I hope you enjoy this Rural towns in New York video. Please hit the like button and feel free to share it on your social media. That really helps aswell. #ThankYouAll
This gentleman has managed to pick the absolutely most expensive towns in New York state. Not one of these towns is known as middle of the road affordable. They're all outrageously expensive. There's plenty of other small towns in New York that are beautiful and far more affordable.
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Born and raised in the upstate NY area, I've been to all of the places in the video. When you leave upstate NY you learn how special it is. Unfortunately, politicians have ruined it for the people of NY. High taxes have driven away jobs. My father used to say, "NY is a great place to live if you can afford it".
Greece New York know the whole area I left New York and I do miss it not the weather though TOO cold so COLD fight to drive fight the weather! Rain lots of rain! Basically may till september is the best weather but even then nice weather is thunder storms n sun n rain some day so sweet few n far between! Shovel that snow for at least three months a yr along with your car n dress warm lots of layering by the time your home the layers take a tiny while to take off! The weather stinks!
@@lee-qz7bd I liked your comment cuz there's a lot of truth to it California's in the toilet indeed but I've had two other friends that did the same thing that I did and they both moved back they both just moved back and they can afford it ❤️
Canandaigua absolutely should have made this list. It's about an hour outside of Rochester that boasts a lot of amenities that one wouldn't expect from a small-ish town on one of the Finger Lakes. It has a very good full-service hospital, a music venue that attracts world class artists, several award winning micro breweries, and a decently low crime rate. I have family that lives there so I might be just a PINCH biased but it really is a nice small town to live in. And once upon a time Humphrey Bogart and his family used to summer there during his childhood. He claimed that his time spent on Canandaigua Lake were some of the best if not THE best years of his life so that HAS to account for something! Also the Wegmans organic farm is located on the western shore of the lake.
I agree that Canandaigua is awesome, I think he didn't include it because it doesn't qualify as rural under his standards. He said Skaneateles was almost too big to be considered rural and it has 2-3k fewer residents than Canandaigua.
@@thebiddler6907 I definitely agree with you though, I’m from Rochester and I loved driving through Canandaigua. I used to go to a lot of concerts at CMAC
The unfortunate thing with New York is that the property taxes are just to high. I have lived in NY my whole life and am familiar with all these towns. Cold Springs is beautiful, bordrrs the Hudson and the taxes are killers, ditto Millbrook, etc. Lake George is very expensive. Lake Placid is a beautiful area, great for a visit in winter or summer, but the winters are cold and long. In the Adirondacks there are three seasons, winter, July and August. Most of these towns fall into that catagory. Some counties, very few, have lower property taxes. I love NY but our government has killed the state through mismanagement and corruption.
I totally agree with you about upstate NY. We wanted to retire in Ithaca but the local taxes are insane….first you have the hamlet taxes, than village taxes, than county taxes…it is crazy. They need to reorganize the hamlet/village/town/county structure.
Literally the only thing keeping me from living in NY is taxes!!! Not just property but also sales tax and income tax are so very high, your money just doesn't go far. Everyone I know who lives there is barely getting by and never getting ahead.
Grew up near Ellicottville. Cant count how many times I’ve tried to explain that ‘no I’m not from NYC’ or ‘no I can’t take the subway from ellicottville to nyc’ or ‘yes New York is a state’ or ‘no New York State is not the size of Rhode island’ or why I don’t have a Bronx accent etc etc etc etc
Some of the towns sound nice except the govenor looks like a mule and is just as looney as that hag that sits in Salem. Been to NYC when I drove truck NY is actually a beautiful state.
A fine list….but definitely some others to consider…..Red Hook in Dutchess County, Corning in Steuben County, Saratoga Springs/Ballston Spa in Saratoga County, Watkins Glen, Geneva, Ithaca, Derby in Erie County, Montauk in Suffolk County and so many more….I♥️NY, originally from The Bronx, living in Jersey, but a New Yorker forever
I remember when I first met my wife(who’s from Massachusetts) and during our small talk I told her I grew up in Albany and her response was “wow are you close to Time Square?” 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ I swear, outside the city, NY state gets hardly any credit
I lived in NY all my life....these choices are not for the 'average Joe'. How about places like Cuddebackville, Goshen, Pine Bush, Howells, all in Orange county, where taxes are less, a variety of homes and an hours commute to NYC. There are medical centers, lakes & streams in Orange county. It borders Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We are not all millionaires in New York.
@@EVER4MJ we lived in Westbrookville, NY, off Rt 209 for 20 years, with 26 hundred acres of state land behind us. We know Goshen well. Originally from Long Island.
We had a place in Livingston Manor, it as wonderful as a get away. Used to stop in Goshen for dinner and went to the trotters every weekend. I now live in Milford PA also a Tri state area.
Otsego, Delaware, Chenango, Schoharie counties phoned and would love to have some of that wonderful internet you claim is available in all these rural areas of upstate New York. Was amazed that you didn't mention places like Bainbridge, Morris, Otego, Delhi, Coventry, Stamford and a host of others. Very touristy vid overall.
Thanks for this video Briggs. I live in Upstate NY, and there are many beautiful places in this state!! We are so much more than NYC, our spring, summers, and falls are gorgeous!! Love your videos!!
@@pamelanovelli1239 - Spring is meant to be wet. Why do you think NY is so green and lush? Summers can vary in heat, humidity and rainfall, but the seriously hot portion is usually pretty short. Where in the US does it not get at least some hot weather in the Summer? New York State is beautiful and very livable, even with the taxes. There certainly are other states where the taxes are less, but they are other trade-offs like brutally hot summers in the South, brutal winters in the upper mid-west, tornadoes in the mid-west and lack of water in the southwest. No area is perfect. Pick what works for you and be happy.
Great places to live if u wanna pay 8% sales tax ...21% income tax ..have the highest regulations on vehicle inspections..and have to heat ur house 7 months a year ...yeah good times
Grew up in Rochester, Lake George is probably my favorite place in the world. I relocated to Texas for personal and financial reasons but I certainly miss Upstate NY. I wish the taxes and cost of living were lower
I grew up in Texas, visited upstate/finger lakes area. And moved there later that year. 2 years later im back in Texas. I can handle the winters, the taxes and over regulation of the citizens i can't handle
If you were here for the past couple years, you would know that the little three bedroom cape that was 70k before the pandemic is now 350K. I dont even look at newer nice houses. They are all a million dollars. You have not been here lately have you? They are looking for a replacement for the monster on main st in Lake George if you know any eight feet tall green men. lol.
@@dieselguy62 god forbid you needed an abortion for your 10 year old. The government has regulated in Texas you keep that baby if it kills the mother. Some regulation is say.
I bought a home through the department of Agriculture. My home is 15 minutes west of Canandaigua, NY (finger lakes region) and yes purchased with zero money down. I appreciate the homework you did on the places you are discussing. those in WNY and Finger lakes are great places. BUT - there are so many WNY & finger lakes towns & villages that are amazing.
Good list but I live in NY, some of the best rural towns are in Saratoga county. You got so much to do the city, the track, the Harness, the history, great hospitals close by, Cheapest taxes in the state, Casino, also not bad in price for homes but some are outrageous. Now I don't want you think I'm one of those people that are crying about the list, I'm not. Great job on the list.
Skaneateles is a cool place. They have lots of cute little shops plus the lake is nice. For hospitals, they can certainly go to any of the hospitals in Syracuse or they could drive 12 minutes West to Auburn. They could also drive 40 minutes Southeast to Cortland. Cortland is where I live and I was born in Cortland hospital.
And both Cortland and Skaneateles have Doug's Fish Fry so that is all that matters! I grew up with a cabin on Owasco Lake and went to college at Cortland AND my mother's family is from Groton, NY. I have a lot of ties to the area, but I'm in the Owego area these days.
My brother went to a private high school in Lake Placid, brutal winters but an absolutely adorable small town that surrounds a lake! Can't wait to visit again!!!
2 months ago sold our home in the burbs of Albany NY and getting ready to move to Delanson/Knox to a 5 acre oasis. Beautiful farmland and mountains but still less than a 30 min ride to work....I can't wait...the wife and I have been talking about this for years but we had a baby 7 months ago so we stopped talking and made it happen...God willing! My advice get away from the big cities because when bad things happen it usually starts where the most people are herded in one area....country living baby.. gardens, chicken coups and all that..
New Paltz is also great if you like being surrounded by mountains, near a river, and great forests. Its super secluded but somehow only a 90 minute frive to New York City.
You missed a number of nice small towns in upstate NY: Cazenovia, Canandaigua, Cooperstown, Baldwinsville, Geneva, Penn Yan, Scottsville, and so many more. NY is full of quaint small towns & lovely countryside. The winters are long & harsh so it's good to have a warm retreat in mind. But that's about the worst of it. No huge wildfires, earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, major floods, or other natural disasters. Just an occasional blizzard. If you're just downwind of a Great Lake, expect snow by the foot. I suggest avoiding resort areas such as Lake Placid & Lake George to live. Not good values often. I'd also avoid college towns such as Geneseo & Hamilton since the many students tend to drive down home values & can contribute to litter, noise & disturbing behaviors.
I was waiting for you to hit Upstate NY with this series of videos. I know from some of your previous work that you have some personal experience with the Empire State Not all of it positive. (Every New Yorker does as well.) I admire you' re objectivity,. It's why I subscribed. I've driven across and around the country several times and lived in two other states before my folks moved to the Hudson Valley in 1968. Going to school my classmates universally couldn't wait to get as far away as possible. I knew that even then and told them that they had no idea how good they actually had it where we lived. You went into the military and I went West for college after that I did the Oil Patch and some hard rock mining.Eventually got pulled back to NY Just like in Millbrook a lot of small towns around here, there have been and are quite a few celebrities that choose to make at least their East Coast homes here. The point is throughout NYS there are at least a thousand other towns maybe two, that are equal to the ones you chose, not many other states can make that claim.
Good looks, 3/5 I'm very familiar with and would agree: Ellicottville, Lake Placid, and Lake George. Born and raised in CNY. If I may suggest a few towns for your next rural Upstate towns I'd say: Clinton, Clayton, Cape Vincent, Old Forge, Inlet, Tupper Lake, North Creek/Schroon, Seneca Falls, Montour Falls... To name a few
Upstate New York is absolutely beautiful. Dozens and dozens of cool and beautiful small towns. I nominate Roxbury in Delaware county. I spent my early years there. Its scenic, affordable and a skier's paradise.
@@seribaek402 I do not know Auburn all that well. I’ve only visited once for my sibling’s playoff baseball game. The Finger lakes have many charming communities. I’m sure Auburn fits in a similar context to neighboring Skaneateles or Geneva.
@@seribaek402 it's known as "prison city" due to the State Prison being there....also, many "friends" "relatives" move there to be near a prisoner who may be housed there... but Auburn is known for having pretty girls if that matters...lol....
@@seribaek402my brother has lived there for 20+ years it's very nice but like most of upstate more people than good paying jobs. Everyone thinks that school teachers are underpaid, well those are the "good jobs" along with prison guards specifically in Auburn.
Absolutely love these towns in upstate NY. In my experience, these small towns in NY are not like rural towns elsewhere the country. The NY rural towns are kept up pretty well and offer nice, non-chain restaurants and shops. People are friendly as well. There seems to be lots to do because of the lakes and mountains. Winters are pretty brutal and the roads are pitch black at night. Property taxes are high due to the ridiculousness of village, hamlet, town and county tax structure. Many of the NY rural towns aren’t too far from major universities with medical schools.
They're not like other rural towns because they aren't actually rural... theyre financed to appear this way, because the wealthy people who own all the real estate around here... come up from the city and want a farmesque vibe. "come to our farm upstate" aka a tax write off where they sell fruits and vegetables for too much money and hold events... yep to make more money.... ever notice how nice all the farms are over here?.... its cause they're pretentious.. Go to the mid west and youll see a real farm.
I agree, I grew up in Watkins Glen. Although I went to school in Dundee, which is about 15 minutes north of Watkins Glen. THAT looks like a real rural town, very impoverished and drug - ridden. Not as close to any bigger town. You have to drive 20 minutes to shop somewhere besides dollar general.
Upstate NY is beautiful! It's pretty and green and I love the small towns. Property taxes are up there, but you can find a pretty decent home at a affordable price depending on where you look.
Very good video! I've lived in Upstate NY (Rochester area) since I was 3-y.o., and am (in many ways) a *huge* booster of Western Upstate NY. Especially in Western NY there's something to do all year round, and the Finger Lakes Region is _so_ *very* pretty, especially during the fall-foliage season ... which is also when the dozens of wineries are going full-throttle, so you can tour, and sample, some *excellent* wineries and wines! In the winter you're never more than 30-40 minutes from a ski-slope, although a number are admittedly small. But there are a fair number that are definitely first class! (Just don't expect a mile-and-a-quarter vertical drop!) The summer let's you use the miles upon miles of shore-front for swimming and boating-access! Not to mention visiting some absolutely *gorgeous* scenic locations! My personal favorite is Letchworth State Park ('The Grand Canyon Of The East'), about 45 minutes south of Rochester. It's certainly smaller than 'the Big One' in AZ, but still quite a sight. And I think it's color-pallet (various greens and blue-grays) is more soothing on the eyes! If you want to be stunned, visit Letchworth during the fall-foliage season! And, as a local, I can't resist mentioning a special Rochester annual event, The Lilac Festival, that happens in the late spring (when not disrupted by a pandemic), which draws people from - quite literally - all over the world! For 8 to 10 days there are free concerts, old-fashioned carriage rides, and various other happenings! There are events specifically for families/small children, so nobody gets left out. And the lilacs! Ever since I was a little kid, lilacs have been my favorite flower-scent. All of the above wonderfulness, however, has been hurt by NYS's expensive cost of living, due to ridiculous levels of taxation. Sadly, I myself am looking to leave the state, as my very modest fixed-income is seriously stretched by my expenses. So, if you have the money, NYS is a great place to visit, not even counting the sights and sites in NYC! P.S. - thanks for expanding your coverage of medical facilities and the like ... much appreciated!
Exactly, and I love Letchworth, next would be Stony Brook! However, with a single working income, I'm getting stretched right out of Upstate. I'm just North of Syracuse. Taxes and cost to own, run a business, I may have to leave :( Soon
@@JLea3 ... yeah, sadly, a lot of single-proprietor businesses are getting 'squeezed-out' in NYS ... _by NYS!_ Taxes in general, then special taxes for this and for that, annual fees for this and that and the other thing - not to mention having to make sure you're 'in compliance' with pages after pages of State Regulations (and sometimes Regulations from the County, *and* all the local ordinances) ... I'll probably be leaving before the end of the year, and I don't even have a business! Business owners like you? I can hardly imagine ... Wishing you the *best!* 👍 🤜🤛 🥂
@@ephennell4ever Thank You, is very kind. The Rules and Regulations are beyond belief. Just too much! Sadly, because I really enjoy this area. Wishing you All the Best :) as well ✌️Be Safe
@@JLea3 ... If I may suggest a possibility - if you don't mind *real* winters, consider Montana and Wyoming. I traveled around the Rockies several summers ago, and thoroughly enjoyed my time there; *amazing* scenery, *wonderful* people, and lots of fascinating places to visit and see! Cheyenne, WY, is a modest-sized place, but big enough that you might find you could re-start your business there. (Maybe? Obviously I don't know your business, but ...) I am seriously considering moving there, especially if I can talk my brother into also moving there. Would like to have *somebody* I know living closer to me than 600+ miles away! In any case, good luck and Grace to you! 🤝
@@JLea3 what rules and regulations? Why does everything need to turn into a bunch of Trumpers whining about what they themselves created? Five years ago they were spending like drunk preachers in a Bangkok daycare with a fist full of hundred dollar bills.
I was born and raised in the Buffalo area. Loved it! Before retiring we had 43 acres in the ADK mountains with 1/2 mile on the Hudson River. For an IT guy and an Accountant, we loved it! Taxes??? You get what you pay for!
I was born in Westport, NY, on lake Champlain & raised in Beacon, NY on the Hudson. Beautiful areas. Now live in Texas! I know most of the towns you mentioned! Very good job!
I live 45 minutes from Lake George. It is a nice little town and they have a large factory outlet strip on the main drag. Along with a big six flags amusement park. The lake is very cold in the summer and has been shut down many times due to ecolli. There’s a large picnic park across from the lake and have just started adding winter activities like ice skating and Christmas light drive through. They are also famous for their winter polar plunge
Grew up in Seneca Falls, great town and they even have a casino lol. Penn Yan is also a great small town. Seneca Falls was the inspiration for Bedford Falls in It's a Wonderful Life. So that has to be worth something.
@@thebiddler6907 I lived in PY for 15 years attended HS there. Lived in Seneca Falls for about 15 years total as well. Now I live in Rochester. Need to get back to small town living.
I went to school in Dundee just south of Penn Yan, I went there all the time. It's nice but kinda poor like the rest of Yates county. I live in buffalo now
I’m born and raised in nyc and my wife is from upstate. I purchased a 3 bedroom 2 bath home in a college town in the fingerlakes for 100k… and the area is absolutely amazing. This list is absolutely insane
Hello neighbor ! Lol I too was born and raised in NYC and recently moved up here to Hudson Falls. Looking to buy a home but we are renting right now. Any recommendations?
I've lived in upstate NY all my 42 years and been to most of these places especially Lake George and Lake Placid both 1-2 hours away. I love upstate NY its beautiful and always tell people when someone says they are from New York to not assume we are all NYCers....its 2 different worlds between upstate and NYC. It just sucks how expensive it is in upstate NY but still better than the city. We are staying even though many are leaving and heading south. My mom and dad and 3 brothers and their families are here and we are tight and spend lots of time together because we all live within 30 mins of eachother. My 3 younger brothers and I absolutely love the Adirondacks we are all big outdoor/bushcraft/survival guys and we go camping in the mountains at least once a year sometimes twice. Our annual trip is in 3 weeks and I'm pumped. We don't do no glamping..im talking gear loaded into canoes and a 30 min paddle to a nice secluded spot somewhere on the lake and 3 days of fishing, campfire cooking, hiking and of course a little bit of adult beverages around the fire before bed....it gets Chilly up there at night even in the summer sometimes so a few shots of Fireball will warm ya up before hitting the tent lol.....great video as always Briggs!
@@gardenlady2041 nope it’s a small cidermill on route 28 between Richfield springs and Cooperstown it’s called dyns cidermil, you might be thinking of the other one everyone goes to that’s a cash grab that’s called fly creek cidermill.
Born and raised in Troy, Ny. After the 8 months of winter, the 1 month of spring thaw, the 1 month of black flies and mosquitos followed by the 6 weeks of summer heat and humidity there's a few real nice days there!
All the towns you mentioned are tourist towns, like Skaneateles. Everyone knows you go there to enjoy the lake but not to buy a house, unless you inherit a few million. Central Square NY has houses for $150,000. And a few years ago they were $100,000. Near there you can still buy a place on Oneida lake for $200,000
Briggs, I would give you 1000 thumbs up for including my home town in this list! Lake George is an incredible town, so much to do in all 4 seasons! You are right, the crime rate does go up in the summer with all the tourists. I never spent a bad day in the Village as long as I lived there. Winter is fun because the locals move back in and the kids can have snowball fights downtown and not worry about hitting any cars. it's too bad you didn't get a shot of the Lake George Steamboat Co. Great history there. I love this place and I wish I still lived there. Thank you for an excellent list!!! Peace!
The lake it's self is beautiful,but the village is a tourist trap. Motels and t-shirts shops. Living 5 miles north of this place,locals avoid it in the summer months.
There are many beautiful towns in the Finger Lakes region. I was raised in Clifton Springs and Newark NY. Clifton Springs has a population of about 2000 and houses are cheap.
I love Clifton springs! I went to Dundee school and grew up in Watkins Glen but went to Dundee. It's the same boces district as Newark and Clifton springs
As a cold spring native and upstate NY business owner most of the people are leaving due to the toxic political environment. Regardless all these towns are beautiful and wonderful places to live if you can afford it and endure the NYC values that plague the state.
Yes! My childhood was spent at a cabin on Owasco Lake. Not a lot of people get that lucky and I'm sure many would love to see the Finger Lakes and all their beauty!
I was raised in Lake George/Glens Falls, pretty in the Summer if you can make it thru the incoming Canadian traffic but there is NOTHING to do in the winter, unless you ski then your good. Shops are seasonal so no real shopping in the winter. You would need to go 1 hour south to Albany to shop.
Thanks for doing this video! While we do have issues in NY, I’m never disappointed to come home! I live in the Capital Region. It has amazing access to every type of outdoor adventure imaginable with a reasonable cost of living and low crime rate.
Born and raised in the town next to Skaneateles, Marcellus NY. Skaneateles is a tourist Town with lots of snobby rich people. Although the town is definitely beautiful.
The finger lakes region is beautiful. As we watched the video, my husband and I wondered if Skaneateles would be #1 - and it was! We moved from the area to Texas for high-tech work, but try to return to the area frequently. Have considered moving back, but the taxes are too high and the winters are long. Will stick to visiting. Nice video.
Skeaneateles has the ABC anchor Muir who lives on that finger lake. Everywhere is packed full of celebrities "country place's". The funny thing about the two killers that escaped Dannemora prison*( incareration Home of Tupac)* is that the prison is about six miles away from where Brooke Shields used to own a connected Island on Chazy Lake. The home was originally owned by some Pavoratti type of crooner type back in the 1920's. I went to the prison warden's home to deliver something at the prison once. Best view in the whole Adirondacks. You can see Montreal, VT, Adirondacks, Green's in VT. NY got rid of warden's houses and it is abandoned. Just up and behind the prison. The State of NY owns some of the best parks in the whole country and they aint cheap to maintain. If you are ever in that area, go to Dannemora prison or the Summer White House which is now Clinton Community College for the best views of the area. Explore NY. It is really quite a place. ALL OF IT.
It looks like a lot of us New York folks ended up in Texas! I'd move back if NY State would get it's stuff together, but that seems unlikely. High taxes, high crime, bad weather, and a poor economy are NOT a winning combination!
I grew up in Orange County, NY. It surprises people that there is an Orange County outside of California. Lived in Maybrook and later Greenwood Lake. Graduated from Tuxedo High School 30 years ago.
I grew up in Leeds ny and after living in nj for the last 30 years with incredible taxes and insurance costs I’m heading back to retire. Jersey has the highest taxes in the nation. My property taxes here in jersey are 12 grand a year. Same property in the town I grew up in is 2600 per year. Back I go.
You can find much cheaper places near Ellicotville if you move to a neighboring town. 10 miles away a very nice house is 100k … if you want a fixer upper you can get below 50k. The prices you quoted are for village houses and right on the ski resort.
We really enjoy your videos, they are a great starting point if one is interested in relocating. My parents and extended family are from the Rochester area. I've never lived in NY but have spent a lot of time as a kid and later as an adult vacationing in many areas of the state. Absolutely beautiful state to visit and at one time we considered buying a second home for summering in the North Country. It was right at the top of our list with several other New England states. Unfortunately the tax rates seemed exorbitant for what you get so we reluctantly crossed it off our list. Many of these towns and villages are seeing dramatic reductions in populations and job opportunities so that doesent bode well for the resale real estate market. It's a shame because the legislators are committing economic suicide at the expense of its citizens.
There’s a few I’m surprised were missed. Geneseo is a very pretty little college town. Cooperstown is a picture perfect village. Middleburgh, Woodstock, And Avon also come to mind.
I believe it would be due to population size, I'm pretty sure G town is around 10k people not counting students. I went to university there and live in Rochester. Almost bought a house down there in 2004.
Really surprised you could only find 6 towns, all of which are really expensive. You identified all of the top regional tourist towns. Just think there are more out there that are not skiing centers.
"Lake George is without comparison, the most beautiful water I ever saw; formed by a contour of mountains into a basin, finely interspersed with islands, its water limpid as crystal, and the mountain sides covered with rich groves down to the water-edge: here and there precipices of rock to checker the scene and save it from monotony." -- Thomas Jefferson, May 31, 1791 I was raised on Lake George, couldn’t say it better if I tried
I'm a truck driver and live in Maine. A lot of trips to upstate NY. I am picky about places- I grew up in Metro Detroit and hate suburbs! Having lived in Maine for 30 years I feel oddly comfortable in Upstate NY unlike anywhere else in the Northeast. If it weren't for the politics in Albany and NYC that dictate the rest of the state I could easily live up there
Ahh, Maine! The place that, every summer, I looked forward to spending a week or two in! (Relatives on Woodbury Pond.) Unfortunately, NYS looks to be driving me away (cost-of-living, and lots of stupidly boneheaded laws!), and I'd like to move there, but my medical/health situation would pretty much mean ... either Portland or Augusta (relatives have made the main hospital in Lewiston/Auburn sound - less appealing.) Somehow, I never really found either Portland or Augusta to seem/feel comfortable - don't know why. 12+ years ago I would've considered moving into 'The Outback', as I call it. But not given my situation now. Good to hear from a 'Mainiac'! Keep On Keepin' On, *Like A Tank!*
You do know that other than NYC and a few other big cities the majority of it is very conservative, even Staten Island and Long Island are very red. The further north you go in the New England and NY the more it reminds me of the deep south. Not in a good way. I am a moderate, but the Trump compounds a couple years out grows old.
@@ephennell4ever If you want good healthcare here you have to go to Boston. But that's not bad as from, for example, the Bangor area it's only three and a half- four hours. Portland is southern Maine and might as well be another country, Augusta is just kinda strange- I don't like that part of the state either. lol
@@johnmaker9534 ... unfortunately, there have been some times in the last several years where I had a fast ambulance ride to one of the hospitals here; probably wouldn't work out so well if it was an hour+ ride. That's why I've given up on moving up there; have to just figure on a once-every-couple-years visit, sadly.
☀️🏡I love this guy! He is funneling everyone away from the best places to live😄 keeps us safe and beautiful. 👍(but our taxes are very high, so try for PA or Ohio.)
Lake George!! My home region. Horrible crowded in the summer. And it's Glens Falls--- with an 's' at the end of both words. Not sure why non locals miss that... it's literally right there when you read it lol.
Briggs! Good video - I lived in Cold Spring for one year but can’t say as I ever heard a cannon go off down by West Point. Another big plus to Cold Spring is being able to commute an hour and fifteen minutes on Metro North down the scenic Hudson Line to Grand Central near where we both worked. Once stood behind Kevin Klein and Phoebe Cates in the little supermarket checkout line. And a realtor showed us where Andie McDowell and Don McLean each owned houses. So, yeah, with a lot of celebs living north of NYC it can be a little like Hollywood on the Hudson.
@@jenniferwhite914 No, Herkimer is way upstate between Albany and Syracuse. Cold Spring is a far-flung suburb/town of the NYC area, north but nowhere near as far north as Herkimer.
Why is winter such a negative? It has its challenges, but unrelenting 95 degree temperatures is no picnic either. I grew up in Rochester and had a great time in winter. We went ice skating and sled riding in woods behind our house. We also had some epic snow ball fights. Even now (much older) I like winter even if I don't like driving on ice. You just get snow tires and slow down.
Because 95 degree heat can be fixed with an air conditioner. You don't have to shovel 3-ft of 95 degree heat off your drive way, nor do you have to pull 3 ft of heat off your roof to keep it from collapsing.
Upstate NY is beautiful I can say you can see all the seasons in one day wake up to beautiful weather feels like spring and looks like fall and it can rain hail and snow in the same day then the sun will pop back out and it's back to beautiful weather never doubt the weather will stay what the news says but I love it here now all we need is better people to run our state and our towns
I live in northern New York a half hour from Watertown. It’s a great place to live too that’s actually reasonable priced. We bought a 1600 sqft house that was fully move in ready for 85k in 2021.
$900,000 is reasonable? That's ridiculous. There are plenty of wonderful places to live in upstate NY that aren't like that. Also, frankly most of upstate NY is near decent healthcare except maybe deep in the Adirondacks or Southern tier. Lake Placid, Lake George, Skaneateles are all very touristy. I can't believe he didn't pick Saratoga. That's just like that too. Also, the weather in upstate NY is fine. Seriously, it's just snow. We get everything. Tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, ice storms, heat waves, snow storms - Yup. But the weather doesn't kill you (unless you can't drive in the snow- just go slow). We don't have rolling blackouts, lack of water, riots, protests or mass murders. I think upstate NY is a great place to live - except the politics.
Saratoga Springs really isn't a small town. I have been there many times and have a friend that still lives there. It is really nice, and the homes are nice.
Millbrook is a quaint area. I used to clean pools out there and boy are some of those houses beautiful with amazing land and a cute park. I always called it Mini Central Park. Word is, Michael Jackson owns(ed) a house that's gated with tall privacy trees a couple streets up and over from Main St (if you've been there you know what one. With the big brown wooden gate on 55 I think). We were also told that the family of Johnson & Johnson have a house there or one of the immediate relatives..the last name was Johnson but who knows lol but a huge property and of course horses.
The finger lakes region is beautiful Went to Cazenovia College Love that area Winters well lake effect snow ❄ is something that was a surprise Summers are beautiful fall is amazing spring is beautiful Cazenovia is worth a visit
My sister went there in the 80's. Last class before they gave up on the women only thing. Seemed a little small, smug and stuffy to me. I went to Albany.
I was born and raised in upstate NY. Left as soon as I could. Had numerous job offers from Kodak and Xerox but decided to leave. NY is awesome from May to Sept. The rest of the year, forget about it…
Cold spring is such a nice little town on the Hudson River . Probably nicest town on the list for sure ... Cold spring is incredibly farther and way more down state than every other town you mentioned on this list
Lake placid used to be hard working people that had there homes for generations. Then rich New Yorkers started buying homes there. From NYC. The property taxes went through the roof and the working class had to move to Saranac and commute to work.
Born and raised in upstate NY in a small town called Willsboro, which sits in Lake Champlain. Love it up here. Taxes are bad and you have to drive 30 minutes to a hospital and 45 minutes from Lake Placid. I would never move. The Fall and Winter are my favorite seasons! Adirondack Park baby!!!!
This was a good video bringing back some memories. Having been raised in Fishkill, NY which has history dating back to the revolutionary war and George Washington stopping in there many times. Additionally I was stationed at West Point back in the 80’s and I will admit it is beautiful in rural NY. To bad the taxes are in outer space.
Born & raised in Ossining (Lower Hudson Valley); not "upstate" to me but, then again, to those living in NYC, Yonkers is upstate. Anyway, years ago, PETA launched a protest in Fishkill to denounce its name, Fish-kill, until the mayor advised them that the word "Fishkill" is derived from two Dutch words meaning a stream (kill) abundant with fish. Disappointed, the PETA people ambled off to find offense elsewhere...
I'm from the Town of Owego in the Southern Tier of NY. Very rural and not expensive. I love many of the towns on this list, but they are very expensive, and I'd rather visit them. There are so many great Upstate NY towns with wonderful history that it's worth getting to know us!
Lived in Syracuse practically my whole life. New York would be great if it wasn't for the six months of crap weather and NYC politics which has a virtual lock on the entire state. Summer is great here along with most of the restaurants, but I'm looking to retire South.
I live just south of Cold Spring! Yes it is very safe and lots of lovely older people. Sweet little town and great ice cream at Moo Moo’s on the River! Sorry for your fall lol and thanks so much for this funformative video! Cheers!
Recently sold a home in the Finger Lakes. The new owner qualified for a Dept. of Ag mortgage. $500. down was all it took. Property taxes may double and I am not confident the inexperienced new owner has been provided with that info. I have asked locals to provide him with support to become a responsible home owner. Including property tax payments with a monthly mortgage payment is my choice.
I've visited Lake George a few times, it's a really nice area! Very much a tourist town though, especially during summer. So if that's not the type of area you'd want to live in, best to look elsewhere lol.
Despite the fact that Briggs trashed some upstate areas in a previous video, most of Upstate NY is beautiful, it seems there is a lake everywhere you turn. Since the pandemic a lot of city people moved upstate. Nice areas in the finger lakes have gone up massively in value since.
Lake George in the winter can easily reach - 25 at night lol. Go there in the summer and fall ❤ Saratoga not far from there. Another great town in the summer
Time to do one for jersey lol I know we suck as a whole, but there are some decent rural places here. Williamstown, Hammonton, Jackson, Swedesboro, browns mills, Mantua, wynonah, sewell, Cranbury... little hidden gems
I grew up in and lived in Peekskill for many years. Cold Spring also has this really cool independent film festival/showing in the park down by the river.
I've been to most places on this list. Grew up going to lake George, really touristy. My mom grew up in west point across the river from cold spring. Skaneatles is great, I grew up in the finger lakes and frequented there. Lake Placid is awesome! Ellicottville is basically where everyone from buffalo goes on vacation. I live in buffalo now and everyone goes there all the time. I'd say my hometown of Watkins Glen should be on here. It's a great little town with a hospital and a Walmart. It's on Seneca lake, there's wineries, a state park with a gorge, and a nascar track. What more could you want?
A lot less bitter, windy cold winters, less taxes, less heat, humidity and mosquitoes in the 3 months of sweltering summer. I grew up in NYS, born in Buffalo, my dad worked at Watkins Glen race track, Niagara Falls is a joke compared to the water falls in Yosemite. As soon as I could I beat feet to San Diego.
@@etimesoyyosemite6673 I spent many summers working at that track in Watkins Glen. Always was a great time. A lot about new York sucks, but there's just something that draws people to it as well. I hate buffalo in the winter, but the rest of the year i love it. I'm not right in the city, I'm in the suburbs, and a lot of the suburbs are really nice.
@@etimesoyyosemite6673 I love Yosemite and back in the day, early 80's I made it my summer home rock climbing and backpacking. Now I hear you have to be lucky enough to get a permit. I am fortunate that I experienced it firsthand before people loved it to death. I am not sure where on the Northeast you experienced three months of sweltering heat. We don't' get many days in the 90s or even high 80s.
After spending 20 years in the Navy, I've had the opportunity to live in some of the most beautiful places in the entire world - almost 3 years cruising around in the Mediterranean Sea on my Uncle Sam's big grey yacht, resort islands in the Pacific, the Florida panhandle, San Diego, CA, Monterey, CA, the city that used to be San Francisco, and Boulder, CO, I've dropped my sailboat's anchor permanently near one of the villages on Mr. Briggs' list. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Yes, winters can be rugged, but they keep the roads plowed really well, and the only thing I need snow tires for is to get up and down my driveway. A really nice wood-burning fireplace insert keeps things toasty, and my John Deere snow blower (with cab) keeps the driveway open.
I grew up in Syracuse most of my life. Places like Lake placid and Lake George are great in the summer but are completely dead in the winter and they're really expensive. Skaneateles has always been big money. You should have added placed like Ithaca Ny and Oswego. Watertown is cheap too !
Looks to me he's not aiming for cheap in this video. Lots of nice towns upstate with more affordable real estate that aren't around resort areas,ski slopes, celebrity hangouts, tourist towns like these six. You don't have to pay $400k + to find a house in a nice town upstate.
I'm not sure Ithaca qualifies as small or rural, but Oswego definitely fits the description... except when college is in session. I love Oswego; went to college there and I still go up at least 3 times a year to visit Lake Ontario, drive around town, and if I'm there early enough heading to Wades for breakfast.
I hope you enjoy this Rural towns in New York video. Please hit the like button and feel free to share it on your social media. That really helps aswell. #ThankYouAll
Always
Stop typing
I wore my Be Nice to Each Other shirt again today. I love it Briggs!
Thanks for doing NY State! Love your videos!!
Northville NY blows all these away :)
This gentleman has managed to pick the absolutely most expensive towns in New York state. Not one of these towns is known as middle of the road affordable. They're all outrageously expensive. There's plenty of other small towns in New York that are beautiful and far more affordable.
..and there are few jobs in them
Maryland, NY
He didn't pick Saratoga Springs.
Key word was RURAL. Where else are you going to go? Owego, with all all the crackheads heroine needles?
I don't think there's any good jobs in New York anywhere
It’s hard to nail down specific predictions for the housing market because it’s not yet clear how quickly or how much the Federal Reserve can bring down inflation and borrowing costs without tanking buyer demand for everything from homes to cars.
A lot of folks have been going on about the bull rally and said stocks that would be experiencing significant growth, any idea which stocks this may be? I just sold my home in the Boca Grande area and I’m looking to remunerate a lump sum into the stock market before stocks rebound, is this a good time to buy or no?
Such market uncertainties are the reason I don’t base my market judgements and decisions on rumors and here-says, got the best of me 2020 and had me holding worthless position in the market, I had to revamp my entire portfolio through the aid of a broker, before I started seeing any significant results in my portfolio, been using the same Adviser and I’ve scaled up 750k within 2 years, whether a bullish or down market, both makes for good profit, it all depends on where you’re looking.
We’re only just an information away from amassing wealth, I know a lot of folks that made fortunes from the Dotcom crash as well as the 08’ crash and I’ve been looking into similar opportunities in this present market, could this coach that guides yo help?
Do you mind sharing info of the adviser who assisted you?
“Sonya Lee Mitchell’’ is the licensed fiduciary I use. Just research the name. You’d find necessary details to work with a correspondence to set up an appointment.
Born and raised in the upstate NY area, I've been to all of the places in the video. When you leave upstate NY you learn how special it is. Unfortunately, politicians have ruined it for the people of NY. High taxes have driven away jobs. My father used to say, "NY is a great place to live if you can afford it".
and once you move out, you'll never be able to afford to move back.
@@lee-qz7bd oh man!!! Dont kill my dream!!! 😂
Greece New York know the whole area I left New York and I do miss it not the weather though TOO cold so COLD fight to drive fight the weather! Rain lots of rain! Basically may till september is the best weather but even then nice weather is thunder storms n sun n rain some day so sweet few n far between! Shovel that snow for at least three months a yr along with your car n dress warm lots of layering by the time your home the layers take a tiny while to take off! The weather stinks!
Pretty much. It's very normal to pay 5-10k in taxes every year on a 300k house.
@@lee-qz7bd I liked your comment cuz there's a lot of truth to it California's in the toilet indeed but I've had two other friends that did the same thing that I did and they both moved back they both just moved back and they can afford it ❤️
Canandaigua absolutely should have made this list. It's about an hour outside of Rochester that boasts a lot of amenities that one wouldn't expect from a small-ish town on one of the Finger Lakes. It has a very good full-service hospital, a music venue that attracts world class artists, several award winning micro breweries, and a decently low crime rate. I have family that lives there so I might be just a PINCH biased but it really is a nice small town to live in. And once upon a time Humphrey Bogart and his family used to summer there during his childhood. He claimed that his time spent on Canandaigua Lake were some of the best if not THE best years of his life so that HAS to account for something! Also the Wegmans organic farm is located on the western shore of the lake.
I agree that Canandaigua is awesome, I think he didn't include it because it doesn't qualify as rural under his standards. He said Skaneateles was almost too big to be considered rural and it has 2-3k fewer residents than Canandaigua.
Yeah I think it had to do with population size and classification, I think Canandaigua is technically classified as a city
@@williamdibuono6916 Ah good point. I guess I kinda forgot that the title of the video is rural TOWNS and not cities!
@@robkorensky3278 Yeah I deff missed the point of the video since it's rural TOWNS and not cities!
@@thebiddler6907 I definitely agree with you though, I’m from Rochester and I loved driving through Canandaigua. I used to go to a lot of concerts at CMAC
The unfortunate thing with New York is that the property taxes are just to high. I have lived in NY my whole life and am familiar with all these towns. Cold Springs is beautiful, bordrrs the Hudson and the taxes are killers, ditto Millbrook, etc. Lake George is very expensive. Lake Placid is a beautiful area, great for a visit in winter or summer, but the winters are cold and long. In the Adirondacks there are three seasons, winter, July and August. Most of these towns fall into that catagory. Some counties, very few, have lower property taxes. I love NY but our government has killed the state through mismanagement and corruption.
HUMID and mosquitos
I totally agree with you about upstate NY. We wanted to retire in Ithaca but the local taxes are insane….first you have the hamlet taxes, than village taxes, than county taxes…it is crazy. They need to reorganize the hamlet/village/town/county structure.
Nailed it
Literally the only thing keeping me from living in NY is taxes!!! Not just property but also sales tax and income tax are so very high, your money just doesn't go far. Everyone I know who lives there is barely getting by and never getting ahead.
Lol. Winter, July & August. So true..😁
Grew up near Ellicottville. Cant count how many times I’ve tried to explain that ‘no I’m not from NYC’ or ‘no I can’t take the subway from ellicottville to nyc’ or ‘yes New York is a state’ or ‘no New York State is not the size of Rhode island’ or why I don’t have a Bronx accent etc etc etc etc
Also from that area, I can relate!
I have come across the opposite type of people, where they hail from someplace in the Adirondacks and act like they come from the rough parts of NYC.
My ex wife is from Glens Falls and she has the same problem, everyone thinks she's from NYC.
Some of the towns sound nice except the govenor looks like a mule and is just as looney as that hag that sits in Salem. Been to NYC when I drove truck NY is actually a beautiful state.
Probably easier just to say you're from Buffalo.
A fine list….but definitely some others to consider…..Red Hook in Dutchess County, Corning in Steuben County, Saratoga Springs/Ballston Spa in Saratoga County, Watkins Glen, Geneva, Ithaca, Derby in Erie County, Montauk in Suffolk County and so many more….I♥️NY, originally from The Bronx, living in Jersey, but a New Yorker forever
I remember when I first met my wife(who’s from Massachusetts) and during our small talk I told her I grew up in Albany and her response was “wow are you close to Time Square?” 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ I swear, outside the city, NY state gets hardly any credit
When you're near Buffalo, and people ask how far your from NYC!😆😆😆😆😆😆
and she thought the moon was the other side of the sun?
Kevy Kev?
I lived in NY all my life....these choices are not for the 'average Joe'. How about places like Cuddebackville, Goshen, Pine Bush, Howells, all in Orange county, where taxes are less, a variety of homes and an hours commute to NYC. There are medical centers, lakes & streams in Orange county. It borders Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We are not all millionaires in New York.
I moved to Goshen NY from East Rutherford NJ and I love it here.
@@EVER4MJ we lived in Westbrookville, NY, off Rt 209 for 20 years, with 26 hundred acres of state land behind us. We know Goshen well. Originally from Long Island.
From the Bronx. It's great hearing from a real New Yorker who has to deal with the prices and quality.
We had a place in Livingston Manor, it as wonderful as a get away. Used to stop in Goshen for dinner and went to the trotters every weekend. I now live in Milford PA also a Tri state area.
I want to see a video on all those places you’ve mentioned
Otsego, Delaware, Chenango, Schoharie counties phoned and would love to have some of that wonderful internet you claim is available in all these rural areas of upstate New York.
Was amazed that you didn't mention places like Bainbridge, Morris, Otego, Delhi, Coventry, Stamford and a host of others. Very touristy vid overall.
Thanks for this video Briggs. I live in Upstate NY, and there are many beautiful places in this state!! We are so much more than NYC, our spring, summers, and falls are gorgeous!! Love your videos!!
Fall is lovely spring is WET summers an IF we get one or then we get summers too hot n roast!
@@pamelanovelli1239 - Spring is meant to be wet. Why do you think NY is so green and lush? Summers can vary in heat, humidity and rainfall, but the seriously hot portion is usually pretty short. Where in the US does it not get at least some hot weather in the Summer? New York State is beautiful and very livable, even with the taxes. There certainly are other states where the taxes are less, but they are other trade-offs like brutally hot summers in the South, brutal winters in the upper mid-west, tornadoes in the mid-west and lack of water in the southwest. No area is perfect. Pick what works for you and be happy.
I'm from Syracuse!
6. Lake George 1:12
5. Ellicotville 3:04
4. Lake Placid 4:56
3. Cold Spring 7:19
2. Millbrook 9:42
1. Skaneateles 12:04
I would love to move to Lake George but can not afford it ;( Lake Placid nice but all these areas are beautiful but cold n wet most of the yr!
Great places to live if u wanna pay 8% sales tax ...21% income tax ..have the highest regulations on vehicle inspections..and have to heat ur house 7 months a year ...yeah good times
Love how you list the subjects thanks 😊
We avoid Lake George Village and Saratoga Springs in the summer. Way to many torons.
Village taxes in skan. starts at 14k a year
Grew up in Rochester, Lake George is probably my favorite place in the world. I relocated to Texas for personal and financial reasons but I certainly miss Upstate NY. I wish the taxes and cost of living were lower
I grew up in Texas, visited upstate/finger lakes area. And moved there later that year. 2 years later im back in Texas. I can handle the winters, the taxes and over regulation of the citizens i can't handle
If you were here for the past couple years, you would know that the little three bedroom cape that was 70k before the pandemic is now 350K. I dont even look at newer nice houses. They are all a million dollars. You have not been here lately have you? They are looking for a replacement for the monster on main st in Lake George if you know any eight feet tall green men. lol.
@@dieselguy62 god forbid you needed an abortion for your 10 year old. The government has regulated in Texas you keep that baby if it kills the mother. Some regulation is say.
Do you know Auburn NY well? Thinking of buying second house but not familiar with the there..Arterial W
I bought a home through the department of Agriculture. My home is 15 minutes west of Canandaigua, NY (finger lakes region) and yes purchased with zero money down. I appreciate the homework you did on the places you are discussing. those in WNY and Finger lakes are great places. BUT - there are so many WNY & finger lakes towns & villages that are amazing.
Was it through usda? I’m trying for this loan
We are looking to do the same thing. Was the process difficult?
Good list but I live in NY, some of the best rural towns are in Saratoga county. You got so much to do the city, the track, the Harness, the history, great hospitals close by, Cheapest taxes in the state, Casino, also not bad in price for homes but some are outrageous. Now I don't want you think I'm one of those people that are crying about the list, I'm not. Great job on the list.
Skaneateles is a cool place. They have lots of cute little shops plus the lake is nice. For hospitals, they can certainly go to any of the hospitals in Syracuse or they could drive 12 minutes West to Auburn. They could also drive 40 minutes Southeast to Cortland. Cortland is where I live and I was born in Cortland hospital.
And both Cortland and Skaneateles have Doug's Fish Fry so that is all that matters! I grew up with a cabin on Owasco Lake and went to college at Cortland AND my mother's family is from Groton, NY. I have a lot of ties to the area, but I'm in the Owego area these days.
If one could really afford Skaneateles. It's a town for rich people. The "Upstate NY" Hamptons is its nickname.
My brother went to a private high school in Lake Placid, brutal winters but an absolutely adorable small town that surrounds a lake! Can't wait to visit again!!!
As a New Yorker and Long Island native I loved this! So many great memories in Lake George as a kid
Thanks for sharing!!
Shocked he mentioned Lake George and not mention the Great Escape.
@@maxpowr90 They are looking for a new Lake George monster to wave at people on main st. in front of the wax museum. Yes, he retired.
I was born & raised in NY, Lived in Stillwater, Mechanicville, Saranac Lake, North creek,Now i'm in FL< Really Miss New York >
2 months ago sold our home in the burbs of Albany NY and getting ready to move to Delanson/Knox to a 5 acre oasis. Beautiful farmland and mountains but still less than a 30 min ride to work....I can't wait...the wife and I have been talking about this for years but we had a baby 7 months ago so we stopped talking and made it happen...God willing! My advice get away from the big cities because when bad things happen it usually starts where the most people are herded in one area....country living baby.. gardens, chicken coups and all that..
New Paltz is also great if you like being surrounded by mountains, near a river, and great forests. Its super secluded but somehow only a 90 minute frive to New York City.
You left out Cooperstown, beautiful village on Lake Otsego, any reason(s)?
You missed a number of nice small towns in upstate NY: Cazenovia, Canandaigua, Cooperstown, Baldwinsville, Geneva, Penn Yan, Scottsville, and so many more. NY is full of quaint small towns & lovely countryside. The winters are long & harsh so it's good to have a warm retreat in mind. But that's about the worst of it. No huge wildfires, earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, major floods, or other natural disasters. Just an occasional blizzard. If you're just downwind of a Great Lake, expect snow by the foot. I suggest avoiding resort areas such as Lake Placid & Lake George to live. Not good values often. I'd also avoid college towns such as Geneseo & Hamilton since the many students tend to drive down home values & can contribute to litter, noise & disturbing behaviors.
I was waiting for you to hit Upstate NY with this series of videos. I know from some of your previous work that you have some personal experience with the Empire State Not all of it positive. (Every New Yorker does as well.) I admire you' re objectivity,. It's why I subscribed. I've driven across and around the country several times and lived in two other states before my folks moved to the Hudson Valley in 1968. Going to school my classmates universally couldn't wait to get as far away as possible. I knew that even then and told them that they had no idea how good they actually had it where we lived. You went into the military and I went West for college after that I did the Oil Patch and some hard rock mining.Eventually got pulled back to NY Just like in Millbrook a lot of small towns around here, there have been and are quite a few celebrities that choose to make at least their East Coast homes here. The point is throughout NYS there are at least a thousand other towns maybe two, that are equal to the ones you chose, not many other states can make that claim.
Good looks, 3/5 I'm very familiar with and would agree: Ellicottville, Lake Placid, and Lake George. Born and raised in CNY. If I may suggest a few towns for your next rural Upstate towns I'd say: Clinton, Clayton, Cape Vincent, Old Forge, Inlet, Tupper Lake, North Creek/Schroon, Seneca Falls, Montour Falls... To name a few
Upstate New York is absolutely beautiful. Dozens and dozens of cool and beautiful small towns. I nominate Roxbury in Delaware county. I spent my early years there. Its scenic, affordable and a skier's paradise.
Do you know Auburn well? Thinking of buying second house but not familiar with the there..Arterial W
@@seribaek402 I do not know Auburn all that well. I’ve only visited once for my sibling’s playoff baseball game. The Finger lakes have many charming communities. I’m sure Auburn fits in a similar context to neighboring Skaneateles or Geneva.
@@seribaek402 it's known as "prison city" due to the State Prison being there....also, many "friends" "relatives" move there to be near a prisoner who may be housed there... but Auburn is known for having pretty girls if that matters...lol....
@@seribaek402my brother has lived there for 20+ years it's very nice but like most of upstate more people than good paying jobs. Everyone thinks that school teachers are underpaid, well those are the "good jobs" along with prison guards specifically in Auburn.
Absolutely love these towns in upstate NY. In my experience, these small towns in NY are not like rural towns elsewhere the country. The NY rural towns are kept up pretty well and offer nice, non-chain restaurants and shops. People are friendly as well. There seems to be lots to do because of the lakes and mountains. Winters are pretty brutal and the roads are pitch black at night. Property taxes are high due to the ridiculousness of village, hamlet, town and county tax structure. Many of the NY rural towns aren’t too far from major universities with medical schools.
Definitely!! I grew up in the finger lakes region. So beautiful..💙
@@naudianeels1328 Me too; Seneca Falls
@@oldmillrd8153 Seneca falls is absolutely beautiful! I grew up in Auburn. Went to Owasco lake all the time as a kid! Great memories..😊
They're not like other rural towns because they aren't actually rural... theyre financed to appear this way, because the wealthy people who own all the real estate around here... come up from the city and want a farmesque vibe. "come to our farm upstate" aka a tax write off where they sell fruits and vegetables for too much money and hold events... yep to make more money.... ever notice how nice all the farms are over here?.... its cause they're pretentious.. Go to the mid west and youll see a real farm.
I agree, I grew up in Watkins Glen. Although I went to school in Dundee, which is about 15 minutes north of Watkins Glen. THAT looks like a real rural town, very impoverished and drug - ridden. Not as close to any bigger town. You have to drive 20 minutes to shop somewhere besides dollar general.
Upstate NY is beautiful! It's pretty and green and I love the small towns. Property taxes are up there, but you can find a pretty decent home at a affordable price depending on where you look.
I lived in NY for 12 years and it’s beautiful but moved but still go back to visit family & I always enjoy coming back to my hometown
Very good video! I've lived in Upstate NY (Rochester area) since I was 3-y.o., and am (in many ways) a *huge* booster of Western Upstate NY. Especially in Western NY there's something to do all year round, and the Finger Lakes Region is _so_ *very* pretty, especially during the fall-foliage season ... which is also when the dozens of wineries are going full-throttle, so you can tour, and sample, some *excellent* wineries and wines!
In the winter you're never more than 30-40 minutes from a ski-slope, although a number are admittedly small. But there are a fair number that are definitely first class! (Just don't expect a mile-and-a-quarter vertical drop!)
The summer let's you use the miles upon miles of shore-front for swimming and boating-access! Not to mention visiting some absolutely *gorgeous* scenic locations! My personal favorite is Letchworth State Park ('The Grand Canyon Of The East'), about 45 minutes south of Rochester. It's certainly smaller than 'the Big One' in AZ, but still quite a sight. And I think it's color-pallet (various greens and blue-grays) is more soothing on the eyes! If you want to be stunned, visit Letchworth during the fall-foliage season!
And, as a local, I can't resist mentioning a special Rochester annual event, The Lilac Festival, that happens in the late spring (when not disrupted by a pandemic), which draws people from - quite literally - all over the world! For 8 to 10 days there are free concerts, old-fashioned carriage rides, and various other happenings! There are events specifically for families/small children, so nobody gets left out. And the lilacs! Ever since I was a little kid, lilacs have been my favorite flower-scent.
All of the above wonderfulness, however, has been hurt by NYS's expensive cost of living, due to ridiculous levels of taxation. Sadly, I myself am looking to leave the state, as my very modest fixed-income is seriously stretched by my expenses. So, if you have the money, NYS is a great place to visit, not even counting the sights and sites in NYC!
P.S. - thanks for expanding your coverage of medical facilities and the like ... much appreciated!
Exactly, and I love Letchworth, next would be Stony Brook! However, with a single working income, I'm getting stretched right out of Upstate. I'm just North of Syracuse.
Taxes and cost to own, run a business, I may have to leave :( Soon
@@JLea3 ... yeah, sadly, a lot of single-proprietor businesses are getting 'squeezed-out' in NYS ... _by NYS!_
Taxes in general, then special taxes for this and for that, annual fees for this and that and the other thing - not to mention having to make sure you're 'in compliance' with pages after pages of State Regulations (and sometimes Regulations from the County, *and* all the local ordinances) ... I'll probably be leaving before the end of the year, and I don't even have a business! Business owners like you? I can hardly imagine ...
Wishing you the *best!* 👍 🤜🤛 🥂
@@ephennell4ever Thank You, is very kind. The Rules and Regulations are beyond belief. Just too much!
Sadly, because I really enjoy this area.
Wishing you All the Best :) as well ✌️Be Safe
@@JLea3 ... If I may suggest a possibility - if you don't mind *real* winters, consider Montana and Wyoming. I traveled around the Rockies several summers ago, and thoroughly enjoyed my time there; *amazing* scenery, *wonderful* people, and lots of fascinating places to visit and see! Cheyenne, WY, is a modest-sized place, but big enough that you might find you could re-start your business there. (Maybe? Obviously I don't know your business, but ...)
I am seriously considering moving there, especially if I can talk my brother into also moving there. Would like to have *somebody* I know living closer to me than 600+ miles away!
In any case, good luck and Grace to you! 🤝
@@JLea3 what rules and regulations? Why does everything need to turn into a bunch of Trumpers whining about what they themselves created? Five years ago they were spending like drunk preachers in a Bangkok daycare with a fist full of hundred dollar bills.
I was born and raised in the Buffalo area. Loved it! Before retiring we had 43 acres in the ADK mountains with 1/2 mile on the Hudson River. For an IT guy and an Accountant, we loved it! Taxes??? You get what you pay for!
Do you know Auburn well? Thinking of buying second house but not familiar with the there..Arterial W
Skaneateles is charming and gorgeous area. It is very expensive to buy a home. Summer in the village is busy. Great for visit.
I was born in Westport, NY, on lake Champlain & raised in Beacon, NY on the Hudson. Beautiful areas. Now live in Texas! I know most of the towns you mentioned! Very good job!
I also grew up in Beacon! It truly is a beautiful riverfront city.
New Windsor here!!!
what was it like to be raised in Beacon, NY?
I live 45 minutes from Lake George. It is a nice little town and they have a large factory outlet strip on the main drag. Along with a big six flags amusement park. The lake is very cold in the summer and has been shut down many times due to ecolli. There’s a large picnic park across from the lake and have just started adding winter activities like ice skating and Christmas light drive through. They are also famous for their winter polar plunge
Grew up in Seneca Falls, great town and they even have a casino lol. Penn Yan is also a great small town. Seneca Falls was the inspiration for Bedford Falls in It's a Wonderful Life. So that has to be worth something.
Love the Penn Yan reference! I have family there and it is a cool little town!
@@thebiddler6907 I lived in PY for 15 years attended HS there. Lived in Seneca Falls for about 15 years total as well. Now I live in Rochester. Need to get back to small town living.
Grew up in Seneca Falls as well. Went to Mynderse. Been living out west for many years but love visiting Upstate NY during the summer.
I went to school in Dundee just south of Penn Yan, I went there all the time. It's nice but kinda poor like the rest of Yates county. I live in buffalo now
Do you know Auburn NY well? Thinking of buying second house but not familiar with the there..
I’m born and raised in nyc and my wife is from upstate. I purchased a 3 bedroom 2 bath home in a college town in the fingerlakes for 100k… and the area is absolutely amazing. This list is absolutely insane
Hello neighbor ! Lol
I too was born and raised in NYC and recently moved up here to Hudson Falls.
Looking to buy a home but we are renting right now.
Any recommendations?
I've lived in upstate NY all my 42 years and been to most of these places especially Lake George and Lake Placid both 1-2 hours away. I love upstate NY its beautiful and always tell people when someone says they are from New York to not assume we are all NYCers....its 2 different worlds between upstate and NYC. It just sucks how expensive it is in upstate NY but still better than the city. We are staying even though many are leaving and heading south. My mom and dad and 3 brothers and their families are here and we are tight and spend lots of time together because we all live within 30 mins of eachother. My 3 younger brothers and I absolutely love the Adirondacks we are all big outdoor/bushcraft/survival guys and we go camping in the mountains at least once a year sometimes twice. Our annual trip is in 3 weeks and I'm pumped. We don't do no glamping..im talking gear loaded into canoes and a 30 min paddle to a nice secluded spot somewhere on the lake and 3 days of fishing, campfire cooking, hiking and of course a little bit of adult beverages around the fire before bed....it gets Chilly up there at night even in the summer sometimes so a few shots of Fireball will warm ya up before hitting the tent lol.....great video as always Briggs!
Grew up 20 mins from Cooperstowns in a small town called Richfield springs right on a lake and it’s beautiful I tell ya. It should be on this list
Hey neighbor. I'm in Otsego County too.
@@gardenlady2041 haha awesome we probally know each other my family owns a cidermill of that gives u a hint
@@ylemscalamity new owners? I don't really know them. My Aunt and Uncle lived in Richfield Springs for years.
@@gardenlady2041 nope it’s a small cidermill on route 28 between Richfield springs and Cooperstown it’s called dyns cidermil, you might be thinking of the other one everyone goes to that’s a cash grab that’s called fly creek cidermill.
Born and raised in Troy, Ny. After the 8 months of winter, the 1 month of spring thaw, the 1 month of black flies and mosquitos followed by the 6 weeks of summer heat and humidity there's a few real nice days there!
I went to school in Troy (RPI). It probably rained on those few nice days. : )
My parents still have our house in Skaneateles on the lake, I was raised there!! Absolutely love it there!!
you can drive in one direction for 8 hours and still be in New York
All the towns you mentioned are tourist towns, like Skaneateles. Everyone knows you go there to enjoy the lake but not to buy a house, unless you inherit a few million. Central Square NY has houses for $150,000. And a few years ago they were $100,000. Near there you can still buy a place on Oneida lake for $200,000
I grew up in Orchard Park, NY. It is a picturesque town and home of the Buffalo Bills.
There is a home in Millbrook, New York that was built by Andrew Carnegie for his daughter.
It sold recently for about $14 million.
Briggs, I would give you 1000 thumbs up for including my home town in this list! Lake George is an incredible town, so much to do in all 4 seasons! You are right, the crime rate does go up in the summer with all the tourists. I never spent a bad day in the Village as long as I lived there. Winter is fun because the locals move back in and the kids can have snowball fights downtown and not worry about hitting any cars. it's too bad you didn't get a shot of the Lake George Steamboat Co. Great history there. I love this place and I wish I still lived there. Thank you for an excellent list!!! Peace!
LG is wonderful. There's many great campgrounds around for RVers and a wonderful music festival right downtown on labor day weekend.
The lake it's self is beautiful,but the village is a tourist trap. Motels and t-shirts shops. Living 5 miles north of this place,locals avoid it in the summer months.
There are many beautiful towns in the Finger Lakes region. I was raised in Clifton Springs and Newark NY. Clifton Springs has a population of about 2000 and houses are cheap.
I love Clifton springs! I went to Dundee school and grew up in Watkins Glen but went to Dundee. It's the same boces district as Newark and Clifton springs
Clifton Springs has a great hospital , one of the best . Great area I have to agree .
Thank you Briggs for another great video. Love the architecture in these towns. 👌
Great video once again my good friend!! I hope everyone is having a fantastic week. Youse guys be nice to each other! - Gary!
As a cold spring native and upstate NY business owner most of the people are leaving due to the toxic political environment. Regardless all these towns are beautiful and wonderful places to live if you can afford it and endure the NYC values that plague the state.
A follow up video could be about the Finger Lakes in NY. At the very least, people in Northeast will like will be interested in the video.
Yes! My childhood was spent at a cabin on Owasco Lake. Not a lot of people get that lucky and I'm sure many would love to see the Finger Lakes and all their beauty!
I was raised in Lake George/Glens Falls, pretty in the Summer if you can make it thru the incoming Canadian traffic but there is NOTHING to do in the winter, unless you ski then your good. Shops are seasonal so no real shopping in the winter. You would need to go 1 hour south to Albany to shop.
As a former Skaneateles resident, easily the best place I ever lived. I'd move back except it's in NY, the land of taxes, taxes, and more taxes.
Thanks for doing this video! While we do have issues in NY, I’m never disappointed to come home! I live in the Capital Region. It has amazing access to every type of outdoor adventure imaginable with a reasonable cost of living and low crime rate.
Unfortunately it's been ruined by all the city people moving there
Albany does not have low crime
@@renroxhrd I was referring to the Capital Region. I live in Colonie that has been rated as one of the top 10 safest towns in America, numerous times.
Such a beautiful part of the country. Too bad NY is crazy on taxes. You don’t always get what you pay for.
Born and raised in the town next to Skaneateles, Marcellus NY. Skaneateles is a tourist Town with lots of snobby rich people. Although the town is definitely beautiful.
The finger lakes region is beautiful. As we watched the video, my husband and I wondered if Skaneateles would be #1 - and it was! We moved from the area to Texas for high-tech work, but try to return to the area frequently. Have considered moving back, but the taxes are too high and the winters are long. Will stick to visiting. Nice video.
Skeaneateles has the ABC anchor Muir who lives on that finger lake. Everywhere is packed full of celebrities "country place's". The funny thing about the two killers that escaped Dannemora prison*( incareration Home of Tupac)* is that the prison is about six miles away from where Brooke Shields used to own a connected Island on Chazy Lake. The home was originally owned by some Pavoratti type of crooner type back in the 1920's. I went to the prison warden's home to deliver something at the prison once. Best view in the whole Adirondacks. You can see Montreal, VT, Adirondacks, Green's in VT. NY got rid of warden's houses and it is abandoned. Just up and behind the prison. The State of NY owns some of the best parks in the whole country and they aint cheap to maintain. If you are ever in that area, go to Dannemora prison or the Summer White House which is now Clinton Community College for the best views of the area. Explore NY. It is really quite a place. ALL OF IT.
It looks like a lot of us New York folks ended up in Texas! I'd move back if NY State would get it's stuff together, but that seems unlikely. High taxes, high crime, bad weather, and a poor economy are NOT a winning combination!
Democrats have ruined NY State. Their high taxes and tyrannical policies are driving people away.
I grew up in Orange County, NY. It surprises people that there is an Orange County outside of California. Lived in Maybrook and later Greenwood Lake. Graduated from Tuxedo High School 30 years ago.
Our Orange County is named for William of Orange.
YES! Former Orange county girl here, New Windsor NY. Now live in florida SUCKS!!! Would love to get back to the OC!
Didn't Orange County Choppers put that area on the map a few 20 or so years ago.I loved that TV show.
I grew up in Leeds ny and after living in nj for the last 30 years with incredible taxes and insurance costs I’m heading back to retire. Jersey has the highest taxes in the nation. My property taxes here in jersey are 12 grand a year. Same property in the town I grew up in is 2600 per year. Back I go.
Sure, they're great as long as you don't mind the high property taxes, sales tax, state income tax, etc.
Yes I now ,we have to keep supporting the parasites in office and everyone else in between.
Don't forget the multiple statetax tax😂
Lived in Eastern NY for years. Left in '87.
Good thing there wasn't a LEAVING THE STATE tax🤯
You can find much cheaper places near Ellicotville if you move to a neighboring town. 10 miles away a very nice house is 100k … if you want a fixer upper you can get below 50k. The prices you quoted are for village houses and right on the ski resort.
We really enjoy your videos, they are a great starting point if one is interested in relocating. My parents and extended family are from the Rochester area. I've never lived in NY but have spent a lot of time as a kid and later as an adult vacationing in many areas of the state. Absolutely beautiful state to visit and at one time we considered buying a second home for summering in the North Country. It was right at the top of our list with several other New England states. Unfortunately the tax rates seemed exorbitant for what you get so we reluctantly crossed it off our list. Many of these towns and villages are seeing dramatic reductions in populations and job opportunities so that doesent bode well for the resale real estate market. It's a shame because the legislators are committing economic suicide at the expense of its citizens.
There’s a few I’m surprised were missed. Geneseo is a very pretty little college town. Cooperstown is a picture perfect village. Middleburgh, Woodstock, And Avon also come to mind.
I live near Geneseo, I am in webster
@@Etriland - 🇷🇺
@@RustyZipper Shut up comnumist brat. I am from Ukraine
I believe it would be due to population size, I'm pretty sure G town is around 10k people not counting students. I went to university there and live in Rochester. Almost bought a house down there in 2004.
@@Etriland Webster? that's not really close to Geneseo jeez at least an hour away....
Really surprised you could only find 6 towns, all of which are really expensive. You identified all of the top regional tourist towns. Just think there are more out there that are not skiing centers.
Exactly!
I live in upstate New York, in the Lake George region, foothills of the Adirondacks. Love it, even though the winters are “beyond horrible”😂
You missed the one most amazing town in NY period. Chautauqua, New York
Can you actually buy property and live in Chautauqua? Thought it is all rental.
"Lake George is without comparison, the most beautiful water I ever saw; formed by a contour of mountains into a basin, finely interspersed with islands, its water limpid as crystal, and the mountain sides covered with rich groves down to the water-edge: here and there precipices of rock to checker the scene and save it from monotony."
-- Thomas Jefferson, May 31, 1791
I was raised on Lake George, couldn’t say it better if I tried
I'm a truck driver and live in Maine. A lot of trips to upstate NY. I am picky about places- I grew up in Metro Detroit and hate suburbs! Having lived in Maine for 30 years I feel oddly comfortable in Upstate NY unlike anywhere else in the Northeast. If it weren't for the politics in Albany and NYC that dictate the rest of the state I could easily live up there
Ahh, Maine! The place that, every summer, I looked forward to spending a week or two in! (Relatives on Woodbury Pond.)
Unfortunately, NYS looks to be driving me away (cost-of-living, and lots of stupidly boneheaded laws!), and I'd like to move there, but my medical/health situation would pretty much mean ... either Portland or Augusta (relatives have made the main hospital in Lewiston/Auburn sound - less appealing.) Somehow, I never really found either Portland or Augusta to seem/feel comfortable - don't know why. 12+ years ago I would've considered moving into 'The Outback', as I call it. But not given my situation now.
Good to hear from a 'Mainiac'!
Keep On Keepin' On, *Like A Tank!*
You do know that other than NYC and a few other big cities the majority of it is very conservative, even Staten Island and Long Island are very red. The further north you go in the New England and NY the more it reminds me of the deep south. Not in a good way. I am a moderate, but the Trump compounds a couple years out grows old.
@@ephennell4ever If you want good healthcare here you have to go to Boston. But that's not bad as from, for example, the Bangor area it's only three and a half- four hours. Portland is southern Maine and might as well be another country, Augusta is just kinda strange- I don't like that part of the state either. lol
@@johnmaker9534 ... unfortunately, there have been some times in the last several years where I had a fast ambulance ride to one of the hospitals here; probably wouldn't work out so well if it was an hour+ ride. That's why I've given up on moving up there; have to just figure on a once-every-couple-years visit, sadly.
@@ephennell4ever In that case, yeah- I can see your point.
☀️🏡I love this guy! He is funneling everyone away from the best places to live😄 keeps us safe and beautiful. 👍(but our taxes are very high, so try for PA or Ohio.)
If you live in Lake Placid you can be in Montreal in two hours. Nice!
Surprised Briggs didn't mention that. Many upstate towns are closer to Montreal or Toronto than NYC.
Amazed that Cooperstown didn't make this list. Actually amazed that it's not number 1.
It's touristy, but not touristy dnough to mske this list!
Lake George!! My home region. Horrible crowded in the summer. And it's Glens Falls--- with an 's' at the end of both words. Not sure why non locals miss that... it's literally right there when you read it lol.
Briggs! Good video - I lived in Cold Spring for one year but can’t say as I ever heard a cannon go off down by West Point. Another big plus to Cold Spring is being able to commute an hour and fifteen minutes on Metro North down the scenic Hudson Line to Grand Central near where we both worked. Once stood behind Kevin Klein and Phoebe Cates in the little supermarket checkout line. And a realtor showed us where Andie McDowell and Don McLean each owned houses. So, yeah, with a lot of celebs living north of NYC it can be a little like Hollywood on the Hudson.
Quick question:isn't Cold Spring located near a town called Herkimer NY?
@@jenniferwhite914 No, Herkimer is way upstate between Albany and Syracuse. Cold Spring is a far-flung suburb/town of the NYC area, north but nowhere near as far north as Herkimer.
@@BillKing3456 ok thank you I was just wondering that's all
@@jenniferwhite914 They’re 175 miles apart.
Yeah but Pete Seeger............. Met him and Rev Al not-so-Sharpton in Albany one afternoon.
Why is winter such a negative? It has its challenges, but unrelenting 95 degree temperatures is no picnic either. I grew up in Rochester and had a great time in winter. We went ice skating and sled riding in woods behind our house. We also had some epic snow ball fights. Even now (much older) I like winter even if I don't like driving on ice. You just get snow tires and slow down.
It's really going to be challenging this coming winter with fuel oil over $6.00 a gallon.
Because 95 degree heat can be fixed with an air conditioner. You don't have to shovel 3-ft of 95 degree heat off your drive way, nor do you have to pull 3 ft of heat off your roof to keep it from collapsing.
Upstate NY is beautiful I can say you can see all the seasons in one day wake up to beautiful weather feels like spring and looks like fall and it can rain hail and snow in the same day then the sun will pop back out and it's back to beautiful weather never doubt the weather will stay what the news says but I love it here now all we need is better people to run our state and our towns
I live in northern New York a half hour from Watertown. It’s a great place to live too that’s actually reasonable priced. We bought a 1600 sqft house that was fully move in ready for 85k in 2021.
wow that is awesome amazing it is safe place
Do you know Auburn well? Thinking of buying second house but not familiar with the there..Arterial W
We might be neighbors at least Summer neighbors you could say. My Summer place is 30 minutes/miles from Watertown.
Ah yes, New York State Winters which start in October and Don't end until Mother's Day in May
$900,000 is reasonable? That's ridiculous. There are plenty of wonderful places to live in upstate NY that aren't like that. Also, frankly most of upstate NY is near decent healthcare except maybe deep in the Adirondacks or Southern tier. Lake Placid, Lake George, Skaneateles are all very touristy. I can't believe he didn't pick Saratoga. That's just like that too.
Also, the weather in upstate NY is fine. Seriously, it's just snow. We get everything. Tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, ice storms, heat waves, snow storms - Yup. But the weather doesn't kill you (unless you can't drive in the snow- just go slow). We don't have rolling blackouts, lack of water, riots, protests or mass murders. I think upstate NY is a great place to live - except the politics.
Saratoga Springs really isn't a small town. I have been there many times and have a friend that still lives there. It is really nice, and the homes are nice.
Millbrook is a quaint area. I used to clean pools out there and boy are some of those houses beautiful with amazing land and a cute park. I always called it Mini Central Park. Word is, Michael Jackson owns(ed) a house that's gated with tall privacy trees a couple streets up and over from Main St (if you've been there you know what one. With the big brown wooden gate on 55 I think). We were also told that the family of Johnson & Johnson have a house there or one of the immediate relatives..the last name was Johnson but who knows lol but a huge property and of course horses.
The finger lakes region is beautiful
Went to Cazenovia College
Love that area
Winters well lake effect snow ❄ is something that was a surprise
Summers are beautiful fall is amazing spring is beautiful
Cazenovia is worth a visit
My sister went there in the 80's. Last class before they gave up on the women only thing. Seemed a little small, smug and stuffy to me. I went to Albany.
I was born and raised in upstate NY. Left as soon as I could. Had numerous job offers from Kodak and Xerox but decided to leave. NY is awesome from May to Sept. The rest of the year, forget about it…
Lake George is very touristy.
People always miss the “s” in Glens (Falls)
Yeah. No to mention most people in that area (at least that I know of) pronounce it as “Glence falls”
Would add
1) Cooperstown
2)Cherry Valley
3) Bovina
4) Andes
5) Stamford
6) Saranac Lake
7) Rensealeerville
8) Kinderhook
9) Chatham
10) Essex
My town is on your list.... and I totally agree!
Cold spring is such a nice little town on the Hudson River . Probably nicest town on the list for sure ... Cold spring is incredibly farther and way more down state than every other town you mentioned on this list
Lake placid used to be hard working people that had there homes for generations. Then rich New Yorkers started buying homes there. From NYC. The property taxes went through the roof and the working class had to move to Saranac and commute to work.
Born and raised in upstate NY in a small town called Willsboro, which sits in Lake Champlain. Love it up here. Taxes are bad and you have to drive 30 minutes to a hospital and 45 minutes from Lake Placid. I would never move. The Fall and Winter are my favorite seasons! Adirondack Park baby!!!!
This was a good video bringing back some memories. Having been raised in Fishkill, NY which has history dating back to the revolutionary war and George Washington stopping in there many times. Additionally I was stationed at West Point back in the 80’s and I will admit it is beautiful in rural NY. To bad the taxes are in outer space.
Born & raised in Ossining (Lower Hudson Valley); not "upstate" to me but, then again, to those living in NYC, Yonkers is upstate. Anyway, years ago, PETA launched a protest in Fishkill to denounce its name, Fish-kill, until the mayor advised them that the word "Fishkill" is derived from two Dutch words meaning a stream (kill) abundant with fish. Disappointed, the PETA people ambled off to find offense elsewhere...
I'm from the Town of Owego in the Southern Tier of NY. Very rural and not expensive. I love many of the towns on this list, but they are very expensive, and I'd rather visit them. There are so many great Upstate NY towns with wonderful history that it's worth getting to know us!
I just saw a vid of a guy I follow on line. He’s a reseller of cool stuff. He was in the Owego Antique Mart. It was huge.
Lived in Syracuse practically my whole life. New York would be great if it wasn't for the six months of crap weather and NYC politics which has a virtual lock on the entire state. Summer is great here along with most of the restaurants, but I'm looking to retire South.
WRONG. If the Orange would start winning once in a while we would not even know it was winter. lol.. Go Orange.
@@Tomallenny Now if SU started paying my taxes you might have something! ✌️
I live just south of Cold Spring! Yes it is very safe and lots of lovely older people. Sweet little town and great ice cream at Moo Moo’s on the River! Sorry for your fall lol and thanks so much for this funformative video! Cheers!
Hello L.R
Recently sold a home in the Finger Lakes. The new owner qualified for a Dept. of Ag mortgage. $500. down was all it took. Property taxes may double and I am not confident the inexperienced new owner has been provided with that info. I have asked locals to provide him with support to become a responsible home owner. Including property tax payments with a monthly mortgage payment is my choice.
I've visited Lake George a few times, it's a really nice area! Very much a tourist town though, especially during summer. So if that's not the type of area you'd want to live in, best to look elsewhere lol.
You forgot about Greenport, Mattituck, Sag Harbor, Cutchogue , Southold, Jamesport, Amagansette, Wainscott and Montauk .
Since when long island is considered upstate New york?
Since never. And still isn’t. You on the right comment?
Despite the fact that Briggs trashed some upstate areas in a previous video, most of Upstate NY is beautiful, it seems there is a lake everywhere you turn.
Since the pandemic a lot of city people moved upstate. Nice areas in the finger lakes have gone up massively in value since.
Lake George in the winter can easily reach - 25 at night lol. Go there in the summer and fall ❤ Saratoga not far from there. Another great town in the summer
Time to do one for jersey lol I know we suck as a whole, but there are some decent rural places here. Williamstown, Hammonton, Jackson, Swedesboro, browns mills, Mantua, wynonah, sewell, Cranbury... little hidden gems
I grew up in and lived in Peekskill for many years. Cold Spring also has this really cool independent film festival/showing in the park down by the river.
I've been to most places on this list. Grew up going to lake George, really touristy. My mom grew up in west point across the river from cold spring. Skaneatles is great, I grew up in the finger lakes and frequented there. Lake Placid is awesome! Ellicottville is basically where everyone from buffalo goes on vacation. I live in buffalo now and everyone goes there all the time. I'd say my hometown of Watkins Glen should be on here. It's a great little town with a hospital and a Walmart. It's on Seneca lake, there's wineries, a state park with a gorge, and a nascar track. What more could you want?
A lot less bitter, windy cold winters, less taxes, less heat, humidity and mosquitoes in the 3 months of sweltering summer. I grew up in NYS, born in Buffalo, my dad worked at Watkins Glen race track, Niagara Falls is a joke compared to the water falls in Yosemite. As soon as I could I beat feet to San Diego.
@@etimesoyyosemite6673 I spent many summers working at that track in Watkins Glen. Always was a great time. A lot about new York sucks, but there's just something that draws people to it as well. I hate buffalo in the winter, but the rest of the year i love it. I'm not right in the city, I'm in the suburbs, and a lot of the suburbs are really nice.
@@etimesoyyosemite6673 I love Yosemite and back in the day, early 80's I made it my summer home rock climbing and backpacking. Now I hear you have to be lucky enough to get a permit. I am fortunate that I experienced it firsthand before people loved it to death. I am not sure where on the Northeast you experienced three months of sweltering heat. We don't' get many days in the 90s or even high 80s.
After spending 20 years in the Navy, I've had the opportunity to live in some of the most beautiful places in the entire world - almost 3 years cruising around in the Mediterranean Sea on my Uncle Sam's big grey yacht, resort islands in the Pacific, the Florida panhandle, San Diego, CA, Monterey, CA, the city that used to be San Francisco, and Boulder, CO, I've dropped my sailboat's anchor permanently near one of the villages on Mr. Briggs' list. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Yes, winters can be rugged, but they keep the roads plowed really well, and the only thing I need snow tires for is to get up and down my driveway. A really nice wood-burning fireplace insert keeps things toasty, and my John Deere snow blower (with cab) keeps the driveway open.
I grew up in Syracuse most of my life. Places like Lake placid and Lake George are great in the summer but are completely dead in the winter and they're really expensive. Skaneateles has always been big money. You should have added placed like Ithaca Ny and Oswego. Watertown is cheap too !
Looks to me he's not aiming for cheap in this video. Lots of nice towns upstate with more affordable real estate that aren't around resort areas,ski slopes, celebrity hangouts, tourist towns like these six. You don't have to pay $400k + to find a house in a nice town upstate.
My name is Brian and I was born and raised there for 6 years 👁️👄👁️
Watertown sucks
@@renroxhrd - Public Square is referred to as the A Nus of America 🇺🇸
I'm not sure Ithaca qualifies as small or rural, but Oswego definitely fits the description... except when college is in session. I love Oswego; went to college there and I still go up at least 3 times a year to visit Lake Ontario, drive around town, and if I'm there early enough heading to Wades for breakfast.