Cute Underrated little city with room to grow - 7/7/2021

Very cool place with loads of popular restaurants (some award winning), hiking, winter activities/sports, fishing, boating, central location -making it SO EASY for exciting weekend getaways and activities. Easy drives to Ithaca, Syracuse, NYC, Albany, etc. The Appalachian Mountains are beautiful. You won't find a place without gorgeous rolling hills. Employment rates arent great right now, but recovery post-pandemic seems positive by comparison. Rent is sorta high for apartments, but a lot are luxury, so I guess its not a big shock. Houses are beautiful, but not many available to buy. The market in cray and they're selling fast. They need more to be built for single families. Binghamton has started an arts district and it would be nice to see something new (maybe a love lock tree, fence, or bridge? Maybe? These are so cool looking and vibrant). It could also use some `bigger city amenities (hello, laundry folding services, later hours for businesses, etc) Not totally sure about new inform. on job growth, but I've heard FedEx is expanding here, Amazon is opening up in neighboring Conklin, and Dick's is thriving. Things are looking alive in downtown too. Jobs do exist here if you're qualified for them (medical, university, Sales, Insurance, Marketing, etc). Many require a bachelors or masters degree , or more.. Otherwise it would be manufacturing or retail/restaurant. Big bonus here is TRAFFIC IS SO LIGHT. FR. If you've ever lived somewhere else, you know the traffic is nothing. So yeah, for the most part I think it's just so nice and underrated, but they do still need to fix some stuff and become a destination. And bring something that will keep people here when they move here from the city. I will give Binghamton credit, they ARE creating a more walkable city, and that is a huge plus for those that live here or visit.

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Be Part of the Solution - 7/1/2021

I can't understand the strong negativity, at least not totally. I have been here for a while now and have been (years ago). Back in the big recession there were some store fronts boarded up, like a lot of other places and that was not the best time for Binghamton. Since then, there have been steady improvements and things have gotten significantly better. There are a couple rough neighborhoods that need a lot of help. I've seen old buildings finally being refinished and downtown revitalized. The north end of the city and the first ward are those rough areas I mentioned. They need help. But as a city, we are doing better. Is it enough? Of course not, but we're working on it. The COVID-19 pandemic certainly hasn't helped anything, but then again, has it? More people are coming here and helping to boost the local economy. We are building apartments, and we need more houses (I'll admit, we REALLY need those houses) but things are happening over time, and that's realistically all we can expect. Nothing happens over night. I know long-time residents want it done because they've been waiting, and I get it. But if we can't help make these improvements, we're trash-talking our home and not being part of a solution. We're part of the problem. As far as all these remarks about students, man, the students in part, help fuel the economy. My personal life here is stellar. There is a ton to do here year-round if you get out there. Yes, even in the winter if you can handle it. It's a breathtaking state to see. We're adding employment (enter Amazon, FedEx, Dick's, etc), we're welcoming new friends from the city, and things are doing well in that way. Get out there and be somebody. If you don't like it, find your path in your new home/state, or be a part of a solution for Binghamton.

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Binghamton is the worst! - 5/4/2021

I've lived in this area my whole life-all 23 years of it. Even in my lifetime about half the businesses I remember are now boarded up often with no replacements. So many iconic companies left here long ago, before I would remember. Most new things proposed here get squashed, anything from new job opportunities to recreation. The job market pretty much consists of working in retail, food service, healthcare or education; only recreation anymore is weed. This whole county continues to get poorer while the taxes and hidden fees remain much like the rest of the state. The education is severely lacking. Covid restrictions appear to be going nowhere. There is literally no reason to stay here at all.

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A fresh look from a Binghamtonian - 11/5/2020

I have had time to mull over the whole concept of if this area is good, bad, or otherwise, especially in a pandemic. So here it is from my point of view. Yes. The area is not a big city, it is a small city. Is the economy booming? Currently no more here than anywhere else. It’s unfortunate, however, Binghamton was also just rated as a top city to move to, post-pandemic, in the Northeast. When the pandemic began, Binghamton showed a quicker recovery than several neighboring areas. Now is a poor time to really put a ton of criticism on any city. If you hate the area, I imagine it’s been employment or weather- affected in nature, and I understand completely, but this is not a localized problem. This is happening in so many places around the county. Prior to the pandemic, Binghamton has been making many strides. I will also say, if crime has you worried, you don’t totally need to be. Of course crime is never desirable, but crime that does occur here is typically not a random act and is usually in a very specific section of town. Most of the area is fine and from my experience, quite beautiful. Bottom line: things happen anywhere. But unless you plan to live in the worst part of town (anywhere) you should fine.

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Chronically economically depressed and dismal - 9/20/2020

People have been saying it is

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Good - 11/1/2019

There are things to be done, but I enjoy life here. Local shops, bars, eateries, seasons, carousels galore, Museums, zoos, the cider mill, B University, and driving distance to several other cities. There is work. The boomers are leaving and people with their specialties are needed. Come with a realistic expectation. It is cold. Taxes are pretty high, but a majority of other living expenses are way below the national average.

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On the up and up! - 10/15/2019

I’ll always love this place. It is making a comeback and the university is constantly expanding for the better. There’s a lot of revitalization and rehab of older historic buildings. There’s actually a shortage of workers here, so there is work available to those who are looking and qualified.

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On another note, - 9/26/2019

I have to wonder if some of this stuff about the area is because of people that were here back in the days of the recession.

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Nice; some bitter residents on here - 9/26/2019

I understand the pain of watching a place change from what you once knew, but it happens. Place and people evolve. Not without its problems, but not nearly as awful as some of these nasty comments make it out to be. I moved here with some family, and know the area well (and have for a long while.) It's been nothing but lovely since we've been here and if you call the occasional teenage theft or crime once in a great while on one block, in the bad part of town BAD, then I'll take it. Lots of good things here, and of course every place has some needed improvements, but let's be real here..

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LOVE it - 9/26/2019

Absolutely love living here. You can't beat the scenery. The seasons are SO nice, especially when Fall comes. Winter can feel long, but for me, the colder the better.

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Proud to call Binghamton my home. - 9/26/2019

My personal experience has been wonderful. I've never had issues wandering around any part of town, I've never felt unsafe, and the area is beautiful. I have had no issues with employment (and I'm not even in a high-paying career.) I have been coming here for many, many years and have family from here that have lived here for a long time. I have now lived here for a while and can tell you that some, but not all negativity of others is warranted. The economy took a nasty dive after the recession and of course, when IBM basically left. This area, as well as others, has not 100% recovered, but this takes time. The downtown area is booming compared to the way it was in recent years. Lots of people just either don't like college students or want to keep the local population to that of a "small town" which doesn't exactly promote growth. This little "big"town offers college, entertainment, and history. Like anywhere else, it has its issues. The North side has forever seemed to be lower in terms of income, and as such, crime tends to be higher. Currently, whether people want to admit it or not, there are some efforts being made to improve that area. This does not mean that Binghamton doesn't have nice areas. Ever been to the west side or the south side? A majority of these sides are beautiful, safe, and well-kept. Use your judgment, but crimes can happen in even the best areas, and there aren't many happening unless you're in a more rough part of town.

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Somalia is more appealing - 2/25/2019

Buttholetown, NY. If you love illegal drugs, corrupt government and cold dreary weather, this is your Paradise! What isn't stolen out of your pocket by high taxes will eventually be taken in a mugging! And if you survive the mugging, whatever you have left will be taken at the ER for your

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hick town, trashy people - 1/22/2018

Where to start? Highest taxes outside of New York city, astronomical rents and what do you get? Chemical spills, lead in the water, terrible schools, crime, systemic racism, police brutality, government corruption, and the worst healthcare in the country. The people are fat, mean, white and always angry - Trump voters. The students are trashy and middle class partiers. The only decent hard working people in this town are immigrants, and they are unfortunately ostracized and terrified by the rest of this racist, uneducated trashy town.

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CORRUPTED gov-EMPLOYEES - 8/18/2017

Unfortunately after 7 months of research I found out why Binghamton is the second highest tax in New York state they do not assess their Circle of friends government employees family Fairly Penney's on thousand! They break the law by giving away free water and sewer to over 2,000 properties again to their circle of family and friends while the little people are struggling to pay their taxes and their high water /sewer rates... Are development money that supposed to go to areas of Binghamton that need help for affordable housing is going into student housing my recommendation is not just Binghamton but stay out of New York! Reporting corruption to our governor and other government officials like our senator or senators, state controller Tom..a joke... its a waste of your time and efforts... They all know and do nothing to help the little people..tax paying slaves to flood the bills...Sad but true... Go to my FB page City Bing Taxpayers Awareness See the facts.

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Take heed.... - 9/17/2015

...DO NOT move over here...this "City" is like a roach motel, once you get in, you can't get out. The job market is absolutely horrendous to say the least (unless you plan on starting a career at the Weis supermarket, McDonald's or as an absurdly underpaid Java developer). The crime rate is MUCH higher than what Sperling claims. Stabbings or slashing at the club, roberry, burglary, drugs, you name it, it's out there and all packed into 11.16 miles of Binghamton's glory. Almost every park or neighborhood that you visit will have a touch of "ghetto". I moved here from NYC (BIG MISTAKE) to be with family, and for the first time in my life I felt compelled to (legally) purchase a gun to protect my family at home. I am desperately looking to get my wife and kids out of this dump. I feel sorry for the kids growing up in this dilapidated community, I know I'll be getting mine out of here that's for sure.

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Binghamton, NY in a nutshell - 3/18/2015

I have lived here in Binghamton, NY for 32 years. It was bad when I was a child and has gotten worse at a staggering rate over the years. In a nutshell this area is a crime ridden, economically depressed, drug infested, outrageously expensive, DUMP! The local and state government is as corrupt as it gets and as lazy as it gets. The older generation here is appalled at the condition of their neighborhoods and the people that are moving into them. The general condition of the housing is run down neglected dumps, with slumlords who live in another city that don't care at all about the quality of life that their tenants experience there. Half of Binghamton's apartment houses have been condemned here lately due to drug raids and methamphetamine manufacturing in those houses. It is sad to see this area go to hell so fast while the people in power sit by and watch and laugh as they line their pockets with the tax payers money. If you are thinking about moving here DON'T. It will be the worst mistake you make.

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crime rate is over triple what Sterling claims - 12/14/2014

IT really is crazy...every one of the crime rates listed for Binghamton is about 1/3 of what the ACTUAL crime rate in Binghamton is. I don't know if Sterling is using data from 20 years ago, but it certainly is not from the last 10 years

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crime - 12/14/2014

I am not sure where you are getting your numbers to yield "low crime rate: for Binghamton, NY, but the reality is, it is actually much higher htan most cities in the entire coutnry and getting wrose every year while the state and national averages are decreasing.

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Getting worse every year - 9/17/2014

The crime in the Binghamton area is really starting to get out of hand. What was a safer than average city in NY (lower crime than the state and national average) just 10 years ago, and even more so 20 years ago is now much higher than both the state and national crime rates now that is has become an end stop for the Brooklyn drug trade. The drug dealers are usually not the ones you have to worry about, unless your rent and they move in to your building. But their customers will do anything to get the money for their next fix. So they will mug you, or break into your home or apartment, whether you are home or not.

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Ick - 9/18/2013

Binghamton is a dumping ground for surplus nyc area welfare recipients. They can't fill houses fast enough to replace all the skilled and educated who have fled along with their jobs. The few remaining tax payers are forced to pay for housing for a large population of drug dealers. As an added bonus it's full people with a "what are you lookin at" attitude. Heavenly.

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