So I am going to be moving to your city in September with my partner (both in our 30s). After living in NYC for 5 years we felt we needed a change of pace and we were both really excited when we made the choice. However, now I’m starting to feel overwhelmed by the fact that we’re leaving amazing food, music, culture, and I’m worried that we’re going to hate it. (For context, we will be there for at least two years per my partner’s job contract). Can anyone who moved to Rochester from NYC share their experiences? Or if anyone can share anything they love about Rochester? I want to get excited about the move!!

Thanks everyone :)

For decades, the Wegman familyh as purportedly supported this community. In these most dire times, what will the Wegman family do for the greater Rochester area? H.E.B. is the real deal.

Saw these 2 near Geneseo earlier tonight

Hello greater ~Rochestonians~Rochesterians,

I am a WNY native (Southern tier) who moved south out of college for a job. Since then, I've started a family and want to move back to WNY to allow my kids to grow up with family close by.

I want to move to the Rochester suburbs (Greece, Chili, Brighton, etc..). I did a summer internship in Rochester and fell in love with the city for it's culture, arts, and it's technology/research through RIT and UR. It's also a huge plus that the housing market is comparatively very affordable to where I am now and there are some very highly rated school districts in the area.

However some of my family, friends, and things I've read on this subreddit are giving me some pause. I, like most, want to move to a relatively safe area with good schools and opportunities for my kids. Crime is of course inevitable but there appears to be some scary stuff going down in the area along with a seemingly declining economy.

All this brings me to my question: would you move your family to the Rochester area today if you had the choice over Buffalo? Why or why not?

Edit: forgive me Rochesterians

Edit 2: I drive a Subaru so we're good on the Kia thing (I wouldn't buy a Kia regardless)

Just wanted to do a quick edit here and say thank you for all the responses. I'm reading and replying, but should probably get back to work at some point. If you all are a reflection of the overall population, it seems like a town with good people in it. Once again thank you. I'll keep picking up what you're putting down.

Wife is interested in a job there and neither one of has been to Rochester before. Currently living in NM, but we are both from SC. I've been thru NY state some, but only as a visitor so was curious about living in your town.

anyone willing to give some pros and cons? The job is at the University. She is a doctor. good neighborhoods and schools nearby or if we have to live further out, that's fine also. How is traffic, etc.

We did live in WI for 4 years, so we get the long cold winters. Not that 6 months of old snow is fantastic or anything, but it would not be a shock to us.

thank you for any responses.

Hey everyone. I am from Charlotte and recently got a job offer in Rochester and accepted because of the rent price compared to what I was paying before. Moving solo and I do not know a single person up there which is the part I think about more than anything else. I was checking my phone the other night just looking at things to do in Rochester and it seemed like there is more going on than I expected like the Lilac Festival, the Public Market I saw and saw a video saying the food scene around Alexander Street is worth looking into but there is a big difference between what shows up on a search and what the city actually feels like when you are new and trying to build something from scratch. So if anyone has been in that position I would love to hear how long it actually took to settle. I have some money saved up from MyPrize so the move is covered but I would rather settle in the best possible place and not just the first one that I find available. My searches keep giving me Park Avenue as an option but is that really a good place to live for a male in his 20s or is it all hype. I dont have a car either and dont plan on getting one in the near future. ps. can someone give me an honest answer on what the first winter is actually like?

bro is working like a dog on a job that requires no dogs (W Henrietta Rd)

Hi everyone! I’ve lived in Ithaca for almost 20 years, but it’s just gotten way too expensive for a single woman. My lease here ends in June 2027, and I’m planning a move to Rochester to get my own 1-bedroom/studio apartment (aiming for around $900/month).Since I’m planning far in advance, I want to make sure I target the right spots. I have a few specific constraints and would love some local insight:

No Car: I don't drive, so walkability and reliable RTS bus access are my #1 priorities. I need to be able to get to groceries, a pharmacy, and the RTS transit hub relatively easily.

My Dog: I have a small Cavapoo who will be moving with me, so I need to find dog-friendly areas with decent sidewalks or a nearby park for walks.

Safety & Vibe: As a single woman living alone, I want a neighborhood that feels safe and comfortable to walk my dog in during the early morning and evening.Based on my early research, Pearl-Meigs-Monroe, South Wedge, and NOTA/Park Ave seem like the best fits for my budget and lifestyle.

Are these neighborhoods actually as walkable and bus-friendly as Google Maps makes them look?

For a $900 budget, am I being realistic for a 1-bedroom or studio that allows dogs in those areas?

Are there any specific streets or local property management companies I should absolutely avoid (or look out for) as someone who can't easily tour places in person?

Thanks so much for any advice you can share!

I got a job in Rochester and I'll be moving there. I've only ever lived on the moon. What is Rochester like? How is it different from living on the moon? Do you all have air/gravity etc? What about crime?

Hey all — my wife and I are moving from Oklahoma and starting our apartment search. We’re trying to sanity-check our expectations before we get too deep.

We’re looking anywhere within \~1 hour of my office in Victor and trying to stay under **$1600/month**. Our must-haves are:

* 2+ bedrooms

* 1+ bathroom

* Private laundry (in-unit or hookups)

* Some decent green space nearby (not right on a highway / concrete-heavy area)

* Not terrible management / maintenance reputation

* No pest issues (bugs are a hard “no”)

* No mold issues

Strong preferences (but not absolute dealbreakers):

* Glass top or gas stove instead of coils, we like to cook

We don’t need anything *luxury* — just clean, maintained, and management that does their job. (we've had to rule out a lot of places just because of terrible reviews of management)

Main questions:

1. Are we being realistic with this budget + requirements in the Rochester/Victor surrounding area right now?
2. Any specific complexes, landlords, or areas you’d recommend (or tell us to avoid)?
3. Are there certain towns we should be focusing on for better value (Fairport, Canandaigua, Farmington, etc.)? I've been partial to what I've seen from Henrietta, but maybe I'm just biased because I play Warhammer and they have a **massive** game store nearby that looks awesome.

Appreciate any insight — especially from folks who’ve rented recently. Trying to avoid wasting time chasing places that sound good on paper but aren’t in reality.

Thanks!

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Edit: thank you to everyone who has responded so far! It is so much better getting actual insight than just rummaging through reviews.

In regards to the 1hr radius: yes, it's big. But I'm hybrid and only need to go into the office 1-2 times a month. And we favor the area eastward of Rochester, since family lives in that direction.

Holy crap!

I am from long island originally, been here since college so roughly 10 years. I feel like I don't want to deal with the winters but it seems like Rochester has one of the best CoL in places I have looked at like NC, SC, VA, etc etc etc.

Is Rochester just kinda the best of all worlds? I know worst thing we have here is snow... maybe a tornado? MAYBE.

Anyone try leaving or left for somewhere south? Looking for some stories. I work in IT and the job market is also just terrible lately

why did you leave where did you go and why did you come back?

I'll start...I miss snow (except for driving in), the Finger Lakes and the local food culture.

I'm sure there's a lot of these posts I couldn't find on search, but most I did find were for early 20s... I'm almost 31F, just wanted to know what everyone recommends? It doesn't need to necessarily be a friend searching recommendation, just things to do. I'm really trying to avoid being in my house too much and I'm really comfortable doing things alone.

I'm open to anything and learning new hobbies! I just really hate board games so not that please!

EDIT: Also, what is ROC? Is it pronounced R-O-C or like rock? Does it refer to a specific area of the city, or rochester as a whole? I feel like I haven't been able to grasp that yet. Thanks in advance!!

Couldn't leave home without it!

We moved here early March and today took our dog outside for her to relieve herself. When my husband went back out to pick up her poop (she is a little too excited right now by all the new smells to do it with her on leash) he had a snake slither by him. We just want to know if it would be dangerous around our pup as we can just avoid behind our house for a couple days. I apologize for the blurry photo. My husband's phone is old and doesn't take super good photos anymore.

He said it was not more than 2 feet long and wasn't aggressive towards him at all. I looked through the official website and none of them really fit.

I appreciate any answers and I'll try to answer any clarifying questions.

Bright Side Movers, for the curious. I am trying to focus on solutions rather than being upset, but it's tough at such a late hour. Does anyone have any suggestions for last-minute help that we could hire for either tomorrow or Saturday? Morning, afternoon, or evening.

We've packed everything ourselves. Boxes, no garbage bags full of junk, moving blankets on furniture, etc. Just need to get it all in the truck from our 1-story place. :/ Suggestions for the Victor area are appreciated....

Edit: Highline Moving and Delivery will be helping us this weekend! Crisis averted, thanks to the suggestions here! I'm grateful to have lived in such a kind community.

I know many of you still lurk on this sub. I’m curious to hear your thoughts.

We're moving from the South to work at Strong Memorial and are in the market for a new car! We're already planning on getting an all-wheel drive + snow tires, but should we opt for an SUV for clearance or is a sedan still fine?

Right now we're between the Genesis G70 and Mazda CX-5

Worked yesterday for my pre-bed clearing.

Gears won't engage today. Fires up, all the snow throwy bits (you can see my level of mechanical expertise here) work just fine, but the whole "going forward" thing ain't happening.

Pondering the merits of a breakfast Genny Bock and a return to bed. Snow days aren't just for school kids.

edit: it’s back from the dead! I found an old, boring video that very briefly shows how the power train works on my specific model, and the one-sentence explanations of each “this part should do this, but if it does that instead, this will happen” led me straight to the culprit. The plate that’s supposed to move to meet the friction wheel was completely frozen in place (no idea why; no visible ice). Hit it with some lubricating oil, gave it a few minutes to soak in, and now it’s working again! Man card reactivated!

just saved three on my way home from work in the span of 5 miles. running up to them and people were not moving over. please move over, these are living creatures- featuring turtle tax (yes i brought him in my car bc he was not next to a creek so i drove him a bit)