Is it worth the move?

Hey OP. What part of Texas are you from? Just wondering so we might better compare your current city to Sch’dy.

Anyway, personally I was born and raised in Sch’dy, so were my parents. They always said to “get out when you can”, but that was when they saw Sch’dy on the decline after GE pulled out a majority of its workforce, years ago. Since then it got worse, but it has gotten a lot better, no doubt. It is a city on the rise at the moment and one day it might be great again.

However, it’s not at the top of most people’s choice places to live. The taxes are some of the highest in the country, much less in NY State. Currently around 51 per 1000, I think. Crime and corruption are still an issue, we’re constantly fixing this and it’s slowing resolving itself. The infrastructure is in desperate need of renovation; old buildings, BAD roads and bridges always under construction. There are some things to do in the city but not worth one’s time, most of the good stuff is outside Sch’dy proper. Schools are also bad here (not sure if you have kids or are thinking about kids) but that’s a whole separate argument entirely. Besides some pockets, most of Sch’dy is old, beaten down, dingy, gross, and generally unattractive.

But, you may be someone who likes it here anyway. Though the taxes are high, property values are dirt cheap because of it. Water, sewer, and trash are all rolled into your taxes so you get that taken care of, which is nice. Speaking of water, I happen to like the taste, personally, but that’s probably because I grew up with it. Crime was A LOT worse in the past but has really gotten better; many places are much safer than they used to be. Though some of the building are old and beaten up, they are some of the oldest in the country. The Dutch settled here long ago and some of the architecture is very beautiful, historic, and charming. While Sch’dy has few attractions worth mentioning, the ones that are here are pretty big. Proctors Theater is literally world-class. The casino is pretty nice, if you like gambling, and the food is excellent if you know where to look. That said, I would live in Sch’dy in order to appreciate all the OTHER things in the area as well. You’ll now be 5 hours from Montreal, 5 hours from Philadelphia, 3 hours from Boston, 3 hours from NYC, 1 hour from Lake George, and 30 mins from Saratoga. That’s not even counting Albany, Troy, Woodstock, Rhinebeck, Hudson, Vermont, etc, etc. The best part of living in Upstate NY is the awesome location, hands down. Back to schools real quick, yes, they are not the greatest ever but I would 100% send my kids to Sch’dy High School. Great diversity and community and that prepares them for the real world in ways you can’t quantify. If public school isn’t your cup of tea, there are also amazing private schools close by that are some of the absolute best in the world (provided you can afford it). Finally, although most of Sch’dy is beat up, the parts that are nice are very nice; super charming, and if you put the effort in, the homes can be great.

In conclusion, it’s hard to quantify if moving to Sch’dy would be good for you personally. I would focus on the job more than anything. Is the pay worth the hassle of the move? You’re not just moving an hour away, you’re moving across the country. Will this job be something you make a lifetime career out of? Do you have family/friends around here? Do you like the cold? Seriously if you grew up in Texas, get ready for snow. Are you ready for the culture shift? NY is a very blue state, unlike Texas. Also, for some odd reason, people in NY (not just the city) are not super nice. I mean that, compared to Texans and southerners, because you guys are serious sweethearts, genuinely nice people all around. NY (although we aren’t NYC) in general moves faster than the southern states. So consider some of these things. I recommend visiting for a week or two, if you can, and really get an idea of what you may or may not like here.

Shenectady is great! I moved here a little over a year ago and haven't regretted it at all. There's so much to do at night whether it's bars/restaurants or the casino, and it's just continuing to be developed as it's really on the rise.

Lots of people talk down about Schenectady but it is ready getting better and better. Downtown is being revitalized and there's quite a bit to do. Also the towns and cities nearby are nice (Albany and Troy also have a lot to do and Troy is on the upswing, Albany is remaining constant but isn't awful).

Like all cities, it's got plenty of good area and some areas you want to avoid. No different than anywhere else.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, and no idea.

Downtown Schenectady (emphasis on Downtown) is a really fun place to live and work. The restaurant scene is actually one of the best you’ll find in New York State (outside of nyc), and the “walkscore” is very good - this being because everything worth seeing and doing in Schenectady is within about a 10x10 block area (not including the Stockade, which is a great neighborhood in its own right, and is walkable from Downtown anyway).

The “bad” Schenectady you hear about is in reference to pretty much everything outside of these areas. People always get hung up on stories from the “ghetto” Schenectady, but the reality is you won’t ever go there. If you live downtown, you’ll have about 100 bars and restaurants within walking distance, and also world-class theater at Proctors (we get all the broadway shows), so it’s not like you’re gonna run out of shit to do and wander off into some sketchy part of town. It really is the same as every city in the world - stay in the good parts, stay out of the bad parts.

That being said, one thing you might have to adjust to is the fact that this is a small city. If you’re coming from a real city in Texas (Austin, Houston, etc..) then the mere size of Schenectady is going to be very underwhelming. Even when combined with Albany and Troy, the capital region is not a bustling metropolis by any means. However, it’s a different story if you factor in Saratoga - Schenectady is a pretty short drive from Saratoga, which is a city that looks like someone airlifted one of Manhattan’s wealthy neighborhoods and dropped it on the feet of the Adirondack mountains. If you really need high-class culture all of the time, you’ll find it there, conveniently.

Schenectady has one of the area’s best pride celebrations every year, all of downtown gets decorated and everything. I know of one gay bar downtown specifically (there are more in Albany), but I can’t imagine any establishment in the area where you’d feel even remotely unwelcome.

As someone who has lived and worked in this area for many years, having moved in back when the downtown was much less developed than it is now, I can say that you can have a lot of fun living here - just so long as you’re not expecting like NYC level of activity.

Been here most of my life. I saw the decline due to GE and then a slow but sure resurgence. I absolutely love this little city, love downtown, and love its proximity to so much else. The seasons are stunning, especially in the surrounding countryside. Get your ski on! There are PLENTY of good, walkable neighborhoods in Sch'dy. And here's a good place to check out events in the area: https://dailygazette.com/events#!/

I work in Schenectady but live about 45 minutes away and wouldn't have it any other way. I would never actually go to Schenectady if I didn't get paid to. Don't move there. It's a shithole of epic proportions.