New Yorkers are increasingly looking beyond the state's largest metropolitan areas when considering where to retire, with smaller communities offering a quieter lifestyle and, in some cases, more affordable housing.
World Atlas recently highlighted nine upstate New York communities as some of the best places for retirees.
The list includes communities ranging from the Southern Tier and North Country to the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes.
Located in Broome County in New York's Southern Tier, Binghamton sits where the Susquehanna and Chenango rivers meet. The City is known for its low-cost housing, without seasonal crowds that inflate prices in communities elsewhere in upstate New York, like the Finger Lakes and Adirondacks. The city has many galleries, the Roberson Museum and planetarium and the Ross Park Zoo, one of the oldest operating zoos in the nation. Two of the county's six antique carousels are located within city limits and are free and operate between Memorial Day and Labor Day. is
Located just south of the Thousand Islands, Watertown is located on the Black River and is the county seat of Jefferson County. The city is also just south of Fort Drum, a U.S. Army military base. Some of its more popular attractions include the New York State Zoo, Thompson Park, a 355-acre park designed by the Olmsted brothers and the county's historical society which operates a museum in the 1878 Paddock Mansion.
Bordered by Lake Ontario and the Oswego River, Oswego is known for its pristine culture and maritime history. Tour the Fort Ontario State Historic Site or watch historic reenactments. Breitbeck Park offers lakefront access and views on Lake Ontario, and has a maritime museum with a lighthouse, playground and splash pad, walking trials, a picnic area and a boat launch with kayak and paddle boat rentals. Families with young children could stop by the Children's Museum of Oswego.
A small city in southern Otsego County, Oneonta is known as the "City of the Hills" where two colleges set the pace for the community. Hartwick College and SUNY Oneonta both open programs to the community, which means access to libraries, lecture and concert series and reduced fees for fitness facilities. Hartwick's Yager Museum of Art & Culture and SUNY Oneonta's Science Discovery Center offer free entry. Oneonta, which has a storied railroading history, is also home to Neahwa Park, the city's largest and busiest park.
Located in southeastern Warren County and on the Hudson River Glens Falls is just south of the Adirondacks. Initially centered around a 60-foot waterfall, which powered mills that helped establish the city. Today, large draws include museums - including the Hyde Collection, which houses American and European art, and Chapman Museum, which focuses on the community's history. Crandall Park and its walking paths, downtown Glens Falls and the Charles R. Wood Theater are also popular with seniors.
This Madison County town is located at the southern end of Cazenovia Lake and has a charming downtown district. The town is known for its active engagement in historical preservation and the arts. Chittenango Falls State Park is nearby and boasts a stunning 167-foot waterfall and winding trails and walking paths in the park. Boating and fishing are popular activities here as well.
Situated between the Hudson River and Catskill Park, in Ulster County, Saugerties is a haven for adventure while not being overly inundated with droves of tourists. The Catskill Animal Sanctuary, Falling Waters Preserve and Esopus Creek Conservatory are all located there. The Saugerties Lighthouse, located at the mouth of Esopus Creek, still operates and now doubles as a bed and breakfast. Saugerties' quintessential small-town commercial district includes the highly walkable Main and Partition streets.
Often described as "America's hometown," this Otsego County town is known for its small-town charm, lakeside draw and baseball. Cooperstown is home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and is somewhat of a pilgrimage for sports fans. The town sits at the foothills of the Catskill Mountains and rests on the shores of Otsego Lake, known as "Glimmerglass." Glimmerglass State Park's rolling, partially wooded terrain is just north of Cooperstown and is known for its lake and hiking trails as well as a covered bridge and Hyde Hall mansion.
The city of Canandaigua sits at the north end of Canandaigua Lake and is Ontario County's county seat. Canandaigua is full of historic buildings, shops, museums and boutiques within its downtown district. Nearby, the Ontario County Courthouse is a historic landmark within Canandaigua that was the site of Susan B. Anthony's 1873 trial for voting in a presidential election. Also near downtown is Kershaw Park, a lakeside park with a swimming beach adjacent to Canandaigua's City Pier. Canandaigua is also home to the New York Kitchen, (formerly called the New York Wine & Culinary Center,) which celebrates the state's wine, food and agricultural industries with culinary classes, tastings and other unique events. Sonnenburg Gardens and Mansion, a historic 50-acre estate, is just blocks away from downtown Canandaigua.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Binghamton named one of upstate New York's best places to retire