Buffalo, New York

If you’re living in some big metropolis, your Buffalo word association responses might be “cold,” “snowy,” “wings”, “Bills so sad.” All that is accurate, yes they have an unreasonable affection for tailgating and no, snow does not equate to a snow day. But the Rust Belt imagery is starting to be transformed. The barriers to entry are low to start up something, yet the infrastructure and support is there so it works.

Buffalo has almost all the amenities one would look for in a major city (public transportation, arts and culture, restaurants and nightlife, major retail and professional sports) without many of the downsides that go along with it (traffic, high cost of living and lacking a sense of community) It also has Frank Lloyd Wright houses, Canada is right across the river and you can be in sophisticated Toronto in 90 minutes.

A local writes a nice summary: To me Chicago always feels like a big city version of Buffalo. So that would have the closest feel. Our weather is better (cooler summers and warmer winters). It all depends what you like to do and what your comparison points are. If you like the constant novelty of a big city Buffalo is going to feel too small. But people are friendly, it's cheap, architecture is nice, Toronto is close enough for concerts and things you can't get here.

The transition is still in progress. Right now, there’s still a lot of drinking and football watching routines and it’s the kind of place that really gets into St. Patrick’s Day. Also, taxes in buffalo for property are higher than most other areas of the country. Oh, and about that snow…you’re going to have to learn to drive in it. And dress for it. Except in the summer when it’s party time in Buffalo.

The transition is still in progress. Right now, there’s still a lot of drinking and football watching routines and it’s the kind of place that really gets into St. Patrick’s Day. Also, taxes in buffalo for property are higher than most other areas of the country. Oh, and about that snow…you’re going to have to learn to drive in it. And dress for it. Except in the summer when it’s party time in Buffalo.

A local notes the transition stage: Cons: Run down areas have not all been eliminated or cleaned up (yet) if that bothers you; fewer new job opportunities than in boom-town cities; most available housing is older so lower home prices may be somewhat offset by home improvement costs in older homes (but still cheaper per my experience, maybe not yours though); state income tax can be a burden to some; annoying isolated suburban and exurban people who blame their life's troubles on the city/state (grass is greener elsewhere people) who often literally fear and avoid the city;