"Ruminants are a perfectly normal thing to possess when you live in upstate New York. It's just moving scenery. It's kind of like the equivalent of Great Danes. It's the way you keep your grass mowed. It's the way you keep your weed-whacking to a minimum." (-Vera Farmiga)
West Seneca, New York is close to lots of cool places, such as Buffalo (origin of the ubiquitous wing), Toronto (origin of poutine--well, that’s from Quebec technically, but it’s from Canada, so that has to count for something) and Pennsylvania (hello, cheesesteaks?), but it’s not anywhere near that famous sleepless city that’s also compared to a food item. No, upstate New York is a world away from the city of New York, and that’s one of the best things about it. With pastoral landscapes and inexpensive living, it attracts people who prefer Farmers Markets to chain stores (except Wegmans), walking to driving, and others. All that and affordable rent, no wonder it’s such a hit.
Sporty types will love this place
"Ruminants are a perfectly normal thing to possess when you live in upstate New York. It's just moving scenery. It's kind of like the equivalent of Great Danes. It's the way you keep your grass mowed. It's the way you keep your weed-whacking to a minimum." (-Vera Farmiga)
West Seneca, New York is close to lots of cool places, such as Buffalo (origin of the ubiquitous wing), Toronto (origin of poutine--well, that’s from Quebec technically, but it’s from Canada, so that has to count for something) and Pennsylvania (hello, cheesesteaks?), but it’s not anywhere near that famous sleepless city that’s also compared to a food item. No, upstate New York is a world away from the city of New York, and that’s one of the best things about it. With pastoral landscapes and inexpensive living, it attracts people who prefer Farmers Markets to chain stores (except Wegmans), walking to driving, and others. All that and affordable rent, no wonder it’s such a hit.
A Close-Knit Community
Sporty types will love this place. Not only are there loads of leagues, but it’s also right on the shore of Lake Erie, a stone’s throw away from Lake Ontario, and, you know, further than that but still relatively close to the Finger Lakes. I hope you like boating. And somehow, with all this outdoorsy awesomeness, rents are still totally affordable. Maybe this is because everyone lives outside, or something, like animals. The cost of living is below the national average, and while there’s only about a 4 percent vacancy rate, the options are pretty choice, and apartments are pretty easy to scoop up. Upgraded amenities and walkable districts also mean you can save cash on car trips and restaurants. Why eat out when you have a beautiful gas stove and granite countertops, right? Though, do make time for Schwabl’s.
Other good news includes a stateside Tim Horton’s and a newly built bike and footpath called the Seneca Creek Greenway Trail, which will help work off whatever you ate at Tim Horton’s. Oh, and mild summers and survivable winters aren’t too shabby, either.
House Hunting
Buying a house is pretty doable around these parts, but it makes more sense to rent. Take advantage with a rental home, rental townhouse or rental condo and enjoy a stable home lifestyle with cut-and-run apartment prices. Better yet, apartment rentals in high-rise buildings usually mean living in a more walkable neighborhood.
More Like Towns Than Neighborhoods
West Seneca only boasts around 44,000 people, so there aren’t a lot of well-established neighborhoods. But there are neighborhoods in wider Buffalo County. Some are definitely a little ritzier than others, and price breaks can be found.
Kaisertown: Clinton Street features lots of shops, restaurants and a fairly efficient bus system. It’s easy to get around, and housing is reasonably priced.
Triangle: A little less walkable, Triangle is probably best avoided, especially since it costs around the same as Kaisertown.
Cazenovia: Despite having a strange name, this neighborhood is a great choice for very low rents. Not much to do entertainment-wise, however, so plan to use the car regularly… to leave.
South Abbott: Rents can vary by less than a hundred bucks in nicer areas compared to…less-nice areas. Plus, Abbott Road has all the necessities and leads right into Cazenovia Park.
Abbott McKinley: Just north of South Abbott (obviously?) is this neighborhood, which sits next to Mercy Hospital, Cazenovia Park and oodles of amenities. Guess what the rents are like here?
Life in West Seneca
With a good mix of local and chain restaurants, community involvement and Wegmans, it’s hard not to love West Seneca. Sure, it has seen some hard times due to the economic climate, but there’s just so much potential here. Plus, Bloomberg BusinessWeek awarded it 'best place to raise a family in New York' in 2010. You’d really be remiss if you didn’t move here.
On the other hand, this place can be a bit disappointing when it comes to nightlife. It helps to come with a job in place and maybe a plan for making some friends who have an in on the cool spots to hit (probably in Buffalo). Consider scooping up some roommates to not only save money on rent in a two-bedroom apartment or larger, but to also make friends.
