I’ll be relocating shortly to upstate New York (near Cornell in Ithaca). I grew up in Indiana and have moved around the Chicago suburbs several times in the last 5 years, but I’ve never lived outside the midwest before. The only thing I’ve had time to research so far is that tenant law seems pretty much the same in both states.
So, for those who’ve lived in NY state and/or near the Ithaca area, what can I expect? I’m wondering about things like taxes, living expenses, cuisine, stuff to do. What’s the weather like (pretty similar minus the lake effect is my guess)? Are there any decent beaches in the summertime? Are all New Yorkers breathtakingly rude with accents like Marisa Tomei’s? I’m used to my neighbors in Chicago being hands-off and independent (as opposed to, oh, the deep south). So I’m hoping there won’t be much in terms of culture shock. I’m preparing to say goodbye forever to Portillo’s, Giordano’s, and authentic local Mexican/Greek restaurants (don’t laugh! I love Chicago cuisine). I don’t expect to find a decent hot dog, gyro, or burrito ever again, but I expect the sushi (and maybe the bagels?) may offset that.
Thanks for any advice or tips! I can’t wait to be a New Yorker.
We moved from Kankakee County to Putnam County when I was 11. For public beaches near Ithaca, closest looks to be up the lake at Trumansburg. There are some nice beaches on Long Island Sound in Connecticut but those will be at least four hours away, you might want to book a weekend if you want to go there.
I grew up in the Ithaca area and went to Cornell, though I moved to Boston almost 20 years ago, so my knowledge of what young people like to do in Ithaca is a bit outdated.
Ithaca New Yorkers are not a lot like New Yorkers (other than some students). The local accent doesn’t resemble a New Yawker accent. It’s like a weird cross between Pittsburgh, Chicago and Minnesota. I didn’t notice it (much) while growing up, but I now really notice it when visiting family. The people are pretty nice and friendly.
A lot of people in Ithaca proper, though, are transplants from elsewhere.
There are lots of hippies. Ithaca itself is very left-leaning, though the natives in the surrounding towns run fairly conservative (excluding Trumansburg).
A lot of the things you mentioned are more associated with New York City, and that is an entirely different region of the state from the Ithaca area.
The Finger Lakes are really beautiful, and there are some nice beaches, but they are more like typical lake beaches (not even like the Great Lakes). There are a lot of great restaurants/bars on the water for fun and relaxing summer evenings out.
You will have the theill of being introduced to spiedies.
I think one big change is that Ithaca isn’t near a large city, so it’s not like living in the suburbs of Chicago or other city … There is simply no big city at all, unless you are willing to make a substantial trip out of town.
Collegetown Bagels has, IMO, the best bagels outside the city (remember - in NYS, if someone refers to “the city” it means NYC. There is no other city apparently).
For hotdogs, you’re going to want to explore hots - white hots and red hots - Zweigles, and Hofmann’s Snappy Grillers (which they have apparently heretically renamed Coneys)
I’m not sure about gyros, but I ate many a wonderful Souvlaki, and Ithaca used to be lousy with Greek diners serving all kinds of tasty Greek specialties. It has fewer than it used to, but I am sure you can still find a good gyro and souvlaki.
Yes! It’s like no matter which direction you drive in, you only get into more and more rural areas. There some really neat small towns to poke around in.
IMHO (grew up 100mi SE of Ithaca and have family there) you are moving to the country. In Midwest terms, like moving to Champaign - college town surrounded by farms and small town America.
Close enough to Lake Ontario to still get some nasty winter storms. Beautiful spring and fall.
I’m originally from the Ithaca area (which I love!), lived from age 1-5 on the Cornell campus. And I also spent some years growing up in the Midwest (South Dakota, so far less cosmopolitan than the greater Chicago area). Honestly, I can’t think of any very major differences between upstate NY and much of the Midwest, except that there are more liberals (clustered into the college towns) and hills in upstate NY. Ithaca has a great small-town feel and is surrounded by farms, vineyards and beautiful scenery. The weather is very similar although you can probably expect hotter, stickier summers.
Thanks for all the advice! I went to school in a small college town surrounded by cornfields, and it sounds fairly similar. If there are good (and cheap) Greek diners, I totally will flip my shit. I’m not a bagel connoisseur (yet), but I will definitely check out Collegetown. And seeing as how I’ve been way too liberal for the midwest since birth, it sounds like I’ll fit in well.
I’m still going to be looking into the tax differences. Are there local taxes? Sales tax? Income tax? All the normal stuff?
Income tax will be pretty much what you’re used to. Property taxes can be pretty high (significantly higher than mine here in Taxachusetts, for example). Sales tax in Tompkins County is 8% (4% state sales tax, 4% county sales tax, none levied by local towns/cities). Depending on what Illinois taxes, you might be surprised at the number of things that are taxed.
Everything is taxed here, but at different rates depending if it’s groceries or prepared food or liquor/cigs, etc. It’s really confusing and I’ve never exactly understood it.
Yes. There’s is a higher cost of living everywhere in New York. I can’t provide details for Ithaca since it’s grown and developed a lot since I was last there, but every place in the state is affected by the high taxes and costs of doing business. But as far as I know Ithaca is not like being in the New York metro area, so the impact will not be all that great.
And Rach, you have greatly increased your chances of getting a good bagel. I’d think there must be at least one place that makes real bagels in Ithaca, and does it right.
It is great countryside. If you like the autumn leaves you are in luck.
I’m used to my neighbors in Chicago being hands-off and independent (as opposed to, oh, the deep south). So I’m hoping there won’t be much in terms of culture shock. I’m preparing to say goodbye forever to Portillo’s, Giordano’s, and authentic local Mexican/Greek restaurants (don’t laugh! I love Chicago cuisine). I don’t expect to find a decent hot dog, gyro, or burrito ever again, but I expect the sushi (and maybe the bagels?) may offset that.
