Anyone On Here from Vestal, NY?????

[kalliyan1]

If so, tell me everything there is to know....we are looking at a relocation there . The biggest thing to consider is where to live in that area based on the schools.
Any other info would be great too.

TIA

 

[StayCool]

I don't live in Vestal but I do live nearby. This article was on my fb newsfeed this morning: http://www.wbng.com/home/District-Tops-The-List-177001081.html?llsms=23071&c=y I'm not particulary familiar with the schools but you can research the "report card" for the area.

Vestal is nice for what it is. There are lots of shops and activities nearby, the usual restaurants etc. There is an amazing movie theater that has great reclining seats that are sooooo comfy!

Hint: make sure you are aware if the place you are looking at was flooded or not. Sept. 2011 was a bad year for this area and a lot of places in Vestal flooded with the rains. This is NOT normal for the area and they called it the 100 year flood (meaning that it would only happen once every hundred years). I just don't want you to be surprised if you buy a place and then notice water damage. Then again, you might get a cheaper price because of it. IDK.

Good luck!

 

[kalliyan1]

I don't live in Vestal but I do live nearby. This article was on my fb newsfeed this morning: http://www.wbng.com/home/District-Tops-The-List-177001081.html?llsms=23071&c=y I'm not particulary familiar with the schools but you can research the "report card" for the area.

Vestal is nice for what it is. There are lots of shops and activities nearby, the usual restaurants etc. There is an amazing movie theater that has great reclining seats that are sooooo comfy!

Hint: make sure you are aware if the place you are looking at was flooded or not. Sept. 2011 was a bad year for this area and a lot of places in Vestal flooded with the rains. This is NOT normal for the area and they called it the 100 year flood (meaning that it would only happen once every hundred years). I just don't want you to be surprised if you buy a place and then notice water damage. Then again, you might get a cheaper price because of it. IDK.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info and the link!!! Anything helps. What did you mean "vestal is nice for what it is"? Is there something wrong with it?

 

[patsal]

Vestal, Endicott and Binghamton are all in a stone's throw of one another. There is a mall, a Wegmans and Aldi, the usual chain restaurants and such. It is a small area in NY. I lived there right after DH and I married and spent most of those 7 years trying to figure out how to get back to the Buffalo area. It was a great place to raise a young family. The schools are what you make of them, not great, but not the worse NYS has to offer either.

 

[StayCool]

Absolutely nothing wrong with it! I'm just a country girl and Vestal is suburbia. I live about 30 minutes away, own some land and my neighbors aren't too close if you know what I mean!

Vestal is where I go to shop and be entertained. So for me personally, it is not where I would want to live. But if you like "city" life, then there you go. Nothing bad I swear!

 

[MickeyP]

I would NOT say flooding is NOT typical for the area. It IS typical. Twice within the course of 5 years. Many left the area because they lost their homes or businesses, or just didn't want to chance it again. I would definitely advise you to not buy anything in Twin Orchards or in the Old Vestal Road area. At the same time, the other side near Apalachin is not free from flooding either.

On the other hand, shopping is wonderful. It doesn't have everything. I'm waiting for a Marshall's, but it does have most of the national chains. Binghamton University is in Vestal, but the students are kind of isolated on their campus. You do see them shopping on the weekends, I guess.

Why are you relocating, if you don't mind me asking? What are you thinking for jobs?

 

[kalliyan1]

I would NOT say flooding is NOT typical for the area. It IS typical. Twice within the course of 5 years. Many left the area because they lost their homes or businesses, or just didn't want to chance it again. I would definitely advise you to not buy anything in Twin Orchards or in the Old Vestal Road area. At the same time, the other side near Apalachin is not free from flooding either.

On the other hand, shopping is wonderful. It doesn't have everything. I'm waiting for a Marshall's, but it does have most of the national chains. Binghamton University is in Vestal, but the students are kind of isolated on their campus. You do see them shopping on the weekends, I guess.

Why are you relocating, if you don't mind me asking? What are you thinking for jobs?

Job opportunity that DH is looking at.

 

[disneyfreakk]

I live close by in PA and go to Vestal all the time! One thing to consider is the taxes!! The sales tax is 8% and the NY state income tax is over 7%.

 

[kalliyan1]

I live close by in PA and go to Vestal all the time! One thing to consider is the taxes!! The sales tax is 8% and the NY state income tax is over 7%.

Yeah we noticed that....where we live now those the property taxes are RIDICULOUS!!!!!

 

[kalliyan1]

Can anyone speak about the medical facilities? My DD has pretty extensive cleft lip and palate and is followed at CHOP(children's hospital in Philadelphia) is there any speciality facilities that might offer special pediatric care there other than your general hospitals?

 

[dalyes]

I lived in Owego, NY which is pretty close to Vestal. I was 26 at the time and was Curator of the local historical society. I had moved there from Washington, DC after having grown up in Buffalo.

I will say that I didn't appreciate the area - most people my age packed up and moved away from the area. But it was beautiful, and offered a good quality of life for family. It's not hopping so I would NEVER move there as a single person looking for a social life. However, I would now (10 years later) consider moving to Owego, or a similar town, now that I have a family.

You'd be fairly close to Syracuse and not a bad drive to Rochester, Buffalo or Albany. Even NYC is fairly reasonable drive.

 

[uromac]

Hi!

My daughter goes to Syracuse U and is currently interning at Golisano Children's hospital (about 65mi from Vestal).

Here's a link to their center that specializes in cleft lip /palate -https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/childrens-hospital/craniofacial/

Hope this helps -Good luck!

Melissa

 

[peekinglemer]

I live about 10 minutes from Vestal and have lived in this area my whole life. Let me know if you have any specific questions about the area I can help you with. I also know a great realtor if you need one.

 

[kalliyan1]

Hi!

My daughter goes to Syracuse U and is currently interning at Golisano Children's hospital (about 65mi from Vestal).

Here's a link to their center that specializes in cleft lip /palate -https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/childrens-hospital/craniofacial/

Hope this helps -Good luck!

Melissa

Thank you for this link...I will definitely look into it!

 

[kalliyan1]

Thank you all so much for the information...I've been researching stuff ALL DAY!!! This is very overwhelming but the suggestions and opinions are very helpful.
So I'm gathering that the general consensus is that Vestal would be the place to focus on for the "best" schools in that area vs. a surrounding area is that correct? Are there private schools that stand out? We are not ruling anything out at this point.
We live in PA right now and are going to take a day trip to Vestal tomorrow to get a feel for the land. DH has been there but me or DD's have not.

 

[StayCool]

Geisinger is supposed to be a good hospital for children. Many offices refer the children to there from this area so that might be something to look into too.

 

[kmccain]

Vestal is just over the PA border in NY. If you opted to stay in PA you would probably be in Montrose school district. Here is the link: http://www.montroseareasd.k12.pa.us/
Can't say its a bad school. I graduated from there many moons ago.

In Pa the towns that are close are Choconut, Brackney, Silver Lake

Good Luck!

Oh and Howdy Neighbors!

 

[heartsy77]

I've lived 20 minutes from Vestal my whole life. We call Vestal "going over the hill" as we have to drive there to get to Walmart, Mall, an etc.

In our area Vestal probably has one of the best school districts; however, you're going to pay for it w/ high school taxes. I live in Newark Valley, much more rural area and for my 157,000$ appraised house I pay $4,000 in school taxes. In Vestal it most likely be $6,000 at least.

Hospitals here are good (I'm a nurse) but something as specialized like what you described will defiantly have to head to Syracuse or the children's hospital in Rochester.
I must say I wouldn't have wanted to raise my kids anyone but here!

 

[Halbleib1]

Depending on how often you need to see the Dr. I would probably just stick with CHOP. It is an all day trip but if you are happy with the care and insurance will cover you it might be worth it. I grew up in Susquehanna PA and was sent to CHOP for their metabolic unit for my kids galactosemia. It was a 3-3.5 hour drive from Susquehanna. It is still a 2.5 hour drive for us where we live now in South Central PA. There are good hospitals in the area but depending on the specialized care you need to go out of the area.


PP mentioned the floods and being careful buying a home there. If you are planning on buying a car you have to be careful as well. My cousin went to buy a car and found out after having them put it up on the lift that it had been in the flood. The whole underneath was rusting. And flooding is not a new thing. I remember flooding in the area when I was a kid/teenager. It has been worst in recent years though. Whenever you live near water you have to expect flooding at some point.

As far as entertainment,shopping etc. It is not much different than most other cities of its size.

Beware that jobs can be scarce at times. Many people that live across the border in PA work in NY as well. Jobs are hard to come by in that area of PA. Also depending on where in PA you are moving from plan on colder weather as well as more snow. Found that out living for the last 12 years in South Central PA. It's not a bad area but I would never move back. I still have a lot of family in the area though. If you choose to buy/live in PA you might want to look into some information about the natural gas drilling and some of the problems they have had.

 

[uromac]

Thank you for this link...I will definitely look into it!

Hi again -

Sorry I mistakenly posted the Golisano in Rochester link - the Golisano Hospital in Syracuse is - http://www.upstate.edu/gch/

However, I echo the previous poster's comments about if you feel more comfortable with your child's care to stay where you are at CHOP. FYI we live in S. Jersey and have driven back and forth to Syracuse in 1 day - so it is definitely possible to keep your doctors in Philly if you prefer.

Good Luck!!