaine Clutterbuck).  They just reorganized their practice and now deliver at South Buffalo Mercy Hospital.

I also know a lot of wonderful doulas if you will need to get in touch with one of them eventually.  :)

[ms jacklyn]

Buffalo mama here... Not sure if you are still looking for a midwife but I am working with Eileen Stewart and she is great, very open to your opinions and wants while balancing what will realistically work in your situation. Unfortunately, the insurance coverage is a problem like someone else pointed out... We are looking at about $4200 total for her services.

As far as some things other posters have noted - there seems to be an inherent suburban bias in this thread. I've always lived in the city (9+ years) and yes, it is rocky at times but I prefer it to the sprawl of neighborhoods like Amherst, Williamsville, Orchard Park or Hamburg. My opinion - DO NOT MOVE ONTO THE EAST SIDE - Too much crime and blight. The west side is growing and improving, I personally prefer Elmwood Village. It is centrally located to all the amenities mentioned and it has a high walkability rating. You can find a beautiful old Victorian home in EV for very reasonable prices and most of the families in the area are some variant of "crunch."

Welcome to Buffalo!

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@tigerlily "music scene to birth scene" - same here!!