A Brief Look - Housing/Cost of Living
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12/5/2006
Middletown, N.Y. is in the heart of Orange county about 90 miles or so north of Manhattan. This area is close to all spectrum of recreation related to the nearby Catskill Mountains and the Hudson River. Hiking, fishing, camping, hunting, winter recreation and a richness in the early history of the United States all combine to create an attractive prospect for relocation if your lifestyle leans toward those pursuits. The negative side of the situation is the fact that Orange county was one of the top 2 fastest growing counties in New York state! Spill over from more urban crowded, and expensive southern counties by families seeking more property and square footage and less crime for their buck. Willing to endure the 1hr 40min drive ( weather & traffic permitting)to the city everday to keep their higher salary to sustain their new life "in the country". This has naturally driven up the overall cost of living in this region and it is quickly losing it's "country charm". Local residents are hard pressed to afford the inflated costs of new or older homes as well as rents with the wage base that this area offers. You can't afford a 275,000 - 400,000 home on an average hourly wage of 8-12 per hour now can you!? All that considered their are some professional jobs that are available at a higher wage but much fewer obviously than closer to a larger community. On a more positive note, excellent basic health care from a 10 year old organization called Crystal Run Health Care. They specialize in recruiting new doctors with excellent credentials from top notch hospitals in Manhattan, i.e. Einstein University Medical Center, Columbia Presbytarian Medical Center, Mount Sinai etc.. Their cardiology department in particular is unsurpassed for a region such as this. Lucky for us here, this far from a large city, to have such quality of care. This is one of the first things that suffers when you elect to live in a more rural setting. If you have a waiting job offer with a decent salary or a reasonable retirement income then this part of New York can offer an incredible variety of activities. The Hudson Valley along the famous river of same name is known for it's excellent dining and wineries, fresh fruits and vegetables in season and as I mentioned before an incredible richness in the eartly history of our country. New England in the fall is also probably the most spectacular scenery you will ever see. A picture post card at every turn! Climate is cold in the winter with sno
Kevin | Scotchtown, NY