Albany, NY Reviews


56 Reviews



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Background information: Albany, New York is the capital city of the state and is known for its rich history, diverse culture, and vibrant arts scene. It is also home to several top-rated colleges and universities, making it a popular destination for students. With a relatively low cost of living and a strong job market, many people choose to live in Albany for its quality of life.

According to user reviews on BestPlaces, many people have positive things to say about living in Albany, New York. have praised the city for its affordability, friendly community, and convenient location. One user, named Sarah, wrote "I've lived in Albany my whole life and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. The cost of living is reasonable and there are always fun events and activities happening." Another user, John, mentioned the city's location as a major advantage, stating "Albany is the perfect mix of small-town charm and big-city amenities. I love being able to drive to New York City or Boston in just a few hours." On the other hand, some users have raised concerns about the city's weather and lack of diversity. As user Samantha put it, "The long winters can be tough to handle, but the summers make up for it. However, I wish there was more diversity in the city." Overall, it seems that those who live in Albany enjoy the sense of community and opportunities the city has to offer.

 based on 56 Reviews
Get to know Albany with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Albany

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 Read More

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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 Read More

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 Read More

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 Read More

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 Read More

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. Read More

Quality of Life - 6/10/2014
Quiet, fairly safe, economical, but not as international or cultural as many small cities on the east Read More

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 Read More

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 Read More

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 Read More

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