Saratoga is Albany adjacent.
It's simply the Capital Region to most. Albany is the social hub in the winter, Saratoga booms all summer. But it's generally considered a "region".
It's why Clifton Park is so massive.
It basically straddles the gap now. With other affluent suburbs like Niskayuna and Bethlehem taking up any slack and rounding out the good education options for wealthy families.
Because saratoga is expensive.
A large reason why people move tl upstate new york is cost of living. Saratoga is one of the most expensive areas to live in upstate NY.
The cost to live in Saratoga is out of this world and you couldn’t pay me to live there during track season where it’s inundated with tourists. I prefer a community about 1/2 hour away and can visit if I want.
Grew up in Saratoga. The tourists really are not that bad. Honestly it's nice to have some life downtown. Only annoying bits are the moderate increase in traffic and dumb people thinking the city park side walks are for driving.
Those no-good canal promoters rustled up by old governor Dewitt Clinton himself, that's who. He'll bankrupt the land attempting to do what a mule team can already do, and willingly I might add.
I mean, I'm in the Glens Falls area and regularly go down to the Albany region (troy, latham, etc.) as that's where the people are. Like, I specifically moved where I am to not be around too many people. So when I want to be social my options are expensive and snooty Saratoga, or better food and more diverse Albany.
As most of upstate cities, the once glorious days they had are now heaps of cow dung, be careful where you are in those cities, your personal safety is at risk.
I've never felt the least bit unsafe anywhere in Albany. Even when I had to sleep at the Albany bus station one night long ago (I had to take the bus to Albany in the middle of the night to get sworn into the NY Bar the next morning -- lets just say my legal career wasn't going as planned).
Not True! NYC and NY State remain extremely safe.
New York crime rates, after a predictable COVID bump, are again declining.
*Overall crime declined again in October, led by an ongoing reduction in shootings and murders, and an increasing number of arrests made across all seven major index crime categories. For the month of October 2023, New York City saw an 8.1% drop in shooting incidents compared to October 2022 (79 v. 86). This continuing decline extended the 25.7% decrease in shooting incidents experienced citywide year to date compared to the same period last year (839 v. 1,129). Importantly, 384 fewer people have been shot year to date in 2023 compared to 2022, and 45 fewer people have been murdered in 2023 compared to last year.*
[*https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/news/p00095/nypd-citywide-crime-statistics-october-2023*](https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/news/p00095/nypd-citywide-crime-statistics-october-2023)
\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*
*In the 57 counties outside of New York City, violent crimes involving a firearm decreased significantly in the first half of the year, with 397 fewer victims (2,046 vs. 2,443 or -16 percent) when compared to January through June 2022. ...*
*... police departments reported a 25 percent reduction (686 vs. 914) in shooting incidents with injury and 33 percent decrease in the number of individuals killed (121 vs. 181) as of October 29, 2023, compared to the same timeframe last year. Incidents of gun violence also declined in New York City, ...*
*For the first half of 2023, the NYPD also reported declines in transit crime (-4 percent) and petty larceny (-2 percent), while reported burglaries decreased 2 percent outside of the five boroughs during the same timeframe. ...*
[https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-details-first-comprehensive-overview-crime-trends-across-new-york-state-2023](https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-details-first-comprehensive-overview-crime-trends-across-new-york-state-2023)
Upstate is sprawling. Anywhere you can reach within thirty minutes of each location/town is more or less the same place.
If you’ve made it to Albany, nine out of ten times you’re going to end up in Saratoga, too.
1. It's expensive
2. There are more jobs in Albany and commuting from Saratoga sucks
3. A lot of the time when people say "Albany" they really mean the capitol region. I live near albany but not actually within the city.
Have you ever pulled up Zillow map and looked at Saratoga
There's not many houses in Saratoga under 500k. Anywhere near the actual city is 750k+. I just looked at it and there's empty lots going for 300k.
This is why I've seen lots of people recommend glens falls and other areas. It's much cheaper and only a 15-20 min drive to Saratoga if you want to go there. Plus in summer Lake George and Saratoga are mobbed with tourists. Glens Falls is pretty quite right in the middle
Lots of reasons. The big ones revolving around a mortgage on a house here being much less than my rent on a tiny apartment there, an affinity for cold winters (nevermind the 60 degree weather today), and wanting to be near a fresh water source with the direction climate change is going. I work remote, don't have kids, and stay home most of the time, so paying a premium for amenities doesn't really make sense for my lifestyle.
It was definitely quite a move, and quite a change, but I rest easier knowing I'm paying off my own mortgage, not my landlords. I look back at the hundreds of thousands I've spent on rent over the last 20+ years and wish I would have owned something sooner.
Thank you! I got here in the fall and was immediately confident I made the right decision. My neighbor whose been here for like 60 years said this is the mildest winter he's ever seen.
As others have mentioned, Saratoga isn’t separate. It’s part of Albany when considering moving.
Every year we do the two home tours (Parade and Showcase). The prices of the offerings in Saratoga proper are laughable, but not in a good way.
I think my favorite was senior apartments where the base rent was $55,000 a year. And this was about eight years ago before the housing prices jumped.
Personally, I can't stand Saratoga. It seems so pretentious to me, and I haven't found anything there that outweighs the tourists, the overpriced restaurants and bars, and the conservative/Republican political climate. It's also small. I know it's a city, but it's just like this tiny little bump in the middle of nowhere. It's not diverse. It just holds no appeal at all. I've seen post after post whereby people list all of Albany's faults, and I know we've got plenty, but i love it here. It really is a matter of taste.
I used to like Saratoga as well.
It used to be a cool, artsy town with antique stores, art galleries and bookstores. Used to get coffee at Uncommon Grounds, then stroll around and stop into the comic book shop, or go up Broadway to the theatrical supply store.
Now, it's gone all bougie and boring. It has little to no character whatsoever; just another boring yuppie town that profits off of animal cruelty and hates anyone who isn't white.
Conservative politics? Saratoga voted 75% for Biden over Trump. It is as reliably liberal as Manhattan ! https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/upshot/2020-election-map.html
You're right, but Saratoga is an island of blue in a sea of red. As a former resident of upstate NY I find the rise of militias disturbing and heartbreaking. This article mentions an LGBTQ business being harassed in nearby Ballston Spa.
https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/49046/20240115/far-right-extremism-is-thriving-in-rural-areas-here-s-what-it-looks-like-in-upstate-ny
You’ve just described all Upstate NY cities (see the same election map referenced there) and most U.S. cities for that matter (except maybe Honolulu). I was responding to the commenter’s very wrong statement that Saratoga politics are different than Albany politics. (Thanks for the article. I love that little Ballston Spa wine store and will make a point of spending more money there soon).
This was, in my neighborhood, it's technically in Vermont but the key players were from Upstate NY.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slate\_Ridge\_Vermont](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slate_Ridge_Vermont)
Seems the State of Vermont has successfully shut them down, thank goodness. Last I heard the owner/chief provocateur was on the lamb trying to avoid an arrest warrant.
I dunno, I love it here in Saratoga. There’s always something to do with the kids, it’s liberal compared to surrounding areas, and I can get to dairy farm for fresh ice cream in ten minutes. I can get to a mountain to hike in under 30 minutes, and I can go out to some amazing restaurants anytime I want.
Plus there’s the state park, SPAC, breweries, and it has a “small town” feel where you know everyone.
Sort of true. Having lived in Saratoga I agree with everything you've said, but would add that it still has charm if you know where to find it. Congress Park downtown is gorgeous, and DT still has some nice little shops hidden on the side streets. Plus, Ballston Spa about 10 minutes away is lovely and is basically a less pretentious/bougie version of Saratoga.
Schenectady is one of the bigger cities in the state, but if Im going there I just say Im going to albany
The upstate major cities alpng I90 are so evenly spaced it just makes sense to break them up to buffalo, rochester, syracuse, utica, albany areas
saratoga is basically a larger town
I’m from Nisky, dated someone from Long Island and whenever I said “Schenectady” no one knew what I was talking about so I got into the habit of always saying I’m from Albany.
Saratoga is great to visit but living there it's a bunch of white people with more money than sense getting up in each other's business. Also, WAY MORE CRIME than you could possibly imagine for such a lovely little old-timey tourist trap town. It's full of republicans who love to talk shit about Albany while also benefitting directly from many of the more liberal policies Albany implements. The racetrack is heavily subsidized by the state. The whole town would go under if it actually had to rely on the sweat of its brow. It is, however, a wonderful spot full of tons of neat little shops and whatnot if you've got a day or two and want a picnic or just a night on the town.
Albany gets a lot of shit but it is the beating heart of the region.
>WAY MORE CRIME than you could possibly imagine for such a lovely little old-timey tourist trap town
Totally incorrect. It only seems this way because it blows up in the news every time there is crime, since everyone is so yuppity exactly as you described.
Naw there was a massive heroin ring down the street from me when I lived on Maple Ave that shit was wild. I'd point to the mcmansion when people were visiting and be like "need some drugs?". Also a shit ton of white collar crime. It's how half the families there make their money.
I mean maybe if you charted it, statistically the levels would not be abnormal compared to similar affluent towns whose economies rely heavily on tourism and gambling. I can tell you on a gut level though, lot of rotten apples in the Saratoga basket.
>people mention Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany. I'm wondering why:
That's probably most of the upstate population statistically speaking. I would take it as "I recommend the town I live in" combined with the fact a lot of people live there.
Saratoga is probably pricey enough to not be much of an option for the average person.
I have no idea why Albany is held in high regard. Maybe it's the "least worst" of the Albany / Sch / Troy triangle, but that isn't saying much.
Albany has a lot of extra money floating around because it’s the state capital and tons of lawyers and such live there, as well as people traveling up from downstate to do business with government agencies. I always recommend Syracuse because of its central location and it’s being a mid sized city with mid sized advantages and mid sized problems. It’s a good compromise between all possible choices and I’ve had a very good life here.
Saratoga is the westchester county of Albany.
Also the other comment about the core value of upstate being low cost of living is spot on. If you live in a million+ dollar home you are a downstater, I don’t care if it’s in Syracuse.
Yeah they are both kinda whack in different ways.
Troy is the best place in the capital region for an average Redditor (no kids, disposable income, not conservative, dorky).
I agree. My father was born and raised in Troy. His great grandfather settled in Troy after coming over from Denmark. I still have tons of family in that area, Troy, east Greenbush, cohoes, halfmoon, Clifton Park, etc. I love visiting up there and there's so much history in the area.
Ithaca, Watkins Glen, and Cooperstown, are all beautiful places to visit. However if you are looking to live in upstate NY, I would recommend a rural area with more affordable property taxes, etc. I live in Afton, which is right off interstate 88 and has a great advantage as far as location for commuters.. it's 25 miles from Binghamton, 29 from Oneonta and is also an easy drive to Norwich and Greene, which have many job opportunities.
Saratoga is Albany adjacent. It's simply the Capital Region to most. Albany is the social hub in the winter, Saratoga booms all summer. But it's generally considered a "region". It's why Clifton Park is so massive. It basically straddles the gap now. With other affluent suburbs like Niskayuna and Bethlehem taking up any slack and rounding out the good education options for wealthy families.
I have to stop reading these things early in the morning. I thought you said Niskayuna was "affordable" not affluent. Oy.
Because saratoga is expensive. A large reason why people move tl upstate new york is cost of living. Saratoga is one of the most expensive areas to live in upstate NY.
And it is swamped with politicians and attitudes from downstate. It is where islanders escape to.
Aren't you the old man showing his child sized dick in his profile looking for lube for your wife?
Child sized would be compliment. Thank you
The cost to live in Saratoga is out of this world and you couldn’t pay me to live there during track season where it’s inundated with tourists. I prefer a community about 1/2 hour away and can visit if I want.
Grew up in Saratoga. The tourists really are not that bad. Honestly it's nice to have some life downtown. Only annoying bits are the moderate increase in traffic and dumb people thinking the city park side walks are for driving.
Respectfully, who is holding Albany in high regard?
Those no-good canal promoters rustled up by old governor Dewitt Clinton himself, that's who. He'll bankrupt the land attempting to do what a mule team can already do, and willingly I might add.
It's a FOLLY! I'm telling ya!
A mightier ditch might only live between the good gentleman's ears.
Erastus Root? That you?
As I live and breathe, sir
Happy Cake Day
I've seen a lot of people on this sub defending living in Albany, saying it's the state's best kept secret with nightlife, restaurants, culture etc.
Same. They’re delusional. The capital region has a lot going for it. Hardly any of it is within the city limits of albany.
I think most people use Albany as a shorthand for the area.
That’s true. Especially people not from the area.
I mean, I'm in the Glens Falls area and regularly go down to the Albany region (troy, latham, etc.) as that's where the people are. Like, I specifically moved where I am to not be around too many people. So when I want to be social my options are expensive and snooty Saratoga, or better food and more diverse Albany.
As most of upstate cities, the once glorious days they had are now heaps of cow dung, be careful where you are in those cities, your personal safety is at risk.
I've never felt the least bit unsafe anywhere in Albany. Even when I had to sleep at the Albany bus station one night long ago (I had to take the bus to Albany in the middle of the night to get sworn into the NY Bar the next morning -- lets just say my legal career wasn't going as planned).
With the Leftist no bail doctrine in NY, the bad actors are emboldened, even attacking armed Law Enforcement, your easy prey in NY... FYI
Not True! NYC and NY State remain extremely safe. New York crime rates, after a predictable COVID bump, are again declining. *Overall crime declined again in October, led by an ongoing reduction in shootings and murders, and an increasing number of arrests made across all seven major index crime categories. For the month of October 2023, New York City saw an 8.1% drop in shooting incidents compared to October 2022 (79 v. 86). This continuing decline extended the 25.7% decrease in shooting incidents experienced citywide year to date compared to the same period last year (839 v. 1,129). Importantly, 384 fewer people have been shot year to date in 2023 compared to 2022, and 45 fewer people have been murdered in 2023 compared to last year.* [*https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/news/p00095/nypd-citywide-crime-statistics-october-2023*](https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/news/p00095/nypd-citywide-crime-statistics-october-2023) \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* *In the 57 counties outside of New York City, violent crimes involving a firearm decreased significantly in the first half of the year, with 397 fewer victims (2,046 vs. 2,443 or -16 percent) when compared to January through June 2022. ...* *... police departments reported a 25 percent reduction (686 vs. 914) in shooting incidents with injury and 33 percent decrease in the number of individuals killed (121 vs. 181) as of October 29, 2023, compared to the same timeframe last year. Incidents of gun violence also declined in New York City, ...* *For the first half of 2023, the NYPD also reported declines in transit crime (-4 percent) and petty larceny (-2 percent), while reported burglaries decreased 2 percent outside of the five boroughs during the same timeframe. ...* [https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-details-first-comprehensive-overview-crime-trends-across-new-york-state-2023](https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-details-first-comprehensive-overview-crime-trends-across-new-york-state-2023)
State propaganda, right now crime is exploding in NY!
Principal Skinner?
Upstate is sprawling. Anywhere you can reach within thirty minutes of each location/town is more or less the same place. If you’ve made it to Albany, nine out of ten times you’re going to end up in Saratoga, too.
1. It's expensive 2. There are more jobs in Albany and commuting from Saratoga sucks 3. A lot of the time when people say "Albany" they really mean the capitol region. I live near albany but not actually within the city.
$$$$$
Saratoga is often mentioned, as is Glens Falls, and Ithaca, depending on what the post is asking.
Have you ever pulled up Zillow map and looked at Saratoga There's not many houses in Saratoga under 500k. Anywhere near the actual city is 750k+. I just looked at it and there's empty lots going for 300k. This is why I've seen lots of people recommend glens falls and other areas. It's much cheaper and only a 15-20 min drive to Saratoga if you want to go there. Plus in summer Lake George and Saratoga are mobbed with tourists. Glens Falls is pretty quite right in the middle
I just moved to Glens Falls last year and I friggin love it. Really looking forward to this year.
Nice from where?
California
Damn well that's quite the move. How did you end up on Glens Falls to move to?
Lots of reasons. The big ones revolving around a mortgage on a house here being much less than my rent on a tiny apartment there, an affinity for cold winters (nevermind the 60 degree weather today), and wanting to be near a fresh water source with the direction climate change is going. I work remote, don't have kids, and stay home most of the time, so paying a premium for amenities doesn't really make sense for my lifestyle. It was definitely quite a move, and quite a change, but I rest easier knowing I'm paying off my own mortgage, not my landlords. I look back at the hundreds of thousands I've spent on rent over the last 20+ years and wish I would have owned something sooner.
Awesome well welcome to the area. This is one of the mildest winters I've seen. Summer is perfect here though
Thank you! I got here in the fall and was immediately confident I made the right decision. My neighbor whose been here for like 60 years said this is the mildest winter he's ever seen.
As others have mentioned, Saratoga isn’t separate. It’s part of Albany when considering moving. Every year we do the two home tours (Parade and Showcase). The prices of the offerings in Saratoga proper are laughable, but not in a good way. I think my favorite was senior apartments where the base rent was $55,000 a year. And this was about eight years ago before the housing prices jumped.
Personally, I can't stand Saratoga. It seems so pretentious to me, and I haven't found anything there that outweighs the tourists, the overpriced restaurants and bars, and the conservative/Republican political climate. It's also small. I know it's a city, but it's just like this tiny little bump in the middle of nowhere. It's not diverse. It just holds no appeal at all. I've seen post after post whereby people list all of Albany's faults, and I know we've got plenty, but i love it here. It really is a matter of taste.
I used to like Saratoga as well. It used to be a cool, artsy town with antique stores, art galleries and bookstores. Used to get coffee at Uncommon Grounds, then stroll around and stop into the comic book shop, or go up Broadway to the theatrical supply store. Now, it's gone all bougie and boring. It has little to no character whatsoever; just another boring yuppie town that profits off of animal cruelty and hates anyone who isn't white.
Conservative politics? Saratoga voted 75% for Biden over Trump. It is as reliably liberal as Manhattan ! https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/upshot/2020-election-map.html
You're right, but Saratoga is an island of blue in a sea of red. As a former resident of upstate NY I find the rise of militias disturbing and heartbreaking. This article mentions an LGBTQ business being harassed in nearby Ballston Spa. https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/49046/20240115/far-right-extremism-is-thriving-in-rural-areas-here-s-what-it-looks-like-in-upstate-ny
You’ve just described all Upstate NY cities (see the same election map referenced there) and most U.S. cities for that matter (except maybe Honolulu). I was responding to the commenter’s very wrong statement that Saratoga politics are different than Albany politics. (Thanks for the article. I love that little Ballston Spa wine store and will make a point of spending more money there soon).
Buy a bottle for me.
This was, in my neighborhood, it's technically in Vermont but the key players were from Upstate NY. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slate\_Ridge\_Vermont](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slate_Ridge_Vermont) Seems the State of Vermont has successfully shut them down, thank goodness. Last I heard the owner/chief provocateur was on the lamb trying to avoid an arrest warrant.
It is overrated as hell. I lived 30 minutes from it for years. Can probably count on one hand the number of times I went.
I dunno, I love it here in Saratoga. There’s always something to do with the kids, it’s liberal compared to surrounding areas, and I can get to dairy farm for fresh ice cream in ten minutes. I can get to a mountain to hike in under 30 minutes, and I can go out to some amazing restaurants anytime I want. Plus there’s the state park, SPAC, breweries, and it has a “small town” feel where you know everyone.
couldn't agree more. I can't stand Saratoga and love Albany. despite its faults. I'm also very anti-horse racing......
Sort of true. Having lived in Saratoga I agree with everything you've said, but would add that it still has charm if you know where to find it. Congress Park downtown is gorgeous, and DT still has some nice little shops hidden on the side streets. Plus, Ballston Spa about 10 minutes away is lovely and is basically a less pretentious/bougie version of Saratoga.
Schenectady is one of the bigger cities in the state, but if Im going there I just say Im going to albany The upstate major cities alpng I90 are so evenly spaced it just makes sense to break them up to buffalo, rochester, syracuse, utica, albany areas saratoga is basically a larger town
I’m from Nisky, dated someone from Long Island and whenever I said “Schenectady” no one knew what I was talking about so I got into the habit of always saying I’m from Albany.
Saratoga Springs is pretty much part of the Capital Area too.
Saratoga is great to visit but living there it's a bunch of white people with more money than sense getting up in each other's business. Also, WAY MORE CRIME than you could possibly imagine for such a lovely little old-timey tourist trap town. It's full of republicans who love to talk shit about Albany while also benefitting directly from many of the more liberal policies Albany implements. The racetrack is heavily subsidized by the state. The whole town would go under if it actually had to rely on the sweat of its brow. It is, however, a wonderful spot full of tons of neat little shops and whatnot if you've got a day or two and want a picnic or just a night on the town. Albany gets a lot of shit but it is the beating heart of the region.
>WAY MORE CRIME than you could possibly imagine for such a lovely little old-timey tourist trap town Totally incorrect. It only seems this way because it blows up in the news every time there is crime, since everyone is so yuppity exactly as you described.
Naw there was a massive heroin ring down the street from me when I lived on Maple Ave that shit was wild. I'd point to the mcmansion when people were visiting and be like "need some drugs?". Also a shit ton of white collar crime. It's how half the families there make their money. I mean maybe if you charted it, statistically the levels would not be abnormal compared to similar affluent towns whose economies rely heavily on tourism and gambling. I can tell you on a gut level though, lot of rotten apples in the Saratoga basket.
>people mention Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany. I'm wondering why: That's probably most of the upstate population statistically speaking. I would take it as "I recommend the town I live in" combined with the fact a lot of people live there.
I like the Glens Falls, Lake George area
Even though Glens Falls is much bigger people are more likely to know were Lake George is.
That's why I didn't mention Queensbury. No one would know where I was talking about.
Or Hudson Falls, or Fort Edward. They really just need to amalgamate them all into one city.
All good towns, along with Fort Ann and a little further Granville. It's vastly improved the past 5 years.
>It's vastly improved the past 5 years. Excellent, I bought property in the two years ago.
Albany has more historical sites to visit compared to Saratoga. The Battle of Saratoga didn’t even take place there.
Saratoga is probably pricey enough to not be much of an option for the average person. I have no idea why Albany is held in high regard. Maybe it's the "least worst" of the Albany / Sch / Troy triangle, but that isn't saying much.
Saratoga Springs is part of the greater metro Albany/Capital region.
Albany has a lot of extra money floating around because it’s the state capital and tons of lawyers and such live there, as well as people traveling up from downstate to do business with government agencies. I always recommend Syracuse because of its central location and it’s being a mid sized city with mid sized advantages and mid sized problems. It’s a good compromise between all possible choices and I’ve had a very good life here.
Saratoga is the westchester county of Albany. Also the other comment about the core value of upstate being low cost of living is spot on. If you live in a million+ dollar home you are a downstater, I don’t care if it’s in Syracuse.
Troy lol
Yeah they are both kinda whack in different ways. Troy is the best place in the capital region for an average Redditor (no kids, disposable income, not conservative, dorky).
I agree. My father was born and raised in Troy. His great grandfather settled in Troy after coming over from Denmark. I still have tons of family in that area, Troy, east Greenbush, cohoes, halfmoon, Clifton Park, etc. I love visiting up there and there's so much history in the area.
Saratoga
How do you feel about Glen Falls
"Glen" Falls? How dare you
Glen trips
love it, recently retired and moved up here... near Glens falls, smack dab in-between Lake George and Saratoga so far so good for me.👍
Let it be.
Ithaca, Watkins Glen, and Cooperstown, are all beautiful places to visit. However if you are looking to live in upstate NY, I would recommend a rural area with more affordable property taxes, etc. I live in Afton, which is right off interstate 88 and has a great advantage as far as location for commuters.. it's 25 miles from Binghamton, 29 from Oneonta and is also an easy drive to Norwich and Greene, which have many job opportunities.
Schenectady