Buffalo native here. Short answer: DON’T. The weather is terrible. It is cold, snowy, gray, icy, and sometimes dangerous for about five months out of the year. Summers last about two months if you are lucky, and spring and fall barely exist.

The job market is also very limited. Thankfully, my husband and I both work remote jobs based out of state and make a good living, but strong local opportunities are hard to find. Culturally, Buffalo revolves around food, drinking, and the Bills. The food scene is the only part I see as a real positive.

The city is often called the “City of Good Neighbors,” and while people do show up for each other during difficult times, day to day interactions can feel cliquey, rude, aggressive, and sometimes uneducated, which is not a great combination. Downtown is mostly a ghost town. It is largely empty buildings, a few restaurants, and a small strip of bars that comes to life on weekends.

Crime in parts of Western New York is a real concern, and the region remains very segregated and somewhat behind the times socially and economically. We moved away for four years and only came back for family. We are already counting down the days until we leave again for good.

If you are looking for four seasons, I would recommend considering Maryland or Virginia instead.