My wife and I moved to Ithaca about 18 months ago from a large southern metro area. We have really enjoyed the minimal traffic in the Ithaca area and the slower-paced lifestyle.
The big drawback to living in Ithaca, NY is the lack of affordable housing for lower middle class families like ourselves.
Interestingly, it is not that the home prices that are terribly high. It is the property/school tax bill that comes with the home that is paralyzing to middle income residents.
We moved from an area where a house assessed at 250K came with a yearly tax bill of $2700 (total). In Ithaca, NY the tax bill for a similarly priced property would exceed $8000 per year. Not a trivial differnce for most people.
Not only are the property taxes high, but the state income tax ranks near the highest in the nation, gas prices are high, and the utility rates are well above average.
In conclusion, a middle class family considering a move to Ithaca, NY should seriously think about the "cost of living" before making the move. Don't let what appears to be a very appealing "culture" cloud better judgment. Some of my colleagues have found out the hard way.
My wife and I moved to Ithaca about 18 months ago from a large southern metro area. We have really enjoyed the minimal traffic in the Ithaca area and the slower-paced lifestyle.
The big drawback to living in Ithaca, NY is the lack of affordable housing for lower middle class families like ourselves.
Interestingly, it is not that the home prices that are terribly high. It is the property/school tax bill that comes with the home that is paralyzing to middle income residents.
We moved from an area where a house assessed at 250K came with a yearly tax bill of $2700 (total). In Ithaca, NY the tax bill for a similarly priced property would exceed $8000 per year. Not a trivial differnce for most people.
Not only are the property taxes high, but the state income tax ranks near the highest in the nation, gas prices are high, and the utility rates are well above average.
In conclusion, a middle class family considering a move to Ithaca, NY should seriously think about the "cost of living" before making the move. Don't let what appears to be a very appealing "culture" cloud better judgment. Some of my colleagues have found out the hard way.
