What BestPlaces Users Say about Albany
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 ReviewsGet to know Albany with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Albany
A NYC type who likes Albany - 8/9/2007
Folks from NYC who take shots at Albany have never been there. Sure the State legislature is worthless but the people outside taht building are very nice, and yeas Ed Koch, there are some great resturants. Try Carmine's on teh western part of Central Avenue.
Wolf Road in suburban Albany would give any suburban shooping district a run for its
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LOVE it Here! - 7/22/2007
My husband and I both got our grad degrees at SUNY Albany, then left for the greener pastures of NYC. Twelve years later, we're back with our 2 year old and returning is the best decision we could have made. In NYC we could never afford to buy a single family home; here we have a gorgeous house for less than 300K. In NYC it takes 100 years to get to a good supermarket, Target or the gym if you don't live close to such amenities; here, we walk to all of life's necessities and it's a quick drive to shops further away. Nature is close by, there are tons of cultural activities in the area, people are friendly, and, if I need a fix, NYC is 3 hours away. We have met lots of transplants from downstate and we all agree - the quality of life here for families is
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Just OK - 6/11/2007
Albany is a mixed bag. While the cost of living isn't too high, the housing is very, very old and much of the city seems rundown compared to other places that I've lived. I live in a more refurbished area which is nice, but the parking is a hassle much of the time even though I ride the bus quite often. The city government is not reponsive and leaders seem to be more interested in taking care of themselves than putting the residents first. Everyone says the schools are bad, but I'm not sure if they really are, or if it's just a knee-jerk reaction--urban school system--must be bad. On the plus side, there are great restaurants, theaters, and shopping in the city and surrounding towns, the scenery is great, and it's a great location if you like going to larger cities such as Boston or New
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The Crossings - 6/10/2007
Lovely new park at The Crossings in Colonie, great family place to BBQ, super playground and fun
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Something for Nearly Everyone -- Where the Midwest - 6/6/2007
If you are a NYC person, Albany will be a tough adjustment -- quiet, downscale, and low key. New Englanders might find it more to their liking, particularly east of the Hudson. Accents and lifestyles are more akin to life in the MidWest than to the Northeast, a throwback to the age when the railheads and canals made Albany the nation's gateway to the Midwest. Not an easy city to live in without a car. In this sprawling middle sized city nothing is convenient for anyone accustomed to mass transit. Walking it is impossible unless you choose to live in one of its older and less spruced up neighborhoods. Mayor Jennings and the regional planning commission ought to get Amtrak to build a quicker linkage to Saratoga Springs, or the CDTA ought to build a light rail/monnorail network linking Amtrak to the State Capitol and downtown scene, the mega-malls in Guilderland/Colonie, the Airport, and the Clifton Park/Saratoga County corridor along
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Potential new economic center - 5/11/2007
Currently Albany is undergoing major renovations as it is becoming an epicenter for technology. With companies such as AMD and Sematech in addition to SUNY's Nanotechnology school all growing and building the area is destined to grow econmoically. The low cost of living combined with the growth of new business and incoming jobs will literally put Albany on the map within the next 5-10
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all things considered, Albany is one of the best - 4/28/2007
Posts here sometimes talk about the high taxes and weather being bad. Yet, others talk about the schools being good. High taxes can sometimes = good schools. Other posts talk about the beauty of upstate NY, but the stagnation of job markets. Often, high job growth = lots of growth including suburban sprawl than many other areas = bland, crowded and ugly places. I can understand people's frustration with Albany and upstate NY (while it's good to keep in mind other people find it absolutely great), but, I can imagine that when some of the people with negative things to say about Albany get out to experience some other places "with lots of sunshine", "lots of jobs", "lots of growth", they might also find they'll likely have to pay "lots of money", wait for "lots of hours in traffic", will see "lots of Walmarts, peppered with lots of HomeDepots, and lots of strip malls", there aren't "lots of schools that are really any good for their kids", and finally find out that they spent "lots
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Nanotechnology to the rescue!!! - 7/13/2006
Albany is booming with low unemployment and many new home starts. The nanotechnology industry has its roots here and it is growing. AMD is now planning a new factory right here to create thousands of
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