Pretty Good City - 12/15/2022

I live relatively close to Albany, and I gotta say, its a great city. I think it has a lot of good places for food, good living spaces, nice jobs and offices, and I think it's overall pretty good. It does have one main problem: traffic. The traffic is not usually bad, but when it is, it's pretty bad. Overall, a great city.

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yup - 10/3/2020

I’ve lived just outside of Albany in Clifton Park and its always been decent for me. The town is nice and theres a lot to do. The prices are a little expensive including taxes but that's normal. I can drive to New York City or Boston in 2-3 hours so it’s pretty central. You can also go to the Adirondacks and get a great view of nature. The weather well that’s a whole different story. It is very bipolar. In the winter time it can get very very very frigid and cold. In summer the majority of days are in the upper 80’s or 90s. Summer heat here is also very humid, maybe even worse than New York City. The spring and fall can be very bipolar and you can experience 4 seasons in one week. Like actually it was 90 one weekend then snowing the next. Overall is Albany is a good place to live if you like 4 seasons and have money.

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Why not retire here? - 7/29/2020

Good place to retire. Walkable. Young people. Buses. Sidewalks. Feel safe here in Whitehall neighborhood. Plenty to do. Taxes in ny are high,but you get what you pay for. Thank goodness Idid not stay in Az, I would probably be dead by now.

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Horrible Weather Year Round - 4/6/2018

I've lived in the capital region Albany area since 1976. Albany's cost of living,(with the exception of property taxes,) is reasonable. There are a lot of things to do and a decent job market. It's centrally located and within a reasonably short drive to NYC, Boston, Montreal,Philadelphia and the Atlantic coast. Nice geography,(near the Catskill, Adirondack, Berkshire and Helderberg mountains) The city of Albany has its share of ghettos and undesirable neighborhoods but there are decent suburbs close by. I cannot overemphasize the following enough: THE WEATHER IS HORRIBLE. Frigid cold, dark,dreary winters can last from October to April. There's a saying about upstate New York.

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Property and School Taxes - 2/8/2015

The property taxes we play to live in our town of Bethlehem, a suburb of Albany, are very high. We are soon-to-be empty-nesters who plan to leave the area as soon as we can to avoid these taxes.

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Best times in Albany - 1/15/2015

The culture in Albany really makes you appreciate where you live. This town is a great place to live a life of fitness and well-being. With so many trails, parks and places to exercise, plus the social influence of the neighborhood, I can't think of a better place live a healthy life.

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Quality of Life - 6/10/2014

Quiet, fairly safe, economical, but not as international or cultural as many small cities on the east coast.

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Winter is too long - 3/24/2014

We love where we live in Upstate New York. It offers everything but pleasant climate, namely the winter here is too long. It gets cold virtually from October till May. Global warming will be a disaster for the earth but may be a good thing for Upstate New York.

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Albany is a nice place! - 7/30/2013

Hey, I disagree with the other posters. This isn't Boston or New York City. I'll list what I like about Albany. It's inexpensive to live here. Rents and housing prices are very reasonable. There are lots of cultural events and institutions here. There's theatre--everything from small local theatres to regional places like Capital Rep, to big Broadway musicals. There is all kinds of free live music all over the place. SPAC is great. If you like to hike or snowshoe or do almost any kind of outdoor activity, it's close by. There is a small DIY culture here in the form of Troy Bike Rescue and the CAC Woodside in Troy. Lots of good restaurants. I don't know what these people are complaining about. It's better than living in Texas. It should get even better now that we're about to get a new mayor. Oh hey, there's also great architecture. We have a great food co-op. I will say that the recent cabaret license ordinance sucks ass. That law needs to go. And there are a few too many people who live here who don't like other people making a little noise -- a music venue was shut down because the upper class residents didn't like a few of the people milling around or the amount of noise, and another group of upper class people didn't like the idea of a church being used as a brew pub. But it's still a pretty nice place.

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Not what it used to be - 3/14/2013

As with most cities, living in Albany isn't what it used to be. I was born and grew up here and unfortunately never escaped. I agree with most of the negative comments posted. What I do not understand is that we are supposed to be the capital city and yet the roads here are horrible. I've had to have $4,000 worth of work done to my car because of the rough shape the roads are in. It seems the road crews are busy putting those damn roundabouts in every where you look or expanding the city to areas no one lives, but as far as repairing the already crumbling streets, forget it. I hit a pot hole once that was so deep, it dented the rim and blew my tire out. The streets in "Center Square" (a trendy section) around the capital are just as bad, full of potholes and past lumps from prior repairs. The only employer seems to be the state. I used to think that if you got in with a state job you were set for life, but that also is not true. I worked for a state agency for five years before I was hurt on the job and fired. Then I was blacklisted. People do seem to be generally unfriendly, rude and in too much of a hurry. The drivers are pathetic. Stop signs and traffic lights might as well not exist because drivers pay no attention to them. Pedestrians are defiant and cross in front of you while they are on the phone regardless of the traffic light. Some of them look at you as if to say "hit me I dare you". What they're probably saying is "hit me, I need the money". There's a lot of welfare and disability recipients here (not that there's anything wrong with that). You can observe this in the grocery store. Everyone with a shopping cart overflowing with food is more than likely going to pay with a "benefit" card, while I have my little basket of necessities like toilet paper. Albany is a dreadful place. Back in the 60's it was a family community, a safe place, no one locked their doors and downtown was not a ghost town. I guess Alany went the way of most other cities. It's a shame.

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Albany SUCKS - 1/27/2013

I agree with all of the negative comments. I moved here for college and law school. I don't feel safe walking here at night and there is no culture aside from nightlife, a few nice restaurants and art places, etc. The drug and crime rates are through the roof, the winters are brutal- I could go on all day. Unless you are coming for a good reason, i.e, a cheap college degree - avoid Albany at all costs. I know so many people who have been the victim of a violent crime here- from being mugged to raped to assaulted to robbed. Awful place to live.

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Do the Albany timewarp - 12/1/2012

The welcoming signs on your way into Albany NY should read "ALBANY THE TOILET BOWL OF NEW YORK". People here think they are so sophisticated and with it when actually they are a bunch of rude, obnoxious and backward inbred hillbillies. Please if you can get out of coming here do it. I feel like I am living in a post-apocalyptic wasteland with zombies that have been altered by toxic nuclear waste. RUN RUN now before it's too late. Save yourselves.

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No, the economy is not good, stop lying to people. - 8/8/2012

It's a bad place to move if you want to earn a living wage. I hear rumors of this being tech valley part 2 and that there are a lot of jobs but I don't see it. Wait, there are people employed--those who are busy bunging up the system by holding off on information for autism services, medicaid, and anything people are SUPPOSED to be getting. I can't believe the attitudes on some of the people here. They are always spoiling for a fight. I also live around some very dumb hillbillies. Overall this area is cheap and if you can get a job then you can live okay. It's filled with people with chips on their shoulders and druggies but hey, it's the capital, right?

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Dirty filthy smelly grubby hell hole. - 7/11/2012

If you are thinking of coming to Albany or the surrounding area? Forget it! Run as fast as you can in the other direction. There is nothing here, No jobs, nothing to do, people with rude, nasty and arrogant attitudes. Hillbilly's, crime and unemployment. At least an hour from the Adirondacks. Run And keep running any place is better than here. Afghanistan is starting to look good. As soon as I can I'm out of here. KMA Albany NY.

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Decent shopping very few jobs and yes it is drear - 4/2/2012

The shopping here is pretty decent both in Albany and the outlying suburbs. Yes, it is cheaper here than a lot of places but it is a haven for people who have to live off food stamps and unemployment and disability. The people have a very curt attitude in various parts of the capital region. They smile and say nice things or talk to you but behind their words is a **** you attitude. Too many people smoke here. It's like living in the 1970s with a really ignorant attitude. I regret moving here and we're getting out anywhere soon.

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Terrible economy. No jobs. - 4/2/2012

Unless you work for the state the only job options (possibly) are retail jobs with a huge turn over.

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Decent - 9/25/2011

I am originally from Long Island but I have been living in Albany for a several years since I attended college here and the cost of living is much cheaper compared to the NYC metro area. Like every city/region, Albany has it's pros and cons. Living here for some time I can relate to some of the negatives stated in previous comments. Albany is bitter cold in the mid-winter months with having negative to teen temperatures on average many days. Albany, as well as with a lot of areas in upstate New York, is very gray and overcast, particularly during the winter. The weather can definitely make one feel gloomy and depressed and is probably the biggest con about Albany and the whole capital region. One spring comes around the weather gets much nicer with less rainy days, fall is the best season with the foliage and crisp temperatures. I agree with a previous comment that comparing Albany to bigger cities is like comparing apples to oranges. Albany is small city and it's primary purpose is home of the New York State government and some other small industries. This isn't the type of city a typical young, single person would move to for opportunity and excitement. There are many young people here but mostly because they went to college here (Albany is a big college town with some fine institutions) or they native to the area. People are generally friendly and down-to-earth. Being a low key city you don't find many "hipsters", which can be good thing. However that doesn't mean there isn't diversity and I encountered all kinds of people up here. The Albany region is great for families since there are many nice suburbs with good public schools and recreation. I personally find the suburbs of Albany and capital region nicer than some suburbs outside of bigger cities. There are some run-down areas but just as many nice areas. For a city it's size, Albany has a lot to offer for entertainment which seems to be under-appreciated by many of the people. There are many bars, clubs, restaurants, and stores that are enjoyable and nightlife in downtown areas is very good on the weekends. Other surrounding cities have a lot to offer as well: Saratoga is only about 30 minutes away with a horse-racing events in the summer and a beautiful, quaint downtown area also containing many great shops, restaurants, and bars. The city of Schenectady has been revitalized in some parts making it enjoyable as well. Another benefit about Albany is the outdoor activity. There are many great parks (Washington Park, The Crossings, Thatcher State Park) along with the Adirondacks, Catskills, and Lake George close by offering fun hiking trails and water-rafting. There are mixed feeling when it comes to employment and job opportunities in Albany. Almost everywhere in the United States is having declined job-growth because of the economic recession. Regardless, people have found good jobs in Albany. The diversity of job types seems to be more of a problem rather than the number of available employment opportunities. This is to be expected since it is small city. Albany is a pretty good place to live if you don't mind a smaller city with a laid-back lifestyle. If you don't like cold, rainy weather and would rather be in a bigger more cosmopolitan city this is not the right place for you.

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Employment - 8/3/2011

Even though a local paper states that the area "held its own," during the recession, employment opportunities are somewhat limited.

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Cheap - 3/6/2011

It's cheap.

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albany ny apartments - 12/23/2010

Albany is a wonderful place to live. Especially now that the market for real estate and housing is on the up and up again. I would recommend it to live in some Albany NY apartments. www.apartmentguide.com/apartments/New-York/Albany/Loudon-Arms-Apartments/100004594/

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