LIVE UPSTATE

A COMMUNITY FOR ALL

Neighbors who become friends who become family. Community is about belonging, and you belong here.

Being able to build a community of friends and family and developing a sense of “belonging” is at the core of so many life decisions. Our area is a unique and appealing blend of city, suburban, and rural living-with a rare collection communities that are welcoming, charming and diverse. Neighbors who become friends, who turn into family are just waiting to meet you!  If community is about belonging, WELCOME HOME!

LIVING UPSTATE

Where to live?

Are you looking for a suburban neighborhood where kids play without care? Or is a downtown loft steps away from trendy restaurants and nightlife more your scene? Maybe you’re looking for something quieter and more surrounded by nature or farmland to raise your own crops. We have everything within just one region here in Upstate NY.

Clinton Clinton is the kind of small-town that inspires movie sets. From its picturesque Village Green to the shopping stroll for gifts of any budget, you can end your day at a local haunt or farm-to-fork fine dining experience. And to top it all off - literally at the top of the hill, - is one of the nation’s oldest liberal arts colleges. Hamilton College boasts an impressive sprawling campus of historical buildings paired beautifully with newer builds. LEARN MORE Cooperstown: Fondly dubbed "America's Most Perfect Village," Cooperstown is nestled amidst the rolling hills and tranquil lakes of upstate New York. This quaint village is best known as the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Yet, Cooperstown's charm extends far beyond its famed sports heritage. LEARN MORE Oneonta: Oneonta, colloquially known as the "City of the Hills," is a lively college town home to Hartwick College and the State University of New York at Oneonta. Renowned for its commitment to the arts, Oneonta features art galleries, theaters, and music venues, including the annual OH-Fest music festival. The city's proximity to the Catskill Mountains provides ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and skiing. Rome Once known as "Copper City" for the considerable production of copper, Rome has reinvented itself in the 21st century by focusing on the future. The neighborhoods that make up the city are rich in historic architecture and close to Delta State Park – a great place to spend summer weekends at "the beach!"
LEARN MORE The Route 20 corridor: The historic Route 20 Corridor, also known as the "Susquehanna Turnpike," unfolds across rolling hills, pastures, and forests, offering travelers breathtaking beauty. Towns such as Cherry Valley, Richfield, and Springfield, provide a glimpse into quaint small-town life, along with an array of local attractions including farm stands, antique shops, and historic landmarks. Trenton Falls Say hello to nature at it's finest! Slow down, take a breath of fresh air and listen to the waterfalls and meandering creeks. Peaceful, private, serene. Retreat to your own personal oasis when you call this area "home."
From one picturesque view to another, the Trenton Falls area offers a slower-paced lifestyle with all the luxuries of city amenities just a short drive away.
Utica Known for its one-of-a-kind, culinary marvels such as chicken riggies, half-moon cookies, Utica greens, and tomato pie, Utica is the 10th most populated city in New York and one word comes to mind: THRIVING! Utica is experiencing a revival and it's exciting to watch! With renewed energy, diverse and ethnic food options, newly opened small businesses, and a restoration of its history, Utica is the place to BE! If you love the sights and sounds of city living buzzing with nightlife and new people to meet on every street corner, this is the area for you! Up North (Forestport to Old Forge) Where else can you go from the downtown scene to complete nature-immersed bliss in 30 minutes? That’s right, that’s all it takes to enter the Adirondack Mountains, the largest park in the contiguous United States! If you’re an avid outdoors person or just love easy access to lakes, streams, and the solitude of a pine forest, this is the area for you!
Little Falls and
“The Valley”
If you've ever watched "Gilmore Girls," the small city of Little Falls will remind you of Stars Hollow. This tight-knit community has the feel of a Hallmark movie with neighborhoods of Victorian homes and Main Street USA vibes. We call this area "The City of Festivals" because weekends are full of fun and family-friendly events. You will never be without a reason to celebrate the local traditions of Herkimer, Frankfort, Ilion and Mohawk.
LEARN MORE Western Otsego County: The towns of Butternuts, Gilbertsville, and many more, represent a charming slice of rural Upstate New York. Known for its rich agricultural history, this area is dotted with farms, historic buildings, and untouched natural landscapes. Whitesboro/
Marcy/Deerfield:
Suburban lifestyle perfection! Summertime cookouts, baseball games at the park, hearing a neighbor give a friendly shout of "Hey there! Need any help?" while mowing your lawn or shoveling snow. These three independent towns collectively make up one big familiar neighborhood (and school district!) where you know your neighbor's name and your kids grow up together to form lifelong friendships.

Laura Sinnott

See why Laura chose to live in Utica, NY

“I lived all around the worldand recently moved back to Utica. I realized that there were all those little things that I loved about those tiny towns in France or city life in Taipei right here in Upstate NY. Upstate kinda has a little bit of everything…and more!”

Rent or own? You decide!

Well below the national average for housing prices, the latest data shows the 12-month average house price was $202,909 for the period September 2024-August 2025.

Cost of Living Calculator

Wondering how far your salary will go in Upstate New York? Curious about your monthly mortgage payment? How much weekly groceries will cost you? The average cost of utilities? Let’s find out!

Loft Apartment Interior
Stone Home

UPSTATE EDUCATION

Upstate New York prides itself on offering the highest quality of public, private, and higher education; and is proudly home to some of the top-ranking educational institutions in the entire country.

In decades past, Upstate New York served as an area of great economic importance, as smaller cities along the Mohawk River were once fractions of a vast manufacturing hub for industries ranging from textiles to technology. Our local educational institutions have embraced this rich, home-based history, and now proudly specialize in offering innovative technology programs that provide hands-on learning experiences and prep students for careers in advanced manufacturing, engineering, and technology.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Collectively, the school districts in Upstate New York are quite outstanding. Several schools in our area have been deemed “Blue Ribbon Schools” which is a prestigious accolade awarded by the Department of Education for achieving superior standards of academic excellence.

NOTABLE

One notable educational institution in Otsego County is Pathfinder Village in Edmeston, an internationally recognized open-access neighborhood offering quality of life and independence for people living with Down syndrome and developmental disabilities. Pathfinder Village provides individualized education programs and is a living testament to Otsego County’s commitment to inclusive education.

PRIVATE PRE-K THROUGH GRADE 12

Notre Dame is a unique community known for high academic standards, a value-centric mission, and an inclusive school community. At Notre Dame, they aim to develop each student’s unique gifts and talents and assist them in achieving their full potential. Therefore, particular emphasis is placed on teaching moral values, effective oral and written communication skills, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. In addition, faith development and sharing are encouraged in daily religion classes, school-wide liturgies and prayer services, and retreat opportunities.

  • Small class sizes offer a structured, disciplined, and rigorous academic curriculum.
  • Notre Dame’s use of the iReady program, a personalized pathway to learning (K-8), leads to a comprehensive portfolio program (9-12) to develop strong writing skills and mathematical processes.
  • Notre Dame emphasizes a technology-driven course of study; all students K-12 possess a Chromebook or iPad, which is used daily in all classes.
  • Notre Dame offers a college preparatory environment, allowing students the opportunity to earn more than 60 college credits. In addition, with access to our bridge program at Utica University and many dual enrollment classes at MVCC, many students complete their first year of college while enrolled at Notre Dame.

Students also have many opportunities to participate in interscholastic and intramural sports, music, drama, and other activities. Highlights include:

  • Notre Dame features an award-winning, nationally-ranked NJROTC sponsored by the U.S. Navy; for students in 8th through 12th grades. NJROTC is a citizenship and leadership development program, teaching self-discipline, leadership, respect, and self-determination skills to assist students in accomplishing life goals.
  • Notre Dame’s Campus Ministry allows students to participate in faith formation activities and community service projects. Our commitment to civic engagement enables them to see the plight of those less fortunate and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.
  • Notre Dame, home of the Juggler Spirit, cultivates competitive athletic teams characterized by teamwork and good sportsmanship. Our hope is that our student-athletes will incorporate Christian values into life-long patterns of behavior.

College

Is Liberal Arts your calling? Are you a tech-savvy individual, and ready to focus on an Engineering or Computer Sciences career path? Or perhaps your long-term plans are still up in their air, so it makes more sense to kickstart your college career with a 2-year degree? Are you looking to live on an expansive campus, or does the intimate vibe of a community college make more sense?

Whichever higher education scenario appeals to you, Upstate New York has the collegiate opportunity you’re looking for.

UPSTATE WEATHER

FOUR seasons means there’s ALWAYS something to do!

Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter all get equal billing in Upstate NY! Summer highs average around 80 degrees while winter lows average 16 degrees. You’ll need a wardrobe that spans from swimsuits to a down-filled parka, but we promise, you’ll enjoy each and every season as we know how to make the most of the weather and there’s ALWAYS something to do! Check out our “Explore” section for lots of ideas!

Explore the outdoors year-round

Check out our local trails 

What’s up with the weather?

RESOURCES

TRANSPORTATION. CHILDCARE. MENTAL HEALTH.

 

Get the 411 on what’s Upstate! Learn the things you absolutely must know when moving to a new city.

Thank You To Our What's Upstate Partners

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Upstate Life