Which Northeast city would be best for a black middle class family? (live, comparison) - City vs. City - Page 164 - City-Data Forum

ckhthankgod · 06-21-2023, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

The OP mentioned something in another thread that made me think, what are some transit friendly suburban communities that come to mind within the region that would meet much of the criteria?

I'm thinking of say the Westchester County cities(Mount Vernon, Yonkers, New Rochelle, White Plains, Peekskill, etc.); Boston area cities like Cambridge, Medford, Malden, etc.; Philadelphia area suburbs like Lansdowne, Yeadon, Sharon Hill, etc. or even providence area cities such as Pawtucket and Cranston.

You may even include suburbs in other areas like parts of Eggertsville(town of Amherst) outside of Buffalo within a short/reasonable walk or drive to the University Metro Rail stop: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/42.9...42.9544618!3e2

What are some other that come to mind?

I’m wondering if Harrisburg suburbs such as Penbrook, Paxtang and parts of Progress and Steelton would fit as well?

ckhthankgod · 06-24-2023, 02:54 PM

ckhthankgod · 06-27-2023, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Here is the graduation ceremony for the second school on the list:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3NP...BncmFkdWF0aW9u

BostonBornMassMade · 06-28-2023, 02:27 PM

More Black and Latino homebuyers in Greater Boston, but racial homeownership gap remains stark

Black and Latino Massachusetts residents received more home mortgage loans in 2021 than anytime over the last three decades, according to a new report examining lending in the state, a sign that efforts to expand homeownership opportunities have worked in at least some capacity.

Roughly 4,900 Black households and 8,700 Latino households signed for home loans in 2021, both record-high shares of home-purchase mortgages issued statewide that year. And for the first time, Black and Latino residents received close to the same percentage of home loans as their share of the state population.

So despite it being the 2nd most expensive state and 3rd most expensive city. Black people continue to arrive and buy homes in the Boston Area.

ckhthankgod · 06-28-2023, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Before I touch the bolded information in regards to another NY State city, here are some related organizations/media: https://www.facebook.com/jackandjillsyracuse/

https://www.facebook.com/SyracuseLinksInc/

https://100blackmensyr.org/
https://www.facebook.com/100blackmensyr/

https://www.cuseculture.com/

https://www.urbancny.com/

BlackOwnedSyracuse.com - Your #1 Source for Everything Locally Black-Owned

Among others...Something to keep in mind is that Syracuse's black percentage from 1980-2010 doubled from 15.5% to 31.1%(black alone and in combination non-Hispanic). So, this is a city that has seen its black population grow: https://s4.ad.brown.edu/projects/div...cityid=3673000 and in turn, political/leadership representation has grown.

As for the Say Yes to Education Program, which is the bolded information and could apply to anyone, Buffalo also has this scholarship program citywide. https://sayyestoeducation.org/where-we-work/

Buffalo site info: https://sayyesbuffalo.org/
https://sayyesbuffalo.org/scholarships/eligibility/
https://sayyesbuffalo.org/scholarshi...lege-partners/

So, let's look at high schools and eligibility. Buffalo is interesting in that it has its share of good magnet HS's and some good charter schools that are also a part of the program. Some schools that would be good options are; City Honors(arguably the best high school in NY State many years): https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000052908
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000052908
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000052908
https://cityhonors.org/

Frederick Olmsted: https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000052936
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000052936
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000052936
https://www.buffaloschools.org/PS156

Hutchinson Central Tech(aka Hutch Tech): https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000052911
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000052911
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000052911
https://www.buffaloschools.org/PS304

Leonardo Da Vinci: https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000052894
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000052894
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000052894
https://www.buffaloschools.org/PS212
https://www.buffaloschools.org/domain/9054

Visual & Performing Arts(aka Arts Academy): https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000052923
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000052923
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000052923
https://www.buffaloartsacademy.org/

Culinary Arts & Hospitality: https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000090408
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000090408
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000090408
https://www.buffaloschools.org/ps355

Middle Early College(can get an Associates when you graduate): https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000074796
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000074796
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000074796
https://www.buffaloschools.org/PS335

and even Emerson School of Hospitality: https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000052910
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000052910
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000052910
https://www.buffaloschools.org/Domain/6362

Then, you have charter options within the city that qualify such as; Buffalo Academy of Science: https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000057454
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000057454
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000057454
https://buffsci.org/

Charter School of Applied Technology: https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000051942
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000051942
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000051942
https://www.csat-k12.org/

Health Sciences: https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000065871
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000065871
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000065871
https://www.healthsciencescharterschool.org/ (known for good Basketball program and combo Football program with WNY Maritime Charter)

Tapestry: https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000052433
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000052433
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000052433
https://tapestryschool.org/ (known for good Basketball and Girls Track teams)

WNY Maritime: https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000057456
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000057456
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000057456
https://www.wnymcs.com/

So, if you go with the city of Buffalo, you have plenty of non private options and all would allow you to qualify for the scholarship program. Some that go private may go with city schools such as Canisius(all male, good Football program), Bishop Timon-St. Jude in South Buffalo, The Nichols School, Nardin(girls), Mount Mercy(girls), Academy of the Sacred Heart(girls) or if they go outside of the city schools such as The Park School(very good Boys Basketball program), Cardinal O'Hara in Tonawanda(very good Girls Basketball program), St. Joe's in Kenmore(boys, good Football program), St. Francis(boys, also known for Football program) and St. Mary's in Lancaster.

As for the city in relation to the thread, I'd say that North Buffalo, Elmwood Village, Parkside, Central Park(neighborhood), the NE corner of the city(parts of University/University Heights, Kensington Heights), Linwood and parts of the Allentown and Hamlin Park neighborhoods would have a presence of such families. Hamlin Park is actually a historically designated neighborhood with a long history of having a black middle class, with some streets retaining that character better than others: https://buffaloah.com/h/hamln/hamlin.html

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ha...6!4d-78.846758

https://www.buffalorising.com/2013/0...y-considering/

https://www.facebook.com/HamlinParkHD/

https://censusreporter.org/profiles/...-5202-erie-ny/ (northern part of neighborhood has a presence of Canisius College off campus students impacting the numbers)

A black owned cafe in the neighborhood: https://www.emteacoffeecup.com/

Nearby Parkside across Main Street is another historic style neighborhood with a long time and visible black middle class due to the neighbors standing firm in staying the neighborhood versus leaving: https://parksidebuffalo.org/index.php

https://censusreporter.org/profiles/...-5201-erie-ny/

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pa...!4d-78.8467579

Both are along the Metro Rail line as well: https://metro.nfta.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffal...f%20the%20city.
A couple of nearby stops: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delava...ollege_station
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humbol...spital_station

Linwood is also along the line and near both of those neighborhoods: https://buffaloah.com/a/landmks/lin.html
https://www.historiclinwood.org/

The eastern half of these middle class census tracts cover much of the neighborhood(in between Delaware and Main) and it is also very close to Elmwood Village: https://censusreporter.org/profiles/...t-169-erie-ny/

https://censusreporter.org/profiles/...-6602-erie-ny/

A street view: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9153...7i13312!8i6656

Elmwood Village info: https://elmwoodvillage.org/

https://www.google.com/maps/place/El...!4d-78.8750644

In the NE corner of the city next to Cheektowaga's Cleveland Hill community is the Kensington Heights area, which has is a predominantly black area with a middle class presence. A street view just within the neighborhood: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9458...7i13312!8i6656
https://censusreporter.org/profiles/...oup-4-erie-ny/

Keep in mind that this is a city with around 100,000 black residents, give or take/who you include(about 36-40% of the city) and quite a bit of black people in leadership positions(mayor, police chief, school superintendent, city council president(also a prominent pastor in the city), a deputy fire commissioner, President of Buffalo State College(about 33% of students are black), etc.

There's also this district trying to get off the ground: https://www.michiganstreetbuffalo.org/

Which includes this black woman owned radio station: https://www.power965radio.com/

Once things open up, you are less than 100 miles from Downtown Toronto and for the family, there's Niagara Falls, Darien Lake amusement park, historical sites, etc.

If you want suburbs, Eggertsville in Amherst(Amherst Central SD, very good schools), Cleveland Hill in Cheektowaga(Cleveland Hill SD, solid schools), the Sweet Home SD in Amherst(solid/good schools), Cheektowaga Central SD(solid schools) and Maryvale SD in Cheektowaga(solid schools) are suburbs with higher black populations that others. Williamsville SD is arguably the area's top SD and has historically been another suburban SD where some athletes/coaches/professionals have lived, with the zones for South and North Highs having more of a presence. Some go with the Kenmore-Tonawanda SD, with Kenmore West having more of a presence historically; Cheektowaga-Sloan and West Seneca Schools as well. Lackawanna is a steel town that has had a long time and quite visible black population that is largely concentrated on its west side(known for having some very good Football teams at times). Ironically, a lot of the Bills players live near the stadium/facility in the Southtowns(Orchard Park and Hamburg) south of the city, while most of these listed suburbs are North/NE/East of the city.

More: https://stepoutbuffalo.com/guide-to-...upport-in-wny/

https://thechallengernews.com/

https://wblk.com/

https://www.radio.com/classicrbbuffalo

https://reachgospelradio.com/coverage-map/

https://www.facebook.com/ThatBrownBag/
https://thechallengernews.com/2018/08/1871/

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...JAqBQ/htmlview

https://www.aaccbuffalo.org/

So, this is another example of how there is some balance in regards to the black population of a Northeastern city/area.

A recent graduation ceremony for the bolded Buffalo school:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRFUJcf_nAE

ckhthankgod · 06-28-2023, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Here is some for Rochester...In terms of city neighborhoods with a substantial black middle class in the city look to the outer NE and SW Quadrants of the city, particularly the Homestead Heights neighborhood in the NE: https://rocwiki.org/Homestead_Heights
https://censusreporter.org/profiles/...-54-monroe-ny/
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ho...!4d-77.5691064

and parts of the 19th Ward particularly west of Thurston/around Brooks and in the historical Sibley Tract around Wilson Magnet HS(which offers an International Baccalaureate program and would be a good city public educational program): https://rocwiki.org/19th_Ward
https://www.google.com/maps/place/19...!4d-77.6478852

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibley...toric_District
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1403...6!9m2!1b1!2i37

https://censusreporter.org/profiles/...p-2-monroe-ny/
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1404...7i16384!8i8192

https://censusreporter.org/profiles/...p-4-monroe-ny/
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1294...7i13312!8i6656

Thurston Village is a business corridor in the 19th Ward that have quite a few black owned businesses: https://rocwiki.org/Thurston_Village
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1383...2!9m2!1b1!2i37

There's also North Winton Village in the SE Quadrant and next to Homestead Heights that also has a substantial black middle class: https://rocwiki.org/North_Winton_Village
https://censusreporter.org/profiles/...-60-monroe-ny/
https://censusreporter.org/profiles/...-76-monroe-ny/
https://www.google.com/maps/place/No...45!4d-77.55621

RCSD HS options, besides the IB program at Wilson Magnet: https://www.rcsdk12.org/domain/4847
https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000050526
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000050526
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000050526

School of the Arts(Taye Diggs and R&B singer Tweet graduated from there): https://www.rcsdk12.org/sota
https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000050516
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000050516
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000050516

World of Inquiry: https://www.rcsdk12.org/58
https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000050113
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000050113
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000050113

and I believe select programs in the University of Rochester led and improving East High(known for its good Football and Basketball programs): https://www.rcsdk12.org/east
https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000050520
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000050520
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000050520

In terms of charter options in the city at that level, University Prep for Young Men(aka UPrep, also known for its Football, Basketball and Track programs): https://uprep.org/
https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000067651
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000067651
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000067651

Young Women's College Prep: https://youngwomenscollegeprep.org/
https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000071083
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000071083
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000071083

Rochester Academy Charter: http://www.racschool.com/
https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000061097
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000061097
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000061097

Rochester Prep: https://rochesterprep.uncommonschool...ester-prep-hs/
https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000059516
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000059516
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000059516

are good options. In terms of a city private school, Aquinas Institute(very good football program) is an option many go with: https://www.aquinasinstitute.com/
https://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/sc...te&ID=00929472

Outside of the city, Bishop Kearney in eastern Irondequoit(known for its Basketball programs, Thomas Bryant of the Washington Wizards, among others went there): https://bkhs.org/
https://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/sc...te&ID=00929483

McQuaid Jesuit in Brighton(all male, Detroit Pistons rookie Isaiah Stewart went there): https://mcquaid.org/
https://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/sc...te&ID=00929621

Northstar Christian in Gates(another good small school Basketball program): https://www.northstarchristian.info/
https://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/sc...te&ID=00940215

Mercy in Brighton(girls): https://www.mercyhs.com/
https://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/sc...te&ID=00929698

The Harley School and Allendale-Columbia in the Brighton/Pittsford area(share a sports program): https://www.harleyschool.org/
https://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/sc...te&ID=00939403

https://allendalecolumbia.org/
https://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/sc...te&ID=00939356

are some that people go with. There is also this voluntary program in the area: https://www.monroe.edu/Page/2478
https://www.monroe.edu/Page/2639

So, you can have kids that live in the city, but go to school in a suburban SD through this program.

In terms of suburbs, the area's western suburban SD's like Gates-Chili, Greece, Rush-Henrietta, West Irondequoit, East Irondequoit, Churchville-Chili, Wheatland-Chili and to a lesser degree Spencerport and Brockport tend to have more black residents. you do have some in eastern suburban SD's like Penfield, Webster and Fairport in visible amounts. Some are in very affluent and arguably Upstate NY's best SD Pittsford and some are out in growing Victor in Ontario County.

It is also an area with rural/small towns with decent and consistent black populations in Wayne County towns such as Sodus, Lyons and even Newark, Clyde and Williamson. Same for Orleans County in terms of mainly Albion and Medina. Geneva in Ontario County is a small "city" also with a substantial black population. A solid soul food restaurant there: https://www.facebook.com/RedmansChickennRibs/ (owner's brother played Basketball at Boston College back in the 1980's in the real Big East: http://www.genevasportshof.org/bio.p...Scott%20Tyrone).

As for Rochester, black mayor, police chief, fire chief, etc. So, again the leadership is there and the city is about 41% black.

Add a little more later.

The graduation ceremony for the bolded school:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pSZi6Ytzrg

ckhthankgod · 06-28-2023, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Forgot to add, but say you like that first area of Albany, in terms of schools at least for HS, Albany High has some good programs like IB: https://www.albanyschools.org/academics/high-school/ib but you could also look into Green Tech Charter(an all male school): http://www.greentechhigh.org/
https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000059776
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000059776

Bishop Maginn: https://bishopmaginn.org/
https://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/sc...te&ID=00923969 (now closed)

or Albany Academy: https://www.albanyacademies.org/
https://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/sc...te&ID=00936978
https://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/sc...te&ID=00936978

All are within city limits and Troy and Schenectady are similar in regards to options.

Another school in the bolded city is the Albany Leadership Charter School for Girls: https://www.albanyleadership.org/
https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000068133
https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?...d=800000068133
https://data.nysed.gov/enrollment.ph...d=800000068133

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r54CoTm8fA0
Its graduation ceremony:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDZZx6wS9e0

908Boi · 06-28-2023, 07:49 PM

NY outside NYC might be one of the most underrated areas for black families.

ckhthankgod · 06-29-2023, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

In terms of Harrisburg, for suburban options, these school districts would likely offer much of what the OP may be looking for.

https://www.hannasd.org/
https://www.hannasd.org/domain/821
https://censusreporter.org/profiles/...l-district-pa/
https://www.susquehannatwp.com/

https://www.cdschools.org/
https://censusreporter.org/profiles/...l-district-pa/

In terms of a smaller, walkable community in the area, Carlisle would be worth a look: https://www.carlislepa.org/
https://www.carlislepa.org/governmen...cott_mayor.php

https://www.carlisleschools.org/
https://censusreporter.org/profiles/...l-district-pa/ (Covers areas outside of the borough)

Areas of the city of Harrisburg: https://censusreporter.org/profiles/...17-dauphin-pa/

https://censusreporter.org/profiles/...18-dauphin-pa/

https://censusreporter.org/profiles/...09-dauphin-pa/

A couple of solid school options in the city SD: https://www.hbgsd.us/Domain/14

https://www.hbgsd.us/Domain/15

Steelton and Middletown are suburban boroughs/cities with substantial/high(in the case of Steelton) black populations not in the mentioned SD’s. Hershey is also in the area and of course has family friendly offerings there.

Also, in terms of a private option, Bishop McDevitt is a pretty popular option. It is known for its Football program(LeSean McCoy and Rickey Watters went there). https://www.bishopmcdevitt.org/mcd/

https://www.greatschools.org/pennsyl...t-High-School/

Some graduations from some of the schools mentioned above…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d-h...YWR1YXRpb24%3D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_jb...VhdGlvbg%3D%3D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Prs...BncmFkdWF0aW9u

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kEILYkdkzo

AshbyQuin · 07-03-2023, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Some graduations from some of the schools mentioned above…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d-h...YWR1YXRpb24%3D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_jb...VhdGlvbg%3D%3D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Prs...BncmFkdWF0aW9u

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kEILYkdkzo

As a black man, I don't find Harrisburgh that appealing. Other than the person you're responding to, I haven't heard any positive about it from a black perspective. I assume the majority of black folks in that area are lifers or people from the Baltimore area who didn't want to live in York which is even worse.