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This is a short post about leaving the Hudson Valley NY as a lifelong native.
The reasons are numerous such as high taxes for homeowners in cities with little to no improvements, many low wage and toxic corporate and private jobs, lack of affordable rental housing due to bad landlords, AirBnb taking housing stock, and the regular waves of NJ/NYC metro area people moving up; deteriorating infrastructure, lack of and/or subpar basic public services, unfixed roads some of which were only recently repaved after 30+ years of ruin, new casinos built even though the old ones failed, tax-free welfare programs for corporations, religious groups, etc, what else am I missing?
What are the reasons you left the HV area, when was it and where did you go?
I am including Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Sullivan, Ulster, Dutchess, Columbia and Green counties as the definition of the lower to middle HV.
It appears the NJ/NYC metro area's influence over this area keeps growing and expanding decade after decade.
This is happening all over the US.
The invasion of the city folk. Historically, with this migration comes higher taxes, higher cost of living, lower quality of life. Very sad. Not much can be done once the infection begins.
This is happening all over the US.
The invasion of the city folk. Historically, with this migration comes higher taxes, higher cost of living, lower quality of life. Very sad. Not much can be done once the infection begins.
It's true and this area had these problems for a long time now and they have remained unfixed, only the city people bring both gentrification and malaise which makes it all worse from decade to decade.
The main cities of Newburgh, Middletown, Kingston and Poughkeepsie are all mostly garbage unless you are rich or a native with roots here who may or may not have enough money to stay/retire.
There are a few small towns/villages with decent areas in each HV county but good luck finding housing there or nearby.
I've heard people are leaving and going South, out of the country, etc.
It's true and this area had these problems for a long time now and they have remained unfixed, only the city people bring both gentrification and malaise which makes it all worse from decade to decade.
The main cities of Newburgh, Middletown, Kingston and Poughkeepsie are all mostly garbage unless you are rich or a native with roots here who may or may not have enough money to stay/retire.
There are a few small towns/villages with decent areas in each HV county but good luck finding housing there or nearby.
I've heard people are leaving and going South, out of the country, etc.
Have you read some posts by southerners lately complaining about too much traffic, crime, waiting months for a doctor's appointment, shortage of medical specialists and modern technology the Northeast enjoys, lack of good hospitals and having to travel a long distance for a decent one? Whatever problems the Hudson Valley has, standard of living is much worse in many other U.S locations, I'm staying, you get what you pay for.
Have you read some posts by southerners lately complaining about too much traffic, crime, waiting months for a doctor's appointment, shortage of medical specialists and modern technology the Northeast enjoys, lack of good hospitals and having to travel a long distance for a decent one? Whatever problems the Hudson Valley has, standard of living is much worse in many other U.S locations, I'm staying, you get what you pay for.
It's all a complex situation and there are many details.
For a single person without decent or no health insurance at all, it's irrelevant what is the area if you can't afford it or use it, so you will end up self-medicating some other way or not at all.
The state pays more money to NYC and people down there complain when they visit or move up here about why it's so bad, that's partially because the money isn't allocated or being used properly.
So the city people (both rich and poor) will get what someone else paid them for, or they will get it for "free" on welfare or crime.
It's all a complex situation and there are many details.
For a single person without decent or no health insurance at all, it's irrelevant what is the area if you can't afford it or use it, so you will end up self-medicating some other way or not at all.
The state pays more money to NYC and people down there complain when they visit or move up here about why it's so bad, that's partially because the money isn't allocated or being used properly.
So the city people (both rich and poor) will get what someone else paid them for, or they will get it for "free" on welfare or crime.
Actually, it is the opposite, given how much of the state's economy is in NYC.
I was a lifelong resident also. I finally made the move almost three years ago. It was the best thing I ever did. My wife and I moved to North Carolina. We couldn't be happier. I still have family in the Hudson Valley. They are leaving as soon as they retire. We are like a vacation spot for everyone to come and visit. I had no idea just how bad it was there until I left. Just leaving NY to NC saved me almost forty percent on my car insurance. I kid you not. My electric bill is half of what it was up there also. Less sales tax, more jobs, with more on the way. Plenty of sunshine. Winters up there felt like doom and gloom. Another thing up there is the police, trying to pull you over for more revenue that went God knows where. They were on rte 17 from Monticello to Harriman. I was a truck driver, I never seen anything like it. It's the least free state in the U.S. I actually looked into it to see if I was crazy. Believe me, I know all about the roads. Ever been on 209 from Port Jervis to Ellenville? Why wasn't those roads ever fixed right? It was always a patch job here and there. My Sister pays over 13000 in taxes on two acres in Sullivan County. The road to her house was atrocious. I could go on about the place. I know I sound pretty jaded, but I stuck in there until I was over forty years old. I constantly ask myself why I didn't leave sooner.
This is a short post about leaving the Hudson Valley NY as a lifelong native.
The reasons are numerous such as high taxes for homeowners in cities with little to no improvements, many low wage and toxic corporate and private jobs, lack of affordable rental housing due to bad landlords, AirBnb taking housing stock, and the regular waves of NJ/NYC metro area people moving up; deteriorating infrastructure, lack of and/or subpar basic public services, unfixed roads some of which were only recently repaved after 30+ years of ruin, new casinos built even though the old ones failed, tax-free welfare programs for corporations, religious groups, etc, what else am I missing?
What are the reasons you left the HV area, when was it and where did you go?
I am including Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Sullivan, Ulster, Dutchess, Columbia and Green counties as the definition of the lower to middle HV.
It appears the NJ/NYC metro area's influence over this area keeps growing and expanding decade after decade.
We left Westchester about a year ago. Reasons (1) snow (2) electricity outages from storms (3) can't walk on icy roads and no sidewalks (4) more populated/crowded than twenty years ago (5) oil heat costs (6) property taxes.
In coastal Virginia has rarely any snow or ice. It's flat (not hilly) and it has sidewalks. It's far less crowded. Natural gas heat is less than $100 per month in winter. Property taxes are south of $4,0000. Gasoline is a buck less per gallon.
Plus Virginia has many ex-New Yorkers. It's like never leaving home.
In general, people are friendlier and much more polite.
I'm not trying to argue or hate on any particular part of the country, but figure out why NY and the HV and in turn the USA is so messed up if that's even possible.
Quote:
Originally Posted by james621
I was a lifelong resident also. I finally made the move almost three years ago. It was the best thing I ever did. My wife and I moved to North Carolina. We couldn't be happier. I still have family in the Hudson Valley. They are leaving as soon as they retire. We are like a vacation spot for everyone to come and visit. I had no idea just how bad it was there until I left. Just leaving NY to NC saved me almost forty percent on my car insurance. I kid you not. My electric bill is half of what it was up there also. Less sales tax, more jobs, with more on the way. Plenty of sunshine. Winters up there felt like doom and gloom. Another thing up there is the police, trying to pull you over for more revenue that went God knows where. They were on rte 17 from Monticello to Harriman. I was a truck driver, I never seen anything like it. It's the least free state in the U.S. I actually looked into it to see if I was crazy. Believe me, I know all about the roads. Ever been on 209 from Port Jervis to Ellenville? Why wasn't those roads ever fixed right? It was always a patch job here and there. My Sister pays over 13000 in taxes on two acres in Sullivan County. The road to her house was atrocious. I could go on about the place. I know I sound pretty jaded, but I stuck in there until I was over forty years old. I constantly ask myself why I didn't leave sooner.
The capital county area in Hartford CT is also better taken care of with actual functional sidewalks, smarter traffic lights, snow plowed on time, etc. I was told by some insurance agents that the population and problems in the NJ/NY metro area influence the vehicle insurance costs and restriction of options.
I have driven 17 from Middletown to Monticello and can also confirm the police were frequent.
Some roads that were in decent shape get repaved multiple times while others languish for decades.
I heard that some road crews are more lax than in other counties but I'm sure there are many reasons.
Pre-covid homeowner taxes were $10k for city of Newburgh with not many improvements for decades. Higher taxes in some immediate surrounding areas like New Windsor. I don't mind the winters and I'm still young, had some family to help but that's changed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by YorktownGal
We left Westchester about a year ago. Reasons (1) snow (2) electricity outages from storms (3) can't walk on icy roads and no sidewalks (4) more populated/crowded than twenty years ago (5) oil heat costs (6) property taxes.
In coastal Virginia has rarely any snow or ice. It's flat (not hilly) and it has sidewalks. It's far less crowded. Natural gas heat is less than $100 per month in winter. Property taxes are south of $4,0000. Gasoline is a buck less per gallon.
Plus Virginia has many ex-New Yorkers. It's like never leaving home.
In general, people are friendlier and much more polite.
I'm not trying to argue or hate on any particular part of the country, but figure out why NY and the HV and in turn the USA is so messed up if that's even possible.
The capital county area in Hartford CT is also better taken care of with actual functional sidewalks, smarter traffic lights, snow plowed on time, etc. I was told by some insurance agents that the population and problems in the NJ/NY metro area influence the vehicle insurance costs and restriction of options.
I have driven 17 from Middletown to Monticello and can also confirm the police were frequent.
Some roads that were in decent shape get repaved multiple times while others languish for decades.
I heard that some road crews are more lax than in other counties but I'm sure there are many reasons.
Pre-covid homeowner taxes were $10k for city of Newburgh with not many improvements for decades. Higher taxes in some immediate surrounding areas like New Windsor. I don't mind the winters and I'm still young, had some family to help but that's changed.
There is likely some other things not mentioned in the article like the watershed, where there is some give and take and Upstate likely wouldn’t have some of the regulations that come with being associated with NYC. However, the economic aspect is more of what I’m referring to.
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